Bethulie is a small town that resides almost on the banks of the Gariep dam. Its famous for being the town were Patrick Mynhardt was born. Patrick was well known for his performances of the Herman Charles Bosman's characters on stage . . .
Click on images to enlarge . . .
The photographs posted here today are of shopfronts. In the small towns of our rural areas one doesn't often see the glitz and glamour of big city and shopping center retail outlets. The shops are more personal and the signage reflect that. Shopping centers in cities are very strict when it comes to the appearance and signage of their tenant shops and the high rentals charges for shops in large shopping centers excludes almost all but the franchise operations. This of course makes for a very dull and sterile shopping experience and there are hardly any variations in the shops available from one shopping center to the next...they all look the same with the same shops and restaurants.....
On the 'platteland' however there are no rules and usually no shopping centers. So anything goes and if you can't afford a sign writer or rather a shiny new vinyl cut logo then you just do it yourself.
And isn't it interesting that no matter how small the town, there is usually a furniture store that always sells furniture at a discount and cellphone shops, and, where else will you find a shop that sells chemicals together with fruit and vegetables...!
regards, Ivan
1 comment:
The brother of David 'Rooivelskoen' Kramer, John Kramer is a photographer and fine artist. From the late 60's onwards he photographed the shops and architecture in the Boland in much the same style…
Check: http://www.johnkramer.net/
I grew up in Worcester, and saw John's first images at the Worcester Photographic Society in 1969.
Leo Theron
leot@icon.co.za
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