The Patmore Community Hall dates back to 1957, named after the then Mayor of Johannesburg, MR. C.J.H Patmore. The hall was built using funds that the community raised themselves, and is designed in a modernist style, with a corrugated iron pitched roof, front foyer, and central wooden doors.
Throughout its existence the Hall has been a popular feature of the community for dancing, meetings, and other activities.
From the creative process and oral histories report by The Trinity Session which inspired some of the designs:
“They also had Mr and Miss Noordgesig competitions there. The girls would model and the boys would do weight lifting and show off their muscles. These activities kept the youngsters off the streets and away from trouble. They also had discos at the hall, or what the older generation called sessions, about twice a month. There wasn't much entertainment in Noordgesig so they used the hall a lot for activities.”
Now and then there were fights at the discos, but at least it was cheap for the youngsters to go out. Now they have to go far outside of Noordgesig for entertainment. The pageants were so exciting, and the community hall would be packed. People outside would stand on the stainless steel bins to try to see inside.”
This artwork formed part of a series of artworks implemented by the Johannesburg Development Agency during an area upgrade which included public spaces and public facilities.
The community hall mural combines elements of all the activities that happen there. The focus is on the boxing legend Jake Ntuli. Moreover other activities are featured too, such as dancing.
This mural is an opportunity to celebrate the evolution of Noordgesig over time. As the neighbourhood has grown, the style of the houses, the landscape and roads have changed. This has become the backdrop to the mural which portrays change over time, creating a timeline or map of sorts.
This timeline has becomes the element that ‘’holds’’ all of the activities of the community together, which take place largely at the community hall – representing the creative people of Noordgesig who, over time have found ways to express themselves through sports such as boxing, ballet, performance and communal activities that brought everyone together under the same roof.
The Patmore Community Hall dates back to 1957, named after the then Mayor of Johannesburg, MR. C.J.H Patmore. The hall was built using funds that the community raised themselves, and is designed in a modernist style, with a corrugated iron pitched roof, front foyer, and central wooden doors.
Throughout its existence the Hall has been a popular feature of the community for dancing, meetings, and other activities.
From the creative process and oral histories report by The Trinity Session which inspired some of the designs:
“They also had Mr and Miss Noordgesig competitions there. The girls would model and the boys would do weight lifting and show off their muscles. These activities kept the youngsters off the streets and away from trouble. They also had discos at the hall, or what the older generation called sessions, about twice a month. There wasn't much entertainment in Noordgesig so they used the hall a lot for activities.”
Now and then there were fights at the discos, but at least it was cheap for the youngsters to go out. Now they have to go far outside of Noordgesig for entertainment. The pageants were so exciting, and the community hall would be packed. People outside would stand on the stainless steel bins to try to see inside.”
This artwork formed part of a series of artworks implemented by the Johannesburg Development Agency during an area upgrade which included public spaces and public facilities.
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