Art Preview: Apartheid's Wasteland at IF+D

When local artist and entrepreneur Candace Carlisle recently traveled to Cape Town, South Africa, she was struck by the extent to which that society was still overcoming the hardships perpetuated by apartheid. Carlisle was able to visit several townships in and around Cape Town, and bore witness to the many challenges that face the underprivileged residents there — violent crime, HIV, unemployment, and continued racism still routinely threaten stability more than a dozen years after South Africa's first free general election. This weekend, Carlisle will be showing photos from her travels at IF+D, Austin's modern design store with a heart of gold. The artist hopes that her show will raise funds to help support small businesses in the townships. One such organization, Beauty's Sewing School, is run by an HIV positive woman who teaches others how to sew and sell their wares.

Carlisle also hopes that this exhibition will also raise awareness for the struggle that still faces residents of South Africa's townships. IF+D will host a viewing of the photography on Friday from 6:30 to 10pm and the show is scheduled to be on view during regular business hours through this Sunday. Friday's reception will feature veggie wraps provided by the Green Cart, Dominican Joe's coffee, and homebrewed maize beer.