inspiration – don't keep it to yourself.

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Oh, this is my favourite store for all the little cute and silly things one actually doesn’t need.

CHURCH – a nonsense/style/design/cool/happy shop
Peet Pienaar opened CHURCH that will surely have a lot of churchgoers

“I’m using art as an excuse to live a very interesting life – it allows you to be whoever you want to be, do whatever you want to do, go where ever you want to go. It’s like a free ticket“.

Okay, some facts in case you don’t know the guy. Peet Pienaar (born 29 August 1971) is a South African performance artist, and co-owner of design studio The President. He’s most famous for having himself videotaped while undergoing circumcision in 2000. Peet Pienaar is also the editor and co-designer of Afro Magazine with its main aim to celebrate the outstanding creativity and designs of the African continent. He studied fine art at the University of Stellenbosch graduating in 1993.

Peet Pienaar is the priest of the CHURCH. Well, at least the brain behind it. The CHURCH is in Spin Street, next to lovely café Bread Milk and Honey. CHURCH, because it’s on Church Square. The shop is basically a piece of art. “It’s a concept store”, says Patrick who’s here usually every day to sell the stuff. The window is changing all the time due to monthly themes. Once the theme has been ‘wood’ and the wallpaper was cardboard which was painted like wood. For sale were wooden sunglasses, wooden lampshades, which are still to get. In December 2010, the theme is ‘picnic’. ‘Sweet’ I think and love the green crepe paper frazzles hanging down the ceiling (unfortunately not for sale, wanted to surprise my husband at home with a jungle-like looking house). Cute little metal-birds are for sale, garlands (I bought a couple), strawberry and candy-sticky tape, wall decorations, random magazines, notebooks etc. As mom would say: “Everything and nothing, but lovely.” And inspiring.

The store changes it’s theme, look and content every month, a good trigger to come back regularly. It looks crazy, colorful, childish. It looks cool. I went in and bought a couple of things noone needs but that make everyone happy. Do the same.

“Seek & ye shall find”

by Antonia Heil
CHURCH: 12 Spin Street | Cape Town | +27 (0) 21 462 6092
Opening Hours: weekdays 9am – 5pm, Saturday 9am – 1pm

… the edited version of my article (ha ha, not yet a ‘motherspeaker’) on capetownmagazine.com