After more than a year of solo observing the world through the curtain of social media and reminiscing on the events of days past, Edition Events by Lea skate event made the nostalgia for ‘normality’ a little more forgettable. 

It all started with an unusually warm winter afternoon in Cape Town, and a text from a friend that simply contained a location pin across the road from The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock. With no signage to point out the space, it was the thump of a bass remix, the familiar lyrics “Can I kick it? (Yes, you can!)” and the hollow scrapes of a trick landing that tipped me off. 

By day the warehouse space exists as a workshop/studio for the HE(ART)Y Collective artists and for each event a gallery that walls in the photographers, Dj’s, MC’s, creatives, athletes, entrepreneurs and enthusiasts of the City.

I’ve always looked at Richard E. Aaron, Angela Philips, and Larry Clark’s documentary-style depictions of what life looked like for the youth in the 90s and wished to have been a part of that cultural moment. Well, the Edition Events skate event felt pretty close to that. I was one of the crowd, bobbing to the live revolving DJ sets, meeting new people (something I definitely underestimated missing during this pandemonium), connecting with my people, perusing the stores set up, all the while watching the skaters do their magic and subsequently dodging the drifting boards and that one guy, Aderito (@_adjz_) a free line skater who had me mesmerised. 

It could have been and honestly was the community of the warehouse space, the crowd of hipsters, the music, meeting and sitting next to thee Queezy (@queezybabaz), or the tricks being performed on the rail and a peep-hole in the wall of the warehouse that left me wanting more Edition Events in my weekends to come. But meeting the founder, Lea, is what really impressed me. Lea seemed to know everyone and vice versa, always leaving people with a smile while making her way around the room, handling the door, and making sure that sustenance was available for the performers, the space inviting and the energy intact. 

I captured Lea in between sessions and left with the promise of setting up a call to know more about her company and initiative. 

Lea first came to Cape Town in 2017 to learn English at an international school but soon realised that most of the students there were French too. She asked herself, “Who am I going to learn English from if it’s only French people in that school?”, and then started clubbing and going to bars where she started to talk to people and with her beautiful French accent everyone wanted to talk to her and so her network of people started to form. 

With a background in marketing and event planning, a few successful events under her belt already and the tenacity to work hard for what she is passionate about. Lea secured a warehouse space in Woodstock, Cape Town, the HE(ART)Y Collective, where she created a creative space, a full-time Gallery and Art Studio/ Workshop in a double-storey warehouse to house and host collaborative brands and people, creating a blend of people through art, culture, sport, music and beyond. This space gives artists the opportunity to do what they are good at, with the backing of someone – Lea – who provides an infrastructure and materials for them to paint and showcase their work while providing a practical retail platform that helps attract people who are interested in buying their art. The studio space is open to membership artists Monday to Saturday and an exhibition is hosted once a month in collaboration with international and local artists. 

From ‘Skate & Create’ at City Bowl Skate Park, to ‘Sodaze Sundaze’, to First Thursdays at Ideas Cartel and Hotel du Parc, ‘Spectrum’, ‘Skate’, and ‘Night at Hearty’ events, Lea’s mission at these beautiful gatherings was to make sure everyone feels welcome, a safe space for every artist (Photographer, Painter, Sculptor, Performer, Musician, DJ, Dancer, Skater, Designer) to showcase their work and passions, to express themself. And with the Hearty warehouse space, her team are able to transform it to cater to whichever crowd and theme are needed. Although small, Lea shares that her team is growing with Edition Events and with her guidance in their own creative spheres. Edition Events hosts events every Saturday of the month at their venue welcoming different communities, a collective.

Although I have only attended one of Lea’s Edition Events, I can assure you that after experiencing Lea’s passion for action and listening to her plans I will be attending as many as I can in the future. Because who doesn’t love a bass remix, artists, hipsters, photographers, small businesses, community and kickin’ it?

/// Find out more about Edition Events and what they offer from future events, membership, services and purchasing of the art on their website (coming soon): edition-events.com 

WRITTEN BY: BRIONY BLEVIN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: @BYBRIONYHANNAH