Papersmith & Son Calendar Show arrives in South Africa

Papersmith & Son, one of South Africa's leading paper merchants, is once again bringing this exhibition of the world's finest calendar art from Germany and abroad to South Africa.

"This year's display makes us proud as there are eight South African entries, one of which, by Chalk Designs for Giant Films, was awarded bronze in Germany," says Jo Haden-Smith, managing director of Papersmith & Son.

"The exhibition allows contributors and exhibition-goers alike, to reflect on the role of calendars in our time. It is also a fascinating showcase of aesthetics meeting functionality," he adds.

Every year, a select panel of experts judges the submitted calendars and awards gold, silver or bronze to the most impressive entries. Kodak Germany also gives a prize focusing on the photographic merits of a calendar.

Most calendars on view are corporate calendars that have had artwork commissioned by their advertising or design agencies.

Some truly original ideas have been found among exhibits over the years - calendars with washable silk pages, with Braille or with mini CDs for an acoustic accompaniment to each page.

Why art calendars? According to Haden-Smith, art calendars are enduring, exclusive and collectable, making them the perfect medium to carry a company's name.

The German organisers of the Stuttgart Calendar Show have been studying and celebrating the cultural and symbolic significance of calendars in this way since 1950. Papersmith & Son, through its association with its German supplier, has been the only local company to host the event in South Africa.

The collection of about 50 calendars, which, this year, includes the winning photographic calendar, has been exhibited in all major cities countrywide. Events kicked off in Cape Town in June and for the first time, moved beyond South African borders with a successful exhibition in Windhoek before returning to South Africa for a show in Durban.

The final round of the exhibition takes place in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 17 September at the Inanda Club, Sandton.