Outa Lappies does it again

You can't miss Outa Lappies. Lappies (real name Jan Schoeman) is a Karoo artist who foots it around the country swaddled in quilted (thus the "lappies" sobriquet) kit and cloak. Billed by some as a living legend, Lappies' work is made up of lantern houses and wagons made from poker-work, crushed tins, broken coloured glass, rusty nails, wire and wooden sticks, as well as colourful tapestries onto which he has recorded thoughts and images. The quirky artist is known as much for his creations as by the credos he lives by. One of these is to plough whatever he can back into the community. Which is why he has been making annual cash donations to UCT for the past few years. This year he made an eye-catching stop - his wardrobe is a showstopper - at the university, handing over his annual gift and a collection of his handiwork to vice-chancellor Professor Njabulo Ndebele. These pieces will go on sale at an upcoming 175-year anniversary celebration, the money going to UCT coffers.