6 September 2011

Morning yall

For those that were not able to attend the opening , and would like to see the collection , check out the link below.

'The Moments' amidst the chaos collection : 

http://www.rococorocks.co.za/studio_gallery_music_and_event_venue_cape_town/art/Pages/The_Moments_amidst_the_Chaos.html

Checking out

Lees

Day 131. 31 .08.2011

11:30

131 DAYS HAS ARRIVED!!!!!

1 day away from the night of the opening….

I cannot believe its a day before the opening of the exhibition. We have reached the 131 day mark , of blogging and documenting the process leading up to the actual day of the exhibition. It has been extremely challenging , working everyday to ensure  that this exhibition is everything I had envisioned it to be. I realized that not everything is perfect , but I do hope it is close to it. 

Surprisingly I woke up feeling calm today. This doesn't mean I am not nervous , nor am I feeling ultra confident. I have left it in the hands of the Art Gods lol. I am looking forward to seeing the outcome of 131 days. 

I did my make-up trial yesterday and I too , tried on my garment for the first time. I am extremely happy with everything. What excited me the most about the make-up trial is that I didn't start crying when the eyeliner was applied on the bottom area of my eye. People grow up after all. 

After meeting up with my glam team , I met up with Emkay from Doepelganger. Oooooohhhhhhweeee the mix is sick. I love it , I love it and I love it. 

I have packed the last few cases of wine in the car , as well as the other things that need to be delivered. After my classes today , I will be heading to the gallery ,  to see the pieces up on the wall for the first time , and perhaps even check out the music system. 

131 days will continue to exist. I will start on a new project every year , from the 23rd April - 1st September , where I focus on a different sphere of the arts. Thank you to everyone who took the time to look through my blog , tweet about it on Twitter , put up the poster as their BBM display picture , mention it on Facebook , sing praises about the concept and support me in any form that I haven't mentioned. 

THANK YOU

Checking out

Lees

Day 103 . 03 .08.2011

Yesterday I had my last meeting with Deryck and I had my last look at the gallery. We discussed the wine , when and where it will be delivered , the prints , my expectation of the overall exhibition and many other things.  After I left the gallery , I realized that there is no turning back. There are days where I am extremely confident and other days I am my own worst enemy in this process , but the show must go on. 28 days left.

Checking out

Lees

Day 101 . 01 .08.2011

I have been receiving confirmation from a lot people , that they will be attending the opening on Facebook , email , phone calls and verbally on the street . I am so excited to be sharing this form of art that is a huge part of me with those that I love and know. I have exactly 30 days until the opening and I cant begin to describe how crazy it all feels.

THANK YOU THANK YOU for making this journey worth it.

Checking out

Lees

Day 100 . 31 .07.2011

WE HAVE HIT THE 100 DAYS MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHOOOP WHOOOP.

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Lees

Day 90 . 21 .07.2011

Today is officially 41 days until the opening...

Lectures ended  really early today, so I will be spending the day with my camera. I have been so occupied with the admin, the overall exhibition and my pieces, that I haven’t taken any pictures for the fun of it, in a long time. 

At this point of the process, I am expecting over 60 people, to be at the opening, which is more than I could have imagined. I am feeling good about it as a whole and yes the nerves are slowly catching up with me.

I know I have invited a lot of people, but I want the opening to feel intimate, as a result, I have decided to only print the posters after the opening while focusing on publicizing the series of works to art buyers.

Tomorrow is Friday, which means I only have three lectures. This means I will be able to meet up with the potential cinematographers for my documentary that will be shot on my last week of the 131 days journey.

Checking out

Lees

Day 80 . 11 .07.2011

Its day 80

I am still on the hunt for someone who can document (medium: film) the last week of this journey, and fortunately I have been meeting some great candidates. It’s easy for people to tell you that they are good at something, but it’s a totally different thing when they show you their skill. Last night (Cold Turkey) is a bit of a blur, but I do remember meeting this one guy who sounded keen on filming my vision.  

So its 51 days until the opening and more and more guest are confirming that they will be attending the opening of “The moments’ amidst the chaos.  Thank goodness they will also be a cash bar available on the night, as I was beginning to worry that I won’t have enough bottles of wine on the night and secondly those who can only drink beer and ciders will be catered for as well.

It’s Monday and time to work.  I am so lucky to be on holiday. I have time to rest from time to time. I can’t say that before, I didn’t have time for myself because this exhibition is exactly that. I hope that makes sense.

Thank you to my team and sponsors. Your help throughout this process has been amazing.

Checking out

Lees

Day 79 . 10 .07.2011

I woke up this morning with a sick feeling in my stomach…

The anxiety is kicking in. With less than 52 days left until the opening, there is still so much to do. I realize that as I get to a point where all the admin and imperative things that I had planned are all done, I add on more on my list of things to do.

I feel like I am settling half the time and that scares me, and so I find myself organizing back up for this and that. I sometimes wish I was doing a collaborative, so I could share this feeling with someone, but then that would defeat the whole purpose of this journey.

I think the realization that I can’t turn back freaks the hell out of me. I usually run to my parents or siblings during moments like these, but some are in Johannesburg and others abroad. The constant reminder (to myself) that choices are based on free will and that I made a choice to bring this idea to life, because I know I am capable of it, brings me a sense of relief.

Today is my moment of doubt, regret, fear and concern. I know tomorrow will be different. I will continue to do as I have been doing for the past 59 days, which is bringing my idea and dream to life. My optimism is heightened during times when I feel most vulnerable, and so I will indulge in this feeling and hopefully learn a lot from it.

Time flies, it really does. I am less than half way into this journey and every day I have been blessed tremendously. Never did I think I would be meeting so many talented, supportive, insightful, experienced and loving people all because of one concept.

I began writing this post with a knot in my stomach and now I am ending it with a smile on my face. It’s crazy what a little bit of self therapy can do.

Have a blessed Sunday and may your week begin on a new and positive note.

Checking out

Lees

Day 54 . 15 .06.2011

Hey ya’ll

I wrote my exam today. It went well. Now I plan to celebrate because it is my birthday tomorrow. I am not sure what I am going to do tonight, but I will be in town so we shall see.  My girl Azola Mona has showed 131 days some love.

Check out her blog ya’ll  http://le-mona-de.tumblr.com/ and more specifically her post about the exhibition http://le-mona-de.tumblr.com/post/6486445845/www-anelisamangcu-blogspot-com-get-familiar.


Thanks for the support my girl.

Checking out

Lees

Day 25 . 17 .05.2011

Its 25 days into the process

These days have been the most crucial. Taking a concept and making it come to life is perhaps the most underrated thing I know. It’s a process that’s taken for granted by the observers and its lonely path is underestimated by the artist. It is the loneliest I have felt in a long time. What’s ironic about that is that this is the one time in my life, where I probably have the most people in my life joining me in this journey.

My cousin Leslie Nteta says “a little doubt is good, as it only makes you think twice about something, not change your decision.” I think that statement is very fitting for where my head space is at this point of the journey.

With Facebook and Twitter, everyone’s life is public and in the open, through words, ideas as well as pictures. This blog is slightly more intimate for me. I never grew up with a personal diary, and never believed in documenting my thoughts and feelings as a child. However, I am doing it now, based on a medium of art that feeds my spirit. There is no better feeling than that.

I would like to send a shout out to my number 1 fan and best friend Noxolo Mafu. This quirky and reliable character has been there throughout the process and way before it became a solid concept. Every time I found myself at a stop, not knowing whether I should go ahead with 131 days or any other projects I have had , this girl has managed to remind me what my goals are and how its temporary fear that might get in the way but should never determine the outcome. It only seems right to post a ‘thank message you’ on your birthday, so Happy Birthday and thank you mate.

Date: 2010

Medium: photography

Title: none

Location: Constantia, Cape Town

Subjects names: Noxolo Mafu

Checking out

Lees

Day 22 . 14 .05.2011

To those those are only now, joining me in my journey...

There seems to be some kind of confusion surrounding my blog and the purpose of it. I get it, I really do.  At times, I seem lost, confused, other days I am off topic and in general, it comes across as if I am not sure what my theme is.

To clear it all, I am on a journey, so I am discovering a lot of the things that I want to do and explore on the way. However, I do know what my theme is and my overall concept.

Art as a whole has never been about having all the answers, and that’s why I sometimes find no shame in saying “I don’t know but I will figure it out”. This is because I have faith in myself and my abilities, and so the fear aspect doesn’t exist anymore.

The aim of this blog is to document my thoughts, development, feelings, ideas, concerns and daily experiences.  Photography is subjective, so my mood can easily translate to something visual. Whether I am angry or happy, it can be seen in a still image. This is why the idea of 131 days was created. I do believe that it’s the only place where I can be honest and direct people to, so that they understand where I am coming from.  Everything connects. That is the beauty of life, and so when I highlight, that some days will be good and others bad, I mean it.

 Now that is cleared, blogspot has been giving us bloggers slight problems in being able to post daily, so I apologize for the late posts.

Checking out

Lees

Day 20 . 12 .05.2011

Shining your light on the world…

I am starting to get a lot of good responses for this exhibition. I wonder how it is possible to receive so much support and love from people, when they don’t even know the concept/theme.

I’m not complaining; don’t get me wrong, I just find it so fascinating. 20 days after the birth of 131 concept and I am feeling good.  I always knew what I wanted and where I wanted to be, but never did I think it would be happening right now.

So I have a meeting today with my Copy writing lecturer Jana du Plessis. She seems to help direct my scattered brain in one direction at all times without fail. I am so excited and confident that when I am done with her, I will be ready to move forward and perhaps much faster than I am at the moment.

I have a lot of work this week, which is something I have been continuously mentioning in my posts. Assignments are pouring in and I can’t seem to find a balance in spending an hour in my busy day, to focus on the admin part of this exhibition. My timetable is changing a bit, and if all goes well, Friday will be my off day from campus. If my prediction is correct, I can finally focus on responding to the emails and calls for this week. Anyway, back to the books.

Checking out

Lees

Day 1 . 23.04.2011

My name is Anelisa Mangcu.

I take pictures. It’s what I do best. I do a lot of other stuff, but what comes naturally to me is taking pictures, the other stuff I work hard for.

This blog is called 131 days because in 131 days, I will be having my debut solo exhibition. CRAZY I TELL YOU. I have been discarded so many times in my life, and recently by 15 galleries (which I won’t name) that wouldn’t accept my application to exhibit in their spaces. That’s alright. I found a place now. Rococo Studio Gallery is the name of the gallery.

I think I should thank whoever the higher spirit is for guiding me to this gallery, because it’s perfect.  It’s a two floor brick walled building, it has a natural warm ambience, wooden floors and it’s in the corner of Buitenkant. It’s sick. I have been planning this for a long time. I think planning is great, but I delayed this because the timing was never right but now it is.

I’m hoping this blog will serve the same purpose that a sketchbook does for an artist , and that is to document the journey ,  reveal my every thought ,  my mistakes , any doubt that I may have throughout this process and evidently , see my progression from the start to the beginning. I say beginning because, I believe there is never an end to something. It all just carries on to other things. I hope I am making sense.

My first meeting with the gallery's general manager, Deryck van Steenderen, went well on Thursday 21.04.2011, so after two days of celebrating, its time to begin grafting.

Checking out
Lees