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

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Lees

Day 126. 26 .08.2011

10:45-11:15

I have just dropped off the pieces at Rococo Studio Gallery in Buitenkant, which is the venue of my exhibition.  The wine and series of works are now at the gallery. Deryck and I have officially confirmed everything that is still needed to be done , and have planned to next meet on Wednesday , after all the pieces have been put up and the gallery has been set up for the opening.

11:15

Tshakgi Mannya of Aluxism, who is my stylist, has informed me that she will be landing in the next two hours in Cape Town. This is exciting, as I will soon be able to see my garment. She has also informed me that she will be bringing a friend and make-up artist with her, Patiance Mavuso (who I actually got to meet in Long Street later that afternoon)  to do my make-up for the night .

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Day 88 . 19 .07.2011

It’s my second day back at school, and I am feeling good about this semester. I am more focus on settling in than trying to do a lot in a short space of time. I know I am a natural at multi-tasking, however I was recently told by a concerned friend that she thinks I over work myself and that I will burn out before November. I found statement hilarious, but I am also aware that her statement might be true. So until I feel settled this week, only then will I continue work for the exhibition.

In my previous posts I spoke about Fashion week and strangely enough didn’t see the need to be snapping away and uploading images. This image below was spotted on the Elle website and next to me is Tshakgi Mannya of Aluxism, who is designing my two garments for the opening of my exhibition. Thank you for the feature Elle.

Here is a link to see my extremely stylish friends who have also been featured  http://www.elle.co.za/fashion/out-and-about-at-ctfw/  


Check out the Elle website http://www.elle.co.za

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Lees

Day 86 . 17 .07.2011

Fashion week was crazy. So crazy that Tshakgi Mannya and I weren't able to speak about the garment that she is designing and creating for the opening. I wasn’t aware that she was making two garments, but knowing her, she wants her clients to have options. Thank you Aluxism. Today she leave’s for Johannesburg, as Cape Town Fashion Week is over and I think all that attended can say that it was a great success.

I am overwhelmed by the response to my request of needing people who would be able to shoot the documentary. I have males and females who are extremely interested and talented which is amazing, however, their portfolio is what matters the most to me. I start varsity tomorrow and I hope that I will be able to make time for as many meetings with these talented candidates as possible, so I can make a decision on who I will be working with by the end of the week. I will start shooting on the 21^st August 2011 and onto the 1^st September.

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Day 83 . 14 .07.2011

Cape Town fashion week has begun. This is my favourite time of the year, as the streets are filled with quirky and chic individuals all over the city. Yesterday was the Foschini AFI FASTRACK event. This event is the official opening of Fashion Week and it gave new design students and fashion entrepreneurs a platform to display their visual interpretation of what fashion is today. This event was held at the CTICC in the city centre and most importantly, it was for free.

There were plenty of speakers, discussing the process in which a designer takes, from the idea itself to how the garment or collection is put on the shelves in retail stores. Foschini showcased its new range and so did twenty graduate students from fashion colleges.

I wasn’t able to stay as long, however I was able to see Karla Hyman, Pietrie Morton, Tina Loftus and Dalena Le Roes.  My favourite designer was Dalena Le Roes. Her collection was inspired by the 1960’s style icon Audrey Hepburn and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis .Her range’s signature look elements were the perfect handbags , polka dot prints and capri pants.

She kept it simple and had very elegant appearances on each model. She emphasized the models tall and slim physique and I too could see that they felt sexy in their garments.

Overall it was a great afternoon spent with Mpilo Ngcukana (founder and designer for Simon Deporres along with Simon Pocock) and Tshakgi Mannya (Aluxism) and much needed after spending a morning filled with admin for the exhibition.

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Day 81 . 12 .07.2011

The lovely Tshakgi Mannya, who is designing a garment for me, for the opening of the exhibition, is in town. As expected, she would tell me to drop everything I had planned and go with her to the Cape Town Fashion Week dinner launch hosted by AFI in Mouille Point; at an Italian restaurant we locals love, called Pepenero. AFI's aim is to promote and develop South Africa and African fashion and bring it into the mainstream. The night was great and everyone in the room looked so stylish. I met a lot of fun and warm people and found myself clubbing with them later.

Allana Finley (Marketing manager of AFI) welcomed us all with a great introduction about the purpose of the night and Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe (Chairperson of AFI - African Fashion International) spoke to us about Africa's vision for fashion and how it effects the economy, how it contributes positively to our continent socially and how far we have come as a continent in the world of fashion.

I bumped into my friend Kwena Baloyi (Fashion Assistant for Drum) and finally met Oratile Seabela (new Fashion Editor of Drum) who is so genuine and warm. Our table was filled with women, which resulted in a lot of gossip and laughter.

Thank you to the AFI team for an amazing night. I am looking forward to a week of fashion.

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Day 64 . 25 .06.2011

Hey


Yesterday, I spent my morning at standard bank, sending in the payment for the running of the exhibition, as well as registering for internet banking. The process was exhausting but now it is done.

Tshakgi Mannya of Aluxism, who is designing my outfit for the night of my opening, confirmed that she is in the process of making my garment. I am so excited and nervous at the same time. I guess for the next two months, I won’t be able to gain weight. This is major challenge for me, as I am a food lover.

Today, I am doing my last shoot for the month. I am excited for this edgy approach that I think my team and I are heading with this one. Kim Beck, the make-up artist and Morgan Strutt the model (and amazing artist who has helped me come up with the concept) and I will be doing a nude shoot out in the cold. I can’t wait for it.

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Day 45 . 06 .06.2011

 

The outfit, the after-party and the poster….

My designer, Tshakgi Mannya of Aluxism, is going back to Johannesburg this evening. I shall miss her, but at least we were able to narrow down the many options that we had spoken about as well as collected together, since we last spoke about collaborating.  I am excited to see what she comes up with, as we are in separate cities so I won’t be able to be a part of the creation every step of the way.

I almost forgot about focusing on what I would like to do after the opening of the exhibition. Normally people host big after-parties, but I would like to go to a place that caters for both markets, that is central and has an amazing vibe on a Thursday night, and the only place that came to mind was The Waiting Room, which is above Royale Eatery in Long Street. I emailed Simone, one of the managers, and asked whether it would be possible to have those who are keen to jam afterwards there and she agreed. The idea isn’t to have a private party, but for my guests to go somewhere afterwards, to hang out and listen to good music and obviously celebrate the success of the opening. She mentioned that the DJ’s will be playing their set from 9pm, so everyone could come along after the opening as the please and that they will be no cover charge. YAY!

I spoke to Lisa Robertson, (who is the graphic designer working on the poster) to inform her on where I would like my guest to join me after the exhibition, so that she would include that information on the poster. She will be working on the poster this week and by next week, it should be ready. I can’t wait to see how it looks. I am fortunate to be working with people who completely understand my vision and who know me, and so I am able to let them do their own thing without any anxiety from my side.

Happy birthday to my friend of many years and supporter of 131 days (right from the start), Palesa Sankoloba, I hope your day was amazing.

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Day 44 . 05 .06.2011

Inspiration


On the 14^th post, which was on the 6^th May, I mentioned that designer and stylist Tshakgi Mannya of Aluxism approached me, offering to do collaboration in designing a garment for me to wear on the night of the opening of my exhibition. As I said in the last post, she is inspired by everything and that’s what Aluxism means. Her brand, Aluxism is the movement of being inspired, which is expressed in her own interpretation of her daily surroundings through fashion.

Ms Mannya is in Cape Town for the weekend and on Friday when we met, which was tons of fun, she mentioned ideas of creating a jumpsuit. One can never go wrong with a jumpsuit. She proposed using lace for the top half of it, and still hasn’t thought of the material for the bottom half. I love lace. If I had to give personality traits to the material lace, I would say it is sensual, feminine and understated. However, she also mentioned tea stains on the material. These are just ideas, so I will confirm the final design when I see her later on today.

I spent the day outside. I never thought it was this possible to experience so many moments of seeing beauty. This week’s weather was bewildering, as some days would start off warm and then an hour later extremely cold. The Gods were moody this week and finally today, they were at peace. My phone is giving my problems and so I can’t upload the image I took, and I didn’t take my camera with because I was walking the dogs. Have a beautiful Sunday and good luck to all those writing exams.

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Day 14 . 06 .05.2011

Happy news...

I am taking pictures that speak to me again. I am in such high spirits. The question I keep on asking myself is, “are these the images that I want to exhibit?”. I want to speak about the theme and post some of the images so badly, but I can’t as there would be no point in having the exhibition if I do. I haven’t shown my family, close friends or mentors (as of yet). At this point, I feel so alone in this process. Part of doing the whole art thing in general, is that there is always that one person, who you can go to and discuss, in depth, the '5 W's'.

The 5 W's are when, why, what, whom, where. These questions normally give one direction and a solid reason to their approach and an overall concept.

Besides spending a lot of time day dreaming about this exhibition, its ambience, the amount of people who will honour me with their presence, which people will come,  if they will understand my work, whether they will appreciate it , wondering if people are actually reading this blog and lastly, what I would possibly wear.

Tshakgi Mannya a young talented fashion junkie based in Johannesburg has offered to collaborate, in designing a dress for me to wear on my special night. She began her career in fashion in 2008, as a Lisof student. She decides to go into the business of fashion instead of design, also known as the commercial stream. She is inspired by everything and that’s what Aluxism means. Her brand, Aluxism is the movement of being inspired, but expressed through her own interpretation of her daily surroundings. Her fashion icons are Tom Ford, Elizabeth Taylor and Gavin Rajah as each has a quality she can identify with.

She has offered to collaborate in designing a dress for me, to wear on my special night. This is exciting. I have never had someone offer, to create a garment for me, let alone as a gift for my big night. Not only do I have to think of ideas for this exhibition, but now I have to think of colours and designs. 1^st September is obviously not the Grammy’s so no ball gowns thank you. However, in celebration of a new start, first day of spring and me reaching a goal of mine, a feminine and long dress doesn’t sound too bad. The first colours that come to mind are yellow. I know, how typical, but I think it’s a beautiful and happy colour. I can’t wait to start this process. I have ideas in my head already. I could draw it, but bringing something as a dress design on paper, to life isn’t my forte. I have always had an appreciation for fashion, and I think a lot of my friends and family know that. That’s enough excitement for one day.

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