Renovating & Trance Festivals

Today is the day of operation move in. It was so nice to see Snoot here bright and early. We had us some tea and had a look at my ad serving stats and then once we were done Snoot started the big job of tiling the section of the shop he was going to use for his tattoo studio. Sometimes that boetie of mine can really impress me. For someone who never laid a tile in his life, he did a hell of a good job! I also emailed a place called the Brow eyed Boy who sources art for clients and productions etc. I had hardly sent out that mail and I received a reply. Thsepo is crazy about what I do. He has asked me if he could add my skull creations on to their website! So more business coming in soon!

Again, another week has seen its ass! Friday already! Alex, Snoot and my-self worked really hard this week to renovate the shop. I was confident everything would be done by today, but unfortunately we haven’t managed to completely finished. Tuesday was Jackie’s mom’s funeral (R.I.P Tannie Marta), Thursday I had to sit at the gallery for the day as my “pay-back” for displaying my work at the gallery. Lionel came around to take some photographs of both my creations for the Jozi Artist Club Facebook Page. He has sent me the link of their Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/lionel.murcott/media_set?set=a.601749996550916.1073741829.100001477648775&type=1

Die Antwoord skull mounted in it's full glory

Shongololo Studio featured on the Design Tabloid a couple of days ago. Since then I had a couple of more likes on Facebook and people following my blog

Two weekends ago Alex and I decided to go to a trance festival just outside Dullstroom – I haven’t been to a festival in about 12 years. It was amazing better than I could ever have expected. Alex and my-self closed shop at 2 on Saturday and headed off towards Mpumalanga. We arrived just as the sun was setting. That night a huge fire  burning on the mountains. The festival there weren’t too many people, about a thousand or so, the event was very well organised. Lucian and Chris had also met up with us there. It felt to me like I was at a proper carnival at times. I met so many beautiful people! Andre, Chris Palmer, Jordan Jourran, my bergie maatjie and many many more. We ate pooitjiekos and LOADS of ice cream.  Ice cream more icea cream, pancakes (also supplied by the Pooitjikos dude) and waffles like none I ever had before. Danced until we dropped and then on Monday we headed back home. Thank you Alex, another adventure for us to remember, it was an awesome weekend in deed. .

There is only one...

DJ Chris Palmer & Jerry Jourdan xoxox

It has been a week since we started renovating the Home Brew Shop. What I thought would take a week now seems like I miss judged by at least two. The dry walling used to separate one section of the shop in order to make an office has come down. The shop looks much bigger. It felt to me while we were breaking down walls and going through 63 years worth of shit, that we were treasure hunting! We found so many old things but I must admit my favourite find was boxes and boxes full of old post stamps. So I have decided to start a new hobby – Post stamp collection. I have managed to start cataloguing some stamps and realised quickly this will be a L-O-O-O-O-NG term project. I have thus far sorted only a cell phone box full of stamps. It took me about 4 hours. I have already found 4 stamps worth 35 Euros!

Long term project 

Feature on the Design Tabloid

http://thedesigntabloid.com/

The Home brew shop, setting up pt2:

I cannot believe it is Friday today! This week has gone way too fast. This morning I had made a last turn at the Gallery to hang my favorite DIE ANTWOORD skull. This time I went with reinforcements, earlier this week I realized that a normal nail would not hold this skull, and to my delight I had a man with a plan, thank you Alex, my love. Lionel had called me last night to suggest rather than showcasing all my skulls, just to showcase AKA Fred, Larry & Bob and then DIE ANTWOORD skull. I also spoke to Juanita & Alex and we all agreed that would be the perfect thing to do.

Once DIE ANTWOORD skull was hung and in place I could not believe the shadow that the horns of this once beast cast below and around it, the skull becomes even bigger, more powerful looking. This is more than just a STATEMENT, it something I cannot quite yet put to words. I still need to organize some snacks and wine for the evening. We have decided a good red wine will be part of the celebration tonight and I am over the moon that some family and friends will come and enjoy the evening with me.

This coming Monday the big move takes place. Snoot will open his new Studio - JOZI INK, I will officially set up proper work space for Shongololo Studio. I have worked quite hard in the Home Brew Shop already over the past two weeks to help sort, organize and clean. New fresh look always calls for some spring cleaning. I am confident that by Wednesday we will be all settled in.

Today seemed to drag on forever! The longest day of my life, hands down. I only realized this morning how completely exhausted I am. None the less I know I will shine tonight. I am very glad that my brothers, my mom and my best friend all showed up. Skapie (Jackie) has been featured in one of my art work pieces: AKA – Fred, Larry and Bob. I absolutely loved the fact that I had wrote down that story, people read and loved it and then I could point out, you see that lady there... That’s Jackie the one that had the cockroach run out her pants! Lol, I think that particular night will be one of my fondest ever memory of my friend, I will always think of Skapie when I see a cockroach now and have a giggle.

Jackie - AKA - Skapie

People not only connected with me, they connected with my family, they sit and listen to us ramble on and giggle and they listen so attentively to us telling our stories of the rustle and bustle of our family life and life in general in the Poort. As the universe would have it, I forgot my phone was on and at the exact same moment that Lionel started reading a poetry piece out loud for the crowed it started ringing and ringing. I was not too sure what to do. Instead of thinking it through I started giggling and quickly ran out the gallery. I only pointed to my bag and whispered for my Alex to go and fetch it. Very embarrassing indeed, I did though remember my good Afrikaans manners and had apologized to Lionel later the evening.

Self portrait by Lionel Murcott

People had gone back to look at DIE ANTWOORD skull over and over again. I had stood in a corner many times over the couple of hours we were at the gallery to see what people’s expressions were, and it was awesome to see how many thought it was amazing. As the evening drew to an end I had a very gay gentleman wearing a lekka leopard print vest come up to me. He was still asking me about the skulls I paint and how he get what I do, and then the next minute whilst in conversation the dude had gone from speaking to breaking out in soprano song. I almost pissed myself. Alex looked at him, then me and then walked away telling me: “You deal with this!” In return I turned around looked at my mom and said: “I don’t know what to make of this??” I had laughed so much I had to walk away.

From there Alex and I came back to the shop to refill and then we went out dancing the night away at Aruba lounge. When we got there my favourite DJ of the establishment was playing, his name is Roo. As always he played exactly what my soul needed. We met a nice couple at Aruba who had bought us shooter after shooter.  Alex and my-self neither are big drinkers, so by the time the 10th shooter came around (Tequila) we both had burning stomachs. As we decided to go an old woman came to speak to us. This woman was a witch – kid you not! She spoke to us and Alex looked at me, looked at her and she repeated herself to me. I told her I cannot understand a thing you are telling me, she was speaking some language I could not understand. She looked at me with so much hate, rolled her eyes and walked away from me. Lucky or more like unlucky for Alex this witch then went ahead and rubbed his dick and told him: “If you are done playing come see a real woman.” Alex looked at me told me what she said and he said:” WHAT!!! WHAT!!” We could do nothing more than laugh and then leave.

From there we ended up at Lucian’s place and Lucian and Chris got their decks out and entertained us for the remainder of the evening. We went right throughout the night and when Saturday morning came along we moved the decks over to the Brew Shop. It was a long day in deed, but we managed to clean the shop in time for opening, had a shitload of customers throughout the day and Alex managed to survive the Brew class. From thereon we went home. We went to bed really late, I was up until 12 that night helping Kaelyn with her school project. I slept like a rock, only to discover another funny story. Alex who never sleepwalks decided to do it so the previous night. My mom woke up thinking her other Great Dane was jumping on her bed, she thought it strange as one was already on the bed, and they never got on the bed together. To my mom’s surprise when she felt in the dark who was on the bed it was not the dogs, neither my children it was Alex. She woke him up and told him:” I think you took a wrong turn.”

When Alex and my mom told me this story I was close to tears! Alex even told Snoot Sunday morning that he had slept with my mother, lol. Not telling him the full story. I told Alex I am very surprised the dog sleeping next to my mom didn’t do anything, it was unlike Cleo. Alex was a very lucky man in deed. Sunday is the only day we rest so that is exactly what we did. Took the kids for a train ride and then had a braai. We watched a movie to end off the evening.

The Home Brew Shop, Setting up

I have also done some paintings/collages it came out awesome, Snoot had asked me if he could hang it in his studio, and of course I said with the greatest of pleasure J I also have a bag full of new oil paints that I have not touched, but when the right time comes and the inspiration hits me I know I can just drag out the canvas and start painting.

More great news after deciding to set up studio in Emmarentia on the premises of the Home Brew shop, the opportunity was given to Snoot to join into a new venture and move his studio into the same premises. The shop is a double up, two shops one space. We have used the one side up until now as a lounge and on weekends it gets used for people to attend a course on making home brewed beer. Being taught the art of brewing by one of the top five brewing minds in all of South-Africa, a self confessed hippie and at times a philosopher with endless witty jokes is more than just enjoyable. And by word of mouth there are people coming more frequently from afar to attend these courses, it just speaks for itself definitely one of the things most boys can add to their bucket list.

The home Brew shop has been situated in Emmarentia for 63 years! Same spot, same family owned. Not only does this shop supply and teach you everything you need know to brew beer, they can also do that for wine and cheese making. In the time I have spent here over the last couple of weeks I have picked on some import things that I think most of you don’t know about. I will give some examples:

1: If you brew your own beer it is completely free from preservatives and you can keep the beer you brew FOREVER! It will never go bad!

2: If you invest in the initial R960 for your beer kit you will be geared up with all the instruments needed to brew beer and your first brew ingredients, thereafter you will only pay R160 for every brew you would like to make. Every brew produces 50 bottles of beer!

3: The shop owner is available 24/7 to answer and help customers with quries – Customer Care like you have not seen before!

4: God forbid you screw up the brew, you can bring in the what would have been beer and have it turned in to whiskey.

5: There are too many people in this world that does not understand the rule – DON’T OPEN THE BUCKET!  If you do this whilst the brew is in the bucket you are pretty much screwed, it amazes me how many people does not listen to this instruction..... Curiosity killed the cat, or in this instance brew.

Pretty Hops

Creativity and the night of the famous barber DOEP

I came upon an Artists competition whilst Googeling the other day that is hosted by ABSA Bank. The competition is calledL’Atelier, it is a competition for new up and coming young Artists and the three prizes that can be won is more than just amazing. I have already decided that I will be entering this competition, closing date is only the first week in March 2014 I have more than enough time to find the right skull and come up with an amazing design for my creation. I would love to win one of the prizes, all prizes include some sort of a trip to study at an Art institution,  it could be in America (LA), France or Italy. Prizes include payment of the tuition and also a flat for the duration of your studies and some spending moola and of course you would be a part of the grand exhibition hosted by ABSA at the end of the competition.

Since the separation from my ex husband I have had a tremendous urge again to become creative I have always found that at times when things were a bit rough and tough I could lose myself easily when I through myself into creating art work or reading. Reading has taken a step back especially after my Kindell broke – one of those joys of having kids. Luckily I am not attached to my earthly possessions, I don’t really have any and I have made peace about ten years ago with the fact that for as long as I have young children in my midst nothing I own is mine to keep as it is inevitable that the kids will f@#$ck it up.

As soon as I started my new life I immediately through myself into creating art pieces, mostly just for the fun of it after all I now had “me time” for the first time in 15 years, and it kept my mind off things in life that had actually stressed me out too much. Also every single art work I ever created had found itself into someone’s home and had brought smiles to the owners faces  and some great reviews had been given to me, I absolutely love it when people see my work and praise me for the beauty and quality of it. My first art work I start upon the journey of finding myself again was a pencil drawing, it took a couple of months to finish for the mere fact that midway I stopped working on it for no real reason, I only finished it the night before my birthday party, this art work was displayed the night of my party next to where the Dj’s was spinning the decks.

Pencil Drawing

The night before my birthday party was of course the same night of the famous haircut Doep gave Snoot. Snoot, had come to visit me for the weekend at Bob’s house and of course we were having a grand old visit. Hours and hours had passed, it must have been about four in the morning, I had just finished my drawing when I realised what time it is and that I was planning on having my hair shaved 8 hours ago. Snoot’s hair had been looking a bit kak itself a bit like Beetle Juice to long on the sides. I had suggested Snoot shaves a bit off the sides to avoid looking like that Beatle juice Character as it is he has at least one security guard following him when he enters ANY shop. He wasn’t too keen but then Doep had mentioned his dad was the barber of the army in his days and he knew how to give a haircut.

With my clippers ready Doep who has not had any sleep in 5 nights, Snoot having spent three and a half hours not so long ago giving me a lekka tattoo of a raven and who is also now suffering a  lack of sleep, the sha-vathon kicked off. Doep went ahead and not only shaved Snoot’s hair all round, but he had cut him a new f@#cking hairline!! Snoot’s haircut in short was almost the end of my life! Hoe later hoe kwater – By the time Snoot had sat another 6 hours to tattoo Trevor and Mary (Who I had met at Aruba Lounge) he thought his main job for the remainder of the evening was to show me right in my face every two minutes the new hairline, compliments from Doep.

I practically had to beg Snoot to stay away from me. I was either going to die laughing or I was going to piss myself – neither one of these two seemed like my idea of fun on my bestest ever birthday party. I had ended up a curled in a foetal position about 2 meters from the bathroom for what felt like at least half an hour.

On the following occasion that the time came for Snoot to have a haircut he had left it in my hands. Just like me, Snoot also loves DIE ANTWOORD, we sit and listen to their music, rap to their lyrics and piss ourselves as we do so. We keep on agreeing, some of the best ever lyrics to ever hit the Afrikaans music scene. We can relate, he gets them like me and some other like-minded people I know. Snoot wants a haircut like Ninja, most important we need to get rid of that very weird looking hairline Doep had shaved and make it less noticeable.

So the beginning to the zef haircut starts. I shave it with sheer perfection, I have a very steady hand and if it can be so steady whilst I paint, shaving won’t be a problem. And the results as expected was perfect indeed, another two or so shaves and snoot will have a true Ninja haircut. I also like Yolandi Visser’s haircut, but I have already shaved all my hair off and must say I am completely happy leaving it this way. 

Exhibition, keeping the ball rolling

I had met Lionel Mulcott today when I dropped off my CV (as I called it Artists Info..) that was needed to accompany my creations for the exhibition. When he opened the door I knew straight away who he was, the man who had invited me to be a part of the exhibition. He looked like an Artist, well aged with a long grey beard. He had a gentle voice, gentle smile and wore glasses. Hippy looking a lot like me – I already like this man J. After I introduced myself I had asked him to see his art work he will be putting up for display for the exhibition, and just like me his subject matter seen to have been of everyday life, his son listening to his music with earphones and one very beautiful self portrait done with acrylic. I also got to meet another artist that will be displaying her work, Wanita – she does the most amazing collages with paint, textiles and pencil. She cuts out the pictures and then she mounts them between 2 pieces of glass with little clamps on the side, I cannot wait t show these to my friends and family that will be joining me on the opening night, something unusual and very pleasing to the eye.

I contacted my Hindi brother Bevan to let him know my web page was up and running (Laarnie  AKA –SNOOT and from here-on out I will refer to my young boet as that: SNOOT) still needs to upload the photographs of my creations,  so is my blog and my Facebook Page. I now need him and

My-Lanie to start work on my Google Adwords. I could not have asked anyone better to help me out with this. The Google master and her sidekick who is also known as Bevan EQ behind the decks.

Bevan& me rocking the OMD Agency of the Year Pa-ty

Bevan has mixed some awesome sets over the past few years that we have worked close together I have heard every single one of them and this boy deserves to have his dream come true. Playing for a crowd of a few thousand having them move to every beat that he creates. In the near future I will help my brother live that dream. With all this living laughing and creativeness flowing through me it has rubbed off on the brew master and it seems like soon we will be throwing a big party, Bevan EQ will future as one of the DJ’s for sure! Another possible two DJ’s if they are keen, one of those I know am will also join. Terry Shaman (Skateboarder of note, see the little boys going on about that old toppie on his deck), who also had won a 4^th place at the Maloof cup in Kimberley this year in the amateur performance – Well done CAVEMAN! And DJ Pat (Patrick Opperman) who was introduced to me by Terry, Terry said Patrick had taught him how to mix decks. I have for many years not heard such quality beats be dropped by anyone.

Patrick

Terry AKA - Caveman

Whilst I am on the subject of music our Lucian have also promised us a night with his decks. He plays we dance... I have for the first time the other night got the beat, it was amazing... Music, wow, wow, wow!!  In the past years I have met a handful of people that seemed to get more ( a deeper meaning to music) than I had, I have seen this on the dance floor, but I have never questioned people about this. One night not so long ago I got it, dancing has always been one of my favorite things to do, even when it comes to cleaning house. Now I dance, with no effort, the music flows through me and I don’t think I will ever get tired of doing it.  Best of all is I found someone that I can only hope will dance with me just like that until the end of time.

DIE ANTWOORD

To get back to DIE ANTWOORD skull, I had seen a particular skull at the Taxidermist; it was of some kind of goat, 4 horns. Evil looking and it cost quite a bit of moola. So the idea was that I was going to buy that skull then design and paint it and then I was going to contact DIE ANTWOORD and give it to them as a Christmas gift.  I painted that skull in a week that was to put it simple emotionally draining. Hospitals – Helen Joseph, I have already instructed people that if ever I need help rather kill me than take me to that place! I could also go in to detail on this, but decided to rather just send my complaint to the head of that gadamn institution instead. I will post the letter to my blog once I have gotten around to-do so.  

I had been closely inspecting one of the skulls Mark from Empire Tattoo gave me, I have not told him yet, but for the greater good of mankind and my art creation I am about to come up with I am now using the most evil looking thing I could have imagined – thank you Mark ;) This skull reminds me of those disfigured faces they have on one of their music video's

So with the way the week went I had a lot of inspiration and the right emotional mind sent not only to create a mind blowing skull design but to find myself once again completely lost in time and space of my own mind. At times I am painting for hours not eating drinking or smoking not realising how much time has actually past. But I continue to work almost non-stop until I have achieved greatness and then sit back and marvel about what I have created. DIE ANTWOORD skull is a piece that I don’t particular feel like selling, but knowing myself I will end up with many of those and if I want to achieve greatness I must let my skulls go, plus I have this dream that I could maybe even reach them to come and buy this creation I made them for themselves. The owners who invest in my skulls creations will have chosen them for their own particular reason and it will become something very special to them as it is for me.

Another very exciting piece of news have reached me, I have set aside time every week to send out emails. I target a few shops, galleries and events by going on Google and searching for them, accessing websites and seeing what they sell or specialise in.  On one occasion Alex and I took a drive out to Parkhurst and I had written down the names of a couple of places in Parkhurst I could contact to see if anyone would be interested in doing some kind of business with me. One of these places I had contacted was The Gallery on 6^th, Parkhurst. I had called ahead the week before and I spoke to Anthony that works for the gallery, it was one of the first phone calls I made. I was greeted by a very sincerely and helpful gentleman in deed he had given me all the information I needed in order to make contact with the right people and he went as far as to say I should send my email not only to another contact but to him personally and he would then print it and give it to the Artists that makes up the Gallery to have a look at. Thank you Anthony! Because of you I have been invited to join an exhibition of artists at The Gallery on 6^th this coming Friday 1 November, and it will be running until 22 November.  My first exhibition, wow....

After I read the invite to exhibit, I read it again and again – this is what I have been hoping for, this is what I had set out to do. If you put it out there it will happen, another philosophy of a great mind. Then keep on believing, it will happen. And so it did. Here I am six weeks into my dream, my adventure, and I have accomplished what other Artists work for, for many years, most of them achieving even this. I am so thankful that Lionel Murcott had seen my work, and he gets me, gets what I do and together with some other “clubbers” as they call themselves have given me the opportunity to show people in the art world what I do. Big night is around the corner, my art work has been submitted my pride and joy out of all of them DIE ANTWOORD skull will definitely be one of my works chosen to be on display. After viewing another few Artists work whilst I was at the Gallery I think about another person I have met – Kevin Love, famous graffiti artists and all round say it as it is does not give a shit bra. Kevin Love is definitely someone to keep an eye on he always comes up with amazing art work. I have seen him in action and I was amazed by his talent. Also if you keep an eye on his Facebook you will see that he not only graffiti’s, but he is an all round Artist also creating some unusual excellent art pieces.

I have requested that Mr. Cooper send me the photographs of DIE ANTWOORD skull ASAP.  I would like to post it on their Facebook Page and send out email to their possible contact emails I think might be able to reach them on. I know I can definitely reach them through the WAT KYK JY Blog, but I have already received an email back from Griffin to say they are in the States, and they are going to have a braai off with the Americans (Only back on 3 November :/)...

                                          Best South African Blog EVER! WAT KYK JY??

Even though the timing is bad for me, I wish them luck and hope they kick some ass. I don’t particular like braaivleis too much, but BBQ is for pissies. I have seen how the Scottish (but I do presume every other European country as well) BBQ and throwing some sausages you get at the supermarket that is meant for pan frying on a grill and coals is the silliest thing I have ever seen. So now I have one way of getting through to them and that is on Facebook. Not only will they get to see this skull, a lot of their fans will too and I betcha a hell of a lot of them are in and around Johannesburg. I am sending DIE ANTWOORD an invite to go to this exhibition and purchase this creation of mine. Again putting it out there... It will come, if not now and not the way I expected, I can know with reassurance that sometime in the near future it will happens as it should.