Quirkville

Not the greatest picture, my apologies... had to make sure I didn't spill my delicious cocktail. I have my priorities right after all - however, I digress.

Any one who knows or has met me, will attest to the fact that I love almost anything quirky by way of accessories. From earrings of platters of sushi, money, sink plugs and even real chappies bubblegum to handbags made out of newspaper and *almost* everything in between; I do love interesting items. Accessories with a difference, creative and original, with a certain 'je ne sais quoi', if you will, all find a happy place in my villa of quirk.

So of course this Marie biscuit broche thingy caught my eye. Seeing it made me all warm and fuzzy; the same feeling I would get from a marshmallow and marie sarmie.

The lady wearing it wouldn't tell me where she got it, but now I'm inspired! Either to find it, or have 'my quirk guy' make it for me. Wonder what other foods could we use?

[Insert evil laugh bwuahahaaahaha]

Quirkville makes me happy

Creative Activist: Max Mogale

The latest instalment of 'Creative Activist' feature goes to all round nice guy, with a smile that lights up a room, and an eye that captures the soul of street culture - Max Mogale, who, according to his bio is just a guy who 'takes photos', and that 'everything else is a distraction'. The 26-year-old Cape Town based photographer from Bloemfontein gives us a peek into his heart, mind, brokedom, and on being a guerilla grapher.

1. Who is Max?

Max is a young, black male who just lives in Cape Town and happens to take photos

2. When did photography become a love?  

I never really knew I was a photographer until other people told me my pics were good. I just always saw it as a picture being a representative of my minds eye

3. How would you describe being creative?

I'm not sure there's really a description to being creative. It's such a broad subject. I think its all subjective (or is it objective? Always confuse these two) really. Cause at the end of the day what you produce is a reflection of how you see the world. Sometimes people like it, and some times they don't.


4.What do you think people take from your work?


Well I've been told all kinds of things about what people take from my work. But mostly I've heard that I am able to capture people in a light that they never saw themselves under. Basically people say I make them look pretty.


5. What do you think of the industry in Cape Town


It's cool. I've been lucky enough to "rise through the ranks" quicker than most other people. Not to say I'm running shit, just to say a lot of people know about my work which I never would have expected to happen so fast. Generally a photographer takes a while to get a name for himself. I, by the grace of a higher power, managed to kinda skip that.

6. You had an exhibition at a park last year, why?

It was kinda interesting. Well I had decided since the year was about to be over I wanted to have an exhibition but I wasn't too sure how to go about it without actually having to pay a lot of money. So what I decided was to print my pictures out and do a guerrilla exhibition. I invited all who wanted to see to a Picnic/Exhibition and asked everybody to bring their picnic goods. I chose a massive tree at De Waal Park and decided to hang all my pictures from the branches, that way it was fun, free and people got to hang out outside. Overall I think it was a great success

7. Why are you The Guerilla-Grapher?   

 
Well when I started taking photography seriously I didn't really know what all the rules where with regards to shooting in public places. And being in Cape Town, I realised that it's really hard to shoot anywhere without any permission. So I used to just do it anyway. But guerrilla like. So I would go somewhere and if there were cops or anything I'd hang back till they left. I would shoot as much as I could and then I would leave. I was like a fine mist, you could see me but you couldn't exactly touch me. Hahahaha!

8. Most memorable experiences since you started? 

 
O wow, so many things - being kicked out of places for not being allowed there, almost being arrested, Co.Lab, being broke. Actually being broke has to be the most memorable. Haha!

9.If you weren’t a photographer, what else would you do? 

Not too sure hey. I've done all kinds of jobs in my life. I used to be a door to door salesman, a call centre agent, a packer at a Pick n Pay, one of those guys who sprays perfumes in department stores, and even a backstage manager for events. I only did those jobs because a) I was broke and b) I just wanted to know what it feels like to do a job you NEVER wanna do again. And I'm also almost finished getting a degree in Marketing from UNISA. SO I'd probably be doing something like that

10. What are the low lights of what you do? 

Being broke cause there's no salary at the end of the month. Hands down!

11. How do people perceive your photography?  

Apparently more well then I thought. When I first got into this I didn't do it for the money. I still don't really. But there are people out there who are willing to pay top dollar for a good photograph. And I have no problem with that.

12. Wish list of the things you'd like to do with your work?

Well one of my first wishes is coming true. I'm moving into my own photography studio soon. At the moment that is keeping me happy enough. Although I really would love to do a travelling exhibition around the world to show people my work. That would be great

The end

We love Max. Check out some reviews and interviews by others who love The Guerrilla Grapher on : Studio 83, One Small Seed, Between 10 and 5, Fairlady magazine,75, design times, Pink Lyte and Mosaic! :)


Or stalk him: www.guerrillagrapher.co.za
www.twitter.com/maxmatshane

Music @ Vaudeville: FreshlyGround

I'd like...

Okay, maybe I hadn't wanted to believe it before, but I do love me some Freshlyground; from the days of Nomvula. That song, particularly, touched something deep inside of me - it is about the loss of her mother when she was a child, the emotions of it all, how her father tried to be strong. My mother passed away when I was 14, and to this day, I'm still dealing (kinda) with the pain. 

Side note:

I don't really know much about the band - and I'd like to keep it that way - they make beautiful music and I'm happy with that. I have a problem with probing into an artist's story, background etc; their craft is their story in my mind and heart. 


Back to the show:

Friends and I got some free tickets to attend Freshlyground show at Vaudeville on Sunday 27 June. I was excited for most of the week leading up to the event and it truly was the highlight of June. We arrived at around 9pm, as the ticket stated that as being start time, and we were looking forward to a fun and 'early' night. Alas, the band only came on at 11pm. We weren't impressed, but forgave them anyway. 

The Band:

The whole band is full of energy, love, spirit, and from the first seconds to the end of encore, their passion is consistent. There were two guitarists, a drummer, violinist, who also sings, flute, keyboard, and trumpet and, as I said, they make beautiful music! Other than Zolani, I have no idea the names or roles of the other band members. I'm proudly ignorant on this one. 

Zolani - lead singer -was wearing a very cute bubbly black dress with thin straps (I think), butterfly bedazzled black tights, well worn black all stars and the most interesting cropped jacket made of wire, and there was a string of wire butterflies hanging from her belt. Clearly this girl loves butterflies. 

Trackist:

I can't remember the song they opened with because I was jumping up and down with pleasure that after so many years of support and not having seen them live, I was about to experience an amazing evening with FG. 

'Baba wabatwana bam' - was the second song, vernac story titled 'father of my children'. After that, followed 'Zithande', which 'love yourself. I'd heard this song once or twice before, but had no idea of the title. It's too happy go lucky for me, but I do enjoy the message of self love. Inspired by Mozambique, the next track was ' Moto' which is featured in their fourth album, the recently released 'Radio Africa'. Before they started, we were taught the chorus so we could sing along, it was fun, and I appreciated how much the band engaged with audience. 


An instrumental session, which felt like an intriguing and mysterious journey, was a great sugeu while the vocalists relaxed for a bit after which Zolani's voice truly blew me away on the popular song 'Butterfly'. 
We were then kept on the story of love for the seventh song 'Genie of love' and were quizzed on 'What kind of thing do you fall in then fall out of' as an intro

Leading into 'Potbelly', Zolani told a stroy of 'ibompie' - an ice lolly in bag. I never liked the song, but now understanding the story behind it, I like it. 
She says that as a chubby kid, she was nicknamed "ibompie" because she was a cute little round child. She must have been so adorable.
I love that she loves her full bodied self and she probably inspires little girls to love themselves the way they are. 
Potbelly is really a feel good song, with lyrics like this, you have to agree: 
'Fat thighs, flabby arms, potbellies that give good loving, summer love in the winter time, still gives good loving…'. 
The final two songs were 'fire is slow' from new album, which sounded very familiar, and then the old favourite, Doobeedoo to leave the crowds on a high. Of course, as with any good show, we screamed for an encore. The lively band ran back on stage and left us with a fun rendition of 'Waka waka', one of the official World Cup anthems. Thankfully Shakira didn't show up. 


Finally:
Even though it's big, Vaudeville has an awesome intimate feel to it and the sound is good, which is not always high on the priority of most venues in Cape Town. One day I would like to attend one of their dinner theatre events - have heard great things about the nights. 


Freshlyground have a fan in me forever; their music speaks of the truths of life: fun, happiness, sadness, love, loss, experience, travel, beauty, emotion, and living. Blessings.


Thanks to these seven energetic individuals having fun together on stage for a memorable Sunday night (Monday morning really)
At first I was annoyed it took until close to midnight for the show to start, but the wait was well worth it.


Unfortunately they didn't belt out the tearjerker song 'Nomvula', nor did they grace me with the most beautiful love song ever 'I'd Like', so when I got home I listened to them over and over and imagined they did it live, just for me. 

LIVE in Berlin!!!

Before you watch, let me tell you the story preceding this little embarrassing act.

About 2 years ago, while on my globetrotting job, Ben (fellow traveler) and I went to visit a friend in Berlin. At about 3am, we stumbled along to catch a bus to our hotel. Slightly inebriated and a little chilly, I got bored waiting at the bus stop, so I decided to entertain myself with the playlist on my ipod.

The results.... Can you guess the song?

I've learnt to laugh at myself.

Thank me later: Old Spice

No, we aren't giving kudo's to Drake's new album. (I can't believe I even know that)


We are, however, thanking the lad from the new Old Spice commercials, as well as the creators.
Brilliant script, hilarious, well shot and just down right what every girl needs!


Watch, enjoy, and thank me later





AND...





Happiness. Agree?

Whisky / Whiskey? Whatever.

Recently I've found myself enjoying the robust taste of good whiskey - enjoyed neat, on the rocks, with lemonade, with pure mango juice - and the one I'm loving at the moment is so yummy. Smooth, full of life, potent and just delicious. I tremble at the taste because it is just that good.

Which one, you ask? 

It's The Balvenie,  Single malt scotch whisky Doublewood (matured in two distinct oak casks) - unfortunately the quality comes with quite the price tag. Retailing at around R550 per 750ml bottle. 






The point of this post, however, is not the alcohol, but rather this really awesome notebook created by Here Design

I want it. I want it. I want it. 


Not only for its beauty, but also because the art follows function. The notebook allows drinkers to document their whisky journey. Yay. 

Source: Found on Miss Moss's post appreciating Here Design site

Puma Unity at Studio One CT

Recently Puma held an exhibition with New York based visual artist Kehinde Wiley as part of their campaign called Legends Of Unity.

The launch, which was held on the June 24, was a classy affair. I got there quite late due to being bound to bed by the evil virus called the flu, but I didn’t miss too much. Anyway, for a Cape Town event, on a cold night, it was very well attended. The crowd was an interesting mix of different people from the ‘right’ circles, the ‘not so right, but okay’ circles and the rest of us who just go along to experience creativity and beauty.  DJ Kenzhero graced us with his skill on the music front, Liquid Chefs kept the drinks a flow and of course Kehinde’s original portraits of African soccer on African print background were riveting, beautiful and not overwhelmingly interesting – as in, us of lay terms and without our guru status when it comes to art could enjoy and even have a conversation about the pieces.

The artwork is a marriage of portraits, art, and fashion with an African touch.  www.kehindewiley.com

Thomas from 5fm interviewing Kehinde

My highlight for the night though, was the sight of God’s gift to women; the oh so tall, dark chocolate, oh so gorgeous Djimon Honsoou. If the name doesn’t immediately send imagery to your mind, think of that hotness from Blood Diamond. Aaah. It’s coming to you now isn’t it.  Let me burst the bubble. He’s married, to the ex Mrs. Russel Simmons, Kimora Lee Simmons. (I don’t know why she hasn’t taken his surname.)

The exhibition ran until July 3 – it was wonderful while it lasted.

source

Good on Puma for taking advantage of the World Cup. 

Could you be any more delusional?

This past weekend I had a secret and impromptu trip to Johannesburg. Met with some friends, chilled with my dad, and had a bash of a time. All very rushed, surreal and most enjoyable. 


Returning to Cape Town on Sunday night was extremely difficult, but I was ready to get back to my life after 24hrs of escape to the big bad city. And this is when the drama started (and ended)

Source

Arriving in the check-in line at O.R. Tambo, I noticed that some 20 odd people had been practicing bad behavior by going beyond the the spot you stand while waiting to be called to the tellers to check in. Winding through the roped area to get to the final 'next' spot, I chose not to continue with the disregarding of queue 'rules', and so I waited where I was supposed to, and let the ten or so people in front of me get served and clear up the area - even though they weren't in the right spot. This is when this short, dirty haired, bespectacled and croc 'shoe' wearing wretched oldish woman of European descent stood in front of me wanting to carry on with this bad behavior displayed by others before us. I strongly and firmly suggested that she mozy on back to where she came from and stand behind me in line as that was her position. We had a heated, low decibal shouting match after which she succumbed to the logic of my words and huffed her way back to her spot behind me. At that point I was slightly annoyed as she had become a little aggressive and was making less sense with every sentence, finally, to get the last word in,  she threw one hell of stink bomb into the argument:


Verbatim and said loud enough for the other non black people in line to hear her so called bravado in an attempt to stand up for herself : "So this is the new South Africa is it?"


I was stunned. Stuck between throwing my head back and laughing ala 'Zulu on my stoep' style or slapping the superiority complex out of her so that her ancestors would understand my annoyance with her stupidity, I was fuming with digust. 
Tallying my options and possible repercussions, I gave a small exasperated laugh, accompanied by a 'you are a crazy bitch' look, I asked her what race or the new (16 year old) South Africa had to do with the fact that rules are rules? Before she could answer, a white (yes, his race is important for this story) gentleman further back in the queue shouted over to the crazy cow that I was right, and that she was fool to even say what she had said. 


What really grated my tits is split over a few points:
a] Did she really think that because she is white and I am black, I would let her walk all over me ?
b] What did race have to do with this entire exchange? Up to that point, she was just a person, regardless of race, gender or creed, who I felt was doing something wrong.
c] She is not old enough to be forgiven for still thinking like a racist supremacist. Now, I'm not saying that any racism is acceptable, but I'm not going to fight the good fight with someone who lived MOST of their life under the blanket of racism and apartheid, and if they are that old, I imagine they'll be kicking the bucket soon enough. 


I do so love this country and how we as a people of many races, cultures and descent are working towards this place of learning about each other, a place of understanding and a place where we more than just tolerate each other; but for heavens sake, some things really have nothing to do with any of the things that 'define' who we are. Sometimes it's just going along with the fact that you are governed by certain rules, which help make life easier for everyone!


Rant over!