Written by: Tiisetso Tlelima
On Saturday 17th October a hundred amateur and more established artists braved the icy Cape Town afternoon wind and went up Table Mountain on a cable car to doodle the city’s striking landscape, for free. The sky was crystal clear for a change, spirits were high, creative juices were flowing and with Two Oceans sponsoring wine for the event no one seemed bothered by the frosty wind at the top of the mountain. Everyone was just so happy to doodle, doodle and doodle, and for a good cause at that! Participants were given empty frames to draw anything their hearts desired. “We want to celebrate Cape Town’s beauty and how it can inspire art and give back to people in need,” explains event organizer Misha Teasdale.
The “Doodle on the Mountain” session forms part of the build-up to the next Night of 1000 Drawings event which takes place on 5 November in the Mother City. Night of 1000 Drawings is a one-night-only art exhibition showcasing the vast and varied creative talents of the city. Cape Town, Johannesburg, Amsterdam and Dubai will host the event – each city adding its own spice to create something specifically suited to its unique arty flavour.
For its third year running, Cape Town’s Night of 1000 Drawings is set to surpass all expectations. For the main event at the Woodstock Industrial Centre on Albert Road, in excess of one thousand A5-sized artworks will be on sale for R100 each and all profits go to three carefully selected charity organisations: Write on Africa, a non-profit initiative that aims to create artwork in Africa for inspiration, social change and urban rejuvenation; Paballo ya Batho, an inner-city homeless care organisation in Jo’burg; and Princess Alice Adoption Home, a place for safety for up to 30 babies from birth to 15 months and pregnant girls and women in crisis. The main purpose of a Night of 1000 Drawings is to collect more than a 1000 drawings. Anyone from professional artists and designers to school kids and business people are welcome to attend the event and are encouraged to donate A5 drawings. The brief is simple: draw anything, on anything, with anything as long as it’s A5.
Night of 1000 Drawings started in New York and was brought to South Africa by two guys, David and Felix. “[The event was inspired] when the van used for Paballo ya Batho was stolen and they needed to raise money to buy a new one,” says Misha. In previous years, the response to a 1000 Drawings has been incredible. “It attracts people from all areas and brings people together. Young or old; male or female; black, white or Indian; famous or non-famous – [people from] all walks of life,” recalls Misha. “It shows people how easy it is to make a difference and that is what it’s all about. Just a simple drawing can help. The event in 2007 was held at the Old Biscuit Mill and it was a huge success.”
Smaller events in the build-up to the main event have already kicked off. There was a doodle session at Rocking the Daisies, the annual rock music festival; there are ‘Sketch Away’ sessions every Thursday at different venues and tonight doodlers can catch the Sketch Battle where people will be battling each other to doodle in limited times at The Waiting Room in Cape Town.
If you are in Jo’burg don’t sweat, a Night of 1000 Drawings will be coming to Jozi on 12 November 2009 at a mysterious new venue in the city centre.
To find out more about Night of 1000 Drawings or Thursday ‘Sketch Away’ sessions in Cape Town please e-mail: capetown@1000drawings.co.za.
Jo’burg doodlers can sign up to info@1000drawings.co.za to keep in the Jozi loop.
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