Paint by numbers
ART WITH HEART: Pick what speaks to your heart. THE NIGHT OF 1 000 DRAWINGS HAS BECOME A FORCE
It’s the sort of social event that brings together a range of ideas, people and emotions – all tied in with little vignettes into South Africa while being completely artistic – but at the same time non-threatening.
Night of 1 000 Drawings has become an incredible force around Joburg, not only because there are literally thousands of drawings, paintings, mixed media and photographic art on offer where any piece will set you back R100.
When you consider that established artists, up-and-coming artists, children and people just like you are creating these pieces you can’t help but to get transported into a unique world. From pop art (I particularly liked a little painting of Futurama characters last year), mesmerising designs, protest art, intricate beadwork, needlework, to abstract pieces – everything is unique and you are challenged to pick what speaks to you before sticking your individually numbered stickers onto the piece to reserve it for purchase.
Apart from promoting a variety of art, this is a charity event that helps promote art in its various forms, including music.
Started in 2006 to raise money to buy a new bakkie for the inner city soup kitchen programme
Paballo ya Botha, the concept became an enormous success in its inner-city home. Annually, it has evolved into an enormously appealing event, and in 2015 and 2016 Night of a 1 000 Drawings raised R100 000 for Streetlight Schools.
Last year, 6 000 drawings were collected and more than 1 200 people took part in the initiative.
What makes it so immersive is that, like an auction, you have to work for whatever you want.
It takes nerves of steel to wait in front of a particular piece, and patience to talk to the people next to you who might be interested in the same item. Not only do you have to haggle with them, you need to realise the whole auction happens as quickly as a hiccup.
At a specific time there will be a call to stick a numbered sticker on items you want. If you’re the first, the piece is yours. If you weren’t quick enough, tough luck.
During the evening you can take your time exploring the rows and rows of work on offer before buying enough stickers at R100 each to mark your works. Each sticker has a twin which you keep to show you are the true owner of that piece.
While many of the pieces cannot be considered collector’s items, the fact that you might pick up something from a big-name artist or celebrity gives it major value. But, in terms of collecting art for your home, or simply something that brings a smile to your face, the event serves up something unmatchable.
If you’re inspired to create your own piece for the event, there’s still opportunities to do so.