Well, what a story.
Andile said he would really like to see a burning done of himself. So that's how this whole piece started.
Thing is, i had already done a piece of Xavier, and now I'll be doing one of Andile, what about poor ol' Tio? Which gave me the idea of doing a piece with them all together. I found the perfect picture, with the help of a few Xavier fans, and got permission from Kane Hibberd, the photographer, to use it.
I came up with the idea of keeping them separate portraits that fit together to make a group portrait, perfect gift :) This way, they could all have their own portrait, or, even better, keep them as a group portrait to signify their connection. Each individual person and spirit come together to make something amazing!
So i had to start this piece by finding the wood. I had nothing suitable or big enough in my stash so i went on the hunt. I searched up and down our river for a whole day, walking miles, found alot of interesting things but not the piece of wood i was looking for.
Next day i spent walking around 3 different towns, looking in every skip or alleyway i could find. But still nothing quite right. It was on the third day when my nan phoned me up out of the blue and said 'We have got you the perfect bit of wood here for your burning!' And they had. My nan had spotted it around a bootsale, and my grandad and brother carried it half a mile back to their car.
It was slightly stained and had a few drill holes in it where it used to be a cupboard or something but i sanded it down, measured it up, and cut it to size.
Then, for the next 12 days straight i spent burning. I had blisters and cramps but the end result was well worth it!
I managed to finish 2 days before the gig in Brighton which gave my E.T hands enough time to return back to normal.
On the day, my good mate and P.A Ben Baker, drove me to maidstone where i met another good friend and amazing cricketer Laura Thompson who drove us all the way to Brighton.
After getting a little lost along the seafront, we found the venue. We got there about 6pm and the show didn't start until 7.30 but we could hear Xav's soulful music pouring out onto the empty streets. The doors were open and a few people were standing, heads nodding, in an empty hall, so we joined them. It was sound check. And after a little while, a fella called Benn Newby came and asked everyone to move out.
I took this opportunity to ask him whether it would be better to give the artwork to the guys before or after the show. and he said he wasn't sure how much time and stuff they would have afterwards and that he will just go and find out, so we went back inside and waited.
Just then, a lovely lady came over to us and asked about the artwork, it was Jennifer Rose or 'Rosie' Her smile said it all! she loved the artwork. We started chatting and stuff and found out that she met Xavier while doing conservation work in the Kimberleys. They made a connection and have been friends since, and one day Xav phoned her up and asked if she wanted to tour with him and that's how she got to be there...what a story!...after a little while longer of chatting, Rosie said that she had to go upstairs and asked if we wanted to come up? So we did.
We went up to Xav's dressing room and layed the artwork out on the seats, standing up to show them when they came up. So we chatted some more until Ben came up and said that the guys have had a pretty hectic time and was gonna have a rest in the bus, but he said we could stick around and see what happens. So we did :)
After about 10 minutes Xavier walked through the door. We said hello and pointed behind him to the artwork. He turned around and just stood there, silent.
Anyway, i think its safe to say he liked the artwork.. He said, "This is going in my bedroom!" :P
He asked if the others had seen it but they were resting in the bus so we packed them away for after the gig to show them later.
The show was unbelievable! Again the energy was unreal, Ben Howard and India Bourne were the warm up artists, and man are they talented! And the Trio were really feelin the vibes!
After the show we went back upstairs to his dressing room. Xavier told Andile and Tio to turn around while he put the artwork together. When they saw it, they just went crazy! Tio couldn't believe it.
We sat around and laughed and chatted for about an hour until we had to go. It was an outstanding night. Met some really unique and beautiful people. And i am so pleased that they liked the artwork. I can still hear Xavier's words, he said " I think this is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen..., its unbelievable, like if i was to think of a memory to take with me of these guys, and us, you know,....it'll be this"
Wow! Well... All i can say to that, is that you guys have given me, my friends, and all of us, the beautiful gift of your music, and to thankyou for that, i have created this gift for you!
Thankyou brothas!
The wood before it was sanded or cut.
The wood after sanding
The wood cut and ready, pictures underneath to be burnt
Halfway through Tio's Portrait
Matching up Xavier with Andlie
Halfway through Xavier's Portrait
Matching up Tio with Xavier
Tio's Portrait
Xavier's Portrait
Andile's Portrait
Rosie with the Artwork layed out on the seats
The guys with the artwork
All of us
