Cape Town’s Association for Visual Arts (AVA) is putting the spotlight on the fine and diverse art of printmaking in a newly commissioned portfolio to be sold to raise funds.
Burr Print & Purpose is a unique, limited-edition portfolio comprising etchings by eight artists and will include a poem commissioned to the theme. Production is limited to 10 portfolios, of which only two will come to the art market. The first-numbered will be auctioned in October as fundraiser for the association’s ArtReach project by the esteemed art house Strauss & Co.
Artists participating in the unusual venture are Bridget Baker, Lien Botha, Georgina Gratrix, Randy Hartzenberg, Bonolo Kavula, Vulindiela Nyoni, Andrew Putter and Mandla Vanyaza. Karin Schimke has composed a poem which will be included in the signed portfolios.
While usually working in various different media, the artists were invited to rekindle the tactile power of print in an era of media and communication overload. In other words, the theme is print itself, for which ‘burr’ acts as metaphor.
Printmaking has a unique presence and history in South Africa and the curators explained that they wanted to challenge artists to consider the power and effect of constructing a printed image – an etching in black only – on paper, to develop a visual signal of purpose and passion. A presence for our time, as it were.
The curators are Eunice Geustyn and Melvyn Minnaar and the series has been produced in collaboration with the Ruth Prowse School of Art with master printer Alma Vorster.
Burr Print & Purpose as well as accompanying artist’s proofs will be exhibited at the AVA gallery in September. It will also be accompanied by an extensive marketing campaign.
All funds will go to AVA ArtReach. Initiated in the late 1980s, the fund serves to assist artists.
Over the years the programme has funded a spectrum of artists’ needs, including materials, workshops, tuition, framing, studio rentals, exhibition cost and catalogues. AVA ArtReach has launched several emerging artists who have gone on to achieve success.
Strauss & Co is the official sponsor of AVA’s print portfolio.
WHAT, WHERE & WHEN: Burr Print & Purpose will open at the AVA Gallery, 35 Church Street, Cape Town, on September 1.
AUCTION: The first portfolio will go on auction on October 10 at Strauss & Co, Cape Town.
INFO: T 021-4247436
