Wilma Cruise has just returned home to Johannesburg after an inspiring visit to one of New York’s most esteemed print workshops, the Lower East Side Printshop. In an arrangement negotiated by David Krut, Cruise and DK Workshop printmaker, Jillian Ross were offered the opportunity to work with two of their master printers for a period of two weeks. The resultant body of work consists of twenty-one large format silk-screens with monotype, a three-plate etching using multiple etching techniques as well as a series of intimate, loosely drawn self-portraits that reflect Cruise’s own experiences of New York. In much of the imagery, Cruise has described her New York experience in relation to a nostalgic reminiscence of the City of Johannesburg. In bold, gestural marks she draws herself nude against a vacant landscape, and one notices recognisable Johannesburg landmarks such the Ponte Tower, Mandela Bridge and Top Star Drive-in on the horizon.
While primarily a sculptor, Cruise nevertheless navigates effortlessly between sculpture and the various printmaking techniques available at the DK Workshop. After her solo show at DK Arts Resource in September 2006, in which she experimented predominantly with polyester plate printing and monotype, Cruise has been re-invited into the studio to collaborate with Ross creating large black-and-white etchings, richly smeared with carborundum. Ever keen to discover new materials and cutting edge techniques, Ross was delighted when David Krut announced that Cruise would join her in New York so that the two of them could continue to nurture their highly motivating collaborative relationship.
We are pleased to offer a selection of these works available to view at David Krut Projects.
142 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkwood, Johannesburg | Tel: +27 (0)11 447 0627 | www.davidkrutpublishing.com
Keywords: Artists, Arts-and-Culture, Bookstore, Jillian-Ross, New York, News, Wilma-Cruise
Entries (RSS)
April 17th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
they look fantastic and i hope y’all had a great trip! see you in sepetmber, my next trip to jozi – n
ps lucy, i had a drink with seoidin two nights ago – she says she met you through michael? cool. i like her a lot….
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:04 pm
a big thanks to all at Lower East Side print workshop for making it such a worthwhile learning and collaboraive trip
April 24th, 2007 at 8:41 am
it was an experience to remember; a roller coaster ride; a feast – which I’m still digesting. Thanks to LESP especially Jamie (cool and focused and supportive) and Doug who reminded me of Tai chi (sp?) warrior or a ballet dancer in the grace and efficiency of his movements – and Jill, fellow adventurer and traveller and David the “one-who-sees-it all” (and drives it all).
I already miss Kate and Lara and Amy and Sean…. and can you beleive it NEW YORK!!!
April 24th, 2007 at 8:41 am
it was an experience to remember; a roller coaster ride; a feast – which I’m still digesting. Thanks to LESP especially Jamie (cool and focused and supportive) and Doug who reminded me of Tai chi (sp?) warrior or a ballet dancer in the grace and efficiency of his movements – and Jill, fellow adventurer and traveller and David the “one-who-sees-it all” (and drives it all).
I already miss Kate and Lara and Amy and Sean…. and can you beleive it NEW YORK!!!
April 24th, 2007 at 8:41 am
it was an experience to remember; a roller coaster ride; a feast – which I’m still digesting. Thanks to LESP especially Jamie (cool and focused and supportive) and Doug who reminded me of Tai chi (sp?) warrior or a ballet dancer in the grace and efficiency of his movements – and Jill, fellow adventurer and traveller and David the “one-who-sees-it all” (and drives it all).
I already miss Kate and Lara and Amy and Sean…. and can you beleive it NEW YORK!!!
May 2nd, 2007 at 10:32 am
A very sincere thank you to everyone who made Wilma’s project so fantastic and exciting and who made my trip to New York so inspiring. I have to agree with Wilma that I am still digesting things but I have returned to South Africa with a new outlook and full of energy.
Thank you to Dusica Kirjakovic, Sei Young Kim, Jamie Miller and Doug Bennett from Lower East Side Printshop for sharing your expertise and housing us in your wonderfully collaborative atmosphere; thank you to Randy Hemminghaus of Rutgers Centre for Innovative Print and Paper for three days of answering my questions with such patience and to Kristyna Comer for those few great days; to Felix Harlan and Carol Weaver of Harlan and Weaver for a full day in your studio and also for patiently answering questions; to Rachel Gladfelter and Catherine Parker at Dieu Donne Papermill for a fantastic introduction to paper pulp and to Sheila Pepe and Michele Oka Doner for letting me be a part of your art practise – it was wonderfully exciting and such an eye opener for possibilty, even if it was only for such a short time. I look forward to seeing all of you again sometime in the future!
And finally thank you to Wilma for pushing her limits and for another great project and to David for the oportunity and the experience.
And how could I forget Kate, Laura and Siobhan, it was fantastic spending time with you and for all of your help.
I too already miss New York!