Africa’s No 1 Arts Bookstore and Publisher

2007 saw the expansion of David Krut Arts Resource to include a satellite location in Cape Town at the Montebello Design Centre, a complex that was once the gatehouse of a stately nineteenth-century home. Our compact space, a combined art gallery and arts bookshop opened in January and by mid-year had expanded to include an additional storage and studio facility. The response to a DK Arts presence in the Mother City has by all accounts been positive and hopes for this initiative have exceeded my expectations. In addition to the support of local collectors, academics and book enthusiasts, 2007 saw numerous visitors from as far a field as the UK, Europe, Australia and the Americas.

Our opening exhibition Recent Prints from the David Krut Workshop included works by Deborah Bell, Wilma Cruise and Nathaniel Stern amongst others and was followed in the autumn by William Kentridge: Recent Editions. The latter show coincided with the Cape Town launch of our publication Light on a Hill: Building the Constitutional Court of South Africa at which, Judge Albie Sachs gave a memorable speech. June saw a noteworthy exhibition of Works on paper by Andrzej Nowicki, a young Cape Town painter and potential star in the making. Prior to our winter closing David Krut Publishing once again took part in the annual Cape Town Book Fair, a highlight on the local calendar, which again did not disappoint and included a visit from President Thabo Mbeki amongst other noted guests. Spring shows included Johan Engels: Cantata Portfolio, Penny Siopis: Shame series and prints by design duo Strangelove. Ending off the year we are showing Recent Editions from the David Krut Print Workshop, which includes works by William Kentridge, Andrzej Nowicki and Colbert Mashile. The exhibition schedule for 2008 includes, amongst others, new prints by Diane Victor, Andrzej Nowicki and Wilma Cruise as well as recent works on canvas by Sandile Zulu.

Our bookstore has grown rapidly and includes numerous sophisticated and sought after publications making us arguably the number one arts bookshop in Cape Town. Consistent with David Krut’s commitment to arts education, 2007 has seen the establishment of relationships initiated with local arts teachers and librarians in 2006, and there are hints at exciting prospects of new introductions to schools further a field in 2008.

All in all it has been an exciting and eventful year and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers who have been so generous in their support. Finally I would like to thank David Krut and the staff at DK Arts in Johannnesburg for all their help as well as my assistant Carla Hyland in Cape Town. Best wishes for 2008!

Alastair Whitton: Manager – David Krut Publishing: Fine Art & Books, Cape Town

Keywords: Arts-and-Culture, News