Zea Mays Printmaking/Virtual World Tour Demonstration 1 - Artist Proof Studio, Johannesburg, South Africa

Virtual World Tour 2021 Demonstration 1

Artist Proof Studio, Johannesburg, South Africa

Duration: 63 minutes

Hand Printed Monotype with Ilse Pahl, Charcoal Screenprint Monotype with Nico Ras and studio tour with Rene Mathibe

Artist Proof Studio in Johannesburg is an innovative printmaking center in the heart of South Africa. The mission of Artist Proof Studio is to provide an environment to develop citizens of talent and passion to achieve artistic excellence with a common set of values, expressed in the notion of Ubuntu, the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity. They offer a three-year subsidized study program that includes drawing, printmaking, visual literacy and critical studies to 80 young artists each year. The Pro-Shop at APS is their professional print shop, where a crew of master printers do contract printing and print publishing for well-known artists. 
Zea Mays Printmaking connected with Artist Proof Studio when Liz Chalfin visited in 2019 as an artist in residence and conducted a workshop in safer etching practices for APS and University of Johannesburg faculty, senior students and community members. As part of this wonderful experience, she also introduced the Coffee Lift with BIG ground technique to William Kentridge and the master printers at APS, Nathi Ndlandla and Pontsho Sikhosana. The master printers have continued to work with this technique.
During lockdown the teachers at Artist Proof Studio had to come up with print processes their students could do at home with readily available materials. They turned to the ordinary potato, fallen leaves and bits of charcoal to explore printmaking in its most basic form. In the hands of talented artists, even these unassuming materials can be made into exciting prints. APS teacher Ilse Pahl demonstrates how to use these found materials in conjunction with existing ephemera (old book pages, misprints, etc). A no-press, kitchen table process that can be done at home! Nico Ras, a graduate student at University of Johannesburg and frequent guest teacher at Artist Proof also demonstrates a technique that uses charcoal dust and an exposed silkscreen to create delicate, ethereal monotypes.
Artist Proof Studio recently moved to a new location and they are excited to share their new space with the world! Rene Mathibe, Education Manager takes us on a tour of the space and introduces us to the Pro Shop and some of the projects they have printed.