Artist to demonstrate his craft

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - As a pre-runner to the opening of their forthcoming exhibition 'Vanishing Karoo', the Imibala Gallery in Graaff-Reinet will host a free demonstration by one of the exhibition's anchor artists Joshua Miles.

The demonstration will centre around reduction block printmaking and will be held this Saturday, 9 March at 09:00 at the gallery's premises in Church Street.

During the demonstration, Miles will use props to show the whole process of reduction block printmaking.

The reduction block technique creates an edition of prints that are printed from a single block of wood or lino. With each layer of colour added to the print, more of the surface of the block is reduced using chisels to create the marks and form the image.

In contrast to the multi-coloured block method, where proofs can be created at any point and corrections made to the blocks, in the reduction method, the artist can view and correct the work only as it develops progressively. Once a colour is printed and the next round of cutting away begins, there is no going back. For this reason, the method is often known as 'suicide printing'.

A full description of the process, with accompanying images, can be viewed on Miles' website - for those who might want to find out more.

Artists and interested persons are invited to attend - call 087 285 4810 to make a reservation.

Some exceptional reduction linocuts and woodcuts are included in the 'Vanishing Karoo' exhibition, which will be officially opened at the Imibala Gallery on Friday evening, 15 March, at 18:00.

The artist proof of Joshua Miles' Huis van skadu’s is being released especially for the exhibition.