JESSICA STAPLE
ARTIST
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About the artist
Artist and printmaker. Jessica currently lives in Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth and lectures at the Department of Visual Arts, Nelson Mandela University.
Qualifications
2015-2017: MA VA (Visual Arts), cum laude, Stellenbosch University (SU)
2014: BA Major English Studies (distinction), SU
2010-2013: BA VA (Fine Arts), cum laude, SU
Solo Exhibitions
2023: On the drawing board, Bird Street Art Gallery, Gqeberha
2021: A Well Lit Coast, GFI Art Gallery, Gqeberha
2017: The Story of How it Was Made, Gallery University Stellenbosch (GUS)
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022:
Same Size, Same Price, No Signature, Art on Target, Gqeberha
DVA, 2022 Department of Visual Arts staff and master’s student exhibition, Bird Street Gallery, Gqeberha
2021:
Changing the Narrative, GFI Art Gallery, Gqeberha
2020:
Materiality < > Temporality, 2020 Department of Visual Arts staff and master’s student exhibition, Bird Street Gallery: Exhibited in collaboration with the 14th National Conference
of the South African Journal of Art History, 25 - 27 September
2019:
We Are Present, Bird Street Gallery, Gqeberha
2018:
Forget Me Not, GFI Art Gallery, Gqeberha
Boundless Objects: An Exhibition of Artbooks,
Toffee Gallery, Darling
Fresh Pulp, ArtEC, Gqeberha
Collective Ink, GFI Art Gallery
2017:
1st International Print Biennale Yerevan, Artists’ Union of Armenia
Press Release, an exhibition of printed works by established and
emerging artists, GUS
Threshold, an exhibition of MA VA student work, GUS
Modern Miniatures National Exhibition: selected artworks were exhibited at Art on
Target and the GFI Art Gallery and the National Arts Festival Fringe, Grahamstown.
2016:
Landmark, an exhibition of MA VA student work, GUS
Breaking The Spell, GUS
2015:
The Imago Mundi Benetton Foundation Small Canvas Project, South Africa.
An exhibition of the canvases appeared at the Venice Biennale in 2015 and Ca’ dei
Carraresi, Treviso, and the Museo Bilotti, Rome.
Finalist in the Sasol New Signatures national art competition, Pretoria Art Museum
(as well as 2013 and 2014)
Drawing A Group Show, GUS
Trace, an exhibition of MA VA student work, GUS
2014:
Familiar, Swains Yards Studios: the exhibition formed part of the Art Week Cape Town
Open Studios weekend
Vuleka, Art.b gallery, Bellville
Co-ordinator, co-curator and participant in the Keith Dietrich Award Exhibition,
Divergence, GUS
Group Show II, Ebony Design, Cape Town
2013:
Project Manager and participant in GRADEX’13, an exhibition of graduate student
work at the Visual Arts Department, Stellenbosch
Modern Miniatures, Trinity Hall, Makhanda/Grahamstown
Artist's Books
2017: The Story of How It Was Made - An Investigation of Artistic Practice:
This artist’s book formed part of my final submission for my MA VA thesis. The book comprises of 108 original prints on paper and one glass sheet, created using screen printing, intaglio and monotype techniques. The collection is unbound and sits loosely in a Solander box, the cover of which has been screen printed. The book was editioned five times.
Teaching Experience
July 2019 - Current:
Fine Art Lecturer (Printmaking), Department of Visual Arts, Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
May 2018 - May 2019:
Contract Lecturer, Department of Visual Arts, NMU
October 2018:
Printmaking Instructor, Art on Target art school, Gqeberha
2018:
Artist in Residence, NMU: Daily tasks during the six month ‘AIR’
program included consulting with students, assisting with the general
management of the printmaking studios and giving demonstrations.
2016:
Co-director of Black Ink. Collective: A collective of printmakers, educators and artists who are committed to effecting change within local communities. The collective hosts regular workshops,
exhibitions and collaborations in Stellenbosch and Gqeberha.
2016 - 2017:
Printmaking instructor for the SU Museum’s “Access to Visual Arts Programme”:
These workshops were offered to junior school learners based in the local townships and hosted at Stellenbosch University Visual Arts Department and the SU Museum.
2016:
Co-director of Black Ink. Collective: A collective of printmakers, educators and artists who are committed to effecting change within local communities. The collective hosts regular workshops, exhibitions and collaborations in Stellenbosch and Gqeberha.
2016 - 2017: Printmaking instructor for the SU Museum’s “Access to Visual Arts Programme”:
These workshops were offered to junior school learners based in the local townships and hosted
at Stellenbosch University Visual Arts Department and the SU Museum.
2015 - 2016:
Printmaking Technician, Visual Arts Department, SU:
This role entailed co-management of the three departmental
print studios, organising studio supplies, facilitating workshops, giving demonstrations in a wide
variety of print techniques as well as providing both theoretical and technical input to both
under-graduate and post-graduate students.
2012 - 2013:
Instructor of weekly student and public life-drawing classes at the Visual Arts Department, SU
Administrative and Leadership Roles
Sept 2019-Dec 2022:
Fine Art Co-ordinator, Department of Visual Arts, NMU
Residencies
2018:
‘AIR’, Department of Visual Arts, NMU
2015:
Stellenbosch | William Humphrey’s Art Gallery Residency (WHAG):
Co-printmaking instructor with Vulindlela Nyoni and Lize du Toit to high school students attending a week-long workshop at WHAG, Kimberley.
Internships
2015:
William Humphrey’s Art Gallery: Catalogued the entire collection of artworks belonging to the late resident artist and printmaker Dumisani Mabaso
2014:
Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town: Interned under Andrea Lewis and James McDonald for the Ink, Paper, Politics and the Rorke’s Drift / Artists’ Impressions exhibitions
SMAC Gallery, Stellenbosch
Visual Arts Department, SU: Interned under Vulindlela Nyoni
Regional Judging (Eastern Cape)
2021:
Regional judge for the Eastern Cape entries for Sasol New Signatures 2021 national art competition
2019:
Regional judge for the Eastern Cape entries for PPC Imaginarium 2019 national art competition
Collections
2017:
The International Print Biennale Yerevan Collection: The collection and biennale are based in Yerevan, Armenia
Public Art Events
2021:
Art Meander, Art on Target (also participated in 2018 and 2019)
Print Portfolios
2014, 2016, 2017:
Parting Glass
2013:
Pre- / Pri- : A printmaking collaboration with students from Stellenbosch University and the University of the Witwatersrand. The culminating artworks were displayed at Cape Town Art Fair 2013, Stellenbosch University and the University of the Witwatersrand.
Guest Lectures & Opening Addresses
2022:
Opening address for the MA Fine Arts Candidates Exhibition, Bird Street Gallery
2019:
Delivered a lecture titled “In Print: An Introduction to Print & Printmaking” at the GFI 2019 Spring School, GFI
Conference Papers
2022:
Co-authored and presented a paper with Micaela Human at the South African Visual Arts Historians (SAVAH) 2022 Conference at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). The theme of the conference was Romancing the Stone. Our paper was titled The Ghost in the Stone: The Romance and Practicality
of Lithography in a Southern African Context.
Seminars
2020:
Invited to speak at the ISCIA Seminar - Thinking Together through the Pandemic:
“The challenges of creative practice under Lockdown”. Presented by Prof Vulindlela Nyoni, Ernestine White and Jessica Staple, 18 September