Newsletter 4/22

Dear Friends,

Artist in Residence

The UCT Irma Stern Museum (ISM) is delighted to host celebrated painter Georgina Gratrix as its second artist in residence! As part of the museum’s 50th anniversary year, Gratrix is working in a studio at the museum from mid-July to September 2022. Works produced during this residency will be exhibited in the UCT Irma Stern Museum from 28 September 2022. 

Born a century apart from Irma Stern, Gratrix is likewise a dedicated colourist testing the limits of impasto oil painting. Many of Stern’s works are reflected in Gratrix’s pieces – compositionally, in their colouration and their subject matter – making both direct and indirect references to Stern’s work. 

Irma Stern is celebrated as a significant figure of South African art history and major collector of objects from around the world. In her residency, Gratrix aims to explore some of the iconic objects that form part of Stern’s collection through a contemporary lens that reconsiders their place in the history of art.

We are excited to see what work Georgina will produce while at the museum – and do look out for invitations to public conversations with Georgina in the next few months. 

June Bam and Garth Erasmus

The UCT Irma Stern Museum stands on ancient historical Khoi-San grazing grounds. This will make an event planned for Saturday, 30 July especially significant: we welcome visual artist and musician Garth Erasmus as well as June Bam, who heads the San and Khoi Studies Unit at the University of Cape Town’s Centre for African Studies (CAS).

June will speak on her recently published book ‘Ausi Told Me: Why Cape Herstoriographies Matter’. In this book, the indigenous stories, visions and rituals passed down an ancient matrilineal line of knowledge-keepers are recognised once more as critical sources of knowledge and physical and emotional wellbeing. 

Garth is well-known for playing his self-made instruments based on Khoisan indigenous knowledge systems, and he will perform solo and in improvisational collaboration with June. 

Book via phone 021 650 7240 or email irmastern@uct.ac.za to join us on 30 July 11:00 – 12:30 for the event and koeksisters afterwards. Regular museum entry fees apply (R65) with free entry for under-18s, students, UCT staff and pensioners. 

We look forward to seeing you again at the UCT Irma Stern Museum.

With best wishes from the ISM Team