EDUCATION
Primary School Benoni
High School Collegiate Girls School, Pietermaritzburg
Tertiary Art Schools Bill Ainslie, Johannesburg Art Foundation,
UNISA, (drawing, sculpture, English, art history, philosophy)
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Writing with Lionel Abrahams, Johannesburg
English Literature; Michael Gardener and Robert Berold. Johannesburg
Weaving; Marguerite Weavind, Mooi River Textile Factory and the Adult Institute, Islington, London
Other: Various crafts including, ceramics, felt making, spinning, lace making, carpentry and farming
WORK EXPERIENCE
1975
Weaving professionally for Peter Soldartis, Helen de Leeuw and private
Clients while painting in Johannesburg
1976, 1977
Teaching;
(FUBA) The Federated Union for Black artists, JHB
Johannesburg Art Foundation
School for Autism, JHB
Indian primary school, Newtown, JHB
Baragwanath hospital, Soweto, (occupational therapy department)
1978, 1979
traveling, painting and working in the UK and East Coast USA
Six months working as an assistant to mentally handicapped women in The Care Village, Devon
Six months weaving in London
1980
Married David Trappler, worked on Tristan de Cunha and St. Helena
Islands teaching and learning craft skills, writing a journal and weaving.
We have three sons.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Solo exhibition at the AVA Gallery, Cape Town.
(1990, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008)
Solo show at Tatham gallery, Pietermaritzburg. (2000)
Solo exhibition at the Bag factory gallery, JHB. (2002)
Solo exhibition, Bellville Art, Cape Town.(2003)
Solo exhibition KZNSA, Durban 2006
Bag Factory gallery, Johannesburg
Exhibition, Gail Berman and Bongi Dhlomo, Jill Trappler Standard Bank Gallery Johannesburg (2003)
Comprehensive solo studio exhibition, Orange street studios. (2007)
Joe Wolpe selects Jill Trapplers work for show at the AVA (2008)
Non figurative group show, Seippel gallery JHB. (March 2008)
SMAC Stellenbosch, Abstract art in South Africa, pre 1990. 2009
Irma Stern gallery December /January 2009
SMAC solo 2010
Waters group show, 2010:
AVA (Cape Town)
Artspace (Durban)
Bag factory (Johannesburg)
Seippel gallery: Johannesburg Art Fair Solo show, October 2010
Biennale, Busan Korea, 2008
Group shows: Johannesberg, Cape Town, Germany, New York, France, Australia,
Luxembourg, Switzerland, Uganda, Wales, Stellenbosch, UK, Bulgaria
California, Rome, Sun city, Robben Island
Ars Africa Festival / Kino Kuvakukko, Kuopio, Finland.
Prints:
Lessedra contemporary art projects, Bulgaria. 2007, 2008, 2009
7th British international mini print exhibition. 2008
Group show China. 2009
Group show, Finland and Portugal
2010
These Four Walls, Cape Town May 2010
PROJECTS
Initiated the weaving employment project at Philani Nutrition Clinics, Crossroads and Khayelitsha, including design, drawing and colour workshops, from 1981
Established the Intle weaving co-operative, Crossroads. 1984
Assisted in establishing the Wolani papier-mâché project for HIV positive women, skills and organizational training Administrator for the Thupelo International Art Workshop Project. 1986
Assisted in setting up Flagship, printmaking employment project, Crossroads. 1987
Exhibition of work from Valkenburg hospital workshops, UCT
Employed to facilitate art therapy at De Lorentz Clinic, Cape Town
Established art studios at Valkenberg hospital OT department.
Launch of Greatmore street Studios project, an extension of the Thupelo Cape Town Workshops, (Triangle arts trust network) 1996
Invited to workshop in Uganda, (1995)
Work in Switzerland for Pro Helvetia; researching exchange opportunities for artists. Employed to assess applications.
Coordinator of the Thupelo workshops and Greatmore street studios.
(www.greatmoreart.org) Please see art reach programs.
Co- ordinator of the Transfigurative exhibition, AVA (1998)
Research and interviews for book about Bill Ainslie (2005, 2007)
Construction of book about Bill Ainslie resumed 2010
(I have not, as yet been able to find funding to publish this material)
Assisted in the making and editing of a video on GMS and Thupelo (2006)
Chaired the Triangle Africa Arts Trust conference in Cape Town (2007)
Ford Foundation funding.
Appointed to attend a donors meeting in Amsterdam, Arts Collaboratory (2007)
I have worked with various advisory panels for projects and assessments of programs.
Most of these projects have required extensive fund raising, net working and interaction.
Western Province arts and Culture award for contribution to the visual arts. (2007)
Working in collaboration with Claire Loveday who is a composer from Wits on paintings and music, ‘a response to a response” (2007)
Work has also begun with Isa Suarez and Duke Norman; “notes of light light.”
Built a personal website, (www.jilltrappler.co.za) (2003)
Co ordinated and selected show at the Spanish Ambassadors’ residence, Cape Town, 2009
Co ordinated and selected show at Casa Labia Cape Town, May 2010
Thupelo 2010 working committee.
Echo shelter project, consultant. 2009, 2010
Real stories gallery website; consultant.
Coral, crocheting project; consultant. 2009/2010
TEACHING
(From 1980 when I moved to Cape Town, selected projects)
Part-time teaching from studio at home, on a docked ship, and at Community Arts Project (CAP) (1981 to 1984)
Set up the Dorman Street Studio, Cape Town, (1984 to 1990)
Part-time lecturing in the Occupational Therapy Department, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town.
Tatham gallery workshop, Pietermaritzburg.
Workshop for the Peace movement in Zurich. (2000)
Teaching co op and workshops and South African National gallery Annex.
(Revenue provided materials for their out reach teaching projects)
(2000 to 2005)
Employed to facilitate art therapy at De Lorentz Clinic, Cape Town,
Co- coordinator of the Transfigurative exhibition, AVA
Lecturing at UCT Summer School, (2000 to 2004, 2009, 2010)
Initiated The Orange street open studios, (2003 to 2008)
Greatmore street space, eight week courses drawing and painting.
Ongoing workshops.
Drawing project June 2010. Ruth Prowse studios.
COMMITTEES
Elected committee member Association for Visual Arts (AVA), Cape Town. (1996)
Elected convener AVA’s Art reach program.
Elected vice-chairperson, AVA (1997)
Elected chairperson, AVA (1999)
(Art reach and selection committee convener)
Resigned from the AVA committee 2007
Trustee and committee member: Greatmore Street Studios, Thupelo Cape Town. (1996, ongoing)
Coordinator of the Thupelo workshops Cape Town, (1988 on going)
Board member of Bag factory studios, Johannesburg (2007, ongoing)
Appointed to the Board of the National arts Council (2002)
Resigned from NAC (2003)
Selection panel, Commonwealth foundation awards 2007
Chair of Africa region Commonwealth Foundation awards 2009
COLLECTIONS
Work in various private, corporate and public collections, including SANG, Vodacom, SABC. Investec. Nandos UK,
University of Cape Town collection.
