In 2010, my first job was working in a fine arts print-workshop, gallery, and bookstore at David Krut Print Workshop at Arts on Main in Johannesburg. At the time, after completing school, I still had a big interest in art. I got to experience the high-end fine art industry first-hand via the best print-making workshop in the country.
My employer was David Krut, a very detailed gallery and print-workshop owner, and book publisher who has very high standards. He taught me many skills, including resiliency. David always used to say, ‘The devil is in the details,’ which is a saying that I still think about!
As the bookstore and gallery manager, I looked after inventory and sales of specialty books and high-end fine art. I also curated the ‘exhibition wall’ with completed prints and paintings. From an art sales point of view I spoke with potential buyers about the background of artwork and artists. Furthermore, I sold many high-end artworks, including William Kentridge’s ‘Scribble Cat,’ which was printed at AoM in 2010. Artists who printed at AoM in 2010 who I had the privilege of meeting include the likes of Willem Boshof, Maja Maljević, Richard Penn, and Mary Wafer.
2010: The FIFA World Cup
The year 2010 was also a very exciting time in South Africa because we hosted the FIFA World Cup. During that year, many foreigners who had read about Arts on Main as an innovative and new inner-city development visited the print workshop, which led to interesting conversations with travelers from abroad. I specifically recall conversations with American and Japanese tourists, and journalists who interviewed me and wrote about my thoughts on AoM in articles now long forgotten.
As a result of working in such a unique context, Sue Reddy interviewed me for a research paper on Arts on Main titled The Arts on Main development as part of a cultural precinct in the city of Johannesburg.
Looking back on my experience with art and books
I think very fondly of – and will always remember – my time at Arts on Main. David Krut is where it all started for me. It was my first job and hence now a temporality that now only lives in my memories. 2010 is the year I found myself in a unique environment and time. Thinking about 2010 makes me realize that we can never have again the moments that are gone. Lastly, another insight from reflecting on my time at AoM is a measurement of just how far I have come in my career as well as in my personal growth and development.
Read about my experience working for a national book chain.
