Gabriel Clark-Brown outside his Gallery

ILW speaks to the artist, gallerist and media-man from the South African Print Gallery. We like the early adopters. The movers and shakers who recognised that our ’burb is the place for the arts. The big names are here, and for three years, so is the SA Print Gallery owned by Gabriel Clark-Brown. He’s an artist himself, a maker of marks, a fine art printmaker who combines business buzz with creativity. And he’s the editor and publisher of the SA Art Times. “SA’s leading visual arts publication” they call it. It appears monthly and it’s free. I pick up a copy when I visit my local galleries, an essential read and a reward for following the local art scene.

The Print Gallery interior

Gabriel barely has time to take coffee with me at The Kitchen – right next door to his compact print gallery at 109 Sir Lowry Road. He has an academic air – a little distracted. (I mean, wouldn’t you be, if you had to split your time between fiancée and two kids, publishing, gallery owning and making art?)

Joshua Miles and Alice Goldin at her opening

His life to date divides itself neatly into even spells. 7 years study, 7 years overseas and 7 years building the infrastructure of his businesses. His passion for “the language of printmaking” comes through strongly. He wants to nurture the germs of the young good culture that he finds here. Fine art prints in limited editions, usually around 30, are affordable and the quality is first-class. You’ll find works by Kentridge, Bell and Hodgins, Joshua Miles and many more. Alice Goldin was recently featured and Joshua Miles has been on since 10 December.

Joshua Miles

Gabriel Clark-Brown is approachable and entrepreneurial. The Art Times has become a key read for artlovers. His arts directory is a comprehensive annual publication. There’s not as much time left over as he would like to practise his own artmaking.

Joshua Miles (current exhibition)

He is always on the lookout for the next big thing. More branches of the print gallery? Perhaps Jo’burg? Who knows. For the moment we can be happy that Woodstock is it.

The South African Print Gallery: 109 Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock, Cape Town.

Current exhibition until mid-January 2012: Joshua Miles is presenting new Work.

Patrick Chapman is a seasoned art writer/collector and frequent visitor to Woodstock’s thriving arts hub.