Jill Trappler has worked as an artist and craft person in various projects over the past thirty years. These include Thupelo, Greatmore Street (she is a founder member of both) and Bag Factory studios. (She was a Board member of all three). Jill served on the Board of the Ava Gallery and the NAC.

Jill established the Philani weaving project and the Intle cooperative project in Site B and Philippi; the Philani Clinic in Khayelitsha has a sustainable weaving project. The art studio initiative at Valkenberg grew out of workshops coordinated at the hospital. (This project started as an Outreach initiative of the AVA gallery)

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She has worked as an unqualified OT at Baragwaneth (1976/77) and at Groot Schuur OT department as a part-time lecturer. Jill has lectured at UCT summer school.

She exhibits regularly in group shows nationally and abroad. Her solo exhibitions are numerous and continue to be a priority in her practice.

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The combinations of project work, teaching, and personal practice has a significant impact. Interactive, exchanging skills and ideas with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences plus daily involvement in making art/craft push the levels of creative lifestyle, education and product development.

1957 – 4 – 15   Benoni, Gauteng, South Africa

EDUCATION

1975- 1979     Bill Ainslie, Johannesburg Art Foundation,

1975- 1978     UNISA, three years BA and FA subjects

Apprentice in various craft studios, including weaving, ceramics, dyeing, spinning, knitting, fabric painting/printing, embroidery, sewing, beading.