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GEOFF BURR
 
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Working at Burr & Muir Antiques involves tracking down and purchasing stock, plenty of research, and preparing presentations of items for sale. The job however affords one the time to explore other interests, such as photography and painting.

I decided to start to learn to paint about 5 years ago, and influenced by David Porter, I attended classes with Lindi Waterkeyn in Hout Bay, where I met also Alan McKirron. Lindi is a clever teacher, in that she allowed one to develop one’s own style, which is clearly seen by the differing styles of my paintings, and those of David and Alan. Unlike them, I like working almost exclusively with a palette knife.

Artists whose styles I really appreciate are Frank Auerbach, Leon Kossoff and others who work aggressively in heavily textured oils.

Scenes I like to paint are often beach scenes, or scenes with figures and animals. Whenever I travel, I photograph whatever I think might make an interesting painting, and use this as a reminder when I paint. A holiday in to Ghana last year prompted a number of paintings that appear on this exhibition. I stayed in a small fishing village called Fettah, about 50 kilometers west of Accra. The unspoiled fishing village offered very picturesque vistas of ocean and fishing vessels, and was the perfect inspiration for photography and painting.

I especially enjoy painting portraits, but these I usually do as a gift for the sitter.

Education:
B.Sc (Maths) - UCT 1973
Diploma in Datametrics - Unisa 1978
MBA - UCT 1984

Career:
1973 – 1989
Worked in the computer industry, the last 10 years spent with Burroughs, currently known as Unisys, heading up their software consulting team for the coastal branches.

1987 onwards
Opened ‘Burr & Muir’, a shop specialising in Art Nouveau and Art Deco, and 20th Century Design.
Moved in full–time in April 1989.

Lectured extensively country-wide on the following topics :

‘Art Nouveau and Art Deco’, ‘Lalique’, ‘Clarice Cliff’ to Decorative Arts Societies across the country.

‘ Studio Pottery’ to the Antique Collectors Club in Cape Town.

‘French Art Glass 1880 – 1940’ concurrent with the exhibition at the National Gallery in Cape Town.

‘The New Look – Post–War Design’ to Decorative Arts Society of the Transvaal.

‘Art Glass of the 1950’s & 1960’s concurrent with the exhibition at the National Gallery.

Exhibitions

Consultant to the National Gallery exhibition of ‘Art Nouveau and Art Deco’ in 1990.

Curator to the National Gallery exhibition of ‘French Art Glass 1880-1940’ in 1991.

Curator to the National Gallery for the ‘Art Glass of the 1950s and 1960s’ in 1994.

Curator of ‘Ballet In Bronze’ – and exhibition of Art Deco bronze and ivory figurines, for the National Gallery in March 2003.

South African Antique Dealers’ Association :


Chairman from 1994 to1996, and 1998 to 2000

Currently Vice Chairman.


View larger image
Artist: GEOFF BURR
Title: Boys playing at a swimming pool
Size: 15 x 20 cm
Media: oil
ID: 5604
Price: R 2 800

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