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17 May 2024
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Story Anthony Mthembu
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Photo Supplied
Prof Magdalena Sobon from Poland and Michael Jackson Blebo from Ghana shared their expertise with staff and students during their visit to the Department of Fine Arts at the University of the Free State.
In a concerted effort to solidify its identity in South Africa and abroad, the Department of Fine Arts at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently played host to two distinguished artists: Prof Magdalena Sobon from the Wladyslaw Strzeminski Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz, and the Ghanaian multidisciplinary artist, Michael Jackson Blebo.
Dr Adelheid Von Maltitz, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Fine Arts at UFS, lauded the visits, held between 19 and 29 March 2024, as an enriching learning experience for the faculty and students within the department.
The visit highlights
During their visit to UFS, Prof Sobon and Blebo actively engaged with the department’s staff and students. Prof Sobon, an acknowledged paper-making artist, conducted a comprehensive two-day workshop, imparting extensive knowledge in this craft. As a direct outcome of this workshop, the department has procured the requisite equipment and materials, enriching the students’ capabilities in this medium. Blebo on the other hand, conducted a demonstration on clay bust modelling and both artists participated in critique sessions with the fourth-year students. Dr Von Maltitz underlined the significance of Blebo’s African heritage, noting, ‘’For our students to interact with a young, accomplished artist of his calibre is of benefit to them in terms of how they may envision their art careers.’’ Of particular note were Prof Sobon’s interactions with the students, wherein she shared her own artistic practices from her student years during her lectures.
In addition to their engagements with the students, Prof Sobon and Blebo also had the opportunity to present their research to second-year sculpture students at the Richmond Land Art Project, an off-campus initiative fostering art creation centred on socio-economic and other pertinent issues.
Future collaborations
Dr Von Maltitz emphasised the importance of maintaining ties with these eminent artists for the department’s growth and global outreach. Prof Sobon’s visit has paved the way for two department members to visit the Wladyslaw Strzeminski Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz in the near future. ‘’These individuals will get an opportunity to learn about studio setups and network with fellow academics, creative researchers, and artists,’’ stated Dr Von Maltitz. She hailed the visit by the two artists as both stimulating and fruitful, particularly for the students.
Two UFS campuses work together on a Ph.D.
2007-04-24
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Dr George Thamae, lecturer in Sesotho Education at the National University of Lesotho, this week became the first student in ten years to receive a doctor's degree during the University of the Free State's (UFS) autumn graduation ceremony from the Department of African Studies. It was also the first time that staff from this department on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein and the department on the Qwaqwa Campus worked together to produce a Ph.D. Dr Thamae's thesis, entitled: Standardising the Sesotho orthography: A clinical investigation, serves as the basis for the proposed standardisation of the Sesotho orthography with a view to achieve a uniform system of writing for all speakers of Sesotho, both in Lesotho as well as in South Africa.
During the ceremony were, from the left: Dr Elias Malete (acting head of the Qwaqwa Campus, from the Department of African Studies at the Qwaqwa Campus and co-promoter), Dr Thamae and Prof. Mohlomi Moleleki (Departmental Chairperson of the Department of African Studies on the Main Campus and promoter of Dr Thamae).
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
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