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17 May 2024 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Supplied
Fine Arts Department visit 2024
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.

News Archive

Local businesses challenged to join hands with NSH in raising funds for Mandela Day
2015-07-07

To celebrate Mandela Day, the No Student Hungry Bursary Programme (NSH) will host the first-of-its-kind “Extreme Challenge” in partnership with the Vrystaat Kunstefees/Arts Festival on the Bloemfontein Campus.  The competition will have businesses in Bloemfontein enter their staff teams to compete against other businesses, to help raise funds, and to celebrate the tradition of Mandela Day.

Date: 17 July 2015
Time: 11:00 - 16:30
Venue: Grass area at the back of the George du Toit building, Bloemfontein Campus

The NSH Extreme Challenge aims to raise awareness on food insecurity on all three of the UFS campuses. It will provide exposure for the bursary programme, and will get local businesses involved as potential long-term partners.

“The NSH Bursary Programme invests in potential, and supports academic achievers who come from challenging backgrounds,” says Vicky Simpson, co-ordinator of NSH. The NSH food bursary is awarded to students on the basis of financial need, academic excellence, and the commitment to serve the community, and has assisted more than 500 students since 2011.

The public and members of the UFS community are invited to come and support the teams and to bring non-perishable food items on the day to the George du Toit Building during the event, from 11:00 to 16:30. These donations will go towards assisting students on the NSH Bursary programme.

Registered teams:

Phatshoane Henney Attorneys
Parexel
UFS Centre for Accounting (2 Teams)
UFS Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support
UFS Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice
UFS Protection Services
UFS Student Life (2 Teams)

Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world- Nelson Mandela

For enquiries or to register your team contact:
Vicky Simpson
simpsonvz@ufs.ac.za

 

 

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