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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.
Deputy Governor of SA Reserve Bank inspires students
2016-08-19
Dr Lyndon du Plessis, Head of Department of Public
Administration and Management, Francois Groepe,
Deputy Governor of the South African Reserve Bank,
Prof Philippe Burger, Head of the
Department of Economics and B.Com Hons student,
Mosoeu Mabote.
Photo: Siobhan Canavan
Students from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences had the opportunity to learn from the best in the field when the Deputy Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Francois Groepe, presented a seminar on the changing roles of central banks.
According to Groepe, we are currently living in challenging times as central banks are called on to do more.
“Central banks have limits, and these limits are not always understood,” he said on 11 August 2016 in the Equitas Auditorium on the Bloemfontein Campus.
How central banks contribute to inflation
There are two main generally-expected roles from central banks: the obvious one of providing bank notes and coins, and the other, maintaining price stability.
According to Groepe, the aim of keeping prices stable is to ensure easier planning for the future, and to assist the poor.
“The poor are the ones more vulnerable to higher inflation because they hardly have enough to get by,” he said.
A negative impact on monetary policies could affect the economy negatively. This is as a result of higher inflation caused by the increase in food prices.
Furthermore, the 12% government debt renders a negative yield in the economy.
The stability of finances in South Africa
Financial stability is not an end in itself, but, like price stability, is generally regarded as an important precondition for sustainable economic growth, development, and employment creation.