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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.
International Literacy Day an opportunity to reach out
2016-09-08
Sasol Library
Photo: Sonja Small
Library and Information Services and Community Engagement office promote literacy.
Fifty years ago UNESCO officially proclaimed 8 September International Literacy Day to actively mobilise communities and to promote literacy as an instrument of empowering individuals and society. This year this great milestone will be celebrated under the banner “reading the past, writing the future”. As we commemorate 50 years we should ask ourselves whether Illiteracy has been eradicated or not.
As part of its outreach programme, Library and Information Services, in collaboration with the office of Community Engagement, for the first time jointly celebrate International Literacy Day and invited members of the community to a book launch which took place at Lefikeng High School in Botshabelo on 8 September 2016. The programme also included the establishment of a small library at the school, and on 15 September, a writer’s day event will be held together with the Department of African Languages on the Bloemfontein Campus.
The book, “Amazing Grace”, was written by Free State-born writer, Charles Dunn. Dunn took the opportunity to speak to students and the community of Botshabelo about his inspiration for writing the book, as well as take them through his journey of life, from surviving drug addiction to imprisonment, and how he finally changed his life to become an author.
In working towards eradicating illiteracy, the Library and Information Services has hosted a number of book launches in the past, to encourage a culture of reading and writing among academia, students and surrounding communities, as well as opportunities for them to network with local and international authors. Feedback from these events bears testimony that indeed the library is successful in creating spaces for lifelong learning.