Students exhibit at fest
WALTER Sisulu University students from the fine arts department are fresh from their trip to the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown and are happy with the lessons learnt.
The students had their work exhibited at the festival and have made the trip every year with assignments set around the event. This is the school’s fourth exhibition at the annual art and music showpiece.
“I enjoyed the festival because we were provided with a platform to promote ourselves as individuals. However, this year I was focused on getting the university’s name out there because I’ve learnt quite a lot here,” said B-Tech student, Natasha Bezuidenhout.
A total of 37 pieces of the students’ artwork were sold, the highest price fetched at R3 000 and the lowest at R100. Students in their second and third year and on B-Tech level volunteered to curate at this year’s festival.
“Meeting well-known artists has to be the highlight of the trip for me. I got to curate for the first time as well and that was nice,” said WSU art student Gcobile Bopheka.
This year’s theme, “Art-i-fact”, consisted of a variety of work – ranging from paintings to ceramic sculptures.
The exhibition and trip formed part of the school’s curriculum, where students learn how to select and curate their work. Only work done from June the previous year to the following June, is put up for exhibition.
“The goal of the fine arts department is to create an educational platform for students. Learning to interact with the public, presenting their work and selling their work are all part of the course.
Basically all the experiential stuff that is around selling work is what this exhibition is about,” said WSU fine arts lecturer Dee-Ann Leach.
Overall, 83 art students attended the festival, with a few going on their annual academic trip, while the others were curating.