Ceramic art under spotlight at students’ exhibition
By CityLife Arts Writer
Those who would like to witness what fine art students from Tshwane University of Technology have been creating, and possibly find fresh perspectives from fresh visual minds may have to consider an exhibition at the Association of Arts Pretoria, dedicated to ceramics.
The Tshwane University of Technology: Exhibition of students’ ceramics
opens on 18 February running till to 12 March 2022.
The Tshwane University of Technology’s Department of Fine and Studio Arts is one of the few university-based visual arts departments in South Africa that offers comprehensive training in ceramics.
From first year through to the Postgraduate Diploma, the ceramics module is structured to challenge the traditional perception of ceramics as an inherently craft medium. The programme also prepares and exposes students to the various career possibilities and opportunities in the creative industries.
This exhibition is a showcase of the students’ studio practice from 2021. Artworks were selected from students who achieved a high level of excellence despite the Covid-related disruptions during this previous academic year. Besides celebrating the students’ achievements, the aim of this exhibition is to expose students to a professional exhibition environment where their artworks can be viewed and appreciated widely. All the works on exhibition will be for sale.
The exhibition will be opened by Dr. Pfunzo Sidogi on Friday, 18 February 2022 at 18:30 and runs until Saturday, 12 March 2022.
The venue is Association of Arts Pretoria, 173 Mackie Street Nieuw Muckleneuk.
Jonathan Ball Publishers has appointed a new Publishing Director, Annie Olivier, who takes the position in April 2022. Jeremy Boraine, who led the publishing team for 15 years, is to move to the UK to launch the London arm of Jonathan Ball Publishers in a planned programme of expansion.
Annie Olivier says, ‘I am thrilled and honoured to take up this new challenge. In my 13 years as a publisher, I have never lost my sense of wonder at the depth and the range of stories South Africans have to tell. I take great pride in publishing books that document our fascinating history, unpacks political developments and offers insight into our diverse country.’
Olivier, who has worked at Jonathan Ball for six years and before that at NB Publishers, has published a wide range of non-fiction including Johann van Loggenberg and Adrian Lackay’s Rogue, Niq Mhlongo’s Black Tax and Emmanuel Taban’s The Boy Who Never Gave Up. Other writers she has published include Themba Maseko, Bill Nasson, Albert Blake, Lindie Koorts, Deon Lamprecht and Sue Nyathi.
Boraine says of his move to London, ‘I am delighted to have this opportunity. Jonathan Ball Publishers’ reputation for publishing truth to power was forged over many decades, and I hope to bring some of this tradition to the books I publish in the UK. It has been a great privilege to run the publishing at Jonathan Ball. I wish Annie and her team great success in the years ahead.’
Authors that Boraine published at Jonathan Ball include Redi Tlhabi, Jonny Steinberg, Mark Gevisser, Sisonke Msimang, S’thembiso Msomi, Justice Malala and Tony Leon.
Jonathan Ball Publishers has also appointed on contract Michele Magwood as publisher-at-large, a position previously held by Jonathan Ball after his retirement as CEO. In her long career, award-winning journalist Michele Magwood has worked in magazines, radio, television and newspapers. She is best known as a book journalist, and for many years was the Sunday Times books editor. She convened the Sunday Times Literary Awards for 20 years, and was closely involved in the planning of the Franschhoek and Kingsmead book festivals, where she was a popular interviewer. Since leaving the Sunday Times Michele has worked as an editor and columnist for Business Day’s Wanted magazine.