Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Tshwane University of Technology

April 2011

Dear Alumnus

The Department of Fine and Applied Arts at the Tshwane University of Technology will be hosting an exhibition of artworks done by its ex-students. This will include any Fine Art student who studied at the Department while we were still a Technikon. We would like to find out where in the world you are and what you are doing and we would like the art community, the public and our present students to see what you’re up to! The exhibition will be held in the hall (Building 10) on the Arts Campus. It should not only prove to be a fabulous exhibition, but also an enjoyable re-union! PLEASE consider exhibiting your work with us!

Since leaving the Vermeulen Street Campus, we have not had a “Gallery” as such, and our Diploma and degree students have had to exhibit in borrowed or hired spaces, such as the National Cultural History Museum; the Pretoria Art Museum and the UNISA Gallery. While there is nothing wrong with their spaces, and we are grateful for them, they are not OURS.

The above image is of “The Hall,” as it appears today. We are in the process of revamping the space and turning it into a multi-functional art gallery. The Alumni Exhibition will be the first public exhibition to be held in the venue.

Ideally, we would hope to have an entirely unselected show, but since we are expecting a huge response to this call for entries, and to keep the numbers of artworks to within manageable levels, we will probably be called upon to have a preliminary selection. Consequently, the process will involve four phases:

Phase 1: As soon as you receive word about this exhibition, please send us your current contact details, including Residential address, Postal address, Telephone number and e-mail address. There should be two attachments to the e-mail, 1: A good, high-resolution photograph of the type of work you are currently doing (not necessarily the work you intend submitting for the exhibition) and 2: a short C.V. and an “Artists’ Statement,” in which you describe your work and its relevance to you and your present circumstances. The text should not exceed 200 words. Please use the following e-mail address: jeppec@tut.ac.za

Phase 2: Depending on the results of the selection process, we will contact you to let you know whether you should or shouldn’t proceed with

Phase 3: Instead of producing an illustrated catalogue, we intend publishing the entire exhibition on the internet. It will be available on www.tut.ac.za

Each contributing artist will be allocated space in which their artwork is displayed along with photos of themselves, as well as a C.V. and an artist’s statement.

So we will need:

  • A good, high-resolution photograph of the artwork (even if it is in unfinished state).
  • A recent photograph of yourself and another photograph of yourself while you were a student (if possible).

    All this information should be submitted electronically to us at jeppec@tut.ac.za and must reach us by Tuesday 1st September. Phase 4: You should submit the actual artwork. Each Alumnus should submit ONE work of art. Flat work should not exceed 75cm in width (the height may vary) and it must be exhibition-ready, i.e. it must be supplied with a hanging system. Three-dimensional work should not exceed a floor space of more than 1 Meter square. If your sculpture must stand on a pedestal or a base, it must be supplied by the artist. Each work must have the entry form attached to it, as well as proof of payment (by E.F.T.) of the entry fee, which is R100.00. The entry fee will go towards gallery expenses and catering for the Exhibition.

    All work must be delivered to us by Friday 23rd September.

    N.B. Since we would like this exhibition to be as inclusive as possible, and we can’t possibly have all alumni on our database, PLEASE be kind enough to either forward this letter to as many ex-Fine Art students as you can, or get them to contact us at (012) 382 6159 (Eunice, during office hours) or 083 2045 407 (Cuz, any time). NB: As soon as you receive this notice, please contact us on the above e-mail address and give us your latest contact details: home phone number; cell phone number; postal and residential addresses. Please indicate if you are interested in taking part in the exhibition. We look forward to seeing you all again!

    Warm regards,

    Carl (Cuz) Jeppe, Lecturer, Department of Fine and Applied Arts, TUT, on behalf of Professor Ingrid Stevens, H.O.D.

    If you need clarity on any issues, please contact Cuz on his cell phone.