Skool vir Skeppende Kuns
Blem Art School
Elsa Blem het die Skool vir Skeppende Kuns in 1976 gestig en met slegs vier studente begin. Sedertdien het honderde kinders en volwassenes privaatonderrig in kuns ontvang. Klasse word aangebied in 'n ontspanne atmosfeer. Leerlinge kry opleiding in verskeie teken- en skildertegnieke en mediums met die klem op skeppendheid. Studente vorder volgens hulle eie pas en volgens hulle eie behoeftes. Om
selfvertroue te bou, word 'n jaarlikse uitstalling van studente se werk gehou in die Centurion Kunsgalery. Die uitstalling word geopen deur 'n lektor van 'n universiteit of kunsskool. Die kinders se werk het nasionale en internasionale erkenning ontvang by kunsuitstallings en kompetisies. Internasionale uitstallings sluit die volgende in: "Tony Hart" Britse TV program, Santam uitstallings (toer deur RSA en in die buiteland) en talle ander. Volwasse oudstudente sluit sommige belowende jong SA kunstenaars in soos Henk Serfontein wat kurator van die Open Window Academy of Art was.
Elsa Blem spesialiseer in waterverf-, olie- en akrielwerke wat landskappe, blomkomposisies en figuurstudies insluit. Sy doen ook portretkommissies in verskeie media, insluitende potlood en pastel. Sy het in uitgestal in verskeie groepuitstallings sowel as 'n eenmanvertoning in die Centurion Kunsgalery. Die uitstalling is geopen deur die bekende plant- en dierskilder Dick Findlay. Veertig van die vyftig skilderye op uitstalling is verkoop. Baie van haar skilderye hang in privaatversamelings. Elsa Blem het klas gegee in teken en skilder by die Centurion Tegniese Kollege. Die Pretoria (Tshwane) Kunsmuseum het onlangs een van haar waterverwe aangekoop.
John Blem, Else se man, staan haar by met klasgee. Hy het baie jare ondervinding as hoërskool kunsonderwyser en as lektor by die Kunsskool van die Pretoria Tegniese Kollege. In 1983 is hy by die Transvaal Onderwyskollege (Departement Opvoeding en Opleiding) aangestel as Senior Lektor in beheer van die opleiding van kunsonderwysers. Hy was ook Hoofeksaminator vir Kuns vir die Seniorsertifikaateksamen (matriek) vir 'n aantal jare. In 1991 is hy aangestel as Onderhoof Opvoedingspesialis: Kuns en Musiek (ook Dans en Drama) in die subdirektoraat kurrikulumontwikkeling (DET). Tans gee hy voltyds klas aan die Blem "Skool vir Skeppende Kuns". Hy het uitgestal in talle groepuitstallings saam met bekende SA skilders en beeldhouers. Uitstallings sluit in "Artists of Fame and Promise", "Bijou" uitstallings en ook die "New Signatures". Sommige van sy werke is verkoop aan buitelande kopers. Hy skilder meestal groot abstakte werke in gemengde media op doek.
Die kunsskool hou reeds die afgelope vier-en-dertig jaar (met die uitsondering van 2007) 'n jaarlikse studente-uitstalling. Die uitstalling bied elke student die geleentheid om uit te stal in 'n behoorlike galery en werk te vertoon aan die algemene publiek. Dit is ook vir die studente waardevol om die publiek se reaksie, hetsy positief of negatief, op hulle en ander studente se werk te ervaar. Studente word ook aangemoedig om deel te neem aan die Eisteddfod en ander mededingende uitstallings. Mettertyd het die skool bekend geword in Centuron vir die hoë gehalte van kunsopleiding wat dit bied en word hoog aangeslaan deur baie kunsopvoedingsinstansies.
Kinderkuns word beskou as 'n suiwer vorm van kuns en as sulks word elke kind toegelaat om deur die verskillende stadiums van kinderkuns te vorder teen hulle eie tempo. Deur subtiele leiding, humor en pret word die kinders geïnspireer tot hoë vlakke van skeppendheid. Baie van die kinders gaan as tieners voort met die klasse en begin dan formele opleiding in teken en skilder ontvang in die geselskap van volwassenes.
Klasse word gereeld gebruik as aanvulling vir studente wat spesialiseer in kuns (prakties en kunsgeskiedenis) op hoërskool, veral ter voorbereiding vir die Seniorsertifikaateksamen (matriek). Studente gebruik ook die klasse om hulle portefeuljes voor te berei vir keuring vir verskeie kursusse by universiteite en kunsskole in Suid-Afrika. Deur die jare was al die studente suksesvol in hulle aansoeke, 'n uitstekende rekord! Hulle word ook bygestaan met getuigskrifte oor hulle vermoeëns, standaard en karakter. Baie studente gaan voort met klasse nadat hulle gematrikuleer het (sommige met ondersleiding) om hulle loopbaanstudies aan te vul. Hierdie studente en oudstudente word dikwels die toppresteerders in die visuele kunsrigting wat hulle gekies het. Dit is nie ongewoon vir studente om voort te gaan met klasse vir tien of meer jare nie.
Baie het suksesvolle loopbane in die kunste (bv. skilder, grafiese kuns, argitektuur, industriële ontwerp, mode-ontwerp, ens).
Betreffende die volwasse kuns wat uitgestal word: Elke jaar word 'n nuwe tema wat verband hou met die geskiedenis van kuns bgevoeg by die vorige temas sodat elke student op een of ander stadium deur die verskillende onderwerpe sal vorder. Die werk deur volwasse studente bestaan nie net uit blomstudies, landskappe en figuurstudies nie maar ook uit meer uitdagende temas. Elke tema word afgelei van die geskiedenis van kuns (kuns staan nie stil nie - mens moet die geskiedenis bestudeer om die toekoms te definieer). Elke tema vereis nie slegs dat die styl en tegniek van 'n bepaalde kunstenaar bestudeer moet word nie maar ook 'n persoonlike en oorspronklike bydrae tot die werk - kuns word dus 'n uitdaging vir die gees en 'n intellektuele oefening.
'n Paar voorbeelde van jaarlikse temas:
"Skilder 'n vroulike figuur deur 'n impressionistiese skilder maar met jou eie surrealistiese agtergrond" - 'n student moet dus beide Moderne Bewegings bestudeer.
"Skilder 'n kinderfiguur in die Kunsgeskiedenis met jou eie Fauvistiese agtergrond"
"Kies 'n portret van jouself en superponeer jouself in 'n beroemde kunswerk".
Alle klasse word aangebied in 'n ontspanne atmosfeer, begelei deur klassieke musiek.
Kontak die skool vir meer inligting.
In 1976 Elsa Blem started the School of Creative Art with only four pupils. Since then hundreds of children and adults have received private tuition in art. Classes are given in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Pupils get training in various drawing and painting techniques and mediums with the emphasis on creativity. Students progress at their own pace and according to their own needs. To promote self confidence a yearly exhibition of the students work is held in the Centurion Art Gallery. The exhibition is opened by a lecturer from a university or art school. The childrens’ work has received national and international recognition in art exhibitions and competitions. International exhibitions include – the “Tony Hart” British TV show, Santam exhibitions (touring RSA and overseas), as well as many other exhibitions. Ex-adult students include some promising young SA artists (including Henk Serfontein who was a curator at the Open Window Academy of Art).
Elsa Blem specializes in water-colours, oils and acrylics that include expressive landscapes, flower compositions, and figure studies. She also does portrait commissions in various media including pencil and pastels. Elsa Blem has exhibited on many group exhibitions as well as having had a “one man show” in the Centurion Gallery. The exhibition was opened by the well-known plant and bird painter Dick Findlay. Forty of the fifty paintings on exhibition were sold.. Many of her paintings hang in private art collections to-day. Elsa Blem has also lectured at the Centurion Technical College in drawing and painting. The Pretoria (Tshwane) Art Museum has recently purchased one of her water colours.
Assisting Elsa Blem with her classes is her husband John Blem who has many years experience as a High School art teacher, as well as lecturing at the PretoriaTechnical College Art School. John Blem was appointed Senior Lecturer in 1983 at the Transvaal College of Education in charge of art teacher training, (Department of Education and Training). He was also Chief Examiner for Art for the Senior Certificate Examination (Matriculation) for a number of years. In 1991 he was appointed Deputy Chief Education Specialist: Art, Music. (also Dance and Drama), in the Sub-Directorate Curriculum Development (DET). He is currently lecturing full-time at the Blem “School of Creative Art”. He has exhibited in many group exhibitions with well-known SA painters and sculptors. Exhibitions include “Artists of Fame and Promise”, “Bijou” exhibitions and also the “New Signatures”. Some of his works were sold to overseas buyers. His paintings are mostly large abstracts and are painted on canvas in mixed media.
The art school has been holding an annual student art exhibition for the last thirty four years (with the exception of 2007).The exhibition affords each student the opportunity to exhibit in a proper gallery and have work on view to the general public. It is also valuable for the students to experience the public’s reaction to their work and the work of other students, whether it be positive or negative!! Students are also motivated to take part in the Eisteddfod and other competitive exhibitions. Over the years the school has become well-known in Centurion for its high standard of art tuition, and is held in high esteem by many art education institutions.
Child art is regarded as a pure form of art and as such each child is allowed to progress through the various stages of child art at their own pace. Through subtle guidance, humour, and fun, the children are inspired to high levels of creativity. Many of the children continue with classes as teenagers and then start to receive formal training in drawing and painting in the company of adults.
Classes are often used to supplement students specializing in art at high school, especially in preparation for the Senior Certificate Examination (Matric) in both practical and the history of art. Students also make use of the classes to prepare their portfolios for selection for various courses at Universities and Art Schools in South Africa, in this regard all students through the years have been successful with their applications, (an excellent record!!). They are also assisted with testimonials to their ability, standard and character. Many students having matriculated (some with distinctions in art).continue classes to supplement their career studies. These students (and ex-students) most often prove to be the top performers in what ever visual art direction they have chosen. It is not unusual for students to continue their classes for ten years or more. Many have made successful careers in the arts (e.g. painting, graphic art, architecture, industrial design, fashion design etc.).
Regarding the adult art on display, every year a new theme relating to the history of art is added to the list of previous themes, so that each student will at some stage progress through the various topics. The adult work therefore does not just consist of flower studies, landscapes, and figure studies, but of more challenging themes as well. Each theme is derived from the history of art (art does not stand still – you need to study the past in order to define the future). Each theme is not only there to research the style and technique of a particular artist but also requires a personal and original input to the work – thus art becomes a challenge to the mind and an intellectual exercise.
A few examples of yearly themes include:
“Paint a female figure by an Impressionist painter, but with your own Surrealist background”- thus the student will have to study both Modern Movements;
“Paint a child figure in the History of Art and with your own Fauvistic background”;
“Choose a portrait of yourself and super impose yourself into a famous art work”.
All classes are given in a relaxed atmosphere accompanied by classical music..
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