- Cindy Britz (Head of Department)
MFA HDE (Rhodes) - All the pupils in the Junior grades at SAC and the DSG do art. Those who choose to do art as a matric subject do so from Grade 10 through to 12.
- The Junior Art Course includes extensive work in art and craft projects applicable to that age group. Projects, geared to the Outcome Based Education programme, include painting, drawing, linocuts, silkscreening, leatherwork, woodcarving, copperwork, glass painting, collage, wire work, decoupage, and a host of other exciting and interesting activities.
- The Senior Art Course is divided into a practical and a theory of art component.
- The practical projects in the Grade 10 foundation year include drawing, painting, pastel, etching and textile printing. Subject matter includes still-life, figure, conceptual and perceptual studies with an emphasis on drawing.
- In Grades 11 and 12 learners continue as in Grade 10 but choose the medium in which they prefer to work.
- The history of art course covers architecture, painting and sculpture from the earliest times right through to the present day in both the International and Southern African contexts.
- The final Matric Art Exam consists of a portfolio of practical work plus a practical exam piece. Visual Journals, which record the growth of each practical project from inception to completion, must also be presented. Each learner also does a history of art project covering an artist or an aspect of Southern African art and also takes part in an Art Experience where he justifies the project to the examiner. Then, finally, the learner writes a three- hour history of art exam paper.
- It takes an enormous amount of time and dedication to complete the Senior Art Course and those who think art is a soft option are often in for a very rude awakening. Only those with a real ability in drawing and those who are prepared to put in many extra hours of work should consider doing art as a matric subject.
- SAC and the DSG have been consistently recognised as one of the top Art Departments in the country and the matric results have been outstanding with numerous distinctions gained in both the practical and history spheres.
- Facilities at the DSG consist of a large Art Room and stockroom as well as a pottery area. There is also a separate room for graphics which houses the printing press.
- At SAC there is a Junior Art Room and a Senior Art Room, as well as a large stockroom. All history of art is taught in the Major Audio-Visual Room next to the library.
- The Art Department has its own comprehensive web page with links to artists and movements in the history of art syllabus. Practical matric portfolios can also be viewed on the web page and excursions, like those to the Owl House in Nieu-Bethesda (part of the matric syllabus) or to Maureen Quin’s sculpture garden in Alexandria, can be accessed.
- During the Grahamstown Festival learners have the opportunity to visit and talk to many diverse artists and to see numerous art exhibitions, all within easy and safe walking distance of the schools.
Starting in 2003 a picture is chosen to go on display in the reception foyer in the Administration Building at St Andrew's College. The pictures are produced by senior art pupils as part of their portfolios.
January 2011:
The matric class spent a day at the Natural Science Museum as a change of venue and inspiration for a day of drawing.
News
Sir Henry Strakosch Memorial Scholarships 201229th January 2012
To encourage and reward excellence in Science and Maths
Uganda for African Gifted Foundation's 2012 Academy
18th January 2012
Three College boys travelled to Kampalato to join this amazing experience.
18th January 2012
Three College boys travelled to Kampalato to join this amazing experience.
