Oliewenhuis Art Museum and Art Bank of South Africa (ArtBankSA) celebrating the success of their Presidential Employment Stimulus Programmes (PESP) with an exhibition showcasing a selection of artworks from the ArtBankSA Banking with Art – Connecting Lives Art Bank Commissioning Programme and images of murals created for the Public Arts Programme – Towards a People’s Culture.

Dr Michael Bates continues to serve as a member of the Skink Specialist Group, part of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Species Survival Commission. Michael was a co-author of the group’s first publication, led by Prof. David Chapple, titled ‘Conservation status of the world’s skinks (Scincidae): Taxonomic and geographic patterns in extinction risk’.

There are two species of snakes in the genus 𝘗𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘢𝘹 in South Africa that are well-known by the unfortunate name ‘skaapsteker’ (Afrikaans word meaning sheep-stabber). However, both species have relatively small fangs set extremely far back in their jaw, and mild neurotoxic venom that poses little threat to large animals (the venom is often considered harmless to humans). It is therefore extremely unlikely that they have ever killed a sheep.

The language of visual art is an exhibition based on the Grade 10 visual art curriculum with a special focus on the formal elements of art, curated from the Permanent Collection of Oliewenhuis Art Museum. The formal elements of art are seen as the building blocks of creating an artwork and consists of eight visual parts: line, form, shape, colour, texture, tonal value, space and movement.

This mural is painted on a utility building on an open lot on the Corner of Kellner Street & 1st Ave in Westdene, Bloemfontein.

This mural speaks to the theme of provincial and national symbols which are important for people of Bloemfontein. Giraffes have long been associated with Bloemfontein as the giraffes living on Naval Hill have become something of a mascot for the city.