This is the first feature of GLAM-UP, an acronym for Galleries/Gardens, Libraries, Archives and Museums, brought to you by the University of Pretoria (UP) Museums in partnership with Alumni Relations.

The GLAM initiative was developed in response to the 2020 pandemic and was launched towards the end of December by aligning with internal partners – with the support of UP Alumni Relations. GLAM-UP brings together the institution’s Museums, the UP Archives (UPA), including other institutional archives such as the Mapungubwe Archive, the Museum Archive, the Library as well as its Special Collections, the Botanical Gardens as well as the Department of Architecture, among others.

The Head of the UP Museums, Dr Sian Tiley-Nel explains: “AlmaMatters will focus on highlights of GLAM as the University of Pretoria contains significant and unique collections that are important spaces and places of knowledge for academic enquiry. Beyond this imperative they are collectively curated for both the University community, as well as the public, as they represent the historical, natural, cultural, social and artistic endeavours of our institution that has a long and diverse history.”

For this edition we highlight the permanent South African ceramic’s gallery, located on the upper foyer of the Old Arts Building. This area displays over 67 local ceramics ranging from the 20^th and 21^st century factory production and studio ceramics, including contemporary fine art ceramics. Signature ceramics such as works by South African ceramicists Henriette Ngako, Ingrid Meier, Stanley Nkosi, Andrew Walford, Esias Bosch, Dale Lambert and Zanele Nkosi are exhibited. Some exciting new ceramic acquisitions recently purchased by the Art Committee are also now on display in the South African ceramic gallery. These include works by Bonakele Ntshalintsha, Catherine Kabwe, Viola Greyling and Francke Crots.

One of the most popular ceramics on display is the oversized stoneware Aloe Vase by South African artist Margot Rudolph, which was acquired in 2009. This award-winning ceramic is a signature work of her style that embraces a distinctly South African theme. The artist frequently draws her inspiration from indigenous plants and textures, manifesting in vibrantly unique ceramic works of art.

“Of critical importance to enhancing our South African ceramics gallery is the process of including specific ceramic art by female artists, notably upcoming young and award-winning ceramicists,” explains Dr Tiley-Nel. “This includes part of the museum strategy to decolonise our collections by significantly expanding the diversity of black artists, filling gaps and previously silenced narratives in diversifying representativity in UP’s ceramic collections.”

Overall, GLAM and its partners have gone as far as reimaging the gallery landscapes as not just learning, but social and creative spaces, which includes the outdoor landscapes such as those located around the Museums, from the Old Arts Building to the Merensky Building and beyond. “Linking the natural campus landscape and cultural art landscape is going to be critical to evolve the expanding art environment of UP,” says Dr Tiley-Nel.

This repurposing of museum galleries and the campus gardens, by blending the new sculpture route to become part of the Museums Beyond Walls 2019 initiative – and the reimagining of Tukkie Lane – aims to elevate the unification of the garden landscape with the “museumscape” and arts scene. It is important to note that UP also has a Heritage Consultant on board to assist with matters of sensitivity for any future planning, with regards to our notable heritage buildings and landscapes.

For example, to achieve this and more the UP Museums and UP Botanical Gardens are working closely and offering – as of this year – bespoke outdoor tours which are ideal and encouraged as optional social distancing tours. This includes the newly launched geological route which aims to incorporate exhibits from the Geology Museum in an interactive learning outdoor space – as well as the sculpture route – and of course with Aloes distinctly peppered along the routes and among UP’s gorgeous gardens.

UP has an ever-burgeoning Aloe collection that has become an iconic and favourite feature on the Hatfield Campus. We aim for a veritable connection to be made with galleries and gardens in the coming years, enhancing and elevating the natural and cultural balance of social art life at UP.

For more on the Aloe video lecture and virtual walk by Jason Sampson, Curator of the Manie van der Schijff Botanical Gardens (who explains why the UP’s Aloe collection is special, with an overview of the 2020 flowering season), see https://www.up.ac.za/botanical-garden/article/2947976/the-aloe-cultivar-and-species-collection.

To book an appointment for a bespoke UP Museum tour to the South African Ceramics Gallery and other offerings such as the sculpture route, and perhaps to include the Botanical Garden, please email: [email protected], contact Nicole Hoffmann the Museum Interpretative Officer, or email: [email protected].

For reading further:

Van Wyk, B.-E. and Smith, G. (2003) Guide to the aloes of south frica. 2nd edn. Pretoria, South Africa: Briza Publications, https://UnivofPretoria.on.worldcat.org/oclc/55763870

Sampson, J.D.S. 2018, 'The winter warmth of flowering hybrid aloes in your garden', Plus 50, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 66-67, http://hdl.handle.net/2263/68738