(Pic: Work by Kevin Goss-Ross)Kevin Goss-Ross wins this year’s scholarship.
The Durban University of Technology’s Fine Art Department recently announced the winner of the 2009 Emma Smith Arts Award Scholarship as Kevin Goss-Ross, graphic design third year student who was awarded the R60,000 prize.
After a long day of interviews and the judging of exhibits displayed by the ten participants, the judges were most impressed by this young designer’s work. Exploring music photography, Goss-Ross, says this about his work: “I believe that music is the major force moulding and shaping youth culture, whilst music photographers are producing the dominant visual form of stimulation for fans who want to see who they are listening to….. I want to document the struggle of South African musicians trying to get national and international attention, trying to “make it” in a country that doesn’t do enough for its local talent.”
Kevin has proposed to use the money to travel with the Contrast the Water band on their planned 2010 tour of Europe; it will be in this tour that he will continue his photography work and on his return to use these photographs as part of his BTech research.
Since 1920, the Durban University of Technology (then Technikon Natal) has been running the Emma Smith Art Scholarship Award Competition for Arts and Design Faculty. Over 88 winners have received funds for an opportunity to continue their overseas study. However, with the current exchange rate, the funds awarded could no longer afford this travel. Winners now have the opportunity to use these funds to engage in a variety of activities that they propose. Such activities involve community-based workshops, further study in South Africa or the African continent, international internships or projects that further their chosen practices or solo exhibitions.
Also participating in this year’s competition were Fashion Design & Textile students Zanale Ncane and Charles Mc Carthy-Dale; Jewellery Design students Lusanda Mgugudo and Christy-Anne Bestwick; Fine Art students Nicole Erasmus and Amy-Jo Windt; Interior Design students Rob Garrett and Matthew De Beyer, and Graphic Design student Luke Cannon.
This is the faculty’s most prestigious competition that gives an opportunity to a well-deserving student and DUT carries out this bequest given by the Honourable C G Smith in memory of his Mother, Emma Smith.
The exhibition remains on view until November 30 2009 for public viewing. Entrance is free and gallery hours are Monday to Friday from 08h00 to 16h00. Furthermore, the gallery will also be open on Saturdays from 09h00 to 11h00 as part of the VANSA and Ethekwini municipality arts bus initiative.
The DUT Gallery is situated on the Steve Biko Campus on Mansfield Road. For more information contact 031 373 2207/2962 or email nontobekon@dut.ac.za
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