13 November 2012

Celebrating a visual feast

Submitted by: Sarann Buckby

Feast your eyes on the remarkable creativity and talents of upcoming artists, designers, animators, photographers and film-makers at Open Window University's final-year Student Exhibition in Irene on Thursday 22 November at 19:00.

The event will be opened by Pepe Marais, a founding partner of Joe Public, one of South Africa's leading independent advertising agencies.

"Graduates from these disciplines face a daunting challenge in launching their careers, getting to be known in this very demanding and often volatile sector," comments Janette Engelbrecht Marketing Manager of the Open Window University. "So in 2010 we decided to give them a helping hand by establishing a 'get-to-know-you' platform with the final-year Student Exhibition, showcasing the best work of the aspiring graduates in their various specialities."

The event has already been designated as a "scouter's dream" where industry professionals as well as the public come to survey the potential of the country's future visual and artistic development.

The exhibition also serves as a means of recognising the considerable efforts poured into their portfolios by the students who frequently go to quite significant expense to prepare their work.

"We also see this event as an opportunity to enhance the image of the University itself," continues Engelbrecht. "I believe we have already created a reputation for nurturing significant talent in the industry and we are proud to be seen as facilitating the meeting of the established industry with these promising young graduates."

Numerous students from Open Window have already won industry awards and their work will also be exhibited. They include Louwrens Venter who was granted the Gold Pendoring Award for the Integrated Campaign category, Inus Pretorius who won a Bronze Loerie for the Poster Design category, Keven van den Oever with his Silver Loerie for the Animation Category, Bianca Potegieter and Banca Brand, respectively first and second in the Analis Paper Loves Student corporate identity design category and alumnus Chris Pinto and Armandt Fourie for the KykNET Silwerkserm award.

Joe Public itself won the agency Gold Pendoring award and Bronze Loerie for the official Nike viral campaign on which graduate Christ Pinto, an alumnus of Open Windows also worked.

The final-year Student Exhibition will run until 14:00 on Saturday 1 December at the Open Window Campus, John Vorster Drive, Ext East, Southdowns, Irene where the opening event itself will be held.

Further information can be obtained from Janette on 012 648 9200 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..