Hendrik Kolenberg
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The South Australian School of Art at Stanley Street North Adelaide
In
the 40+ years since I graduated from the SA School of Art and Western
Teachers College, with a diploma to teach art in secondary schools in South
Australia, it is people rather than the
place that I remember - fellow students and lecturers - Mrs Cant (Dora
Chapman) who taught life drawing and Mrs Jaugietis, sculpture. Mrs Cant
was somewhat fearsome and particularly sharp in her assessments and
observations. I was grateful if my work pleased her. Years later, I
discovered that she was an exceptional draughtswoman and painter. I own
two drawings by her now, both self portraits, one bought, the other a
gift from friends of hers, the Ottons. At the time, I was more aware of
paintings by her husband, James Cant, though I never met him. Suffering
multiple sclerosis, he was often waiting for
her at the end of the day, in a car at the front of the Stanley Street
building. Regina Jaugietis was equally as serious a teacher as Mrs Cant,
but much more openly encouraging to her students.
Geoff
Wilson, who taught Design, was a favourite with most students and
remains so with his former students, but I also remember Ivan Pedersen
for his commitment to students as a teacher. I remain in touch with
both. Others I remember are Alby Smith, Sid Ball, Tony Bishop, Bill
Gregory, Geoff Brown, Meg Douglas, Karin Schepers, Doug Hardy and John
White. Doug Roberts was remote and rarely visible as Principal of the
School. Alby Smith, who taught art history, threw me an unexpected
lifeline at the end of my final year, when, as I understand it, because
[the sculpture
lecturer] didn't
think my work worthy of even a pass, Alby Smith recommended otherwise to
the School's Board based on my efforts in
other subjects, or I would not have graduated.
Geoff Gibbons and Julienne Smith (friends from high school), Helen
Mills and Kay Lawrence were fellow students with whom I remain in
contact.
Occasionally,
past fellow students have sought me out at one or other state art
gallery in Perth, Hobart or Sydney - Wendy Adam, Toni Antenucci,
Angelika Volker or Vita Vitols - vividly reviving early memories of
themselves and our time as students at Art School and Teachers College.
I cannot think of the time I was at the School as being much of a golden
age, however. I didn't
care much for the building and remember the mood of the time as somewhat
conservative, in spite of it being the so-called 'swinging
sixties'. That must have passed me by.
Hendrik Kolenberg, October 2008