Arts fundi turns new chapter

When Sylvia Skinner, 81, retires for the second time from Belgravia Art Centre after 45 years at the school, she will use her remarkable memory to write its history.

There is no better person to do so because she has worked at the art centre first as a “Jack-of-all-trades” and later as a bursar since it opened its doors in 1972.

“I have been here through four principals and got to know so many students, many of whom have either come back here to teach or have gone on to become successful artists,” said Skinner, whose infectious joie de vivre has greeted hundreds of staff members and students who have passed by her front office every day until yesterday when she said a final farewell to the centre.

The internationally renowned contemporary artist Norman Catherine, as well as Margery Bradfield, the late Paul Schmidt and Daniel Mooi are just a handful of artists who honed their artistic skills at Belgravia.

“I remember so many of their names,” said Skinner.

“Some of them would visit with their children or grandchildren and couldn’t believe I was still there.”

Skinner was also at the art centre when it was ravaged by fire in 2004, a catastrophe she described as “a soul-destroying shock”.

She took photographs of a melted photocopier and the gutted hall where flames also destroyed matric final portfolios and valuable Norman Catherine pieces.

“It was the worst time in the history of the Belgravia Art Centre,” said Skinner, who recalled how generous past pupils and teachers donated artworks for auction, the proceeds of which paid for electrical rewiring and a new alarm system at the fire-ravaged school.

All these memories will be captured in a book Skinner began working on two years ago in which she will capture Belgravia’s interesting history.

Komga-born Skinner landed the job in the centre’s previous incarnation as an art school after working in Zambia as a legal assistant and accountant.

“The Department of Education bought this building from the Sons of England and from 1972 offered an art matric for pupils from Standard 8 to Standard 10. It was called the East London Art School and even had a school uniform, but after a couple of years it became an art centre and offered art classes to children in other schools,” said Skinner, whose duties were varied and all-consuming.

“I did everything from the library to first-aid to stocks and books and typing notes for lectures. I had to retire when I was 65 but the governing body told me I couldn’t go and that they would employ me as the bursar. Ever since then, I have occupied a governing body post. When I joked that I might need a wheelchair, they said ‘we’ll build you a ramp’”.

Now that she is retiring for a second time, Skinner can’t wait to get on with her book on the art centre’s history.

Opening a small cupboard in her office to remove old school archives released an unmistakable whiff of smoke.

“Some of them were smoke-damaged in the fire, but thank goodness they survived.

“I am going to miss Belgravia terribly,” she said.

Said staffer Patsy Hoelandt: “We are really going to miss Syl. She is the heart and soul of the Belgravia Art Centre.” — barbarah@dispatch.co.za