Our Staff

Michele Kloppers, Principal

I studied BA Fine Art (ED) at Stellenbosch University. My first post was at the Hebron College of Education just outside Garankuwa near Pretoria where I taught Arts and Crafts to budding teachers.  After that I taught art for two years at King Edward V11 in Johannesburg. I was very happy when an art post opened at the Johan Carinus Art Centre and I was appointed in 1988.

Philmarie Uys, Painting Teacher

I was born and grew up in Johannesburg and studied at the University of Stellenbosch after which I travelled a lot (and still do whenever I can!); Then I taught for 25 years all over the country and in 2019 I started teaching at Carinus.

Why I love teaching painting:

a)  I love colour and being surrounded by it (no fashionable bare-beige and minimalist colour for me!)

b) I love the feeling and texture of paint

The highest joy in life for me is losing myself when I paint, or seeing kids in that total state of flow with the medium of paint! That inner state of “silence” (Which is so energising!), when you lose yourself painting is just WONDERFUL!

Logan Human , Printmaking Teacher

I obtained my National Diploma in Fine Art, majoring in Glass Sculpture in 2017 and my Post Graduate Certificate in Education in 2018. I grew up in the City of Port Elizabeth where I completed school and completed my tertiary education at Nelson Mandela University. I moved to the town of Grahamstown to become part of the staff of Johan Carinus Art Centre family in 2019, where I started as a junior teacher and later was appointed in the position of being the Printmaking Educator.

Rowena Ebel, Junior Art Teacher

I got my Btech in Fine Arts in 2014 and my Post Graduate Certificate in Education in 2015 at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. I have joined the Johan Carinus Art Centre team, excited and passionate for the year ahead.

I am currently teaching Creative Arts to Grade 4-7 at Victoria Girls’ Primary, Creative Arts to Grade 8 girls at Victoria Girls’ High school as well as Dance to the Grade 8 and 9 girls there. I also teach Visual Arts Art History to Grade 11’s to the Graeme College, Victoria Girls’ High School and Ntsika Secondary School students.

Candice Janse van Rensburg, Junior Art teacher

I got my degree from Nelson Mandela University in 2017 and my PGCE in 2018. I have lived in Port Elizabeth all my life and have recently moved to the small town life in the artsy town of Grahamstown. I started at Carinus Art Centre in 2019 as a substitute teacher and became a permanent employee a few months later in October. I am a junior grade art teacher and teach Grade 4-9 Creative Arts at Graeme College and Grade 10 Art History to Victoria Girls’ High, Graeme College and Ntsika High School. I have also been involved in offering printmaking workshops for learners at Mary Water’s High School.

Lindi Lombard , Textiles Teacher

I was born here in Grahamstown and got my Bachelor’s in fine arts in 2012 at Rhodes University. Following my Bachelor’s, I got my Master’s in Fine Arts in 2015.

Jane James, Ceramics Teacher

I was born in Kenya and grew up, and studied in Jo’burg at Wits and UNISA. After a few years in the Southern Cape I came to Grahamstown to study for a teaching diploma at Rhodes.

The following year I started teaching at Carinus Art Centre. For three years, I taught Textile Design and then took a year off to wander around the galleries and museums in Rome, Florence, Venice, Paris and London.

Lizelle Viet, JCAC Secretary

Before Johan Carinus Art Centre I worked and learned as bookkeeper in Rustenburg, North West. We were glad to get the opportunity to move to Grahamstown as it is near the sea. A position opened here at Johan Carinus Art Centre and I was very exited to be able to apply as secretary to an art school as I also have a passion for art and have been doing it as a hobby in my spare time.

Ashley Hodgson, Junior Art Teacher

Since I was a child I always knew that I wanted to persue art when I grew up. I moved from a small town in KZN to Grahamstown, where I studied for 8 long years and completed a Master's in Fine Art in 2020. In order to fund my studies I held jobs babysitting, aupairing, and tutoring which showed me that I also have a passion for teaching. In 2021, the Carinus family took me under their wing as an education assistant, and after completing a diploma in education, i was offerd the possition of a junior art teacher.

Graeme Henri Germond, Sculpture Teacher

I have taught sculpture at Carinus Art Centre since 2005. I teach Grade 10 to 12 visual in the medium of sculpture and Grade 12 visual cultural studies theory.

I am interested in the psychological and neurological processes involved in image making, the evocative resonance of mythologies and the magical power of art throughout the ages.

Kay Sealy-Fisher , Ntsika & Nombolelo Art Teacher

I have been a resident of Grahamstown/Makhanda since 2004. As well as being a teacher I consider myself to be a lifelong student. I have completed a Bachelor of Fine Art, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, as well as an Honours and master’s in psychology. Through the Johan Carinus Art Centre I teach at Ntsika and Nombulelo Secondary Schools, teaching Visual Art to approximately 120 learners from Grade 10 to 12.