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Professor
Name: Kim Berman
Location: 130, FADA Building Bunting Road Campus
FADA Visual Art Permanent Academic Staff Staff Members
Contact Details:
Tel: +27(0)11 559 1112
Email: kimb@uj.ac.za
About Prof. Kim Berman
Professional Summary
Professor in Visual Art at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and Executive Director of Artist Proof Studio (APS), a community-based printmaking centre in Johannesburg which she co-founded with the late Nhlanhla Xaba in 1991. Has lectured and exhibited widely in South Africa and internationally. Committed to engaging arts for social change through her activism and teaching.
Other links
ORCID.org
Education
2009 – PhD, University of the Witwatersrand, School of the Arts
PhD: Agency, Imagination and Resilience: Facilitating Social Change through the Visual Arts in South Africa.
1989 – MFA, School of The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Mass
Tufts University, Boston, Mass, USA, Graduated with Distinction, Printmaking.
1981 – BFA, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Received Art History Merit in 1980.
1977 – Matric Exemption, Sandown High School, Johannesburg.
Education
2009 – PhD, University of the Witwatersrand, School of the Arts PhD: Agency, Imagination and Resilience: Facilitating Social Change through the Visual Arts in South Africa.
1989 – MFA, School of The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Mass Tufts University, Boston, Mass, USA, Graduated with Distinction, Printmaking.
1981 – BFA, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg Received Art History Merit in 1980.
1977 – Matric Exemption, Sandown High School, Johannesburg.
Work experience
2018 – present: Professor, Department of Visual Arts, Faculty of Art Design and Architecture, University of Johannesburg.
2010 – 2018: Associate Professor, Department of Visual Arts, Faculty of Art Design and Architecture, University of Johannesburg. Coordinator of BTech and Masters Programmes
1995 – 2009: University of Johannesburg, Senior Lecturer and Head of Division Printmaking, Visual Art Department, Johannesburg
2000 – 2005: Programme Director, Phumani Paper, Hand Papermaking Poverty Relief Programme Technikon Witwatersrand, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture
2005 – 2013: Director on the Board and Management mentor, Phumani Paper, Doornfontein Campus, University of Johannesburg
1991 – present: Founder and Executive Director Artist Proof Studio – Community Printmaking Centre, Newtown
1989 – 1997: School of the Museum of Fine Art, Boston, Associate Faculty Instructor – Summer School Printmaking Workshop, Boston, MA, USA
1989 – 1993: Fund for a Free South Africa and World Education, Boston, USA Development and Field Coordinator, KUSOMA Women’s Training Programme, South Africa
1984 – 1989: Master Printer’ – Editioning Colour Etchings, Mixit Studios, Cambridge, Mass, USA
Selected published journal articles, books and chapters (2013-2023)
2023: Book Chapter: Berman KS and Le Baron M. Crossing Worlds: South–North Collaborations as Creative Encounters Chapter 6 n The Humanities Reloaded: Addressing Crisis. Edited By Keyan G. Tomaselli; Pier Paulo Frassinelli, Routledge; 264 pages. ISBN 9781032418285
2024: Berman. K: The story of Artist Proof Studio and the building of a democratic art school in South Africa in Designing Schools and Democratic Learning Environments: A Global Perspective. Nathan, L.F., Mendoza, J. Rojas, G. (Eds) Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 978-3-031-46296-2 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-46297-9
2023: Book Chapter 5: Berman, K and LeBaron, M. Aesthetic Negotiation and Artefactual Agency: Key Processes for Symbolic Repair in Transitional Justice, in Transitional Justice, Distributive Justice and Transformative Constitutionalism: Comparing South Africa and Columbia. Bilchitz, D and Cachalia, R (Eds). Oxford University Press
2022: Berman K, Beyond the pandemic: art-making lessons for SOTL in an unequal South African context: SOTL in the South. https://sotl-south-journal.net/index.php/sotls/article/view/285
2022: Book Chapter.: Berman, Kim and Kembo, Boitumelo Chapter: ‘Turning higher education hierarchies inside-out: sticky encounters in co-designing a community centre using multi-modal interventions’, in The Role of Arts and Culture in Global Development Practices, Cindy Maguire and Ann Holt (Eds), Routledge Publishers, Taylor and Francis. P69-86 ISBN 978-0-367-70837-5
2021: Allara, P, Auslander, M, Berman, K and Schattschneider, E Transforming domestic angels in Seejarim’s the Mundane and the Magical SA Journal of Art History, ISSN 0258-3542 SAJAH, volume 36, number 1, 2021:117-125 Published by the Art Historical Work Group of South Africa
2021: Auslander, M, Allara, P and Berman, K. ‘Where Shall We Place our Hope? COVID-19 and the Imperiled National Body in South Africa’s “Lockdown Collection”’, African Arts Summer 2021, Vol 54: 2. pp78-90, MIT Press Journal, UCLA International Institute and Rhodes University http://www.mitpressjournals.org/afar. ISSN SN 0001-9933: E-ISSN 1937-2108
2021: Berman, K. and Sarra, J ‘A Visual Conversation from South Africa: Climate Resilience and Hope for a Green Recovery’, Educational Research for Social Change ERSC 10 (2) Nelson Mandela University, Faculty of Education (ISSN/E-ISSN: / 2221-4070) pp 63-87
2021: Berman, K. Chapter: ‘Artistic Citizens: A Model for Creative Entrepreneurship at Artist Proof Studio’, (Chap 12) in Higher Education, Community Engagement and Entrepreneurship in Southern Africa. Ivan Govender,(Ed) Cambridge Scholars (ISBN: 1-5275-6493-2) pp252-282 https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-5275-6493-0
2019: Berman and LeBaron, ‘Crossing Worlds: South-North Collaborations as Creative Encounters with Arts’, Special Issue of Critical Arts. p59-76 ISSN: 0256-0046
2018: Berman, K, Chapter: ‘Evaluation’ (pp 27-128) in Changing Our Worlds – Art as Transformative Practice Eds Le Baron, M Sarra J A STIAS publication, Sun Press. ISBN: 978-1-928357-86-5 https://africansunmedia.store.it.si/za/book/changing-our-worlds-art-as-transformative-practice/580704
2018: Berman, K Chapter: Berman, K and Netshia, S, ‘Enlivening pedagogical methods in the classroom through visual arts’, pp4-20 SOTL in the South, (I) Special Issue Eds: Simpson, Z and Looker, P, SSN 2523-1154 http://sotl-south-journal.net/?journal=sotls
2018: Berman, K Chapter: Artist Books as Democratic Force’, in Books Bones & Other Things, Jan K Coetzee (Ed) pp 48-55, Sun Media ISBN 978-1-928424-14-7 (Print) ISBN 978-1-928424-15-4 (Online) DOI: https://doi.org/10.18820/9781928424154
2018: Mchunu, K and Berman, ‘Arts-based methods as tools for co-design in a South African community-based design co-operative’, Cubic Journal (1) April Issue Editors: Hasdell & Bruyns. http://www.cubicjournal.org/wp/issue-1-design-social/ ISBN: 978-94-92852-05-2
2017:Book: Kim S Berman Finding Voice: A Visual Arts Approach to Engaging Social Change: Series: New Public Scholarship, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor (2017) https://www.press.umich.edu/9256315
2017: The Keiskamma Art Project: Restoring Hope and Livelihoods’ Kim Berman de arte; Vol 52, Issue 1 (139-143) http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00043389.2017.1338648
2017: Sarra, J. and Berman, K., Ubuntu as a Tool for Resilience: Arts, Microbusiness, and Social Justice in South Africa. Conflict Resolution Quarterly http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1002/crq.21192/full
2014: Kim Berman: ‘Imagination and Agency: Facilitating Social Change through the Visual Arts’, in Hazel Barnes (ed.), Arts Activism, Education, and Therapies: Transforming Communities Across Africa Matatu 44, Rodopi 2013/14
2013:Kim Berman ‘Students as Agents of Change: Engagement between University-based art students and Alternative Spaces’, Third Text, Critical Perspectives on Contemporary Art & Culture, 2013, vol 27 (3) 387-399; http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/y8PxWFIxgzcNSQFuhyeC/full
Selected conference presentations & public lectures (2013-2023)
2023: Convenor for the UJ Art Therapy conference: “Training Art Therapists for Social Justice” Faculty of Art Design and Architecture, July 13-14 2023
2021: University of Minnesota: Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development “Civic Studies: The University as Civic Catalyst,” an international research conference convened with the support of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). December 3-4, hosted at the Minnesota Humanities Center in Saint Paul, MN Paper: The Lockdown Collection: A case study of art activism as a civic catalyst.
2021: 3rd Biennial SOTL in the South Conference, November 22 – 25, 20211) Beyond the Pandemic: Lessons for the future of SOTL in the global South SOTL
2021: 35th Annual SAVAH Conference, to be hosted by Faculty of Humanities, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus,21-23 September 2020. Untold Stories: Conference Paper: Kim Berman: Surfacing the hidden through Visual storytelling.
2021: Changing our worlds: How are artist agents of change? Art and Mediation: on behalf of Embassy of Switzerland in the United Kingdom webinar on ‘Art in Mediation’, Talk for Oct 6, 2021, Dr. Dagmar Reichert -Swiss Foundation for Art in Regions of Conflict, Zurich
2021: WHIS Webinar: Art Impact for Health 7 May. World Health Organization: Art Impact for Health Initiative Convened by: Isabelle Wachsmuth, K Berman Panel Presentation: Making Violence Visible: https://artfusion.art/app/workspace/exhibition/104/default/publications.
2020:Canada Climate Law Initiative: North-South, Arts, Business, and Climate Governance Public webinar September 17, 2020, hosted by the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies and Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia, Canada: Kim Berman (UJ) and Rene Mathebe (APS): How the visual arts inspire us to use introspection and empathy to conceptualize and press for transformation
2019:Kim Berman and Boitumelo Tolo: LENS Conference 3: Designing Sustainability for All, Co-designing a community centre in Lotlhakane using multi-modal interventions CPUT, 3-5 April
2019:Kim Berman and Farieda Nazier Title: Transforming Trauma via Arts: Finding Light in Shadows. for Recognition, Reparation and Reconciliation: The Light and Shadow of Historical Trauma, Stellenbosch University January
2018: SAIFAC/Externado Inter-country Collaboration 2017/2018 South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public Human Rights & International Law, The University of Johannesburg/ Faculty of Law, December
2018: SAVAH Conference; Department of Visual Arts Stellenbosch University, 4-6 July: Troubling Legacies Troubling artworks, symbolic repair and social justice,
2017: Troubling the Haunting Power of the Past: Interrupting Intergenerational Cycles of Historical Trauma” – An Interdisciplinary Symposium, 15-16 May, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies Paper Presentation: Transformative arts practices in relation to trauma narratives of past violence
2017: Booknesses Colloquium on the book arts in South Africa FADA, University of Johannesburg, 24 & 25 March. Roundtable Panel discussion: K Berman: The Artist Book as Demographic Force Colloquium Lecture: K Berman: Developing and sustaining Hand Papermaking in South Africa. Chair of Panel: Collaborations across studios: William Kentridge, Eliza Kentridge, Sue Gosin, Mark Attwood and Nathi Ndladla
2017: College Art Association (CAA) Annual conference, Panel: Collaborative Printmaking Across Cultures and Times: Collaborative Printmaking as co-creation, a South African example of practice New York, 15-18 February 15-18
2016:IAPMA Congress and 30 Year Anniversary Nature, Diversity, & the Art of Paper, City of Brasilia, Brasil, 12-16 September, Title: Developing and sustaining Hand Papermaking in South Africa
2015: Co-coordinator of a colloquium at STIAS with the Prof M LeBaron of PWAIS Peter Wall Institute of Advanced Studies 1-4 December 2015
2015: Keynote Address: Women and Leadership Conference: Women Hackers Unite, Cortex Hub, Dimension Data East London 25 August “Women in Leadership”
2015: Public Lecture: Marymount Loyola University, Laband Gallery: Los Angeles Artist Proof Studio: A Journey of Reconciliation, 19 Jan
2014: Key-Note Lecture: Stories of Change, 16th ACASA Triennial Symposium on African Art, March 19-22, 2014 (Arts Council of the African Studies Association), Brooklyn Museum, NY, USA
2014: 16th ACASA Triennial Symposium on African Art, March 19-22, 2014, Brooklyn Museum, NY, USA ACASA Panel: Engaged Pedagogy and Collaboration at Artist Proof Studio and the Boston Arts Academy: Chair Pam Allara, with Linda Nathan (BAA)
2013: UBIAS Conference: Scientific and Academic Knowledge: Sept 17-19, 2013, Resilience Stories from South Africa Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver http://pwias.ubc.ca/media-centre/ podcasts/view-by-date.php#117
2013: Southern Graphics Conference International; The Print: MKE conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin March 20-23 2013 printmke2013panels@gmail.com Panel Chair and presenter: International Exchanges at Artists Proof Studio: Building Agency through collaborative printmaking Exhibition: 21 years of Collaboration and Exchange at Artist Proof Studio
Selected other research activities and awards (2012-2022)
2022-2023: GES 4IR R250k to fund AT programme including the Launch of an Art Therapy Website, Establishment of the South African Journal of Arts Therapies and hosting the International Conference: Training Art Therapists for Social Justice, July 2023, Teaching and innovation grant (R40 000)for ARO Waste Reclaimer project Faculty Research Committee (URC) grant for the South African Journal of Arts Therapies
2021: Elected as a representative Senate Academic Freedom Committee (SAFC)
2019 – current: NRF Grant 2019-2024: Incentive funding for rated researchers (IPRR) Teaching innovation fund 2020 – R60 000 and 2021 – R30 000
2020: As one of three co-founders of the Lockdown Collection (TLC) established a Vulnerable Artists Fund (VAF) (R3m and 520 x R3000 grants disbursed in 2020) Established a Bursary Fund (VAF) for Visual Art students (R500k) for 50x Bursaries in 2021 (Collaboration with Art Industry, and Business)
2019: Awarded an Ampersand Foundation Fellowship for a month in New York, USA which facilitated an artist-residency to collaborate on an artist’s book with Robbin Silverberg (Walls of Kakatocracy) as well as attending two Book launch events at Tufts University/SMFA in Boston and the University of Michigan Feb/March
2019: Awarded a grant from the UJ Teaching and Learning Innovation Award to facilitate a faculty–wide community engaged project in Lotlhakane, Mahikeng NW Province with a user-centered design approach to gather data, assess community needs, and co-design Community Care Centre using indigenous knowledge systems
2018: Awarded a Wallenberg Fellowship over 3 years from the Peter Wall Institute of Advanced Studies (PWIAS) at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver and the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies (STIAS) 2015-2018. This included co-convening two symposia called “Being Human in the 21st Century: Arts and Social Transformation.”
2017: AAPM research funding received an Artist residency in Ireland: The Cill Rialaig Project producing a print portfolio and exhibition August 2017
2017: AAMP Research funding received for Artist-in-Residence with Dobbin Mill for the production of a collaborative artist’s book by Kim Berman and Robbin Ami Silverberg
2017: Kakistrocy – a response to our duel political realities. Exhibited at Booknesses, UJ and San Francisco Centre for the Arts and bought by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City
2015: Wallenberg Fellowship from the Peter Wall Institute of Advanced Studies (PWIAS) at the University of British Columbia. The fellowship is a one-month residency at Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies (STIAS) Renewable for three years, 2015-2018
2012: NRF Research Rating: C-2
2012: Artwork published as a postage stamp for the 100 years commemoration of Alexandra township, Sept
2012: BASA Chairperson’s Award on behalf of Artist Proof Studio
2011 – 2013: NRF award for Community Engagement Programme: Arts-based approaches to development for three years to introduce community engaged learning and research activities for post graduate students in partnership with the Tshulu Trust in HaMakuya, Limpopo Province
2012: Curated Coming of Age: 21 years of Artist Proof Studio at the Johannesburg Art Gallery, An exhibition in 16 Galleries, with 6 guest curators, over 200 artists
Solo and selected curated exhibitions
2019: Artist Proof Studio: A Journey in Co-creation 23 May-22 July, Co-curator FADA Gallery, University of Johannesburg,
2013: Solo Exhibition: Kim Berman: South African Landscapes: Jacques Gorus Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium
2012: Solo Exhibition: Duets with Egon: An Exhibition of multi-types in collaboration with Egon Guenther, Read Gallery, Johannesburg, December 1-16
2010: Solo Exhibition: Gallery Art on Paper, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 12 August-3 September
2009: Solo Exhibition: Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, September-November 2009
2006: Kim Berman: Resistance And Renewal, Selected Work from 1985-2005, Slater Concourse Gallery, Tufts University, Medford, Mass, curated by Pamela Allara, Brandeis University and Paul Stopforth, Harvard University
2005: New work by Kim Berman, Art on Paper, Melville, Johannesburg, October-November
2003: On Their Own: Kim Berman: Recent Work, The Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, Mass, USA, February-April
2001: Testimonies of the Truth & Reconciliation, Cultural Centrum, Sint Niklaas, Belgium Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium, September
1999: Kim Berman: A Decade of Works Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, August
1999: Kim Berman and Volatile Alliances Print Exchange Frans Masreel Centrum, Kasterlee, Belgium
1989: South Africa Under Siege, MFA Thesis Exhibition Gallery Eleven, Tufts University, Medford, Mass, USA.
Other selected invitations
2021: Invited by World Health Organisation (WHO) to participate on a panel and submit an exhibition of South African Visual Responses to Covid: Versus (Group Exhibition of world responses to Art Impact for Health including the Lockdown Collection) Organised by the World Health Organisation, Palais des Nations, Geneva, 7-25 June
2017-18: Invited by Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Research Chair in Historical Trauma and Transformation (Stellenbosch University) to be part of a symposium called “Troubling the Haunting Power of the Past: Interrupting Intergenerational Cycles of Historical Trauma” (May)
2015: Invitation for visiting artist at the Marymount Loyola University, Los Angeles. CA 19-26 Jan Workshops, lectures and opening speaker for Laband Gallery Exhibition: Artist Proof Studio: A Journey of Reconciliation
2014: 2013-14 Amy Marie Sears Visiting Artist at St. Catherine University, Department of Art and Art History, St Paul, Minnesota, USA, 16-21 March
2013: Mini conference follow up “Resilience, Arts and Social Transformation” from 19-23 September. Galiano Island, Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies (PWIAS). The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
2013: Artist in residence, Veerle Rooms Foundation, Antwerp, Belgium (August)
2012: International Roundtable: “Resilience, Arts and Social Transformation” 21-26 October. Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies (PWIAS) under “Program on Dispute Resolution”, Faculty of Law, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
2009: Visiting Artist/Scholar Boston: Presentation of the annual Beckwith Lecture for 2009 at the School of the Museum of Fine Art, Boston: Artists as Activists, September 23rd. How can art transform lives?, Mass College of Art, Boston, 24 September, 2009
2008: Visiting Scholar: University of Michigan, (3-7 March) Creative Community Partnerships for Creative Community Development: University of Johannesburg- University of Michigan Collaborations. Lectures and Working Group meetings: Institute of Research on Women and Gender, Interdisciplinary Programing Feminist Practice, Centre for the Education of Women, School of Art and Design, Women’s Studies Program,
2007: Invitation to present a keynote paper at a post Hurricane Katrina Summit: Educating Women for a World in Crisis: Newcomb College Institute: Tulane University, February: Title of keynote address: Can Art Change Lives?