Colleagues pay tribute to NMMU arts lecturer

TRIBUTES poured in for an award-winning artist and lecturer who died last week.

Ethna Frankenfeld, a senior lecturer at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University's (NMMU) department of studio arts, died on Thursday afternoon after a recurring battle with cancer. She was in her late 50s and lived in Walmer.

Frankenfeld, a printmaking artist, was the winner of the third Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum Biennial Exhibition and Award for 2010, and her solo exhibition was held at the gallery last year.

NMMU director of marketing and corporate relations Pieter Swart said the fact Frankenfeld was the last winner of this award, and that she had held her solo exhibition last year, was a fitting tribute to her.

"Her death is not only a tremendous loss to the university, but to the art community as a whole," Swart said.

NMMU school of music, art and design director Mary Duker, who was taught by Frankenfeld as a student and later became her long-time colleague, said she had touched the lives of many creative artists as a lecturer.

NMMU fine art head of department David Jones said Frankenfeld was "bigger than life", describing her powerful personality as alive and very witty.

He said a memorial celebration would be held with only Frankenfeld's close friends and family. She leaves behind her husband, Bruce Cadle.