Arnott family donates unique table to Union

Gallery

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Last month Union High School in Graaff-Reinet welcomed a new addition to its campus; South African sculptor Louis Olivier’s THINK Table.

The table, which is a limited-edition artwork, was donated to the school by the Arnott family, in celebration of the school’s recent centenary.

According to former Unionite Adrian Arnott, the son of the late Herby Arnott who served the school as headmaster from the 1940s to the 1960s, the family wanted to gift the school with a piece of art that is innovative, functional and attractive.

The table was unveiled and presented to the school and its senior learners at a special ceremony on 10 March. The ceremony was attended by Arnott, his sister Hillary Botha, and the artist Olivier.

Photo gallery: THINK table gets donated

Inspired by Rand Merchant Bank’s (RMB) advertising platform of “thinking that can change the world”, the Arnott family commissioned Olivier to create the THINK Table.

This table was designed to be a smaller version of the 10-ton concrete RMB THINK Bench, created by Olivier and his team from the Workhorse Bronze Foundry, that was installed at the University of Pretoria to celebrate and encourage innovative and collaborative thinking.

Learners admiring the sculpture 1.

According to Mariëtte Burger, spokesperson for Union, the bronze sculpture that forms the main focus of the table at the school spells ‘THINK’ from one side, while another perspective reveals little human silhouettes in different thinking poses.

“In today’s school environment, it’s not just the thought, but the quality and inventiveness of the thinking that counts,” said Arnott.

“I’m an avid believer in critical thinking that pushes the boundaries to make a difference in the world and it is our sincerest hope that this piece of art will inspire the learners of Union High School to take ownership of “thinking that can change our world”.

The THINK Table is inscribed with a quote by the late Herby Arnott: “It is my fervent prayer that God will continue greatly to bless this school and all who enter it, and may whatsoever things that are pure and lovely and of good report here forever flourish and abound”.