Jeremy Wafer
Encyclopedia
Early life
Born in DurbanDurban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, to Laura, a nurse, and Michael "Mick" Wafer, a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
naval pensioner from Aghada
Aghada
Aghada is a small fishing town situated on the south-east coast of Cork in County Cork, Ireland. Aghada is most famous for the Aghada GAA and its neighbouring villages are Whitegate and Rostellan...
, Co. Cork, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Wafer grew up on a farm with his brothers Patrick & Timothy before earning his undergraduate degree in fine arts from the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg in 1979; in 1987 he received a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in fine arts from the University of Witwatersrand. He was at one time head of the Department of Fine Arts at the Natal Technikon. Currently he resides in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
and heads the Department of Fine Art at the University of Witwatersrand .
He co-designed the "Wall of Hope" AIDS monument (with Georgia Sarkin), dedicated to the memory of Gugu Dlamini, in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa.
Wafer has two children, Mary & Alexander Wafer
Wafer's uncle, Richard Wafer, died on the HMS Jaguar (F34)
HMS Jaguar (F34)
HMS Jaguar was a J class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by William Denny, Brothers and Company, Limited, of Dumbarton in Scotland on 25 November 1937, launched on 22 November 1938 and commissioned on 12 September 1939...
trying to rescue his comrades.
Wafer is also second cousin once removed to the baseball player, Ken Weafer
Ken Weafer
Kenneth Albert "Ken" Weafer was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played in with the Boston Bees. He batted and threw right-handed.He was born in Woburn, Massachusetts to Margaret E. Sullivan and Jeremiah F...
& is third cousin to Richard B. Fitzgibbon, Jr.
Richard B. Fitzgibbon, Jr.
Richard B. Fitzgibbon, Jr. was the first person to lose his life in the conflict that would later be known as the Vietnam War. He was killed by another U. S. airman. The United States Air Force Technical Sergeant died on June 8, 1956. Through the efforts of his sister, Alice Fitzgibbon Rose...
.
His work is held in the National Museum of African Art
National Museum of African Art
The National Museum of African Art is a museum that is part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.. Located on the National Mall, the museum specializes in African art and culture...
of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.