fresh
News magazine from the University of Wolverhampton School of Art & Design - Spring 2009
Love what you do, do what you love
[ image: Sid’s Faces by Natalie Poole ]
STUDENT FOCUS 3
CREATIVE EMPLOYABILITY 7
STAFF FOCUS 10
EVENTS 11
3D Design / Animation / Ceramics / Computer Games Design / Design and Applied Arts / Fashion Accessories / Fine Art / Glass / Graphic Communication / Illustration / Interactive Media / Interior Design / Journalism AND Editorial Design / Photography / Product Design / Textile Design / Video and Film Production
––
1
1 POSTGRADUATE GRADUATION CEREMONY 2 RECENT EVENTS
2 Transitions Synopsium
2 Research Results Highlight Excellence
3 STUDENT FOCUS
Postgraduate Graduation Ceremony We celebrated the success of our postgraduate students on 25 February 2009 at the Graduation Ceremony, held at the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton
3 Copper Bottomed
4 Graphic Communication Students work with English Heritage
The students graduating were:
4 The Hans Brinker Trophy 2008
5 Kuhn Rikon Knife Project
Doctor of Philosophy James Andrew Davis, Senior Lecturer, Interactive Media
5 Argh it’s a Disabled Person
5 Deadly Graphics
6 India Trip
7 CREATIVE EMPLOYABILITY
7 Live Brief
8 Work Placements
MA Art and Design (Animation) Nicoletta Karagiorgi MA Art and Design (Ceramics) Mark Bath, Alan Higgins MA Art and Design (Fine Art) Kaye Selvey, Linda Taylor
8 Design Agency comes back to University
MA Art and Design (Furniture) Darren Hillman
8 Black Country Creative Partnerships
8 Creative Success in KITTS Placement
MA Art and Design (Glass) Xin Li, Hilary Poole
8 LNN Employability Website
8 Graduate Recruitment
9 Employability Live
9 SPEED West Midlands
10 STAFF FOCUS
10 Painting the Blues by Ben Kelly
10 The Man Who Never Was
11 Rewarding Excellence SAD
11 EVENTS LISTINGS
11 Life Through a Lens
12 Light House Student Photographic Awards 2009
12 Your Where by Katherin Böhm
12 Sid’s Face by Natalie Poole
13 CADRE Lectures 2008-9
13 The Artist Gallery
13 SAD 40th Anniversary
13 Presswork’s present: Relentless
13 Degree Shows 2009
14 PROFESSOR EDWARD BIRD 15 VISIT THE SCHOOL 15 CONTACT FRESH
www.wlv.ac.uk/artanddesign
MA Art and Design (Graphic Design) Warren Clarke, Ailish Kearns, Theodora Parpa, Konstantina Sakellaridou, Konstantinos Spyrou, Postgraduate Diploma Art and Design (Graphic Design) Siti Norbaya Bte Razali MA Art and Design (Illustration) Jessie Cape, Riona Cunningham MA Art and Design (Interior Design) Ojevwe Agnes Benemoh, Dan Li, Jacqueline Norton, Ozohu Mary Omeiza, Yang Yang MA Art and Design (Photography) Karen Mills MA Art and Design (Textiles) Nicki Dalloway, Theresa Jones Postgraduate Certificate Art and Design (Textiles) Caroline Rose MA Art and Design (Visual Communication) Low How Koon MA Design for Advertising Christina Apalnes MA Fine Art Caroline Cleary, Victoria Daker, Paul Drewnicki, Sarah Harford
Congratulations to all!
RECENT EVENTS
Transitions Symposium The Transitions Symposium was held on Wednesday 4th March 2009 at the School of Art & Design. This was a partnership event with Bilston Craft Gallery and the School of Art & Design’s, Centre for Art and Design Research and Experimentation (CADRE). Over 30 people attended the event, from University lecturers to students, members of the Crafts Council and industry professionals. The aim of the Transitions Symposium was to address the challenges faced by mid-career makers and look at how change and new opportunity can help to instigate a shift in how designer makers move forward. A series of speakers explored what opportunities are available, focusing on the financial, personal and educational implications of change. Speakers included, Cas Holmes (Textile Artist), an insight into Cas’ work history and career path; Marlene Little (Course Director BA (Hons) Textile Design, Birmingham City University), the visual audit - seeing and evaluating with new eyes; Beatrice Mayfield (Crafts Council), mid-career initiatives at the Crafts Council; Heather Rigg (Designer Maker, West Midlands), issues relating to mid-career makers. “The response from those who attended the event has been really positive. The speakers addressed many of the issues facing makers, especially how to operate within a funding system that is being affected by the current economic climate,” said Pat Dillon, Divisional Leader for Design and Applied Arts.
The symposium relates to Bilston Craft Gallery’s touring exhibition, ‘Transitions’, on show at Brewery Arts, Cirencester 2 March - 6 May 2009. www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk/bilston
2
| RECENT EVENTS 10% of research in the School of Art and Design was rated as world leading, 25% as internationally excellent and 50% as internationally recognized.
Research Results Highlight Excellence The results from the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008) highlight significant improvement in Art and Design with areas of international excellence. The School’s Centre for Art, Design, Research and Experimentation (CADRE) was established in 2006, to foster the development of our research community. It has four research clusters: • Art, Design and Creative Technology: which blends the interdisciplinary expertise of artists, designers and computing experts in areas such as animation, games design, graphic design, illustration, and interactive and web-based media programming. • Art, Society and Environment: which is interested in how artists critically engage in the public realm in ways that serve ideals of radical democracy and creativity in the public interest. • Art, Practice and Critical Theory: These researchers have expertise in theories and material skills that inform modern making. Members of the group utilise a full range of 2D, 3D and time-based media skills and approaches. • Material Design and Applied Art: This group champions craft as an experimental and future looking practice. The group has expertise in the plastic arts and 3D design, most specifically in the areas of art glass, tableware design in silver and ceramics, architectural ceramics and textiles. 10% of research in the School of Art and Design was rated as world leading, 25% as internationally excellent and 50% as internationally recognized. Prof Tim Collins said; “We established the Centre for Art, Design, Research and Experimentation three years ago to focus and develop the strengths in our research culture. We have a robust group of PhD students and a research lecture series. The School of Art and Design continues to move forward and contribute to the form and function of Art and Design in the 21st century”. The strength and variety of research adds to the richness of our academic portfolio by informing our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
www.wlv.ac.uk/artanddesign
3
STUDENT FOCUS
| STUDENT FOCUS
Copper Bottomed MA student Dawn van Gerven has won a prize in the national Art Medal competition organised by the British Art Medal Society. The competition encourages and promotes the art of making medals and over one hundred student medals from as many as fifteen art colleges were submitted for judging for prizes and selection for exhibition. Art medals are usually in cast bronze and are double faced but they can be made in any material. Having a sculptural ceramics background Dawn van Gerven decided to have a go at bronze casting for the first time with a group of fellow students, who were also entering the competition under the guidance of senior lecturer Ben Carpenter. Dawn says “it was a really long process but I got great satisfaction from designing, casting and finishing the medal. These competitions not only give students something to work towards but an opportunity to get their work showcased”. Art medals are usually commissioned to commemorate an event or person, or to express a particular belief. Dawn’s
medal was based on the saying ‘Copper Bottomed’ which means genuine, something that can be relied on. Copper bottomed originally described ships which had their hulls sheathed with copper to defend them against wood boring molluscs and the build up of weeds and barnacles. The fixing of copper began in 1761 and later became common place. It was not long before this phrase was used to refer to anything that was reliable and trustworthy. Dawn’s prize was awarded for her subtle contrasting patination and good use of both sides of the medal. Patination of bronze is usually a natural process that develops over time; the green/ blue colour that was produced on her medal is copper carbonate which is also used in her ceramics to create the greens and blues in glazes. Bronze is made up from a mixture of copper and tin so her title for the medal fits the whole idea well. The medal is currently in the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro and will be displayed in the British Museum next year. Dawn was also the overall winner of the Wedgwood jewellery and body adornment competition last semester and her work can be seen in the New Wedgwood Museum in Stoke as part of their permanent collection.
[Pictured above: Dawn van Gerven at work and her work ‘Copper Bottomed’] [Pictured over: Suzanne Carter from English Heritage with Qucie Green, Marketing and Recruitment Officer and Scott Knight, Business Development Manager discussing a fact-finding visit to National Trust property Wightwick Manor] [Pictured over: Jenny Brandon and Lisa Roffey ]
www.wlv.ac.uk/artanddesign
STUDENT FOCUS
4
Graphic Communication students work with English Heritage English Heritage has come to the School of Art and Design and to the Graphic Communication course in particular, for help with an interesting challenge Every year, during the second weekend in September, English Heritage and the Civic Trust host ‘Heritage Open Days’. The events are staged to celebrate all aspects of England’s heritage, allowing the public free access to over 3,500 fascinating properties across the country. Wanting to attract a more diverse audience to this event, English Heritage have asked Graphic Communication students to undertake market research and then to apply their results to a range of creative design solutions that will encourage broadening participation. Selected student designs will go into publication to promote Heritage Open Days at local National Trust property, Wightwick Manor, before, it is hoped, being adopted nationwide in 2010.
will inspire not just graphics students, but all students within the School of Art and Design to visit one of the fascinating venues that will open to the public during the 2009 Heritage Open Days.” Heritage Open Days run from Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 September 2009. Details of venues that are open for visitors can be found at: www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory
* See the next issue of Fresh for an update on this project.
“Our students are very enthusiastic about working with English Heritage on such a valuable project that will undoubtedly have a large impact on attracting visitors to many of England’s heritage venues” said Jeff Leak, course leader. “I hope that this project
The Hans Brinker Trophy 2008 Five painting students from the University of Wolverhampton’s Fine Art course were selected to travel to Amsterdam and compete in this prodigious annual painting competition with a 5000 Euro prize. The five students taking part in the exhibition were: Sarah Aldridge, Martha Dragan, Yiannis Mitrou, Diane Robinson and Jenny Brandon who stole the show when she sold all her paintings on the opening night to two private collectors based in Amsterdam.
www.wlv.ac.uk/artanddesign
5
STUDENT FOCUS
Argh It’s a Disabled Person!
Kuhn Rikon Knife Project John Margetts, Managing Director of Kuhn Rikon, approached the School of Art and Design to discuss the possibilities of a live project working with the company and the School’s Product Design and Interior Design students. A brief was set to design a new knife to complement their existing product range before Christmas 2008. The project was built into the level 3 module ‘Design for live projects and competitions’ and ran from October 2008 to the end of November 2008. Students gave a presentation to John Margetts on 26th November when seven students’ work was shortlisted and highly commended. These shortlisted students received detailed feedback on their designs. John returned to the School on 9th December 2008 to decide on the winning design. He was so impressed with the work that he decided to give out two awards The shortlisted students were: Andrew Price, Helen McDonald, Jon Kuiter, Natasha Nicolau and Audrey Wong
William Beard, Matvejs Terentjevs, Lambros Panayi and David Shakespeare Level 2, Video and Film Production students have created a short film “Argh It’s a Disabled Person!” as part of their studies on the module Empowering and Enabling with Film & Video. The film successfully provides a platform for Dr Paul Darke and Mat Fraser, the primary subject of the film, who is trying to inspire a new generation of disabled people to build their careers in the arts and in particular theatre. Mat Fraser (born 1962) is a rock musician, actor and performance artist. Fraser was born with phocomelia of both arms due to his mother being prescribed thalidomide during her pregnancy. He was a member of the performance art group, The DHSS, in the early 1990s. Dr Darke is an internationally respected academic, writer and cultural critic who has written and created extensively around the issue of identity and culture. He is also the originator of Normality Theory. The film includes interviews with Mat and Dr Paul Darke, and Mat on stage (to us in more than one way the most inspiring part), and it’s now on YouTube at: www.youtube. com/watch?v=fj0Wr2RC9JE.
The two winning students were: Ross Enefer and Karl Casson-Lavender. The selected work by Ross and Karl included all design visualisations, prototypes and all manufacturing documentation. These have been submitted to Kuhn Rikon and will go into production this year. For more information on Kuhn Rikon visit: www.kuhnrikon.co.uk
Deadly Graphics Graphic Communication students Paul and Keiron set up Deadly Graphics in November of last year using funding from the SPEED initiative. Based at the Science Park, the duo specialise in computer based graphical outputs for a growing client base. Paul Power says: “The SPEED program were very helpful as they organised an accountant for our company. He helped us to incorporate our company, which we did at the start of November, and since then we have been trading commercially. SPEED were also very kind in putting us in contact with a local design company (Début) from whom we have
www.wlv.ac.uk/artanddesign
been receiving mentoring. This has been a huge influence on us and as a result, we have become more confident in ourselves and our company.” Jeff Leak, Course Leader for Graphic Communication said, “Congratulations to both Paul and Keiron. It’s great to see them developing and using the understanding and skills learned in Graphic Communication modules.” View the website: www.deadlygraphics.co.uk
India Trip
STUDENT FOCUS
6
Students from the School of Art and Design went on a study visit to India in January 2009. The event was partially funded through the UK Prime Minister’s Office using PMI2 funding. The fund is designed to establish long lasting links with overseas partners in education, industry and culture. The visit was hopefully the first of many by University of Wolverhampton students who in the future will have the opportunity to work with Indian companies, experience some of the indigenous arts and crafts of India or spend time in educational exchange programmes with our University partners in India. Students were initially hosted by the National Institute for Fashion Technology in Kolkata, where they were treated to a series of lectures and daily trips to museums and cultural landmarks of the Kolkata Bengal region. Students visited the famous Jute Village of Fulia and witnessed how many of the traditional techniques of Indian textile design were produced. They were also invited to lunch at the British Council in Kolkata, where they gathered information for future trips. Students spent a night in Shantiniketan, West Bengal, a university town and centre of learning established in 1901 by Nobel Prize winner, Rabindranath Tagore. The Vishva-Bharati University represents Indian traditions while incorporating the best of other cultures. They also visited Kala Bhavan, the College of Fine Arts & Crafts, observing a wonderful environment in which to create textiles, ceramics, fine art, sculpture and print making. Students on future trips will be able to spend a short study period working at the college. During the trip to Shantiniketan the students visited a tribal village and spent the evening sharing music and dance with the villagers, having a wonderful time and experiencing a once-in-a-life time opportunity! Students also visited the Amar Kutir Society for Rural Development. This organisation agreed to offer future students the opportunity to work with the villagers, developing craft products in leather, textiles and jewellery. Before leaving Kolkata, the students visited the Green Wave Centre for Visual Arts, a small art school for local children from poor families. The centre is also an artist’s studio in glass and enamel work. The owners and artists,
Pulak and Tandra, made everyone very welcome and illustrated how artistic, rewarding and creative working as an artist in India can be. Tandra has also offered student placements at her School and workshop. The students spent the later part of the trip in Delhi, experiencing the sights and sounds of one of the major cities in India. Tthe Nirula Handicrafts Bazaar and other street traders provided many hours of shopping heaven. Here, links were forged with weavers, carpet makers, embroidery specialists and jewellery designers with whom we hope to collaborate on future trips. In Delhi, the students were hosted by the Apeejay Institute of Design, founded by Dr Stya Paul, the brother of our own University Chancellor, Lord Paul. A variety of workshops took place throughout the day in fashion, textiles, print making and 3D design. In the evening the students were invited to the British Council, and presentations were given illustrating the opportunities and support the Council can provide for students wishing to study or work across India. The trip concluded on a high with a visit to Agra. The sight of the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort was privilege enough, but actually walking through and seeing the full magnificence of these wonders provided one of those memorable experiences that all those who were lucky enough to be there will remember for the rest of our lives.
Pat Dillon, Divisional Leader, Design and Applied Arts
www.wlv.ac.uk/artanddesign
7
CREATIVE EMPLOYABILITY
| Creative Employability The Creative Studio is the focus for employability in the School of Art and Design.
Live Brief Walsall-based First Steps Babywear is a company that designs and produces infant clothing for high street and supermarket retailers. Level 3 Illustration students are currently working on a brief to design characters that could feature on a range of baby items. The students have learnt how design stories are created using pattern repetition and the company have offered to buy any designs that can be used on their clothes. Level 3 Graphic Communication students have had the opportunity to work on a brand for a new business start-up that will import tropical fruit from Africa. Design agency Rawww from Coventry have written a brief for them to create a new mascot for The Beacon Centre for the Blind, and Powercell, a battery manufacturer from Wolverhampton, has given them the opportunity to re-design their packaging. Active Volunteers are a unit within the University of Wolverhampton which recruits volunteers from the student population and places them with hosts. Volunteering has now become accredited and this year will see the launch
of the Active Volunteer of the Year award sponsored by The Midland Counties Co-operative. Fine Art students were commissioned to design a plaque and winner’s medals to commemorate this award and the winning design, by Georgina Shepherd, will now be cast in bronze. The School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure were keen to have a logo designed for their new Sport and Business Committee that represents all of the sports departments from universities within the West Midlands region. With only three days to submit draft designs five speedy students got to work and between them submitted more than twenty ideas. The winning designer was Vivienne Wong a Level 3 Graphic Communication student. Karen Bill, Associate Dean from the School of Sport, Performing Arts & Leisure said, “It was great that we were able to offer Art & Design students the opportunity to pitch for the work to enhance their portfolios. We have ended up with a great design and a very quick turnaround. The committee were very impressed with how receptive and responsive the students were to the task.”
Work Placements The Professional Placement (Sandwich) Year was introduced in September 2008 and over twenty students registered an interest in spending a year in industry. They have been busy exploring the opportunities on offer to undergraduates and some have been making their own. Two of our Journalism and Editorial Design students have pursued many companies in order to spend their year out in more than one place. Between them they have secured placements in published and broadcast media and public relations to ensure they get the broadest experience possible. The Work Placement module was also new in September and for semester 1 seven students completed short placements in schools, galleries and even behind the camera for the filming of the ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ auditions. This semester fifty one students have registered for the module and the placements are as diverse as a luxury yacht builder and a TV programme in Ireland!
Design Agency comes back to University Wolverhampton-based Début, whose team consists of University of Wolverhampton graduates are returning to the classroom to share their expertise with designers of the future. Steve Campbell and Marie Campbell both graduated with a BA (Hons) in Graphic Communication in 2002 and Glen Tapper, graduate of Leeds University are preparing to talk to level 3 Graphic Communication students about their experiences in the graphic design industry. Début have also recently taken on Graphic Communication graduate Sean Bird for a ten-week placement through the Knowledge Innovation Technology Transfer Scheme (KITTS). Visit the Début website: http://www.debutcreate.com
www.wlv.ac.uk/artanddesign
[ Images: Steve Campbell, Marie Campbell and Glen Tapper from Début, with KITTS graduate Sean Bird.]
CREATIVE EMPLOYABILITY
[
8
Are you a creative company, a company which employs creative people or perhaps a company who needs some creativity?
If you are interested in hosting a student work placement then we would like to hear from you. Professional placements run for a minimum of 30 weeks (although more than one placement can be used to achieve this) and we encourage companies to pay students for this work. Module placements run for between 1-2 weeks and are unpaid.
The opportunity to work with these companies is invaluable. If you feel you have an interesting brief that could offer students the chance to work on something real, and have enough time for it to be built into a learning framework, the Creative Studio would like to hear from you.
Graphics Success in KITTS Placement
Often small and medium sized companies have no shortage of ideas but are frustrated by a lack of resources to turn ideas into reality, whereas graduates often need the opportunity of real work experience to enhance their future employment prospects. KITTS 12 week placements aim to match the skills of qualified graduates with the specific needs of West Midlands based small and medium sized enterprises by giving graduates the opportunity to put theory into practice through a work-based project in industry. Wolverhampton Art Gallery and the School of Art and Design, Graphic Communication team have been working together to find a graduate to work within the Art Gallery as graphic design assistants. After a tough competition, recent graphics graduate, Ken Hughes, has been appointed.
“I have been really impressed with the extremely high calibre of candidates and portfolios presented,” says Zoe Papiernick of Wolverhampton Art Gallery. “It has been a great opportunity to work so closely with the School of Art and Design. I’m sure Ken will find his KITTS placement at the Gallery to be a valuable experience and we all look forward to working with him. Congratulations Ken!” she concludes.
Black Country Creative Partnerships
Many artists and designers have mixed income streams, pursuing their practice as well as artistic activities for community-based arts programmes. Breaking into this field is particularly difficult as commissioners rarely interview artists who have no experience in the planning and delivery of these projects. Creative Partnerships is the Government’s flagship creative learning programme for schools which works regionally with creative agents and creative practitioners to deliver them. Black Country Creative Partnerships has teamed up with the School of Art and Design to offer students who are interested in community-based arts projects the chance to gain some project experience. Seven students from ceramics, textiles and fine art have joined this pilot and are currently shadowing practitioners in primary and secondary schools within the region. For more information on Creative Partnerships visit: www.creative-partnerships.com.
LLN Employability Website
The Creative Studio has been working on a project in conjunction with Staffordshire University to create an employability website for students who are looking to work in the creative industries. Funded by the LLN (Lifelong Learning Network Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin) the new website called Engaging with Creative Employability is close to going live. A combination of information on what employability is and how to become more employable, it will offer browsers the opportunity to link to a vast resource of sites relevant to the creative industries. The site is aimed at potential and existing creative learners who want to know more about where graduates work and employers who want to engage with the employability process. The process of completing this project has been an example of creative employability in its own right. Written by the Creative Studio the site has been designed and built by one of our own Animation graduates Kacper Lebiedziewicz and the image produced by level 1 Photography student Lukasz Gajdek.
Graduate Recruitment The Creative Studio has permanent displays to advertise job opportunities to our students. If you have a job you would like to publicise please contact: Hilary Price, The Creative Studio, Room MK307 3rd Floor of the School of Art & Design. T: 00 44 (0) 1902 322433 or email: H.Price@wlv.ac.uk
www.wlv.ac.uk/artanddesign
CREATIVE EMPLOYABILITY
Employability Live
9
Interview with Louise Buglass who is currently studying Illustration. Louise is a level 2 Deaf student who loves writing and is keen to develop her knowledge of journalism. In order to get some practical experience of publishing and to see if journalism is the career path she would like to pursue after graduating, Louise has recently spent a week with the Road Safety Team at Sandwell Council who produce the young drivers magazine ‘Rev’. We asked Louise about her experience and also caught up with John Billington from Sandwell to find out how they felt the placement had gone. What made you decide to try some work experience?
Would you recommend it to your fellow students?
I wanted a taste of real journalism, to find out what is expected and prepare for my journalism module. I also had to be confident that it was the right direction for my writing ambition.
Absolutely. Work experience gives you a clearer view of what it’s like out there and something to work towards. If I’d never gone on this work experience I wouldn’t be sure of what to expect...!
How did you find a suitable work placement host?
Are you planning to go on any more work experience during your course?
I went to the Creative Studio for some advice and got an introduction to the Sandwell Road Safety Team.
Rather than select the Work Placement Module you chose to go on work experience between semesters - how did that work? I wanted to study all of the modules within my own discipline, but wanted some work experience as well. The only way was to go out between semesters. I didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity of making the most of my studies and preferred to consider a formal work placement in my 3rd year.
What did you do on placement and did you enjoy the experience? I was given lots of interesting tasks including producing articles on a variety of topics, editing written works and learning to use Quark Express where I experimented with layout design. I felt like Lois Lane! I also had the opportunity to do some illustrations for the magazine. The experience was rewarding and the staff were very welcoming. Having thoroughly enjoyed it I have realised that I am, after all, going in the right direction. Plus, being constantly served hot drinks was a bonus!
[ Images: By Louise Buglass.]
I have another work experience planned with a difference magazine, but this time it won’t be about cars! Every magazine requires a particular style of writing, and I want to be able to alter my writing styles to meet the needs of the reader. I also want to see what it’s like to work in a different environment.
We asked John Billington how Louise had got on. Louise did a fantastic job whilst she was with us for the week. The tasks she tackled included researching and writing up a number of stories for our In the News article, editing a feature on road rage from a rather wordy sports psychologist and contributing to a children’s comic we are producing. Once we saw her illustrations we persuaded her to produce illustrations in Photoshop for our young driver’s magazine which were absolutely excellent. Louise worked extremely hard and showed loads of initiative. I think when you have anyone on a placement you are always concerned that you’ll run out of things to give them or they will not really understand your garbled instructions. As it was, Louise didn’t need telling twice and produced some really excellent work!
SPEED West Midlands
SPEED WM (Student Placements for Entrepreneurs in Education West Midlands) is an educational programme that supports students to realise the potential of a good business idea. In January this year 66 students from across the University pitched their business ideas to a panel of academics and practitioners. Of the 33 projects funded 50% of them were from the School of Art & Design, a huge achievement that recognises the entrepreneurial flair of our creative students.
www.wlv.ac.uk/artanddesign
STAFF FOCUS
10
| STAFF FOCUS
Painting the Blues by Ben Kelly Ben Kelly, Senior Lecturer for Illustration, opened a new exhibition of his work at Manchester City’s award winning museum. ‘Painting the Blues’ consists of thirty paintings created by Ben, who is an avid Manchester City football fan. The exhibition ran until the end of March. The series of paintings were created during a year-long commission at Manchester City Football Club and vividly capture the expectancy and excitement of going to a football match, and the wide range of characters that one often comes across on a match day around a football ground.
“The body of work produced for this collaboration with Manchester City captures single moments in time, snap shots and narratives from match days at the City of Manchester Stadium. This ranges from the anticipation and romance of a light splashed evening game, through to quiet reflections on a rain soaked Manchester afternoon.” Said Ben
[ Images: Ben Kelly, Senior Lecturer for Illustration at Manchester City Football Club and some of his work. ]
The Man Who Never Was
exhibition by Dean Kelland Dean Kelland, Senior Lecturer in Photography at the School of Art & Design, launched his latest exhibition at the Wedge Gallery in Lichfield. Along with teaching our Photography students, Dean has been making artwork for over ten years. Recent areas of interest in his practice involve the production of mixed media installations that deal with mediated language and popular cultural references. Visit: www.deankelland.com
This exhibition, as well as the recent project ‘My first City Game’, an initiative to collate memories and experiences of people’s first Manchester City match, are both aimed at capturing the vivid colours and impressions of what it means to be a Manchester City supporter. Visitors were able to see a variety of images ranging from supporters’ small and personal pre-match rituals to a group of ‘invisible men’ having a drink together on the concourses. Ben says; “Manchester City allowed me to get close to the match day action and it was this close proximity that enabled me to study the fans in such detail and their reactions to the highs and lows of a football game. I was particularly interested in painting the rich detail of the crowds and trying to portray the feeling of being part of the great masses decked in sky blue”. Three paintings from Ricky Hatton ‘Homecoming’ fight last May were also on display as part of the exhibition as well as a slide show of Ben’s original sketches drawn at the matches themselves. All pictures are available to purchase. It is hoped a selection of the paintings will go on show at the National Football Museum after the exhibition at Manchester City.
www.wlv.ac.uk/artanddesign
11
STAFF FOCUS
Rewarding Excellence SAD Lecturers from the School of Art & Design were nominated by their peers for awards in teaching excellence. Winners of the prize for Innovation in Learning and Teaching were Howard Read, Senior Lecturer Illustration, Callum Ives, Lecturer Illustration, Ben Kelly, Senior Lecturer Illustration, and Jon Rhodes, Senior Technician, Learner Support. Their project pioneered the use of video critiques in the module Editorial Illustration. This offers students the opportunity to view critical feedback online. Winners for the prize for Blended Learning were Dr. Faramarz Amiri, Course Leader Interactive Media, and Phil Nichols, Course Leader Video and Film Production who developed blended learning materials and online facilities for Digital Media students. Emily Mantell, Senior Lecturer Animation won the Early Practitioner prize for her use of blended learning materials in her modules. Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Geoff Hurd presented more than 50 staff with certificates of achievement and a financial contribution to their staff development at the annual Rewarding Excellence Awards Ceremony. Professor Geoff Hurd said: “The Rewarding Excellence ceremony recognises all those who have made outstanding contributions to teaching and student support at the University. They have all shown the ability to influence students positively to help them achieve specific learning objectives. I would like to congratulate all the award winners”.
| EVENTS LISTINGS LIFE THROUGH A LENS A new exhibition capturing the interesting art of pinhole
Justin will also be giving a lecture to staff and students
photography is open at the University of Wolverhampton.
and providing a workshop for first year students on the
The ‘Slow Light’ exhibition will be held at the School of
BA (Hons) Photography course as part of the Alternative
Art & Design from Wednesday, 18 March to Friday, 29
and Experimental photography module.
May 2009. The exhibition features images created by photographer Justin Quinnell using six-month duration exposures over Bristol. A pinhole camera will be set up throughout the exhibition to offer an insight into the School of Art & Design over the three months. Justin Quinnell lives in Bristol. His pinhole photography has gained its reputation through local and national exhibitions, the worldwide web, lomography and through the pages of the British and international photographic press. Pinhole photography is lens free photography, and is a method of capturing images using a simple light-tight box with a single pinhole in one end. Images can be taken slowly over time and the process involves being creative with the light from the sun.
www.wlv.ac.uk/artanddesign
Su Fahy, Divisional Leader - Fine Art and Photography said: “Lo - fi Photography is interesting to students as it offers a chance to experience the random effects of light and experimental exposures, utilising no man made optics. This idea of controlling light and creating images always offers a fascination as it combines the handmade camera and the operator but not the high end control and technology of a camera. The world can be viewed from a different perspective and the light of the sun, tracked and time captured in a different visual form”. The exhibition coincides with World Pinhole Day (www.pinholeday.org) in April and will be posted on the website.
EVENTS LISTINGS
12
Light House Student Photographic Awards 2009
Light House Student Photographic Awards Exhibition Friday 3 - Tuesday 28 April. Balcony Gallery, Light House, Fryer St, Wolverhampton From memorials to hoover dust, fashion and identity to personal space, this diverse selection showcases the talents of the University of Wolverhampton’s photography students. This is the first Student Photography Award and exhibition, jointly organised by Light House and the photography team of the University of Wolverhampton to bring together the best in fine art, documentary and commercial photography. Entrants are students from all three years of the current undergraduate course.
your where by Kathrin Böhm
Project by AHRC Research Fellow at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, 9 May 09 - 26 May 09 Böhm is currently an AHRC Research Fellow at the School of Art and Design, University of Wolverhampton. She is also a member of the artist and architects collective public works group. Wolverhampton Art Gallery’s boundaries exist outside of the walls of the building, with connections to other organisations, community groups and individuals across the city of Wolverhampton and beyond. ‘Your where’ invites visitors and guests to describe their links with the gallery and to make a mark on a map. By combining these contributions and marks over time, it will illustrate the existence of the institution within a large cultural and social network, and show Wolverhampton Art Gallery as a construct across spaces and across formal and informal relationships. Final event: Tue 26 May, join the artist for a discussion about her work. Visit: www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk/ exhibitions
[ pictured abovet: John Tift at the Light House Student Photographic Awards Exhibition. right: Sid’s Faces by Natalie Poole ]
‘Sids Faces’ by Natalie Poole Level 2 BA (Hons) Photography Natalie has been photographing Sid, an unconventional drag queen from Birmingham, since September 2008. Each week, he creates a new character for his role as the host of DV8 nightclub set in the heart of Birmingham’s Gay Village. Natalie is interested in the concept of representation. She aims to discover the different ways in which one person can depict themselves, exploring the notion of masquerade and identifying inner and outer characteristics through the visual arts. The images also reflect how masquerade can exude an air of strength, confidence and power within a person, allowing them to become something more than they are in their everyday lives.
“As the photographer, on each occasion, I gave Sid the opportunity to express himself as he wished, interfering as little as possible so that he could present himself to each performance,” Natalie explains. Natalie would like to thank Sid for his cooperation. Sid’s Faces Friday 27 march - Friday 15 May. Light House, Fryer St, Wolverhampton
www.wlv.ac.uk/artanddesign
13
EVENTS LISTINGS
CADRE (Centre for Art, Design, Research and Experimentation) Lectures 2008-9 Glenn Adamson (V&A Museum) Tuesday 19th May 2009, 6.00pm, MK045 Modern Craft: Directions and Displacements After many years out in the cold, craft is a hot topic for art historians. In this talk, Glenn Adamson will provide a brief survey of recent scholarly work. By looking closely at three areas of contemporary practice - DIY protest art, ceramic sculpture, and so-called “Design Art” - he will also suggest where modern craft is heading next.
The Artists Gallery This is a brand new, not for profit, private gallery based in the central location of 2, Lichfield Passage, Wolverhampton, and is the brainchild of local Digital Artist, Loz Taylor, who together with four other local multi media artists, is seeing his dream become a reality. One of the other members of this collective is Level One Fine Art student, Sheridan Curtis, the only student member of this collaboration. About the gallery, Sheridan said: “Our main aim is to be able to offer affordable, accessible gallery space to local artists and students alike. We have over 60 sq ft of exhibition space, split over two levels. This is a very exciting time for us, and hopefully the gallery will bring a new energy to Wolverhampton’s art scene. (The gallery was officially opened on Wednesday 8 April.)
40
Years in the A&D building
The 40th Anniversary of the School of Art & Design building will be celebrated this year. See the next edition of Fresh for updates.
Pressworks’ present: Relentless An exhibition by Level 2 Fine Art Students 36-38 Berry Street, Wolverhampton. WV1 Private View: 28th April, 5pm to 9pm. (everyone welcome) Exhibition dates: 29th April to 9th May 2009 Gallery Opening Times: 12pm to 4.30pm For more information contact: relentless.arts@hotmail.com Visit the Pressworks website: www.pressworks.info
Opening times are Wed - Sat, 10am - 4pm. Further details can be obtained by calling Sheridan on 07773-914240, or The Artists Gallery direct on 07906460697. Check out the gallery online at: www.theartistsgallery.biz
Degree Shows 2009
Final years students will be exhibiting their work in the School of Art & Design. Private view: Friday 5th June, 5.30 - 8.30 (by invitation only) Public opening: Monday 8th - Friday 12th, 9.00 - 5.00 Saturday 6th & 13th, 10.00 - 4.00 Next edition of Fesh will be the Degree Show edition
www.wlv.ac.uk/artanddesign
PROFESSOR EDWARD BIRD
14
Professor Edward Bird 24th September 1945 - 13th January 2009 Professor Edward Bird died suddenly in mid-January 2009, having taught at the School of Art and Design Wolverhampton University for twenty years. Ed was one of a generation of Art and Design specialists whose careers spanned the greatest changes in the perception and delivery of his subject since its inception 150 years ago. Born and educated in Leicester, Ed’s background was in Three Dimensional Art and Design. After graduating from Loughborough College of Art and Design in Ceramics. He undertook postgraduate study in Ceramic Design and Technology at North Staffordshire Polytechnic. As a chartered Product Designer, Ed gained practical design and consultancy experience in the ceramics industry before entering Art and Design Education, and worked in four Schools of Art and Design - Lancaster, Shrewsbury, Salford and Huddersfield before joining the staff of Wolverhampton Polytechnic in 1989. The huge changes brought about by the Coldstream report in the mid 1960s saw Art and Design change from a separate strand of the education system with its own qualifications and free standing schools to a liberal honours degree subject embedded in institutions of higher education. During his career Ed constantly evolved his approach to his subject and at Wolverhampton he helped to shape its future. When he first arrived at the Wolverhampton School of Art and Design in 1989 as principal lecturer in Wood, Metals and Plastics, the School only offered undergraduate level courses but was seeking to widen its portfolio. He progressed as Reader/Divisional Leader in charge of Three Dimensional Design and Research and Postgraduate Studies, and was instrumental in setting up the MA network and in establishing PhD level projects. This laid the foundations of a genuine research culture within the School. Despite his full-time duties he gained his PhD in 1992, the first member of staff in the School to do so, and became Professor in Design Education in 2002. As an academic Ed’s special interest was the History and Development of Art and Design Education in Britain, with particular reference to the role of the Victorian Civil Servant Sir Henry Cole, and in its establishment in the wake of the 1851 Exhibition at Crystal Palace. The fact that University staff often do not live close to their institution means few saw the other side of Ed. His life outside college centered around his Leicester-born wife and art tutor, Sue, with their mutual love of their Lipizzaner horses and their unique equestrian arts atelier. Ed’s interests included fast cars and bikes like the Harley Davidson. You can tell much about a man from his heroes and alongside Sir Henry Cole, they included Thomas Telford, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, J.D. Mitchell the designer of the Spitfire, and above all Sir Winston Churchill. As a teacher Ed wore his learning lightly and students found him approachable and supportive.
He was particularly skilled at tutorial level and successfully supervised
a number of PhD students. Ed had an endearing, sensitive nature and a good sense of humour, and his unique experience and caring personality will be sorely missed by both staff and students in the School.
Professor Keith Cummings
www.wlv.ac.uk/artanddesign
VISIT THE SCHOOL / CONTACT FRESH
CONTACT FRESH For more information about contributing to this magazine or to join our mailing list contact: Qucie Green, Marketing Officer telephone: 00 44 (1902) 321914 or email: qucie.green@wlv.ac.uk
You can meet tutors, talk to fellow students, and see our great facilities. University Open Days: Saturday 13th June 2009 Saturday 22nd August 2009
www.wlv.ac.uk/artanddesign
School of Art & Design Open Days: The School of Art & Design holds a number of subject specific open days throughout the year. These Open Days provide an opportunity for prospective students and parents to visit the University, see our facilities and find out more about our courses by talking to subject tutors and academic staff. If you and/or your students would like to see and hear more about the School of Art & Design at the University of Wolverhampton please call to arrange a visit on 01902 321914 or email: qucie.green@wlv.ac.uk
We can arrange tours of the facilities, tutor-led workshops and wider tours of the University. design by: debutcreate.com
Open Days are a great way of getting a feel for the University and the subject you want to study.