Falmouth School of Art student exhibition at Porthmeor Studios, St Ives

Following a month long residency at the historic Porthmeor Studios in St Ives, six second year BA(Hons) Fine Art students are opening their studio space to the public for an exhibition of their resulting work.

Olivia Brelsford-Massey, Holly Doran, Sofia Fernandes, Samuel Morris, Sophia Rosenthal and Edward Spencer were selected for the opportunity of a month long artist residency at Portmeor Studios. With the cost of studio hire and a materials bursary funded by Falmouth School of Art, the residency will provide these students with an invaluable experience of working within a professional studio culture.

As well as being home to acclaimed contemporary artists, Porthmeor Studios has a long history of prestigious inhabitants. The studio provided for this student residency – Studio 5 – has perhaps the most compelling heritage of any artists’ studio; it appears to have been constructed around 1895 for Olsson’s School of Marine Painting, but is best known as the studio used for 50 years by two of the most influential painters of their generation – Ben Nicholson, followed by Patrick Heron.

The residency is delivered by Falmouth School of Art in partnership with Borlase Smart John Wells Trust, as part of a series of residencies and professional practice opportunities offered to students studying BA(Hons) Fine Art at Falmouth University.

The exhibition will feature an Opening Evening on Saturday 28 July between 5-9pm, and continue with two further days on Sunday 29 and Monday 30 July between 10am – 5pm.

Drawing and Fine Art alumni present new work

Alumni Theo Crutchley-Mack and Sam Wood have announced a joint exhibition showing new work based in and around Falmouth town.

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In recent months, both artists have been working on small en plein air paintings, used to develop more sustained works, all of which will be exhibited at The Poly, Falmouth, from Tuesday 24 July (including private view on 24th 6-9pm).

Theo graduated from BA(Hons) Drawing, and Sam from BA(Hons) Fine Art, in 2015. Both have since pursued their art full time, with exhibition, prize and residency success.

Theo is currently based in West Wales; he has this year undertaken a 6 week period as Artist in Residence at the abandoned whale station in Grytviken, for the South Georgia Heritage Trust. Sam now lives and exhibits in Newcastle, so it’s great to be able to see work from both artists in Falmouth once again.

• https://samwoodart.format.com/ 
• https://www.crutchley-mack.com/
• www.facebook.com/crutchleymack
• instagram @crutchleymack
• instagram @likessam

Fine Art students’ residency at CAST, Helston

BA(Hons) Fine Art students Ella Schlesinger and Nicholas Sanderson recently secured one of Falmouth School of Art’s studio residencies, at CAST, Helston, where they have been working together for the past month. The result is England your England, an installation comprising sculpture and video, to be shown to the public at an open studio event to mark the end of their residency.

Ella says, “The piece presents a search for a more democratic and honest space to create a conversation about Britain. We see a massive emphasis put on verbal and written language: in other words, the tyranny of the spoken and written word. With the cultural weight of the English language and its global historical context, it leaves us with a predefined and therefore limited platform to connect with and express our individual selves. We want to challenge this vacant gap these words leave and how, using the language of materials we can reown the identity to our country. Humans, as multi-sensory organisms, are constantly reacting against spaces and places, objects and feelings, so why do we settle on such a single faceted form of communication? And how can we create a more immersive and inclusive form of communication through art?

 

 

 

Tracing Granite – In Search of a White Cross

Beth Pinner graduated from BA(Hons) Fine Art in 2017. Toward the end of her studies, she applied for and was awarded the Groundwork Field Trip Residency; a five-day field trip visiting granite quarries in the south west as part of a team of academics and artists, led by Dr. David Paton. The residency was part of the Groundwork project and Beth’s place was funded by Falmouth School of Art. Beth shares her experience of the residency…

Image courtesy of Beth Pinner

‘The opportunity to take part in David Paton’s field trip, ‘Tracing Granite – In search of a White Cross’, arose when I was completing my studies of Fine Art at Falmouth University earlier this year.

Image courtesy of Beth Pinner

My art practice had developed alongside an interest and very basic knowledge on geology in Cornwall. Heavily influenced by the surrounding coastal landscape, I became fascinated by the dramatic textures and formations found in the open rock faces where the land met the sea. I was fixated on the notion of an entirely wild landscape, sculpted by nature, and made sculpture and print work surrounding these themes.

It was this (slightly obsessive) interest in rock that led me to gain a place on the 4-day residential field trip, alongside geologists, stone masons, archeologists, artists, writers – an eclectic mix of people from across the country who met, mostly for the first time, at a National Trust bunk house near Helston. With the bunk house as base for the next three nights we undertook a tour of granite quarries across Cornwall, moving to a second bunk house for the final two nights to extend the reach of the trip. Over the duration, our group fluctuated in size as people joined at various stages and quarries to share their own accounts of living and working with granite. Hearing their stories gave a more personal sense of place and insight into how granite in the south west has shaped and influenced individuals lives for generations.

Out of the eight that we visited, only two of the quarries were still in use. The six others were disused and at various stages of reclaim by nature, some so far overwhelmed that, to someone with little knowledge of quarrying like myself, any previous narrative of human interference was hard to comprehend at first. There weren’t any clear differences between the man-made rock face and the naturally formed rock face that I thought I might see. On reflection, however, the quarried sites have become increasingly obvious as man-made. If these rock faces were at the coast one wouldn’t think twice about them being naturally sculpted, but here, in land, they felt out of place, and purposeful.

Image courtesy of Beth Pinner

Having never visited a granite quarry (or any quarry) before becoming involved with this trip, I had no idea what to expect from the four days. Everybody’s enthusiasm to share knowledge fueled a want to learn more, and I have come away feeling truly inspired. Not only by the awe-inspiring places that we visited, but by all of the people that have been involved.

At the time of applying back in June, I hadn’t imagined how helpful this opportunity would prove to be in re-inspiring a desire to move forward with an art practice after university, and by connecting me to some amazing people who I now look forward to working with more in the near future. There are some great things to come from ‘Tracing Granite – In search of a white cross’ and I for one can’t wait to see them all unfold.’

Fine Art student project – ‘Perception Filter’ @ The Bunker Project, Penzance

1st and 2nd year BA(Hons) Fine Art students recently took part in a 3-week residency project in partnership with the Exchange Gallery in Penzance.

The artists – Abbie Hunt, Alberta Shearing, Ella Squirrell, Charlotte Macias, Dan Bethell and Anastasia R James – made work in response to the former Telephone Exchange in the basement project space of the Exchange Gallery, which was open to the public 10-12 June.

Photos taken by Mercedes Kemp.

Falmouth School of Art Student Awards

To mark the public opening of their degree shows, and the culmination of three years of study, Falmouth School of Art’s Falmouth Campus students gathered last Friday evening to celebrate with friends and tutors, before welcoming friends and family to their exhibitions.

Awards, residencies and bursaries were announced, and we’re happy to share snapshots from the evening with you…

Students gathering for the annual Falmouth School of Art Student Awards – lucky with the sunshine again this year…

Falmouth School of Art Director Ginny Button welcomes students with a glass of fizz!

Tanya Cruz, awarded the BA(Hons) Fine Art Award for Outstanding Dissertation. Tanya was also one of this year’s recipients of the Midas Award.

Head of Drawing and Foundation, Phil Naylor presents Sophie Bowen with the BA(Hons) Drawing Award for Outstanding Dissertation.

BA(Hons) Illustration student Seekan Hui received an award from Paper Rose Cards. She says “I’ve had such fun at Falmouth!”

BA(Hons) Drawing student Scarlet Standen received the John Howard Print Studio Bursary.

Printmaker and artist John Howard, also an Associate Lecturer at Falmouth University, generously provides a bursary giving 60 hours of taught access at his Penryn studio.

Head of Art Roger Towndrow congratulated Rob Davis on receiving the Transition Porthmeor Residency and the Spike Island Residency. Rob was also announced as a recipient of this years’ Midas Award.

BA(Hons) Fine Art student Demelza James was awarded a Transition Porthmeor Residency.

BA(Hons) Fine Art student Maddie Broad brought her piece The Disco Trolley, providing a soundtrack as students received their awards, and enlivening the campus throughout the evening.

Head of Drawing and Foundation Phil Naylor presents Minna Gawler-Wright with the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drawing.

BA(Hons) Fine Art student Ed Burkes was awarded the Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Travel to Italy Award.

Julia de Graaf was presented with the BA(Hons) Illustration Award for Outstanding Studentship by Head of Illustration Nigel Owen.

BA(Hons) Fine Art student Polly Maxwell was a recipient of the Transition Porthmeor Residency

Head of Drawing and Foundation Phil Naylor presented Jonathan Koetsier with the BA(Hons) Drawing Award for Outstanding Studentship

BA(Hons) Fine Art student Lulu Richards Cottell was presented with the Peter Root and Mary Thompson Award. Mary’s brother Ben presented the award, made annually by the Peter Root and Mary Thompson Charitable Trust. Mary and Peter were Falmouth School of Art alumni, tragically killed whilst travelling in 2013. Lulu was also a recipient of the Transition Porthmeor Residency.

Head of Art Roger Towndrow presents Finbar Conran with the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Fine Art. Finbar was also one of the recipients of the Midas Award.

 

The full list of award, bursary and residency recipients…

The Midas Award 2016 | The Midas selection panel have chosen work by ten graduating Fine Art students for an exhibition at Newlyn Art Gallery in November, accompanying the 2015 winner’s solo show: Ella Caie, Tanya Cruz, Finbar Conran, Robert Davis, Joe Fenwick-Wilson, Nicholas Griffin, Zoe Pearce, Bharat Rajagopal, Isabel Ramos, Calum Rees-Gildea

The Peter Root and Mary Thompson Award | Lulu Richards Cottell | An annual award to support a graduating student in their professional development on leaving university. The award is sponsored by the Peter Root and Mary Thompson Charitable Trust, in memory of alumni Peter and Mary who tragically died in an accident in 2013

The Spike Island Residency | Robert Davis | A residency provided by and at Spike Island in Bristol

The Wilhemina Barns-Graham Travel to Italy Award | Ed Burkes | An award generously supported by the Wilhelmina Barnes-Graham Trust, open to students in their final year of BA(Hons) Fine Art. 

Transition Residencies | Part of the Fine Art Transitions Project which seeks to support graduating students as they enter the professional world. Both Back Lane West and Porthmeor are significant venues within Cornwall and the residencies provide the students with a special opportunity to extend their work beyond the course:

The Transition Back Lane West Residency | Ed Rowe, Isabel Ramos

The Transition Porthmeor Residency | Lulu Richards Cottell, Rob Davis, Demelza James, Polly Maxwell

The John Howard Print Studio Bursary | Scarlet Standen | Generously provided by celebrated local print maker John Howard, the bursary is awarded to a student of BA(Hons) Drawing, and provides 60 hours of taught access at the John Howard Studio in Penryn.

The Paper Rose Award | Seekan Hui (winner), Ellen Bennett (commended) | Award presented by Mark Jessett from G.F.Smith Paper.

THE FALMOUTH SCHOOL OF ART SPECIAL AWARDS

The Falmouth School of Art supports awards in Outstanding Achievement, Outstanding Studentship and Outstanding Dissertation in each of our degree courses:

Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drawing | Minna Gawler-Wright

BA(Hons) Drawing Award for Outstanding Studentship | Jonathan Koetsier

BA(Hons) Drawing Award for Outstanding Dissertation | Sophie Bowen

Award for Outstanding Achievement in Fine Art | Finbar Conran

BA(Hons) Fine Art Award for Outstanding Studentship | Anthony Kenny

BA(Hons) Fine Art Award for Outstanding Dissertation | Tanya Cruz

Award for Outstanding Achievement in Illustration | Sara Hougham-Slade

BA(Hons) Illustration Award for Outstanding Studentship |Julia De Graaf

BA(Hons) Illustration Award for Outstanding Dissertation | Lucy Tomlinson

GAFA, China/Falmouth University International Collaboration

My visit to China this time was a little different. I was invited to participate in a 3-week international teaching and artist residency collaborative project between Falmouth University and the International Art Program (AIP) at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art (GAFA), South China. (Funded by Falmouth University and GAFA)

In partnership with Fanfan Yang, a dynamic young designer, fine artist and teacher on AIP we devised a short 3-week course for 2^nd year students. This involved asking students to select a group of objects that had meaning to them (no mobile phones allowed) and getting them to abstract a number of different ideas and outcomes from one starting point. We taught the students what it meant to ‘abstract’ starting points from looking at selected objects in new ways. The students participated in a number of drawing games and took their one theme through a number of outcomes in sculpture, painting and fashion design. We encouraged continual reflection and sketchbook work.

As well as teaching  I focused on developing a new body of work for a solo exhibition in the schools gallery space; a vibrant and trendy contemporary art gallery in the Redtory district of Guangzhou. The ‘Redtory’ area consists of wonderful old soviet style red brick factories that have architecturally designed and converted into studio spaces, galleries and cafes.

The gallery space  enabled me to develop a new body of work based on drawings and research started earlier in the year whilst in Iceland. The environment couldn’t be more different, yet within the dust and ruins similar themes emerge. For this exhibition and residency I have drawn directly onto the gallery walls, made a short animation and soundscape using sound sampled from the NASA website. And there is dust, a lot of it collected from a demolition site nearby. Piles of dust and debris are common in China making it in some ways a perfect location to show the kind of transient ephemeral work that I make. The Chinese easily relate to the themes within my work as they live amongst transitory ruins all the time. Old China is disappearing at an alarming rate. I have created an environment that reflects the feeling of a pause, and ‘interlude’. It is left open and ambiguous.

Processed with Rookie Cam

This is my 5^th visit to AIP GAFA in South China. I have been working with the AIP students since 2013 running portfolio workshops and interviewing for a range of courses at Falmouth University. The students spend 3 years learning English intensively alongside an art foundation program. It is a progressive and experimental course enabling the students to study creative subjects at university in the UK. It is a relaxed and messy environment; unlike the traditional Chinese art education they would otherwise receive. The students are a delight. They are eager to take on new ideas and concepts, which must be challenging given the fact that their education prior to this has been entirely traditional. I am surprised and enjoy the pace in which they have embraced it.

I have particularly enjoyed conversations with the artists and teachers here. Positive working relationships have been formed paving way for future international collaborative projects to take place between staff at Falmouth University and AIP GAFA. Despite the huge cultural differences it is interesting to explore common ground. The academics were particularly interested in how Chinese fine art influences could be interpreted from a contemporary Western perspective.

Whilst there I immersed myself fully in the cultural experience. I was lucky enough to be invited by Fanfan’s family ‘tomb sweeping’ a public holiday for remembering one’s ancestors. This consisted of thousands of families attending the cemetery at the same time, lighting firecrackers to scare away any unwanted ghosts and burning a lot of paper money and gold for the dead relative. It was a fascinating yet rather smoky and noisy affair! I was also taken to a Cantonese opera by one of the student’s families- another unforgettable experience. I find the Chinese people kind and gracious. They are willing to go out of their way to make sure you experience the best of their culture- which I most definitely have.

 

 

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Lucy Willow: Research and Residency – Iceland

On 7^th December I arrived in the remote village of Stoovarfjorour, East Fjords of Iceland at the old fish factory to start a three-week artist residency. There was a call out to the villagers on the day that I was arrived to see if anyone could pick me up from the airport two hours away. It is remote. I was met by an Icelandic writer who was staying in the neighbouring village looking after his father’s horses. He came to collect me with the promise that he would be rewarded with a good meal at the end of his long round trip.

While here I plan to host a series of coffee mornings where participants will be invited to share stories relating to Icelandic death rites and ceremonies. The project develops current research with the group Café Morte (pop up research group) looking at the way in which visual culture represents death and dying, mourning and grieving through art, dreams, desires, imagery and poetry. This is my plan.  Currently my interpreter is stuck in snow in Reykjavik where all flights have been cancelled due to the bad weather, so there is a certain amount of having to re-think and work around the weather conditions here.

The village sits in one of Iceland’s Eastern Fjords with mountains covered in snow rising up on each side. It has a population of 150 people that rely heavily on fishing to make a living. The residency space is in an old fish factory; a huge rambling building that is an Aladdin’s cave of potential materials. It is full of old bits of machinery and junk that have been saved and salvaged stored in vast warehouse spaces in the factory. Part of the building has been renovated and has a concert hall where the villagers get together and local bands play. This is also where Café Morte coffee morning will take place. I have the ingredients to bake some cheese scones, which I am hoping will entice the community to take part.

The studio is purpose built, warm and if I stand on tip toe  can just glimpse a view of the mountains. The mornings are dark. I am getting to really enjoy the sunrise at 10.33 am, the changing light and how it falls on the snow at the top of the mountain. I have been here for three days drawing and gathering information from my surroundings that  will be incorporated into a new body of work. A tin shack, black pools of water, dust storms and containers are emerging to form the beginnings of a new symbolic language  explored through drawing. I am finding it interesting to see how I map my imagined Iceland onto the real. I hope to then use film, sound and narrative from the Café Morte session to create an installation in one of the fish factory warehouses.

One thing I can be sure of this year is a white Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BA(Hons) Drawing on the Isles of Scilly

For a number of years, first year BA(Hons) Drawing students have had the chance to visit Tresco in the Scilly Isles. Here they explore the landscape, the beautiful gardens and the surrounding area for inspiration. Megan Fatharly, a first year student, talks about her experience of the trip.

The trip was very early on in the course, but this gave us all the chance to bond and learn from each other. I think for many of us, me included, we were daunted by the idea of drawing outside for a lot of the time. However, since coming back from the trip, this is something I try to do frequently as I really enjoy it! We were set tasks and then let loose on the Island to go and explore and document the landscape.

Throughout the week we were set drawing tasks which challenged our way of thinking and made us work outside our comfort zone. This included a collaborative project, where we captured the landscape in 360 degrees, working in one medium. It meant talking to each other and communicating our ideas so that the drawing was a success.

While we were there we also got the chance to meet Theo Crutchley-Mack, a recent graduate from the course, who is currently doing a residency on the Island. It was great to see what opportunities come from doing the degree. Seeing his work was really inspiring and I’m sure motivated a lot of us to look into residencies after completing our degree.

On the Friday we were all invited to the private view at Gallery Tresco on the Island, where current second and third years have work on display. It gave us the chance to see how an exhibition was put together and displayed. Despite all the work being so different, the whole show was a great success and you could tell real thought had been put into how each work was shown.

I know everyone who went had a great experience. The trip was a real once in a life time experience and I’m already trying to find a way to go back! A huge thank you to Isolde Pullum, Phil Naylor and Peter Skerrett for making it so fantastic!

Below are some more pictures from the trip. We were very fortunate with the accommodation that was organised for us, too! Such a great trip, where I learnt a lot and got the chance to meet more of my course.

Plasizmo – Exhibition by collaborating Fine Art students

PLASIZMO is a collaborative contemporary art exhibition at Back Lane West, Redruth, created by two of our graduating students from BA(Hons) Fine Art.

 

Rosie McGinn and Gareth Wilde were selected to participate in the Back Lane West residency programme in conjunction with the Falmouth School of Art. The one month residency has provided support, space and time for the artists to continue the development of their fine art practices on graduating.

Back Lane West is an artist-led residency, project and meeting space in Redruth, Cornwall. Its aims are to support and encourage critically engaged visual art practice and artists’ professional development, while contributing to the growth of a nationally and internationally connected, cultural community and network in the South West.

PLASIZMO will take place at Back Lane West, Redruth on Friday 26th June, 7-10pm.

Back Lane West is a short walk from both rail and bus links.

Reflections on the Spike Island Residency

2014 BA(Hons) Fine Art graduate Ed Hill was awarded the Spike Island Residency, following his studies. Here he shares with current students of the course his reflections on the experience…

Working at Spike Island for three months allowed me to continue the momentum of working post graduation. In my case, this meant painting.

Ed Hill’s Spike Island studio space

The Residency studio was big and situated among other artists’ studios. After moving timber, paint, canvas and stretchers into my space, I shared the studio with three other recent graduates. With 24/7 access, you are free to come and go anytime, day or night. I enjoyed the access to a wood workshop – where I made stretchers, (there is also a metal workshop and plenty of room for larger scale projects).

The atmosphere was very professional, and it was a realistic and beneficial experience of a totally independent way of working outside of art school. I made paintings for a show, and without the studio, facilities and space it would have been much more challenging to do so.

‘At the beach (after Mr and Mrs Andrews)’ 100x100cm, oil on canvas

If you are hoping to carry on working on art projects after graduating, and if you are serious about being artist, the residency is something to aim for – it will provide space, facilities and an opportunity to continue momentum in an art environment at a time when it is increasingly hard to do so. I recommend applying for the residency.

Edward Hill, Standing on a Rock

Ed Hill was one of four Falmouth alumni selected for the 2014 Bloomberg New Contemporaries which, having toured to Liverpool and London, will be on display at Newlyn and the Exchange Galleries from 21 March – 30 May 2015. You can see Ed’s work as part of that exhibition. Ed was also the recipient of The Falmouth School of Art Purchase Prize 2014 for his Bloomberg-selected piece Standing on a Rock.

Pablo de Laborde Lascaris Wins International Emerging Artist Award

Falmouth alumnus Pablo de Laborde Lascaris has won the prestigious International Emerging Artist Award (IEAA) for 2013.

An established sculptor at just 28, since graduating from BA(Hons) Fine Art in 2011, Pablo moved from coordinating the Breakfast graduate exhibition in London to winning an Artist’s Residency at Christ’s Hospital School in West Sussex, to obtaining a bursary with the Royal Society of British Sculptors.

His latest achievement, the IEAA, represents excellence in contemporary art and offers emerging artists valuable international exposure alongside exhibition opportunities. Since receiving the accolade Pablo has enjoyed exhibiting across the globe: from Dubai’s FN Designs gallery, to the Vue Privée gallery in Singapore and latterly joining the Galerie Gourvennec Ogor in Marseille as an Associate.

Pablo won the coveted IEAA for his Cube, made whilst studying at Falmouth. The mixed media piece composed of different woods, grains exposed, and filled with 100kg of sand, poses queries regarding the relationship between two materials in a piece suggestive of time, movement, and displacement.

A prolific sculptor, Pablo’s latest work is set to form a pivotal role in the Marseille-Provence European Capital of Culture 2013 celebrations, showing at the Swab Barcelona Art Fair between 3-6 October before informing a solo exhibition at the Galerie Gourvennec Ogor.

Didier Gourvennec Ogor, gallery owner and President of Marseille Expos explains, “Pablo will be exhibiting from 31 October at the Galerie Gourvennec Ogor in a solo exhibition. He will have the opportunity to invest in a space nearly 200m by 4.7m high. This is a difficult exercise for artists in general, but I am sure he will take advantage of this great opportunity… I am very excited by this new collaboration with such a promising artist.”

(C) Pablo de Laborde Lascaris