Contemporary Crafts students create site-specific exhibition for Trelissick

Second-year students on University College Falmouth’s BA(Hons) degree in Contemporary Crafts have been commissioned to create new work for display within one of Cornwall’s most stunning environments – the National Trust-owned Trelissick Garden in Feock.

Trelissick Garden is situated at the head of the Fal Estuary and commands a panoramic view of the sea. It is made up of a series of open and enclosed spaces over domed ground so there is the opportunity to conceal and reveal pieces of work as visitors walk around the Garden. The Garden houses the national collection of photinias and azaras, and its collection of lichens has been accorded Site of Scientic Interest status.

The National Trust set a theme for this project – entitled You are here – as the linking of spaces. In an initial briefing, to which the students travelled by boat, Trust staff asked the students to create permanent or semi-permanent structures from durable materials to enhance the exterior of this historic garden setting, that would then be exhibited as an inter-connecting body of work.

In responding to the brief, the students were asked to consider Trelissick’s history and connections with trade, the functions of the space as a garden, a botanical collection, an educational resource and a theatre space, as well as the type of visitor that Trelissick attracts and how visitors navigate the site.

The students were also invited to design pieces that referenced the site, provided links through the landscape to form an overall display, adhered to relevant Health & Safety guidelines and considered the maintenance of the garden.

The students are currently installing their creations and have delivered Powerpoint presentations about their ideas to include design development, research materials and visualisations of their final pieces in situ. Each piece will then be assessed and the resulting exhibition will run between 11 May and 17 June 2007.

“University College Falmouth is delighted to collaborate with the National Trust on such an intimate invasion of this charming and important site,” comments BA(Hons) Contemporary Crafts Course Leader, Jason Cleverly. ”The students have evaluated their chosen sites, and developed individual works, which it is hoped will then operate as a larger series of connecting pieces, drawing visitors further into the gardens on a journey of exploration,” he adds. “As well as providing an arresting location for the display of exciting new work, this type of live project is of immense value to our students. It teaches them all sorts of life skills that will stand them in good stead in the future and we thank the National Trust warmly for providing such an interesting brief.”

“The National Trust is wholly committed to promoting the arts and crafts in Cornwall, and Trelissick provides the perfect setting for the display of work by University College Falmouth Contemporary Crafts students,” adds National Trust Gallery Organiser, Tony Crosby. “We are surprised, delighted and intrigued by their responses to our brief, and such successful collaborations can only bring about positive benefits, not only for the students in terms of their professional practice, but also for visitors to Trelissick.”

Please call Trelissick Garden on 01872 862090 for information on entry fees and opening times.

University College Falmouth is a founding partner in the Combined Universities in Cornwall, a unique initiative to promote regional economic regeneration through higher education. The CUC is funded mainly by the European Union (Objective One), the South West Regional Development Agency, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, with support from Cornwall County Council.

For further information about BA(Hons) Contemporary Crafts at University College Falmouth, please visit www.falmouth.ac.uk/contemporarycrafts , email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or contact Admissions on 01326 214356 (for the full-time option) or 01326 214357 (for the part-time route).

For information on the College’s forthcoming Contemporary Ceramics & Raku Firing Summer School, please visit our summer school & short courses page, email vic.brotherhood@falmouth.ac.uk or contact Vicki Brotherhood on 01326 370756.

Ends

For further information about this press release, please contact Jilly Easterby, Head of Public Affairs, University College Falmouth, Woodlane, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4RH, Telephone: 01326 213792 or email: jilly.easterby@falmouth.ac.uk

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