The Shape of Things to Come!
Forty second-year students on University College Falmouth’s BA(Hons) degree in Contemporary Crafts showcased their work at The Poly in Falmouth last week.
The innovative exhibition featured three-dimensional artefacts created from glass, clay, plastic, rubber, wood and fine metal, recycled materials and found objects created by students since the beginning of the academic year, and provided them with an opportunity to demonstrate how they push back the boundaries of contemporary crafts.
The students on the course work with singular or combined materials, producing one-off artefacts that are both decorative and functional. The vibrancy of the show reflected the unique educational environment of the College’s world-class Design Centre.
The word `crafts’ often brings to mind a traditional way of making art but this exhibition was anything but traditional, illustrated by ‘Bottle Bands’ - jewellery constructed from recycled glass bottles inspired by unique forms of nature by Ana Ramos MD Santos and Frank Aakvik’s 'Steam 'thropter’ - a design made from copper, brass and wood and which is inspired by steam punk a retro futuristic concept. Frank's previous career as a software engineer and his extensive blacksmithing skills combine to create this interesting and exciting piece and confirms that contemporary crafts can be well-designed and well made.
“It was very exciting for the students to be able to showcase their work mid way through the course” explained BA(Hons) Contemporary Crafts Course Leader, Jason Cleverly. “The experience they gain from preparing for an exhibition enables them to focus on designing and producing work that will have an end product and provides a great opportunity for the general public to see the standard of work being created on the BA(Hons) Contemporary Crafts Course at University College Falmouth.”
The BA(Hons) Contemporary Crafts course at University College Falmouth is leading the field in Contemporary Crafts by encouraging students to be experimental, to explore new ways of using traditional craft making methods and to find their own artistic voice whilst redefining what craft in the 21st Century means. One of the rising stars of tomorrow is Laura Carnell, who was asked to design trophies which have been awarded in recognition of the outstanding achievements of top graduates working in Cornwall. Laura was commissioned by Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP) – the Combined Universities in Cornwall’s graduate placement scheme – to create the awards, which were presented at their annual Celebration Event in September 2007.
For further information about BA(Hons) Contemporary Crafts at University College Falmouth, please visit www.falmouth.ac.uk/crafts, email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or contact Admissions on 01326 214356 (for the full-time option) or 01326 214357 (for the part-time route).
University College Falmouth is a founding partner in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC), 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.
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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