Yes, go and see a degree show near you!

This is a post from the weareoca.com archive. Information contained within it may now be out of date.
 
OCA Curriculum Leader Sarah Taylor reports: As Bryan’s blog (15 May) pointed out, this is Showtime! So, don’t miss this perfect opportunity to view the work of your contemporaries in the field. It is not only inspiring, but really important to see this in relation to personal design development. And, you can get up close to the work in a way that you might otherwise not. Most will present sketchbooks and design development which is always good to see. I have included a list of institutions which are well worth a visit and (pretty much) cover the majority ofUK counties for OCA’s textile student community.There should be a degree show near you!

Some shows have already started although the majority will be in June. I went to see the School of Textiles and Design’s show at Heriot-Watt University in Galashiels at the weekend. This used to be my old stomping ground for many years so I was interested to see the student work.
The show seemed to explore the breadth and depth of the subject. At times, the discipline boundaries seemed blurred, adding to the intrigue of textile technique and concept. Weaver Hannah Camp’s subtle shifts of muted colour and mark making effects using jacquard were suggestive of surface rubbings, resembling print effects or drawn marks. This linked well with the abstract mark making designs and juxtaposed images of Amy Price’s eye-catching prints.

I love to see sketchbooks and preliminary work as it gives a real insight into an individual’s way of working. Rose Thomasson’s 1960s / Scandinavian-inspired furnishing fabrics showed a real joy for drawing, pattern and screen printing. Rachel Macleod used drawing as an essential element in the development of design ideas; a delightful body of work which used line, block silhouette and collage to capture the quirkiness of sea and landscapes in simple, quirky prints. In contrast to this were the brightly coloured designs by Cheree Chantelle Wexler; bold confident prints which seemed to demand attention as did Katherine Steele’s kaleidoscope inspired knitted garments.

I am a weaver by training so I am always fascinated by the many permutations of cloth. The subtle but sophisticated colour shifts in Roslyn Muir’s woven fabric wasreally enticing and with the addition of digitally printed fabrics, added richness to the woven collection. The choice and use of yarn types is also something I find intriguing. Jade Westwater’s knitted pieces were distinctive in the use of unconventional fabric yarns which created structural interest, subtle colour combinations and a lightness of handle. Weaver Andrew Kieran designed his own yarns to create unique shifts of colour blending in his patterned, woven jacquard collection. This interest in yarn was evident in Scott Bramley’ s knitwear; elaborate combinations of yarn qualities which added visual dimension to the organic use of colour and pattern within his garments.I left inspired!
There areof course organised study visits to see the degree shows at Edinburgh College of Art (which could include textiles) as well asthe New Designers exhibition in London where you can see all of the UK’s textile degree programmes under one roof.If you’ve time, the Royal College of Art’s MA degree show is also on then.Do make time if you can to see a show near you. Be inspired!
Wales

• Cardiff School of Art and Design 8th – 14th June 2013

Scotland

• Grays School of Art Aberdeen: 15-22 June 2013
• Heriot-Watt University until 31 May 2013
• Glasgow School of Art: 8 -15 June 2013
• Edinburgh College of Art: 31 May – 12 June

Ireland

• National College of Art and Design, Dublin: 14 – 22 June

Tyne & Wear / Cumbria / Co Durham

• Northumbria University: 19-29 June

W Yorkshire

• University of Huddersfield: 15-21 June
• University of Leeds: 17-21 June

Lancashire / Cheshire

• Manchester School ofArt: 15-19 June

Derbyshire / Nottinghamshire

• Derby University: 1 -11 June
• Nottingham Trent University: 31 May – 8 June
• Loughborough University: 8 – 15 June

Northamptonshire / Buckinghamshire /Leicestershire

• New Bucks University; 7 -12 June
• De Montfort University: 14-20 June

Norfolk / Cambridgeshire

• Colchester Institute: 27 -10 June

Somerset / Bristol

• Bath Spa 8 -16 June

East / West Sussex

• University of Brighton: 31 May – 12 June

 Berkshire / Surrey /Wiltshire / Hampshire

• University of the Creative Arts, Farnham: 24 -1 June
• Winchester School of Art: 17 – 13 June

Staffordshire

• Staffordshire University: 8 – 15 June

London area

• Chelsea College of Art and Design: 14-22 June
• Central Saint Martins: 24 -29 May
• Royal College of Art (MA): 20-30 June (not 28)

You can also view the Artists Information Company’s Degree Show Guide if you register with them.
Images courtesy of:
1. Rose Thomasson & Rachel Macleod
2. Amy Price &Hannah Camp
3. Cheree Chantelle Wexler; Katherine Steele
4. Roslyn Muir; Jade Westwater
5. Andrew Kieran; Scott Bramley