Category Archives: fine art

creative events, fine art, news, research

Ruth Ewan kicks off the first Visiting Artist Talk for 2014/15

October 7, 2014

Ruth Ewan, based in London who’s practice includes sound, text, print, and process-based live events, often creating context specific art projects, which highlight the continued relevance of particular historic moments to the present.

Ruth Ewan

9th October, 2014

Clock Tower Building (formerly BridgeWardens College), Lecture Theatre
17.30-16.30
Free, everyone welcom

Ruth Ewan frequently works with collaborators to realise her projects, which are often grounded in focused research into the social and political history of the site in which they are based.
Previous projects have involved historians, activists, archaeologists, bakers, school children, buskers and composers.

Ruth’s best known work A Jukebox of People Trying to Change the World is an interactive archive of over 1,500 socially engaged songs from across the world which are catergorised into themes such as ‘Law and Order’, ‘Feminism’, ‘Freedom’
and ‘Slavery’.
This project has been shown in museums
internationally including New Museum,
New York, Prada Foundation, Venice and
Tate Liverpool.

Her audio project ‘The Darks’ is currently
on show at Tate Britain and she is working
towards a major solo exhibition at
Camden Arts Centre, London in 2015.

Download the Poster

Further links:

http://ruthewan.com
http://www.frieze.com/shows/review/ruth-ewan/ http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/video/tateshots-darks
https://www.bookworks.org.uk/node/1749 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rmnn9
http://www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/the-portal/ruth-ewan_s-portal
http://artmuseum.pl/en/wydarzenia/rewolucyjny-kalendarz-adwentowy-ruth-ewan

creative events, fine art

Stour Valley Arts Residency for Fine Art students

September 24, 2014

This month sees Nadeen Adbulla and Maegan Newbury, who were awarded the prestigous artist residency with Stour Valley Arts take their place in the Forest Studio.

The University of Kent, School of Music and Fine Art and the Stour Valley Arts work closely together to provide exciting opportunities for upcoming artists to undertake residencies in their newly converted Forest Studio on the edge of King’s Wood, Challock in Kent.

This month, the successful student artists take their place among the wildlife for two weeks in order to undertake a series of self-directed work as part of this fantastic opportunity with Stour Valley Arts in their new residency environment.

Maegan and Nadeen were awarded the residency amid a high level of applicants, there were over 150 artists vying for the chance to enjoy this unique and rewarding process-led opportunity that helps students build their artist experience in a ‘real-world’ setting that goes beyond the gallery space, as well as the thrill of working and living in the forest. This opportunity comes as part of the the Fine Art degree programme at the School and supports the module ‘Place and Site’.

It is with great pleasure that this year we are able to offer residencies to two students who thrived through the process of ‘Place & Site’. Nadeen and Maegan will have the opportunity to use Forest Studio and King’s Wood as their testing ground for 2 weeks. – Forest Studio and SVA.

Read more
Forest Studio
Stour Valley Arts
Interested in applying for Artist Residency 2015?

creative events, fine art, news

Margot Laureau’s Bench is revealed today as Herne Bay Exhibition opens

September 17, 2014

Creative Events Student has her Bookcase Bench proudly installed on Herne Bay’s seafront as part of a new series of installations.

The Exhibition, held at Beach Creative in Herne Bay opens today, Weds 17th September, which features a series of benches created by individual local artists.

Margot Laureau, a third year student at the School of Music and Fine Art, was one of the artists selected through a ‘Peoples Millions’ supported competition by Canterbury City Council, to design and produce a bench that will be positioned along Beach Street in the beautiful coastal town, Herne Bay. We featured her work on the bench a few months ago, how it is created by books and drawings of the area, and now the bench is fully installed awaiting the grand opening and exhibition.

Margot is delighted with her Bookcase Bench:

Herne Bay has a lot to say through its architecture, history and people. The bench I made was built on this idea of creating an installation where I tell all about the treasures I have discovered as I learn about this town. I thought about doing something with books. Books represent knowledge and culture. Nowadays, people are using books less; they use I-pads, laptops or other machines instead. In few years time books or paper may be obsolete. Although it is made of wood, the bench is the shape of multiple piles of books. It is my recreation of a library. Marcel Duchamp, who spent time in Herne Bay over 100 years ago, inspired me with his ready-made pieces of work.
I want people to know how the town developed during the last few hundred years. I decided to illustrate stories and the history of Herne Bay on the ‘bookcase’ I have done.
If you have the time to visit it, you will be able to see famous monuments built around the town, such as the Clock Tower, the Pier, The Memorial Park, Herne Bay Market and much more. The drawings include people at play.
I would like the audience, who will sit on the bench, to be reminded of all the little details, made by real facts that happened in Herne Bay but also mixed in with some fantasy drawings that add poetry and humour.
The bench is made of wood, paper, ink, and vanish. A resin is going to be put on the top at the end of the month to make it stronger.

You can view more images on Margot’s hard work and the production of the bench on the School of Music and Fine Art’s Facebook page.

Visit Margot Laureau’s website.

The Beach Creative website.

Images courtesy of Greg Davidson Photography.

creative events, fine art, news, research

Tim Meacham and Adam Chodzko have got the ‘Moves’

September 12, 2014

Celebrating the Extraordinary World of Mobile Art Vehicles – ‘Art Moves’ at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Tim and Adam displayed their vehicles.

Art Moves is a celebration of the extraordinary world of mobile art vehicles at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Bringing together twenty-five of the most ingenious and inventive art vehicles, Art Moves offers a unique showcase of mobile architecture and art as part of London’s Open House weekend and the Park’s arts and culture programme. This collection of vehicles which was selected by invitation and open call, is a visual experience that also prompts further thought into some of society’s most pressing issues such as sustainability, new modes of architecture and transport, and how we interact with one another.

Fine Art lecturers Tim Meacham and Adam Chodzko both exhibited their works during the event.

Tim Meaham:The Drawing Carriage’ by Tim Meacham is a pedal powered vehicle designed to allow the passenger to engage in a “powered stroll”, exploring and enjoying outdoor spaces at a leisurely pace. The Carriage is mounted on a tricycle chassis and steered and powered from the back, allowing the passenger an uninterrupted view and giving the “front seat top deck of bus” experience, with a live ‘soundscape experience’. The passenger is encouraged to document their journey using a drawing apparatus mounted on the bench. The apparatus is connected to an arm that traces the terrain over which the carriage moves, transferring the undulations and texture of the ground to the surface of the drawing. The journey becomes part of the drawing, which the passenger is invited to keep as a memento.
View The Drawing Carriage Video
View the Facebook image gallery

Adam Chodzko:
‘Ghost’ by Adam Chodzko is a custom-built wooden two-man kayak inspired by the artist’s work around Deadman’s Island, so named after being used as a burial site for the bodies of convicts who were imprisoned within the hulks, moored in nearby Swale throughout 19th Century. ‘Ghost’ is a vehicle for visiting the dead – the passenger is positioned low and flat within the vessel – as though being lain to rest in a coffin and paddled to their final destination. A camera records each trip from the bow, creating a unique film archive. For ‘Art Moves’ the artist will undertake a series of new journeys within the Olympic Park, visiting sites along the waterways that allude to past uses and histories.

Read more about Art Moves at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

creative events, fine art, news, research

Stour Valley Arts Residency for Fine Art students

September 11, 2014

This month sees Nadeen Adbulla and Maegan Newbury, who were awarded the prestigous artist residency with Stour Valley Arts take their place in the Forest Studio.

It is with great pleasure that this year we are able to offer residencies to two students who thrived through the process of ‘Place & Site’. Nadeen and Maegan will have the opportunity to use Forest Studio and King’s Wood as their testing ground for 2 weeks. – Forest Studio and SVA

creative events, fine art, news, research

Sarah Turner successfully secures new film project -Public House

September 10, 2014

Sarah Turner has secured a film development award in order to undertake a new long term shape shifting film project.

Sarah Turner, Beatrice Gibson and Larissa Sansour have become the latest artists to secure development support through FLAMIN Productions. Selected from over ninety proposals, the artists’ exciting new long-from projects impressed the expert panel and won them the unique opportunity to participate in a funded development phase- an essential period for artists to refine ideas and acquire the skills and contacts to realise work to their best potential.

At the end of the development phase, the three projects will be considered for production support – with £100,000 available to support the successful work.

In addition to their outstanding creative quality, a key characteristic shared by the awarded projects and artists is the potential they have to benefit from the period of mentoring and financial support offered by this development stage. A fact that boosts their chances of securing production funding when the time comes.

Sarah Turner – Public House

Public House fuses fact and fiction in a multi layered exploration of memory, community and social reinvention. Activated in response to the community takeover of the Ivy House pub, London, SE15, this feature length work for cinemas is a shape shifting genre hybrid that moves from observational document to minimalist opera. Interweaving testament, performance poetry and an innovative soundscape that fuses acousmatic composition and verbatim librettos, the film explores individual and cultural memory and its resonance in shaping social spaces.

About FLAMIN Productions

Supported using public funding by Arts Council England, FLAMIN Productions is a unique commissioning scheme which goes beyond simply producing work – it is committed to nurturing talent and supporting innovative artists in their professional growth.

creative events, fine art, news

Margot’s Benchmark Success

August 8, 2014

Creative Events student Margot Laureau, recently won a competition to design and create a unique bench as part of a project led by Canterbury City Council.

The project has been made possible after Herne Bay was awarded £50,000 by the ITV Peoples’ Millions initiative to improve its sea front and to help improve the accessibility and facilities near the beach at Herne Bay.

Margot began the design and creation of the bench in July. After a few initial design ideas, her final imaginative creation features a selection of drawings of Herne Bay’s historic landmarks, including its clock tower, as well as a number of her own drawings which depict the history of the seaside. She wanted to portray the town’s architectural and artist heritage.

With the support of the staff at the School, she started this project last month and it is now at Herne Bay, waiting for it’s grand opening. Margot’s bench will be one of six other independent commissions created by local artists and installed on the sea front in 2014.

A special launch event will also officially unveil the six benches to the public.

View Margot’s progress on our Facebook page

creative events, fine art, news

Fine Art graduates exhibit as emerging talent in Kent Degree Show

July 23, 2014

School of Music and Fine Art graduates of 2014, Sophie Dixon, Michael Sullivan and Claire Orme represent the University of Kent in a county-wide Degree Show.

01 August – 13 September
Private View Thursday 31 July 6–8pm

Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope Gallery,
Buckhurst Lane,
Sevenoaks
TN13 1LQ

The Sun_film still for Kent Degree Show — Credit: “The Sun” (film still), 2013, Piotr Sitko.

Following the success of the School of Music and Fine Art end of year Degree Show 2014, three students have been selected to go forward and represent the school in an exhibition showcasing emerging talent across Kent.

The Kent Degree Show will exhibit a selection of work from Kent’s 2014 Fine Art graduates. The exhibition includes student’s work from Canterbury Christ Church University, K College, University of Kent, and University for the Creative Arts.

Exhibiting artists: Jemma Braidwood, Sophie Dixon, James Duck, Verity Hunt, Josephine Mankelow, Shona McGovern, Simon Merrifield & Claire Orme, Timothy Noble, Maggy Rodd, Piotr Sitko, Diane Smalley and Michael Sullivan.

The Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope Gallery is a contemporary space run by Kent County Council to show new and experimental work from local artists.

The exhibition is free to visitors and runs from 01 August – 13 September.

RSVP: kaleidoscope@kent.gov.uk

creative events, fine art, news, research

ICA wiki-a-thon chaired by Sarah Turner

July 15, 2014

Continuing the School’s strong affiliation, Sarah Turner will be chairing the first Wiki-A-Thon: Friday Salon.

The ICA is working in partnership with the University of Kent on their first ‘wiki-a-thon’ features a Salon with academics, filmmakers and curators. Chaired by School of Music and Fine Art’s Director of Research, moving image artist Sarah Turner, speakers include Elinor Cleghorn, Elizabeth Cowie, Sophie Mayer, and Lucy Reynolds. This is a chance to further and exchange knowledge of feminist film and film theory.

Visitors are invited to bring a laptop and determination to shape history.

A closed workshop will take place before the Friday Salon to post entries on Wikipedia.

Followed by a 5pm screening of She Must Be Seeing Things (Sheila McLaughlin, 1987).

Ticket Offer: attend both the Feminist Film Friday Salon and She Must be Seeing Things screening for the reduced price of £12 / £10 Concessions / £8 ICA Members.

More information visit the ICA website.

creative events, fine art, music, news, research

School of Music & Fine Art – PhD Scholarships for September 2014 entry

July 15, 2014

School of Music and Fine Art are celebrating our inaugural year and are delighted to announce up to THREE fee waiver PhD scholarships (Home/EU rate) for PhD students.

The Scholarships are available to UK, EU and overseas students and will cover tuition fees (at the home/EU rate). They are offered for one year in the first instance, renewable for a maximum of three years subject to satisfactory academic performance.

Criteria

In order to be eligible for these scholarships, applicants should apply for, and subsequently receive an offer of, a place at the University of Kent for one of the following PhD courses for September 2014 entry.

Fine Art (Practice as Research)
Music and Technology*

* Please note that new PhDs in Music (Research, Composition or Performance) are in the final stages of approval within the University and applicants for these areas are encouraged to apply for PhD Music and Technology with the understanding that they can then transfer onto the new PhDs upon arrival (subject to approval) where appropriate.

The scholarship competition is open to all doctoral research applicants who have applied or are applying to the School of Music and Fine Art for entry in the academic year starting September 2014. Please visit Kent’s postgraduate pages for comprehensive information about how to apply for postgraduate research study. These Scholarships are only open to applicants whose proposed first supervisor is in the School of Music and Fine Art. Please see SMFA staff pages for further information on potential supervisors.

Please note that all of these Scholarships will be based at the University of Kent’s Medway campus.

How to apply

In addition to their application for study, all new doctoral research applicants wishing to be considered for these scholarships must:

Complete a scholarship application form [Word docx, 55KB]
Provide a copy of their CV
Write a covering letter. Each applicant should supply the names, addresses, telephone numbers and emails of two referees.

Deadline

The deadline for receipt of applications is 11 August 2014. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a panel-led interview in early September 2014 with study to commence later that month.

Scholarships application forms, CVs and covering letters (including referee details) should be sent by post or by email to:

Email: MFAadmissions@kent.ac.uk
Post: Research Scholarship Applications,
c/o Recruitment & Admissions Administrator,
School of Music & Fine Art,
The Old Surgery,
The Historic Dockyard,
Chatham Maritime,
Kent ME4 4TE

Further enquiries about these scholarships should be directed to:
Kathryn Sansom, Recruitment and Admissions Administrator, School of Music and Fine Art MFAadmissions@kent.ac.uk, 01634 202962 / 01634 888980