Exploring Media Prize Winners | 2020

After the success of last years AL1 Exhibition around college, we decided to this again this year with our first year students, displaying their Exhibition Boards on the Humanities corridors by the Lecture Theatre and up near Student Services. This was once again a fantastic way to end the Exploring Media project and showcase the amazing work that has been created by our students since starting in September. 

As always, we like to recognise those who we think have excelled in their effort and hard work in their courses so far and have created some really spectacular work. We have awarded one or two students in each subject for the categories of 'Exhibition Board', 'Sketchbook' and 'Outcomes'. Congratulations to all those nominated! These boards are situated down the corridor past student services and by the principal's office, please go and have a look at these, and all our students exhibition boards, next time you are passing!

Fine Art

Kacey Barrass
Exhibition Board


Alisha Bullivant
Exhibition Board


Joshua Lawrence
Sketchbook


Imogen Blue Marshall
Sketchbook


Eleanor Kay
Outcomes


Siobhan Wilson
Outcomes

Graphics

Isabel Marshall
Exhibition Board


Daisy Bernard
Sketchbook


Latisha Barnard
Outcomes

Photography

Charlie Stewart
Exhibition Board


Julianne Mackintosh
Exhibition Board


Molly Firth
Sketchbook


Abbie Walton
Sketchbook


Felicity Blain
Outcomes


Mae Robinson
Outcomes

Yorkshire Sculpture Park Trip | 2019

On Thursday the 17th of October we went on our annual autumnal trip to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park with our first year students. Everyone arrived promptly at Tesco for 9 o'clock, and we so we set off on a quick trip up the M1, arriving at YSP for around half 9. Once our lovely bus driver Bob dropped us off at the new building, 'The Western' (which, fun fact, is shortlisted for a 2019 RIBA Stirling Prize!), we made our way through and into the park to start off at the Damien Hirst sculptures.

 

We began at the sculpture 'Myth', where everyone had a go at quick expressive drawings and taking photographs. We also managed to have a look at the exhibition currently on in The Western by Holly Hendry called 'The Dump is Full of Images'. It was here we also bumped into one of our ex-students Steph Longdon (who, fun fact, was in Patience's Graphics class!), who is now working there as a gallery attendant after studying Fine Art at university. (possible Where are they now blog post to follow folks!)

   

We then had a walk down to Hirst's 'The Virgin Mother', passing 'Charity' on the way down. Here we spend 15 minutes doing some more expressive drawings as well as some formal drawings and getting photographs of this stunning sculpture amongst the beautiful landscape surrounding it. 

   

   

 

It was soon time to move on, making our way up to the Henry Moore's, with a quick stop to Sean Scully's 'Crate of Air'. Once we had spent some time both at Sully's work and Henry Moore's, we continued up towards the YSP centre. Once here we split into 2 groups, most of Fine Art and Photography went to the Underground Gallery, while Graphics and a few others from Art spent some time doing drawings of the landscape and the typography on the 'Walk of Art' outside the entrance. Graphics then did some research in the shop, looking at products and promotional materials, before joining everyone else down at the Underground.

  

  

The Underground Gallery is currently exhibiting the sculptural work of David Smith from the years of 1932- 1965. Smith's work throughout the years shows an evolution in his use of material, technique and form. Developing from his use of wood, to wire and nails, eventually creating large scale painting and stainless steel sculptures. These geometric, industrial and Modernist works are a perfect representation of the Abstract Expressionist movement Smith was part of.

 

 

Before we knew it, it was time to quickly grab some lunch by the picnic benches, before making our way down to Sophie Ryder's 'Sitting' and Ai Wei Wei's 'Zodiac Heads'. This is the last year we got chance to see Ai Wei Wei's 'Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads', which we have visited it every year we have been since it was first exhibited in 2017. It will be sad to see this one go! Here, our students had around half an hour to work independently either drawing or photographing.  We also managed to squeeze in a group photo before we left, which we must say was the most organised group photo I think we have ever seen on a trip before! We are clearly living with the Instagram generation folks!

 

Boarding the coach for 2 o'clock, we began our quick trip back to college, not forgetting our annual Learner Voice survey which we ran on the way back. There will be a full blog post on this in the next few weeks!

Overall we had a wonderful day out as always, our first years were a delight to spend the day with. Most importantly, thank goodness for the sun! Not a cloud in the sky all day, even if it was a bit boggy at times (sorry to those of you who came in what started out as white trainers...)

Thank you for a great day out folks! We can't wait to see all your drawings and photos from the day in your sketchbooks next week!

Cloud Land | SFCA Art Exhibition 2019

Before summer, we had three of our first year students exhibit their work in the SFCA (sixth form college association) Cloud Land Exhibition at Alexandra Palace in London! Amelia Everest, Caitlin Earnshaw and Christopher Scattergood all submitted a piece of work surrounding the theme of ‘Aerial Pioneers’, and produced these 3 fantastic pieces which were then displayed at the exhibition. Unfortunately we couldn’t make it down to the exhibition itself as we were snowed under with our own exhibition up here in Rotherham! But from what we’ve seen it looked like a fantastic evening and a great display of work. Huge well done and thank you to Amelia, Cailtin and Chris for getting involved in this, and well done to everyone else who had their work exhibited at this year’s SFCA Art Exhibition.

Caitlin Earnshaw

'Female Flight'

Christopher Scattergood

'Skyward Discovery'

Amelia Everest

'Aerial Innovation'