Forgotten Spaces 2014 - Deadline getting closer!

The blog below was written by Abi who is an ex TRC student who is currently volunteerng in the Art Department, working specifically with the Forgotten Spaces students:

The deadline to submit the work for the Forgotten Spaces competition is nearing once again and it has sure come around fast!  To briefly summarise, the Forgotten Spaces competition is a project conducted by Sheffield Hallam University in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The competition is aimed at schools and colleges to challenge themselves to choose a ‘forgotten space’ in their local area and come up with designs to transform it. This is a fantastic opportunity, especially for students who are interested in Architecture. Last year, Thomas Rotherham College entered the competition and did incredibly well where Team 1 claimed second prize, and Team 2 achieved first prize! The pressure is on this year!

TRspaces and TRenovation (such great team names!) are the two teams that have entered the competition this year. TRspaces includes the students Jenny, Steph, Chantelle and Megan and TRenovation includes Bradley, Ryan, Jamie and Heather. Many schools and colleges have applied this year so it is going to pretty intense!

On the 11^th of November 2013, there was a workshop that myself and Sarah attended with the students at the Sheffield Hallam University. A handful of the students who were on the BSC Architecture and Environmental Design and BSC in Architecture Technology lead the workshop. They explained the project with references to some amazing slides and images but, quickly moved on to thinking and redesigning a ‘forgotten space’ they had provided to get our students ideas flowing.

Team Trenovation working with Abi and a SHU Architecture student

Team TRSpaces working with a SHU Architecture student - possible the only photograph of Jenny NOT eating a biscuit!

They showed the students how it was not just the building itself that needed to be thought about, but the environment around it and how it would affect the area. They had to consider the light (natural and unnatural), the public and who would be using the space, what would it be used for, also the weather and the impact it is going to have. There were many points that needed to be thought about but the students were taken through a step by step design process. There was also a presentation made the chair of an organisation who transformed a 'Forgotten Space' close to Kelham Island in Sheffield, this showed the students the great potential in transforming a ‘forgotten space’ and how it can be achieved in real life, whilst providing references to his own projects. A big thank you to everyone who was a part of the workshop and for all their support!

Bothe TRC teams with the Sheffield Hallam Architecture students

 

Once the workshop came to an end, the students left vibrant and eager to start their designs, as their ideas were flowing rapidly and being incredibly creative. All these ideas have been brought forward in our meetings since the workshop and both teams have come up with amazing concepts for their ‘forgotten space’. The final submission date is on the 24^th of January 2014 so it is only around the corner! A lot of hard work has been put into the work so let’s keep it going on the last stretch and hopefully we can match last year, I’ve got a good feeling about this year! Well done to everyone so far.

 

Thanks Abi!

TRCreative - Prints for Sale!

The TRCreative Enterprise project was launched in 2011 when students at Thomas Rotherham College secured funding to set up their own business in order to raise funds for their Art Department and a local Charity. In the first year students created their own black and white Drypoint prints inspired by beautiful places in South Yorkshire, these were sold as Original prints, digital prints, postcards and notecards.

In 2012 students were inspired by portraiture and focussed their images on the people of South Yorkshire, this year students have again been inspired by the beautiful places in Yorkshire, but have interpreted them using Lino for the first time, and experimenting with colour. From Scarborough Lighthouse to the Cheesegrater building in Sheffield, the students have produced a wide range of images. Each student has donated their best print to the project and the original has been framed ready to buy.  We have also made an edition of 4 digital prints of each image which are signed by the students and available framed or unframed. This year’s logo was designed by Heather Ward, one of our current students.

This year we will be supporting the Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, half of all profits from items sold will go towards the charity.

All the prints are now on display outside the Principal office and are available to buy, along with some other products;

Notecards and Postcards

2014 Calendar

 

Prices:

£25.00	Framed Original Prints These are the original prints made by the students as A/P’s (Artists proofs) and are one offs
£15.00	Framed Digital Prints These are digital reproductions of the original prints, printed onto cartridge paper and signed by the Artist.  They have been produced in an edition of 4 and are available framed
£5.00	Unframed Digital Prints These are digital reproductions of the original prints, printed onto cartridge paper and signed by the Artist.  They have been produced in an edition of 4 and are available unframed
£4.50	A4 Wall Calendar Featuring prints for each month of next year
£2.50	Desk Wall Calendar Featuring prints for each month of next year
£1.50	Notecards Pack of 5 notelets with various images
£1.00	Postcards Pack of 5 postcards with various images

If you would like to buy something please email sarah.mellor@thomroth.ac.uk with the item you would like to buy and how you would like to pay. Payment can be made by cash or cheque either to the Art Department or direct to accounts.   If you would like a framed print please allow some time for this to be taken down.

The original framed prints (£25.00) are proving very popular, we have already sold the following (digital prints still available! (£15.00 framed, £5 unframed):

Lucas Edwards ‘Thomas Rotherham College’

Bronya Roberts ‘Cheesegrater’

 

Sophie Burton ‘Untitled'

 

Sian Smith ‘Sheffield City Hall’

 

 

If you have any questions or would like to purchase anything please email sarah.mellor@thomroth.ac.uk

Where are they Now? - Joe Bradley

Guest blog post written by Joe Bradley, all images appear with his permission, thanks Joe!

Joe Bradley

University: University of Cambridge - Christ's College

Course: Architecture (K100)

 

Insurance: University of Sheffield

I left Thomas Rotherham in June 2013 and was lucky enough to be given an offer to read Architecture at The University of Cambridge starting in October.

The course at TRC is perfectly suited for the architecture degree down here in Cambridge, as the general majority all studied art in a traditional (not TRC) way, or even not at all! This means that through all of the coffee grains, plaster-covered clothes and years of being a 'skip-rat', we've been allowed to develop these skills that, to be fair, are nothing like I’ve seen in studio so far, and the tutors love it. One example is when we were asked to create concept model of our idea. Other students came in with foamboard models of small room-like structures. I came in with a piece that was a bicycle wheel (I skip hunted for that little gem), with a stool stuck through the spokes to represent the 'sudden jarring of movement'. The tutors here are really into the TRC way of thinking, and it's only until I got here that I realised how lucky TRC students are with the amount of different materials that are available and encouraged to be used.

Concept model that formed the start of project 2

 

Foamboard model of section of the Faculty of Architecture, Cambridge – 1:50

Foamboard and Kraftboard model, 1:50 – project 2

We still do weird and wacky concept models like at TRC, like this plaster cast I did

Final review table – project 2 (model based)

 The course is built up with 8 different classes, with 7 exams at the end. Usually we have one lecture in each class per week, which some lecturers decide to follow up with supervisions. These are little meetings of 4-5 students maximum, with the lecturer, where you have the opportunity to discuss things spoken about in the lecture. These supervisions are a really good thing if you're not someone who is particularly up for speaking in front of a full lecture room (me). So far, all the lecturers are really cool and are so interesting and willing to help if ever there are any queries you have. The main class is 'studio'. You don't have an exam in it, but you have to put a portfolio together at the end of the year to present the project work that you have done. 

A shot of the architecture family after a formal dinner in St. John’s

 The studio section is a lot of work and does take up loads of time, but it's definitely the most rewarding of any of my work. You are given a brief, slowly fed information, and 4 weeks later, you have a final proposal of an architectural development. It moves very quickly so you have to be motivated, but the feeling you do get in your final review of the project, when recognised architects are praising your ideas, is amazing. Also, reviews tend to lead to a BIG night out after, which gives way to some good stories getting thrown about in studio.

 Before I got to uni, I was dead set on being an architect, but now I’ve seen the possibilities of where this degree could take me, it’s opened my eyes to things like architectural photography and architectural historians amongst other careers. This said, I still really want to be an architect.

 I was really nervous and apprehensive about going to uni. I thought "wow, I did it! This is amazing!", but then I thought of all the stereotypes that came with Cambridge. Once I got there, it took me all of about 10 minutes to realise that people are just people no matter of their background or history, and to be honest, people love the Northern vibes. If you’re ever thinking of applying for Cambridge, please do not hesitate for the reasons I did. I wish I had somebody to tell me that all of the ‘everybody wears a suit 24/7’, ‘caviar for breakfast, dinner and tea’ and ‘forget mates, it’s all about work now’ were all rubbish. I’ve had a laugh every second of my first term, and there’s not been a day go by where I haven’t looked round and been amazed by at least one thing, whether it be the history of a building I’m in, having a pint with Jesse Jackson or walking into the toilets and talking to Tim Vine in the next urinal while absolutely off my face. It is truly amazing, don’t turn down the opportunity of Cambridge if it’s ever a possibility. Apply, you never know.

 

Yes. 

A steady pint with Tim Vine

As for architecture, I think it’s a really good course if you have a lot of interests. I have so far read up on art, history and maths, but then sociology, psychology, geography, psychogeography (nope, I didn’t know either), philosophy, economics, biology, chemistry, engineering, English, basically everything. It has such a broad spectrum, which means it can never get stagnant, because there’s so much that can be thought about. If you are seriously considering architecture, pursue it.



Christmas dinner with the boys at Christ’s

Face Exhibition - Hollie Turner

Hollie Turner is one of our current A2 Art Students who over the summer was involved with ROAR over the summer, here she tells us what she got up to:

 

Face Exhibition

ROAR is based in Rotherham Town Centre, and was set up to create a thriving art community in Rotherham. They’re based in Westgate Chambers and have exhibition space as well as artists’ studios. Everyone there is really friendly, and willing to help you with anything you want to do within the arts industry.

I worked there for a week, seeing the day to day running of the place and the groups who use the space within it. I created a booklet for volunteers who were completing creative workshops, as well as designing email templates for ROAR. Also, I helped with a ‘Rotherham Walkabout’ in town centre, where we created a small pyramid installation outside of the imperial buildings. For this I worked with local artist Nick Summerbell, who then showed me the work he has exhibited in Rotherham Library.

http://rotherhamroar.com/roar-walkabout-1/

During the summer I contacted artists from the local area, some of whom where members of ROAR, to ask them to exhibit work in a portraiture exhibition I was curating. This exhibition featured traditional and more experimental portraiture, in ROAR’s ‘Buzz’ gallery. This ran from the 18^th September to the 8^th of October. I also took this opportunity to exhibit some of my own work alongside artists work. This experience was really great, as it allowed me to get fully involved in my own project, as I wrote the proposal for the exhibition, contacted the artists and organised where the work should be hung. This gave me real experience of curating as a career path I am interested in pursuing in the future, and was really valuable to me as well as thoroughly enjoyable!

Communicating with artists from the local area showed me how much there is happening in and around Rotherham, and is something that I’d recommend anyone to get involved in. As I previously said, everyone is more than willing to help and everyone offered me advise about the future and my own art work, including Edwin Wraith, who is an artist based in the local area, who helped me with my drawing technique when I did some quick sketches of him while he was there.

 

Where are they now? Josh Holbrook - Graphic Communication 2012

Josh studied Graphic Communication from 2010 - 2012 at Thomas Rotherham College.  His unit 4 portfolio can be seen on the ArtHive here. Thanks for the post Josh!

 

During my time at Thomas Rotherham college, I did Graphic Communication. After finishing College I went straight into University where I am doing my MArt of Games Design, and this is at Sheffield Hallam University.

The Graphics course prepared me for it as there is a lot of self-lead work, and independent tasks to do, as there isn't enough lecture time to do everything in University time, which is true for all courses, and we also use Photoshop a lot and there is a lot of drawing, which I spent most of my time doing at College.

My specific career aspiration is to be a Games Designer, and if the opportunity arises, I will go to America into large Games Studios.

http://joshuaholbrook.wordpress.com/
http://pintsizepilot.wordpress.com/
http://teamultradinosaur.wordpress.com/

Fun with the Art Department at Dinnington Primary School

On Thursday 24^th October myself, Bev and Abi from the Art Department packed up the very heavy printing press and took 5 students to make some beautiful artwork with the children at Dinnington Community Primary School.  Georgia Keyworth, Rebecca Nichols, Hannah Zahir, Bronya Roberts and Chantelle Hillman took charge for the afternoon, inspiring the children and producing a piece of Artwork each for both TRC and Dinnington to keep.  Georgia has kindly written the piece below about our day out;

‘On Thursday the 24^th of October we went to Dinington Primary School to do an art workshop with children in years five and six to hopefully make them enthusiastic about art. The work we decided to do was lino printing to show the children you can produce art work by using many different materials and how to experiment with different colours and fabrics. We wanted the end result to be a quilt in style of Tracy Emin with words stitched on it that the children have thought of when they think of art.

We were going to produce two quilts so that the school could keep one and so we could take one back to keep at college. We got the children into small groups so they could have one TRC student to help their table. Together each group came up with interesting words such as ‘phenomenal’ and ‘fabtastic’.  One of the aims of going to Dinnington School was to find out if the children enjoy doing art and if not we wanted to see if we could change their opinion as being creative can help in many aspects in life, so it was good to see them come up with such ambitious words.

Lino cutting can be quite dangerous so before starting them we gave clear safety demonstrations and instructions. Throughout cutting we made sure the children were being careful and to correct them when needed as well as this we made sure they felt confident and comfortable to ask questions. As well as this we ensured that all the children got involved as team work is also a very important skill.

 After having a small chocolate break and finishing cutting the Lino blocks it was time to start printing. While working in the groups we made sure everybody had a job from choosing the fabric, inking up the lino prints and rolling the press. We also made sure the children experimented with the colours as we took primary colours however once mixed they could make many new ones. We had two teachers alongside us helping with the press and with the quilt. Once all the letters were printed we allowed the children to choose were they would like the words to be placed as this was their work and we only gave our ideas when needed. After this we were able to show the children the end result and we took them back to college to stich on the words.

Once both quilts have been finished we will invite the children involved to come into college so we can present them with their fantastic and imaginative art piece they produced.‘

We would also like to say a big thank you to Abi Panozzo, an ex TRC Art student who is currently volunteering in our department for all her hard work preparing the materials and help on the day.

Where are they now? - Miranda Jones, Fine Art 2013

Guest blog post written by Miranda Jones, all images appear with her permission.  Thanks Miranda!

University: University of Leeds

Course: Art and Design

My name is Miranda Jones and whilst I attended TRC I completed the Fine Art A-level in 2013.

After leaving TRC I went straight to the University of Leeds to study Art and Design (my first choice).

The program at TRC definitely helped prepare me for my University course. Once I arrived at University I was amazed at actually how much TRC had offered in terms of techniques and mediums and how lucky we were as students to have the opportunity to try out these things. I have met so many people who were stuck doing paintings for their entire A-level. TRC and especially the teachers helped so much in pushing me creatively and forcing me out of my comfort zone. At the time this felt hard but it has been very rewarding and means that now I can adapt to any brief or situation and come up with creative ideas that aren’t just the obvious – great for university!

Within the Art and Design course there are practical modules and then more academic modules. For the first year the practical modules include studio based work (self-explanatory), and a project based off campus at a place called Armely Mills.  At Armley mills we do a different challenge every week such as a photography challenge or a sculpture challenge. These challenges help us work towards a final piece that, at the end of the semester, will be exhibited at Armely Mills (a bit like the journal and final piece process at TRC). The academic modules include Fundamentals of Imaging and the History and Theory of Art. For these subjects you write essays and read a lot of books! It is intense but extremely worthwhile. The knowledge that you gain from the academic side adds so much to your practical work.

Personally, I chose this specific course because it had a mix of practical and academic elements. I describe myself as an academic artist and enjoyed the structure that this degree had to offer.

At the moment I do not have any specific career aspirations. I believe that University will help me explore my options in the visual arts career area. Though I do know one thing, I don’t want to be an artist. It may sound strange but I’d much rather work as a gallery curator or a pattern designer. With the course I’m on it gives you the opportunity to take an industrial year, this is where you find work placements (paid and voluntary) with companies. I am hoping to take this industrial year as it is extremely successful in getting students jobs or at least getting them contacts.

Here are some pictures from a life drawing class I attend every week and some lino prints I created from a workshop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In terms of outside projects, I am now a volunteer for a Visual Arts organisation called Pavilion. Pavilion is based in Leeds and deals with contemporary art and its politics. As a volunteer I help out at the exhibitions they put on (and therefore learn invaluable skills about curatorship), get to meet their visiting artists, help with school groups and give talks about the art on display. It is a great opportunity to be part of the Leeds creative arts society and looks amazing on my CV!