My five favourite works at the Cambridge School of Art Degree Show 2013

In my Pick of June a few days ago, I listed the Cambridge School of Art Degree Show (at Anglia Ruskin University).  I've since been to have a look and here are my

Five Favourites:

(one nude man, one ball in the sky, one ligature, one Cambridge street, one unicorn)

Tom Hiscocks, My Space II, perspex
(winner of the Suparee Gazeley Award)

First off, there was this amazing life-size perspex man.  I entered the alcove and that is what I saw:  a shimmering nude figure.  Then I went up close and the 3-D contours dissolved into a jumble of planes and sharp edges:

The light plays on and in and through the ghostly outline.  Here I am gazing into the rib cage, genitals and the tops of the legs...

Next, I saw this lovely unassuming little work in a downstairs corridor:

Susie Johnson, Appropriation, framed paper sculpture

This reminds me a bit of Joseph Cornell, and a tiny bit of Joan Miró.  I like the way the objects cling to the frame, the music-like bounce of the paper roll, and the jaunty position of the red ball.



Next, this typography booklet caught my eye:

Daniel Silva, Hybrid Type and New Ligatures
(typography)

The scribbles and the careful typeface were strangely compelling.

I loved this page about designing a ligature for the word of.  It made me think about fonts and serifs, about the work typographers do, about the strange magic of script and text.

Now for some Cambridge-themed art:

Crista Wright, ink-based illustration
(Round Church)

I quite liked the clean sharp lines and the blocks of primary colours.  Also the way Cambridge seems oddly empty and formal.

Half Hergé and his ligne claire,  half Ernst Ludwig Kirchner.

But where is this scene?  Do you recognise it?  If so, do let me know in comments!!



And finally, the pièce de résistance:

Yes, it's a unicorn!

Madeleine Taylor, The Sky is Blue (the wall label contains this quote by Leonard Cohen:
"Even damnation is poisoned with rainbows.")
(winner of the Frontroom Graduate Award)

I couldn't believe my eyes when I rounded a corner and there it was, matt black, shoulder-height, with a long flowing man and tail, and big blue eyes.  It just stood there.  

And it has little feathers on its fetlocks!

Its horn juts into my space, like a delicate narwhal's tusk.  Extraordinary to find such a thing at an art exhibition.  (Eat your heart out, Jeff Koons.)

More posts on wild art:

Dinosaurs by the Chapman brothers

Seven reasons why the Snowy Farr sculpture fails

Permalink:  http://artincambridge.blogspot.com/2013/06/my-four-favourite-works-at-cambridge.html

Three arty things to do in June

So yes.  I got so excited about Cambridge Open Studios that I forgot to post what's on in the world of art in June!  I do apologise.

Here are my top three picks:

1.  Cambridge School of Art:  Fine Art Degree Show

City, © Jacqueline Berg

Doomsday, © Kian Ziari

Untitled, © Jonathan Fearon-Harris

(Source of all Degree Show images:  Exhibition website.)

Only a few days to go with this one, so don't miss out!  And watch these artists; they may be the Rachel Whitereads of the future, you never know.

I always like going to the Degree Show and plan to see it today.  You get to support young artists (while their work is still affordable!).  While you're there, also check out the other degree shows:  Illustration, Fashion, Photography.

Where and when:

Ruskin Gallery, on the campus of Anglia Ruskin University (closest to the Collier Rd entrance, corner Mackenzie Rd; CB1 2AH)

Ends Fri, 14 June 2013.

2. About Face:  Melissa Castrillón at the Drawing Cube

I posted about this lovely new gallery last week.  Really worth a visit!  And afterwards nip next-door into CB2 or the Box Café for a hot cup of something. 


Where and when:
9 Norfolk St, next to CB2.
13 June - 20 July 2013.

3. Pompeii Live at Cineworld

Click on the image above to see the promotional trailer.  Or watch the video at youtube: http://youtu.be/aHoHl-wJTxw

This is a weird new thing:  You know how operas and West End plays are these days beaming their productions to cinemas across the land?  Well, now the British Museum has  muscled in on the act with a 'live' (?) showing of their Pompeii exhibition.  I have no idea what is going to be shown in this film.  The trailer seems to promise clouds of ash and action-packed music.

From the trailer:  The British Museum presents:  79 AD.  [...]  Your own exclusive private view.

I may be getting just a teensy bit tired of the British Museum's hyped-up self-promotion (I ranted about their Ice Age labels) but could this be the future of exhibitions?

In which case, be there to witness it.

The Museum of Classical Archaeology will be hosting a table in the foyer from 6 pm.

Where and when:
Tues, 18 June, at Cineworld. 7 pm.

Plus:  

And of course, many of the May exhibitions are still on throughout June!   I picked some out for you.

Permalink:  http://artincambridge.blogspot.com/2013/06/three-arty-things-to-do-in-july.html

The top five collective art exhibitions (Cambridge Open Studios, Part 1)

Cambridge Open Studios, Part 1

Yesterday, I picked up my copy of the Cambridge Open Studios Guide from Cambridge Contemporary Art Gallery.

It's a lovely moment in the annual art calendar of Cambridge:  when you first open that tall yellow brochure, stare at the bewildering number of colourful dots on the maps (each denoting one Open Studio), and try and make sense of the gazillion participants' entries.

What is Cambridge Open Studios? 

"Over 260 artists in Cambridgeshire open their doors for 4 weekends in July.  Weekend 1:  July 6-7.  Weekend 2:  July 13-14.  Weekend 3:  July 20-21.  Weekend 4:  July 27-28.  11am-6pm."  (from the Open Studios Guide)

For those of us with limited time, how can we make the most of these weekends? Prepare in advance by reading my peek-aheads over the next few weeks.

If you want to see the most art in the shortest time:

For the most 'bang for your buck', visit collective studios or exhibitions.  They're marked with a red dot on the map; this means:  "More than one artist at the same location."  

The top five collective studios

1a)  CB5:  Cambridge Museum of Technology

The Old Pumping Station, Cheddars Lane, down by the river, CB5 8LD.

Weeks 2 and 3, 13-14 and 20-21 July

Here you'll see 8 artists,  including :

© Katie Bailey
(Soul Meets Soul)

© Sheena Davies
(The Swimmer, Jesus Green)

© Carl West
(Flash Break)

© Joe Dean
(Stairwell)

1b)  CB5:  The Woodyard @ Peter Harrison Furniture (next door to the Cambridge Museum of Technology)

38 Cheddars Lane, CB5 8LD.

Weeks 2 and 3, 13-14 and 20-21 July

Workshop panorama
© photo Peter Harrison
(source of image)

Here you'll see 3 more artists and woodworkers, including:

© Colin Wiles
(Still Life with Lighthouse)

2)  CB1:  St Barnabas Press

The Belfast Yard, Coldhams Road, CB1 3EW.  (Off Coldhams Lane, near the Beehive Centre.)

Weeks 1, 2 and 4, 6-7, 13-14 and 27-28 July

Here you'll see more than 10 painters, illustrators and printmakers, including:

© Noriko Sasaki
(Quick Poses x 3)

© Mark Rigby
Tutor of Cambridge Life Lines, a group of artists who will exhibit at the Press
(Fallow Deer in Glade)

3)  CB4:  Cambridge Artworks

5 Green's Rd, CB4 3EF.  (Off Victoria Rd, near Mitcham's Corner.)  

Bonus:  The ArtSpace Café will be open.

Weeks 2 and 3, 13-14 and 20-21 July

Here you'll see 11 artists, including:  

©  Alison Litherland
(He Looks Tasty)

For more cow paintings, read my blog post on Alison Litherland.

©  Esther Melamed
(Perseverance)

© Judy Logan
(I Came from the Sea)

4)  CB1:  Cambridge Art Salon

29 Cromwell Rd, CB1 3EB.  (Between Mill Rd and Coldhams Lane, near Wardrobe, the fancy dress shop)

Weeks 1, 2 3 and 4, 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28 July

Here you'll see 5 artists, including:

©  Diana Probst
(Still Life with Bottles)

5)  CB23:  Burwash Manor

New Road, Barton, CB23 7EY.  (Off Barton Rd / Cambridge Rd.)

Weeks 1, 2 3 and 4, 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28 July


Here you'll see 14 artists, illustrators, crafters and woodturners over 4 weekends, and at least 7 every weekend, including:

©  Sue Rapley
(River through the Meadow)

© Sheila Reddy
(Lemons from the Grove)

Coming up on this blog:

More look-aheads to individual artists

What to see in different postcode areas

Five questions about Cambridge Open Studios

Ten reasons to visit Cambridge Open Studios

And don't worry: also other posts that are not the Open Studios... :-)

Further info:

Pick up the free yellow Guide at any Cambridgeshire art gallery, museum, library, many cafés and shops.  Or:  Download the Guide.

Cambridge Open Studios website

Map of studios

And for a great work of art that's still on view now:

See my blog post on Rebecca O'Hanlon's magical photograph.

Permalink:  http://artincambridge.blogspot.com/2013/06/cambridge-open-studios-top-five.html