Art Fashion & Design students showcase at St Albans Cathedral

This weekend visitors to St Albans Cathedral will be able to view the works of our Art Fashion and Design students as the city attraction hosts our annual exhibition, giving many of our student a first taste of presenting their work for public viewing.

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This weekend visitors to St Albans Cathedral will be able to view the works of our Art Fashion and Design students as the city attraction hosts our annual exhibition, giving many of our student a first taste of presenting their work for public viewing.

Following last night’s Private View the exhibition opened to the public today, remaining accessible until 4:30pm on Monday 23rd April. The theme for this year’s exhibition examined the theme of ‘The Future in Your Hands’, with students creating pieces in their chosen specialism.

Foundation Diploma and Year 2 Extended Diploma students chose from a range of specialisms including Ceramics, Graphics, Painting and Drawing, Photography, 3D Design, Interactive Media and Fashion.

A select panel of judges arrived early to take in the pieces before awarding First, Second and Third places for the students interpretations of the brief.

Awarded First Prize was Foundation Degree student Stacey Surridge, 18 from Hemel Hempstead, for her series of three framed images which examines the themes of revolution, equality and racism. Inspired by digital artist Shepard Fairey, she combined use of Photoshop and Illustrator to combine photography and graphics in her work.

Stacey has enjoyed explored the different specialisms in her year-long course and is now looking to move on to study Graphic Design at University. She said: I’ve always liked Graphics so that was my natural choice for further study and hopefully my career. I’ve loved my College experience – doing the Foundation Degree has given me the time and opportunity to explore what I really enjoy to create with.”

Taking Second Prize was Amy Beach, who put her own spin on a ‘Little Black Dress’ with gloves to signify hands over her body and raise awareness about sexual harassment.

Third was Luke Jones for his photographic series ‘Commute’ a set of photos. Luke’s photos depicted the irony of a very lonely commute, despite travelling through a densely populated city.

The Private View extended a welcome to the students’ friends and family, with an invitation also  extended to prospective students who are considering joining the study programme at Oaklands next year. Visitors to the exhibition over the weekend have the chance to bid for their favourite piece to take home, with winning bidders contacted after the exhibit closes.

This year half of the money raised through bids and donations from the Private View will be donated to Willow Foundation, a charity dedicated to bringing special days to the seriously ill and their families.

Oaklands Art Fashion & Design Head of Department Clare Hood said: “Taking in each of pieces on display, it is fascinating to see the creativity in their final pieces and the variances in the ways they have interpreted the brief.

“For many of our students, this is their first experience of exhibiting in a public space and we are incredibly thankful to St Albans Cathedral for providing such an amazing venue for our students to exhibit their work.”

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