PRESS RELEASE
IAN MOSS
Exhibition Organiser / Curator / Alumni
In late 2021, my daughter graduated in photography (at Colchester) with her course mates, a year later than it should have been due to the covid pandemic. She had completed the final year of her degree there during the first lockdown and (due to restrictions at that time) they had no degree show.
As a former student of Fine Art at the University of Suffolk (or University Campus Suffolk as it was back then) I knew how much of a journey a creative course is, and that each course culminates in a degree show. It’s a chance to show a wider audience how you have developed as an artist/creative, and is also a ‘grand goodbye’ after 3 years of hard work.
It got me thinking about all those who had studied Fine Art at the time and how they also missed their final show. So, I got in touch with the University of Suffolk, with a view to putting on an exhibition of art to include the graduation years 2020-22. After discussions with Dr Jane Watt, senior art lecturer, we morphed the idea into what has become a celebration of all Fine Art alumni from 2007 (when the first graduations were at the university) to 2022 (the most recent ones). We felt this would be a much larger opportunity for all involved.
From mid-2022, I set about finding as many fine art alumni (BA & MA) from those years as I could, via social media, and by the end of the year we had pulled together a group that numbered 50+. There was a great deal of enthusiasm (amongst the art alumni) for not only showing everyone what they have been doing since graduating, but also to reconnect with old art friends & meet new ones.
With the help of the team that has assembled around this (largely current staff at UoS), myself, and the recent assistance of graphic designer, Martin Carter, we’ve been able to plan a large exhibition that features a wide range of artworks from 42 fine art alumni at very different stages of their careers. It will provide a fascinating insight into how earlier graduates and the most recent graduates work.
It also became apparent to us that we are actually celebrating 30 years since the arts building opened.
The exhibition will feature around 70 artworks throughout the Waterfont Foyer, and after the PV, will be open to the public every day 10am-6pm, from 1st-21st April.
We are pleased to have been able to merge our exhibition with University of Suffolk Alumni Connection Week (thanks to Kate Burgess, Alumni Relations & Development Manager). Our exhibition closes at the end of their Alumni Reunion evening event. We have worked together in our planning such that our exhibition sits well with their event.
Full Exhibition Details:
‘Transitions’ Alumni Exhibition Private View (invite only):
Friday 31st March 5pm-8pm
Public exhibition opens at:
10am on Saturday 1st April and runs daily
10am - 6pm until Friday 21st April
Connected event:
Connection Week Alumni Evening Event:
Friday 21st April
Who is involved? Include who the main contact. Please include contact number(s) and email addresses.
Ian Moss
Exhibition Organiser+Curator+Fine Art Alumni: mossifications@gmail.com
Jane Watt
Senior Lecturer in Fine Art:
Martin Carter
Graphic Designer (posters+brochures+promo vids):
mcusb2010@gmail.com
Lawrence Woolston
Technical Manager + Technical Team
Sarah Seager
School Administrator
Kate Burgess
Alumni Relations and Development Manager
Jason Eghan
Events and Marketing Manager
Impact. How does this enhance the course or aid research, teaching and learning?
The exhibition showcases the post-grad art/creative work of a large number of graduates of Fine Art at the University of Suffolk and (the former) University Campus Suffolk. It provides a fascinating, unique insight into their work, and can only be a great advert for the Fine Art Department and the building blocks they initially provided over a period of graduations from 2007-2022.
Quotes from Dr Jane Watt
Senior Lecture in Fine Art:
The creativity and energy of our Fine Art students is incredible and never ceases to amaze me. As a tutor here I feel immensely privileged to be able to witness how our students develop their art practice and confidence during their studies with us, as well as be part of the beginning of their creative exploration. Although it may not feel like it at the time, their years with us are just the start. This exhibition offers us all an opportunity to meet some of our alumni again, to celebrate their different journeys since graduation and ultimately revel in a unique exhibition. As alumni of a course that embraces a wide range of practice, it is no surprise that Transitions hails a diverse range of work, from drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, lens-based work and performance. It showcases work made by artists who have been practising for over a decade alongside others who have recently graduated. The exhibition and works prompt us to remember but also enable us to look to the future and value the role of art in our individual lives, but also in the world in which we live.
Dr Jane Watt
Quotes from Fine Art Alumni:-
“Studying Fine art at the University of Suffolk was a pivotal moment for my creative career. I thoroughly enjoyed experimenting with new materials and expanding my plethora of art knowledge. Since graduating I am now working as an Art technician at the university and running my own art collective called, Supporting the Arts. Worth every single moment of studying.”
Bobby Forsythe. Class of 2019
“The impact of studying in Suffolk Art School: I began the Fine Art degree as a very quiet and unsure student, who at Graduation gave a thank you speech to an audience of about 800 on behalf of all the graduates of the school of arts and humanities, having been voted to do so by all the lecturers. That progression from a very insecure student to a person who is achieving so much even now, that progression says it all, it goes to show how education can develop a positive sense of being, see the world and what I offer to the world so differently.”
Angela Dawn Wright. Class of 2012
“A time we continually made plaster casts and we’re covered with plaster of Paris
Sitting around waiting for criticism of artwork
Meeting a load of like-minded people: absolutely brilliant
Making exhibitions and engaging with Holywells park
Making friends
Printing and Lino cuts with beautiful old presses
Going down the river on the barge Victor whilst drawing
Having our eyes opened to art!”
Peta Hillier. Class of 2014
"Art is an emotion. Doing Art is giving life to those emotions"
Carlos Fernandes. Class of 2015
“Considering I gained my degree through the slog of COVID, summing up my experience is surprisingly simple, “Have you thought about making it bigger?” My degree show was definitely testament to this!”
Elgin Thwaites. Class of 2021
“The best piece of guidance gifted to me during my time as a Fine Art student was from Head of Art at the time, David Baldry who said, ‘Be organic in your art Sophie.’ This has been fundamental to my practice.”
SOPHIE Sophia. Class of 2007
“I gained far more than just a Fine Art Degree, from my time at University Campus Suffolk.
The experience was completely transformative. I arrived as a shy, mature student, lacking in confidence and self-esteem. And left as a confident, more rounded person with a passion for life, art and justice; and a group of friends that will sustain me for the rest of my life. It was an amazing three years.”
Tricia Cottrell. Class of 2015
“I left University Campus, Suffolk (UCS) in 2014, but (part of) my head stayed there. The experiences and opportunities I had when there, along with all of the people I met and now call friends, led to me open my own art gallery at the beginning of my final year – something I’d never have had the confidence, knowledge & contacts to have done were it not for studying locally, near to my home.”
Ian Moss. Class of 2014