Talented art students from Warrington Collegiate have described having their work on display at Warrington Museum & Art Gallery as an “amazing opportunity”.
The exhibition, entitled ‘Interpret’, is a showcase of work by the young contemporary artists, who are completing a range of art and design courses at the Winwick Road campus.
Featuring a mix of mediums including print, portrait, animation, textiles, interactive and large-scale paintings, the exhibition is the culmination of a year of hard work by students both at the beginning of their creative journeys, and those who are preparing to progress to higher education.
Sponsored by FDR Law, ‘Interpret’ has already caught the eyes of many visitors to the museum, including art blogger Eli Regan, whose review has been posted on the museum’s website.
Among the artists exhibiting their work is level 3 student Bobby-Jo Hodgkinson, whose piece ‘Dillusion Pollution’ aims to make people think twice.
Bobby said: “My piece is about global warming. It features a photograph of a young girl, half of it shows what the planet was like before we started polluting it and what her life could have been like, and the other half shows how it is now.
I wanted my piece to be eye-catching and to make people stop and think about what they are doing with their rubbish.”
Bobby added: “It really great to see my work up there on display for people to see, and to have my work reviewed feels like a real achievement. I feel famous and really proud of myself!”
Also exhibiting at the museum is Georgia Fairbrother, who is also on the level 3 course. Georgia will continue her art studies at Leeds Beckett University in September, something she said she feels prepared for, thanks to her time at Warrington Collegiate.
Georgia said: “Seeing my work on display feels really good. It’s a great end to the year and to my time at Warrington Collegiate. The whole three years I’ve spent here have been incredible – it has all been a highlight. You’re able to use a lot of mediums and you get the freedom to be creative and explore different things. The tutors have really pushed me to excel – I feel ready for my next step at university!”
Students used the museum’s collection as a starting point to generate ideas for their work. This could be a texture or surface decoration, an object or an item that evokes a certain feeling or idea.
They then used this primary research as a stimulus to respond to Warrington as a town and its creative heritage, in some way, trying to map out its identity through fresh eyes.
Ash Clinton, lecturer in art, said: “All of our art and design students have done an absolutely incredible job in producing some beautiful and thought-provoking pieces for the ‘Interpret’ exhibition.
Seeing their work on display in Warrington Museum & Art Gallery is an amazing opportunity for them and something that they should all be really proud of. Myself and the rest of their tutors have been so impressed with their creativity, dedication and tenacity throughout their time at the Collegiate – they have truly shown what a talented group of young artists they are.”
‘Interpret’ is on display at Warrington Museum & Art Gallery until Saturday June 17. Entry is free.
