#NTUDEGREESHOW

Nottingham Trent University is currently buzzing with creative energy as the Art & Design graduates prep their work for #NTUDEGREESHOW!

Last week, the fashion students showcased their work in a series of catwalks which, we can confirm, were as excellent as ever.

Their work is still up in Newton if you haven't yet seen it and we couldn't miss the opportunity to take a few snaps of their unique and inspiring pieces to give you a little taster...

Collection by Natasha Flannery

"Today, kids, we're going to graffiti..."

One of the ways our Children's University (CU) pupils can earn stamps in their passport is by taking part in an art club.

The art clubs we put on are run by Nottingham Trent University (NTU) student volunteers. We went along to Carlton Standhill Infants' School to see how they were getting on...

This group of Year 2's were on the third week of art club which run for an hour every Thursday after school finishes. 

Fighting Walls and A Rebel Scene

Photo of 'A Rebel Scene' mural. 

The New Art Exchange is situated in the heart of Hyson Green. It seems the perfect place to house the largest gallery in the UK to celebrate cultural diversity within art and society. 

Have a Creative #WorldMentalHealthDay

It’s #WorldMentalHealthDay today and in the true spirit of the day, we have decide to explore how creativity can help sufferers of a variety of mental health issues.

It can be scary and lonely when suffering from a mental health disorder and sometimes it is hard to see a light at the end of it.

Creativity, however, can help lighten these overwhelming feelings of negativity. It helps by focusing your mind on something positive and by creating something bright and beautiful.

Although mental health is an extremely complex and varied topic, these 3 self-help activities are brilliant at allowing you to take a few minutes out of your day to relax and create.

1. Positive Origami Heart

Once you’ve got the hang of folding these origami hearts, you won’t be able to stop!

Our step-by-step guide shows you how to fold your square pieces of colour paper into a lovely heart. It’s really simple and very effective in switching your mind off from any stresses and allowing yourself to concentrate on folding precisely.

Leonardo Da Vinci in Nottingham: Ten Drawings, Ten Facts!

When we found out that Nottingham Castle was displaying ten original drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, we couldn't wait to head over and see them for ourselves. Not only are the drawings intricate and beautiful to look at but they are from one of the most renowned artists of all time!

Leonardo worked using a variety of mediums from pen and ink to red chalk and his drawings were just as varied. Leonardo did technical, scientific drawings and also sketched anatomy and the body. He really was good at everything!

Saturday Art & Design Club* - Meet our Student Ambassadors: Jonathan

Saturday Art& Design Club isn’t only rewarding for the young people (aged 13 -16 years old) who attend the weekly workshops but it’s also beneficial for the student assistants that support the Club. In this post, some of our student assistants tell us why they have enjoyed the experience this year.

Jonathan Price, graduated from Graphic Design in July 2016

I was initially interested in the role of student assistant as it was an opportunity to add some context to my studies and share my knowledge of art and design with the Saturday Club.

Jonathan working hard with his group. 

My first task was to demonstrate how letter forms could be created from playing card symbols. Initially, this was a daunting prospect however I enjoyed sharing my ideas and helping the participants get stuck into creating typography.

One of the most rewarding aspects is seeing the young people’s investment in art and design at such an early stage of learning. Many seem set on a path towards higher education. By sharing my perspective of a creative education, I hope the students will pursue their passions, carving the way for the next generation of creative talent.

National Saturday Art & Design Club's trip to London!

Throughout my involvement I have become more confident about giving advice and guidance to the students. I feel more comfortable presenting ideas and talking to the group at each session. This confidence has definitely helped in the later stages of my degree. Discussing ideas and presenting projects are key aspects of a creative degree and Saturday Art & Design Club has allowed me to improve on these skills away from the pressures of university project work.

Group photograph of the Saturday Art & Design young people.

Saturday Art Club has already proved to be an excellent talking point with potential employers, as it adds emphasis to my skills in a non-academic environment. It has also allowed me to work with a more diverse age group, which is beneficial if pursuing a career in education. Overall, it provides evidence of my investment in creativity and can only improve my prospects as a creative graduate. For this reason alone I would recommend that anyone who is genuinely passionate about art and design and wants to share their knowledge and experience should get involved with this fantastic project. 

*Saturday Art & Design Club runs free weekly workshops at Nottingham Trent University from October to July.  The workshops are open to pupils aged 13 -16 years old.  If you would like to find out more, please contact Sarah Barkley at: sarah.barkley@ntu.ac.uk.

Saturday Art & Design Club – Learning from the professionals!

One of the highlights for the young people who attend the National Saturday Art & Design Club  is the opportunity to participate in a masterclass with a professional artist or designer. This year, we were delighted when the Sorrell Foundation announced that Zack Mclaughlin from Paper & Wood would be leading a workshop for the next generation of creative talent at NTU.   You only have to look at his work to understand why we were so pleased; his awe inspiring birds are breathtakingly real.

Work by Zack Mclaughlin, a kingfisher and a barn owl

Zack Mclaughlin is a London based illustrator who is inspired by nature and creates these beautiful birds out of paper and wood (hence the company name!).  His impressive work has been featured across the globe in window displays for fashion brands such as Ralph Lauren, Paris and Anthropologie.

It takes Zack more than 70 hours to create some of his birds, this includes the time to painstakingly cut more than a thousand paper feathers by hand with a pair of scissors, before taking great care to paint all the realistic details on to each one. His Instagram account shows the breadth of his very detailed work.

Commission work for Ralph Lauren

Before the practical workshop began, Zack kindly gave a brief talk to the Saturday Art & Design Club about his portfolio and his experience of being an illustrator.  As a freelancer, Zack’s work has evolved from illustrating children’s books to creating the bird sculptures.  The inspiration for this change of direction came from experimenting when he created a model of an owl that appeared in one of his children’s books.  Since then he has created numerous sculptures that have caught the media’s attention.

Zack’s talk highlighted that working for yourself in the arts involves resilience and a lot of creative thinking to spot opportunities.  Currently Paper & Wood sells the birds as artworks to private and commercial buyers, runs workshops on wire model making and showcases Zack’s portfolio of illustrations.  As a freelancer, Zack not only has to create artwork but also promote himself widely to his potential customers on social media as well as doing all the admin to keep the business running.  This insightful talk highlighted to Saturday Art & Design Club that being a working artist requires a lot of hard work and determination but its worth it if you love what you do.

Saturday Art & Design Club hard at work during the masterclass

To gain a greater understanding of Zack’s work, Saturday Art & Design Club participants had the opportunity to create their own birds out of wire.  Each of our budding artists were asked to bring along a selection of images to the workshop of their favourite bird.  The participants were then asked to deconstruct the shapes of their chosen bird and use these simplified shapes to create a 3D wire sculpture.  The results were fantastic!  Everyone’s bird was a different shape or size.  We’re looking forward to showcasing them at the Saturday Art & Design Club exhibitions next month.

·         National Saturday Art & Design Club exhibition, Somerset House, London is open to the public 22 June  to 26 June.

·         Nottingham Trent University, Bonington building is open to the public 27 June to 1 July.

Some of the bird sculptures created by Saturday Art & Design Club

Saturday Art & Design Club had a great time on Saturday and we like to say a HUGE thank you to Zack for taking the time to come and visit us. 

For more information about Saturday Art & Design Club at NTU, please contact Sarah Barkley: sarah.barkley@ntu.ac.uk.

Theatre Design Outreach

Tin soldier

Many people think outreach work is focused on grades and improving children’s chances of attending university. While this is a priority and a large part of the work undertaken, it is not the only way in which outreach work supports the community.

Peter Rumney and a team of second year Theatre Design students, working alongside pupils from Mellers Primary School, put together a play for 8-9 year olds as a part of Art And Design Outreach. The play itself was tailored for the young audience, and lasted for only 30 minutes – the intention of the team was to take the audience on a journey through the ‘life’ of a single broken toy soldier.

Why is it important?

“The Theatre Design Course has a long-standing commitment to Outreach work, and to making NTU accessible and inspirational to young people who may not have been thinking that university was a possible route for them. That’s why we’ve developed so many relationships with local schools and colleges over the years, and why our collaboration with SCCO is so important to us and to the university as a whole.” – Peter Rumney academic & technical support

What’s the importance of outreach to the students?

‘As designers, and as graduates who will go on to work in a very wide range of professions, by exploring how young people learn, the undergraduates can reflect on their own learning here at NTU.’ – Peter Rumney

The Theatre Design Students involved in the ‘Tin Solder’ project explained the impact their involvement had on them. Nikki Charlesworth said; ‘It really helped me to understand how to work with children,’ and Ge Hatton went on to explain that ‘The project was important in helping to understand how my work as a designer can be translated into the real world’. Shelley Poole added ‘What I realised was that adults can underestimate just how much children understand about the world and complex things, like their emotions.”’

 

The play was engaging for the children and also helped in establishing a connection between the schools and University. Furthermore it allowed a chance for the students on the Theatre Design course a real-life insight into theatre work.

Tin Soldier is part of an established annual schedule of collaborative performances and the first in a line of outreach work for this year, with plans for Year 3 Theatre Design students to create their own show developed for an even younger children (and potential NTU students) in April with the support of NTU Outreach.

How I found my 'Passion for Fashion' on work experience!

I have always had a lust for fashion, I was one of the lucky people who always knew what I would study once I got to university. I often read magazines and watched fashion shows on the internet. However, I didn't know much about what fashion design students actually did and learnt at university. Nottingham Trent University organise placements throughout the year for students who want to know more about university studies. It is such a renowned university so I wasted no time getting myself on one of their placements.

What Can I do with Art and Design?

"The open door policy of the teaching staff is great. If I’ve ever had a question about a lecture, or can’t find some of the recommended reading, tutors have always been very quick to respond to my emails.

Similarly, for feedback on assignments it was really easy to make an appointment and have a chat which I’ve found really useful.”

Rhianon Brooks, BA (Hons) Criminology