2014 2015 school brochure cont art

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A student of CONTEMPORARY ART PRACTICE can graduate with the following awards

BA (hons) Contemporary Art Practice

The course enables students to evolve a fine art practice through the development of skills relative to their personal strengths, interests and ambitions.

Contemporary Art by its very nature is a broad and ever-expanding subject: students typically develop skills in the main areas of photography, sculpture, printmaking and video but may also explore other media such as sound, light, text, and performance.

Studio and workshop practice is complimented through the Critical and Contextual Studies programme and Professional Skills modules, both of which embed interaction, dialogue, and critical reflection as key aptitudes in the production and consumption of contemporary  art.

Fig 41 Eilidh McCormick. Digital Installation. 2014

BA (Hons) Contemporary Art Practice BA (Hons) Contemporary Art Practice (Printmaking) BA (Hons) Contemporary Art Practice (Photography) BA (Hons) Contemporary Art Practice (Sculpture) BA (Hons) Contemporary Art Practice (Moving  Image)

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Fig 42 Caitlin Hynnes. Printmaking. 2014

Course Structure and Content

CCS Critical and Contextual Studies

Fig 43 Meryl Forsyth. Printmaking. 2014

Year 1 challenges students to understand their skills and in what ways these can be applied (whether coming from school, college, or mature). Studio projects in Semester 1 focus on the core activities of research and idea development: expanding students’ understanding of what research can be and in what ways the thinking inherent within idea development can become visible. Semester 2 sees students apply this learning through a series of projects around photography, sculpture, printmaking and moving image.

A Drawing and Visualisation module compliments all aspects of the above: research, idea development and studio.

Year 3 is characterised by a growing awareness of the interests and concerns that begin to shape practice. Approaches to research and application of methods and processes become distinct to the individual as they continue to develop and bring together technical, conceptual and contextual activity.

Opportunities to test the outcomes of selfdirected projects through both in-house and external venues leads to an understanding of the various contexts and forms in which an audience may encounter contemporary art: exhibition, installation or art in public space.

Studio crits once again form the spine of critical reflection and dialogue.

Year 2 remains predominantly project based with an emphasis on learning new processes and techniques whilst simultaneously responding to a given theme or context, the outcomes of which are presented and discussed in ‘studio crits’. Towards the end of Semester 2 students write their own project brief – the beginning of self-directed study.

Drawing and visualisation is embedded within studio activity and ‘the personal workbook’ becomes central to the student’s practice.

Complimentary activities include working in groups to research the key contemporary arts organisations in Aberdeen and the North East.

Year 4 gives full responsibility to the student to engage in the sustained research, development and creation of artworks as they move toward an independent yet critically reflective practice. Regular studio crits (both in-house and in external venues) punctuate the year, enabling the testing of resolved outcomes prior to the presentation of a major body of work in a public exhibition at the end of the year. Studio practice informs and in turn is informed by the theoretical concerns of the dissertation. Professional skills focus on the representation and communication of a practice to others.

Studio practice is underpinned at all stages by a contextual and critical studies programme.

This allows students to critically engage with history, theory and contemporary practice within each studio specialism. The CCS programme is delivered through blended learning, including lectures, seminars and group tutorials. Students engage with research, analytical critical thinking and are offered various models of communication for assessment, from essays to multimedia digital submissions. In Year 4 students propose their own topic that leads to the submission of a professionally presented body of research.

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Guests @ Gray’s

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In addition to our course lecture programme, we also have our Guests @ Gray’s lecture programme. Here, we invite national and international artists and designers to the School to speak about their work. We have had a phenomenal list of speakers that have visited the school in the last few years.

Why not visit our blogsite to review them. www. graysartschoolaberdeen.com/ category/guests-grays/

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Student Placements External Engagement

What our graduates go on to do

There are many opportunities to become involved with life outside of the immediate Gray’s environment. International study trips are available in all four years. Visits are organized to relevant local and national exhibitions and events. In Year 3 you may apply to go on European or North American exchange or negotiate a work placement.

There are optional live projects and competitions and Professional Skills modules in Years 3 & 4 to facilitate your awareness and attainment of the skills necessary to present artworks in public contexts. In short, we expect our students to be actively involved in the cultural landscape of Aberdeen and beyond.

Our graduates are equipped with a solid foundation in the unique skill-set, knowledge, professionalism, experience and contextual awareness that artists require to flourish in our modern world. Traditionally many graduates will base themselves in studio culture and go on to engage in solo and collaborative exhibitions, public art residencies, and a wide range of arts related projects. Postgraduate study is also available up to PhD level. Equally, our alumni successfully apply many of these transferable skills and experiences across a diverse range of contexts finding lucrative and stimulating work and careers in the realms of publishing, design, media, film, consultancy, the gallery network, music, healthcare and community work, schools and higher education.

Fig 44 Kerr Rodgie. 2014/Sculpture

Fig 45 Dagmar Vyhnalkova. 2011/Photography

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Fig 46 Kristin Clark. Performance Practice. 2014

Fig 47 Caitlin Hynes. Printmaking. 2014

A Case Study of Alumni

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Hannah Harkes | Artist / Entrepreneur Location: Estonia

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“After graduating, I became resident at Polymer Culture Factory in Tallinn, where I mainly made video works. I returned to Scotland to exhibit at RSA: New Contemporaries then moved to Finland and worked at the Nelimarkka Museum, resuscitating stone lithography facilities and making comics. Following an invitation to be artist in residence at Novia Fine Art School in Finland, I formed an art school band, released one cross-genre album, disbanded and returned to Estonia, where I now co-run Ptarmigan project space atop Tallinn’s tallest mountain and simultaneously work below ground in Grafodroom Printmaking Workshop & Studios.”