Discover MoreSpring Term 2017

Welcome to our Spring term 2017 newsletter. In our last edition, I mentioned we were developing a new ten year strategy and I’m pleased to give you, as a friend and supporter of , a few headlines

about what the future holds Martina Salvin, MFA Visual Arts, 2016 in advance of a more formal announcement later this year. The funding that these changes will require is significant, but ensures that students continue to gain the best possible experience and that We at the College have spent much of we are financially sustainable for the future. the last year assessing what we must do to achieve long-term sustainability for our But we cannot do it alone and we will need academic programmes and for the wider your help and support if we are to achieve West Dean community. We’ve listened to everything we’ve set out to. I hope I can the views of staff, students, funders, partners inspire you to join us on this exciting journey and employers and we’ve considered for the benefit of future generations of recent changes in education regulations, the artists, craftspeople and conservators and I industries we prepare students for and the thank you for all the support that you have political developments that are shaping the already shown us. world around us in unprecedented ways. With best wishes, Peter Sarginson At the heart of our strategic ambition is Alex Barron It is with great sadness, that we report to continue to deliver the highest quality Chief Executive that former West Dean College education in the creative and applied arts Principal, Peter Sarginson, died at his and also to make a lasting contribution to home in Yorkshire in March 2017. artistic and cultural heritage, nationally and Peter was Principal of the College internationally. for 17 years from 1978 to 1996 and oversaw many important developments To achieve this, we will develop a fully during that time including the launch integrated education portfolio combining the of new programmes in conservation strengths of our short course programme of ceramics, books and metalwork and our internationally renowned higher and making musical instruments. He education provision. also instigated the College’s formal We will expand and modernise facilities, relationship with the University of creating new, flexible student workshops; in order to deliver our first a new library which will house the Edward validated postgraduate diploma study James archive and more accommodation. programmes. We will also link our gardens visitor In recent years, Peter was a Trustee of attraction more closely to our core the Sidney Sanders Charitable Trust, educational purpose in a number of ways, which has funded scholarships for West including the creation of a new permanent Dean students since 1986. We are exhibition where we will tell the story of indebted to Peter for his enormous ’ cultural contribution and how contribution to West Dean College. it led to the work we do today.

1 Spring Term 2017 Scholarships and Spotlight on… bursaries Merna Liddawi (Master of Fine Arts)

In 2007, current MFA student Merna Liddawi decided to change her career path to pursue her love of art. She was recently selected to exhibit at the Malamegi LAB.7, an international competition and exhibition in Venice, Italy. This provided an exciting opportunity for professional practice development and networking. We caught up We recently welcomed funders of with her to find out more about her work, student scholarships and bursaries to inspiration and plans for the future. join us at a celebratory lunch alongside their scholar, followed by a tour of the How would you describe your work? workshops and studios. Art is a journey that I use to discover the During lunch, Francesca Levey (MA hidden beauty at the heart of the universe in and around us. I want my paintings to Metalwork Conservation Studies) touch upon something timeless in us all. I spoke about the value of her want people to experience them, not just to scholarship. Francesca discovered a observe. passion for armour at an early age and was working as a research assistant

What inspires your work? 105 Genesis 430, Merna Liddawi on oriental arms and armour for The I grew up in Jordan under the Orthodox Wallace Collection before she came to West Dean College to gain the Church and was surrounded by a rich history How is your time at West Dean necessary qualifications to pursue a and archeology. One of my favourite games College helping your artistic was to bury items in the garden and dig them career as a conservation specialist. out, as if discovering treasure. development? Francesca highlighted that for her, I’m inspired by repetition in nature, creation I have been able to develop my painting it was the strong emphasis that the narratives, Arabic script and iconography language. The course has given me the space College places on both practical skills techniques. The process of creating art was physically and mentally to experiment with and on an understanding of materials a form of worship for the medieval artist, a new techniques whilst the tutors challenge and ethics which set it apart from prayer in itself, as it can be for the modern my practice. The beautiful landscape has other institutions. There is increasingly artist too. helped my meditative approach. a shortage of skilled conservators in the heritage sector, and most What methods do you use in your What are your plans for the future? are expected to gain a specialist artwork? The immediate future is dedicated to postgraduate qualification before preparing work for the prestigious Florence I use fifteenth century processes, creating finding employment. Scholarship and Biennale 2017 in Italy in October, for which imagery in an egg tempera made of ground bursary support is vital for students I have been accepted to exhibit. I am also minerals and earth pigments mixed with who demonstrate skill and passion but developing connections with artists in Jordan egg yolk and distilled water. The tempera is would otherwise be unable to fund the as I hope to exhibit in Dubai in the future painted on gesso panels of birch plywood. cost of these essential studies. and return to my artistic roots. After sanding them to create a smooth finish, I use a medieval technique to water-gild the Francesca has been awarded a panels with 23.5ct gold leaf, lemon gold and scholarship from The South Square white gold. Several layers of glaze create Trust and QEST to complete her MA transparency and luminosity. and has previously received support from the Anna Plowden Trust and The Can you describe your creative Worshipful Company of Art Scholars. process? Like many of our students, Francesca My art is an alchemical journey to discover would not be able to complete her the hidden beauty of the universe. training without significant support, The tempera medium lends itself to slow and we are grateful to everyone who building of layers, being at once meditative has funded a scholarship to launch the and repetitive. The repetitive randomness career of a burgeoning conservator or of calligraphic marks are unified by the artist at West Dean College. transparent layering. In my recent work, the whole painting is covered with gesso then To learn more about the scholarship sanded back at random places revealing the programme, please contact any member of layer underneath. It’s always a surprise what the team. Our details are overleaf. comes out.

2 Discover More

From the British Museum to the Royal Collection

Every year students studying towards a 21 work-based learning placements took place postgraduate diploma in conservation in 2016-17 and they are an integral part of the undertake 6-8 week placements working educational journey at West Dean College; for leading museums and conservators. This the first concrete step students make towards year, students were invited to complete employment. The placement programme placements at prestigious institutions enables students to widen their skills, grow including the Royal Collection, the British in confidence and develop their professional Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum network. Working on ‘live’ objects of museum and the Imperial War Museum. quality both in the college and during their placement is also extremely satisfying. Alumni: Where are The placement has been an invaluable they now? experience for me both personally and professionally, as, above all else, Catherine Silverman I wanted to use it as an opportunity Graduated in 2016 (MA Conservation to improve my understanding of of Furniture and Related Objects). how conservation functions within a Since completing her MA Catherine professional, institutional context and has begun a prestigious fellowship experience first-hand how everything in furniture conservation at the I’m learning at West Dean will transfer Metropolitan Museum of Art, New over into the workplace. York. Martin Cuffe (pictured) We are very grateful to the Barbara Whatmore Graduated in 2014 (Making Stringed Trust for providing work placement bursaries. Musical Instruments Diploma). Builder turned craftsman, Martin now works for J.P. Guivier in London as an instrument restorer. He works on a wide range Study Visit to of instruments from student pieces to Amsterdam March 2017 original 17th century violins, violas and cellos. The sun was shining as 50 conservation and visual art students set off for a week-long Jessica Hyslop study visit to Amsterdam. Enroute they broke Graduated in 2016 (MA Conservation the journey at Ghent to visit the famous of Books and Library Materials). Jessica Gravensteen Castle and St Bavo’s Cathedral. is the Project Conservator for the Minton Archive conservation project The highlight of the trip was the midweek visit to the exhibition at the Boijman’s at Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive Service. Her work involves museum “Mad About Surrealism” which for a behind the scenes tour from the curator. included objects from the Edward James conserving items from the records of Clock students visited Utrecht cathedral the famed Minton ceramics company Collection. It was especially rewarding for and Speelklok museum plus the Zaandam particularly the earliest Minton pattern conservation students to see objects that clock museum. Ceramic students toured the books and watercolour artworks on they had worked on at West Dean on public Royal Delft factory and museum and visual paper. display. It was also a great experience for arts students saw a range of galleries and art our visual arts students who work closely museums including Mediamatic and Witte de Rachael Potter with the Edward James Archive during their With Centre for Contemporary Art. studies at West Dean. They were able to Graduated in 2015 (Foundation see familiar paintings from this collection Diploma in Art and Design). Rachael in the context of a wider exhibition of This was an invaluable, educational started an apprenticeship with leading surrealist art. The College also has close ties experience for students who benefitted ceramicists Chris Keenan and Carina with the University of Amsterdam and the from special access to a range of Ciscato in their studio shortly after conservation studios at Rijksmuseum and graduating. She is now Studio Assistant these were key destinations during the week. museums, galleries, conservation workshops and other related to Dr Julian Stair, one of the UK’s In addition, each programme followed institutions, enhancing their knowledge leading potters. Her work focuses on functional Limoges porcelain individual itineraries including: a visit by and helping them establish professional and constructing porcelain boxes books students to the National Library in networks for the future, The Hague and a paper mill in Zaanse Schans influenced by her fascination with line near Zaandam. Furniture and metalwork and its impact on form. students visited Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn Francine Norris, Director of Education.

3 Spring Term 2017

Artists meet their Makers – Contemporary art re-invented by the West Dean Tapestry Studio

The West Dean Tapestry Studio was developing an interpretation of a larger scale established in 1974 and has worked with many Emma Biggs & Matthew Collings painting. leading modern and contemporary artists including , John Piper, Basil The exhibition is organised by curator Liz Beattie, Michael Brennand-Wood and Tracey Cooper and will include new works from Emin. This year, the studio is delighted to host previous projects, including ‘House of Tunnels’ a new exhibition at the Craft Study Centre woven by Katharine Swailes from a painting in Farnham which will shine a light on both by Basil Beattie and ‘Transformer’ created by artist and Master Weaver with equal intensity Philip Sanderson from a design by Michael to explore how a dialogue and language is Brennand-Wood. established between both parties.

Artists Meet Their Makers is a celebration At a certain stage, I handed the image Uncovered by Biggs and Collings of the skill and imagination of West Dean over to Philip the weaver. I keep Tapestry Studio’s Master Weavers and thinking it’s like handing over the master This free exhibition runs from 4 April to1 July a number of new commissions will be tapes to be re-mixed. It was really 2017 at the Crafts Study Centre, University for unveiled at the exhibition, including Master exciting to see how the imagery is the Creative Arts, Farnham Weaver Philip Sanderson’s design based interpreted once the weaving begins. on ink drawings by Rebecca Salter. Philip’s fellow Master Weaver Katharine Swailes is Michael Brennand-Wood

Literary Links at Author Joanna Moorhead joined the April West Dean salon. An award-winning freelance journalist, West Dean College Moorhead recently published a biography of Arts & her father’s cousin and renowned surrealist West Dean College has a strong tradition of artist, . Carrington’s Craft writing dating back to the 1930s when our story is colourful, including a romance with Festival 2-4 founder Edward James, poet and supporter the older artist Max Ernst, escape from the of the surrealists, published fellow Oxford Nazis during World War II, mental illness and June 2017 student John Betjeman’s first collection of finally, a reclusive life in Mexico. poems, Mount Zion. This year, the new Arts & Craft Festival Edward James was a long term friend and will bring arts and craft into West Dean For spring 2017 the Creative Writing patron of Leonora who established herself Gardens on an unprecedented scale. Department launched a series of Literary as a key figure in the Surrealist movement Over three days, 200 artists, makers, Salons with acclaimed authors and writers, and an artist of remarkable individuality. writers and performers will gather who are also guest tutors for the Creative Moorhead examined materials from The together across the gardens to showcase Writing MA. These enrich the educational Edward James archive to inform her writing. a theatre of live demonstrations, programme for students and also provide a setting to enable the wider community to hands-on taster workshops, and drop The Surreal Life of Leonara Carrington by Joanna engage with this creative environment. in and have-a-go sessions on a craft hut Moorhead is published by Virago in April 2017. trail across the grounds. There will be opportunities to try new craft skills from throwing pots to portrait painting and willow weaving to woodcut print making. We hope they’ll awaken or deepen your interest in making. During the festival, will be open so that visitors can tap into the College’s rich history of arts and craft, discover works from the collection and enjoy tours, talks and screenings from artists and tutors.

For further information contact the Development Office: West Dean College and Gardens is part of Helen Saelensminde, Group Head of Fundraising - [email protected] The Edward James Foundation Ltd, a charitable Caroline Gambetta, Development Manager – [email protected] company limited by guarantee. Lisa Oeder, Individual Giving Manager – [email protected] Company no. 6689362 Charity no. 1126084 Caitlin MacGeorge, Fundraising Officer – [email protected] West Dean College, The Edward James Foundation, West Dean, , PO18 0QZ. T. 01243 818265 westdean.org.uk

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