Families and friends of St Mary's student teachers who take Art as a specialist subject attended the opening of an exhibition of students' work in the College on the evening of Friday, 10 June. The varied and colourful exhibition comprised work in a range of media and scale including painting, sculpture, ceramics, glass, photography, textiles and installation. The works represent the culmination of students’ investigations and personal responses to a range of issues such as homelessness, Alzheimer’s and bereavement—as well as explorations of colour and light, personal themes of inner landscape and family and a light-hearted look at adult playfulness.

Colleagues and friends of the late Michael Ellis took some time to remember him during the event when a ceramic memorial to him was unveiled in the Art Department. The piece was made by Artist in Residence and Associate Lecturer in Ceramics, Joanne Porter, and is an actual t-shirt that Michael wore which has been dipped in porcelain slip and fired, creating a permanent after-image of the garment.

Every year the art students raise funds for a local charity, and this year they put together a large hamper of food, using donations from those attending the exhibition and from the College community. This will be given to the Welcome Organisation for the Homeless. The students would like to thank everyone who donated.

Below is a selection of photographs from the evening:







                                                          
                                                          Memorial to Michael Ellis, made by Joanne Porter.