Wednesday 13 April saw the private view of ‘Wide Open’, the first of four summer shows at LCC. Featuring the work of over 350 students, this campus-wide exhibition displays the impressive range of experimentation going on among this year’s Foundation Diploma in Art and Design course.

Arriving at the Upper Street gallery, you are immediately surrounded with work from all practices. A long row of wooden A-boards show work from students’ sketchbooks, giving a rare glimpse into the ideas and experimentation that went into much of the work in the show. Moving towards the Atrium gallery, the work progresses from graphic design to sculpture, installation and 3D design.

In the Lower Street gallery, Elin Thomas’ photographic zoetrope along with other hands-on attractions mesmerise visitors to no end. And speaking of hands-on, Borbala Szanto’s intriguing performance piece in the main gallery invites visitors to write on the walls of her see-through box while she responds from within, forming an ongoing dialogue with the visitors.

“My final piece explores the communication boundaries that exist between artist and audience, but also individual and masses,” Szanto explains. “I know that performance might be unusual for a graphic design pathway student, but where else should I explore and speak about communication than at LCC?”

The work isn’t just inside, though. Laura Smith’s ‘Art-on-Sea’, a giant sandpit constructed in one of LCC’s outdoor containers, beckons visitors inside to play with bucket and spades. With buckets resembling famous sea-side galleries from around the British coast, Laura’s work comments on how art is used to promote tourism in England’s emptying sea-side towns: “The Turner Contemporary gallery is opening in Margate, and they’re hoping it will bring tourism back to the town. With the buckets, I wanted the audience to ask if the galleries were useful or were essentially sandcastles, soon to be washed away.”

Keeping on the sea-side theme, the LCC shop is stocked full of rock candy and beautiful postcards designed by students, with proceeds going towards the university and Foundation students.

After much success with last summer’s lineup, Morag Myerscough has created a bold and expressive brand for this year’s series of summer shows entitled ‘Round About’, reflecting the striking display of work on show.

These are just a few highlights from an impressive selection of work from a lot of talented students. The show runs from Monday 11 to Wednesday 20 April 2011 all across the LCC campus, so come by and make a day of it!

Words: Thomas Riggs, 2nd year BA Photography, LCC
Photography: Ana Escobar, BA Photography aluma, LCC and Jade Ellis 1st year BA Photography, LCC