Not Exactly As Planned 2020
Vincent Lavell
We would like to thank Colin Simpson and the gallery staff for supporting the BA Fine Art course for the past twenty-five years. The Williamson Art Gallery and Museum offers our course an outstanding venue for the Degree Show and provides our students with a unique opportunity to display their work at the heart of cultural life on the Wirral and engage directly with the public. This is a unique relationship and it is in marked contrast to other fine art courses who will host their final exhibitions within their ‘home’ institution.
The Williamson team have consistently regarded our students in a professional light. The advice and technical support for even the most challenging proposals has been first class. Fish tanks, turf, car body parts, live performances and whole rooms full of furniture have all been treated with serious and professional consideration. This is an immense learning experience for our graduating students and acts as an in valuable introduction into the world of museums and exhibitions.
The class of 2020 exhibition’s was called Diverse Directions. The online catalogue is still available to view. The title was a development of an idea explored previously by this same group of students during their second year professional practice exhibition A Diverse Collective. Whilst that exhibition celebrated their commitment and co-operation as an undergraduate group, the 2020 Degree Show marked the start of their independent careers as professional artists.
The Degree Show is the culmination of three and sometimes six years of study. This makes great demands on the undergraduates and the families and friends that support them. The Degree Show is a celebration of this effort.
During these uncertain times museums and galleries are closed, but the value of the art and culture is being re-thought as people explore at home all manner of creative activities. Creativity and ‘making’ are essential to any healthy community. We hope our students will contribute to this culture of creativity in the wider community as this opens up before us.