Bradford College

Recycled Artistry

Recycled and Natural Sculptures exhibition

The Yorkshire Craft Centre's Bradford Gallery was transformed into a wonderland of natural sculpture and wall hangings by students from Introductory and First Diplomas in Art & Design from 4th to 8th February.

Inspired by a visit to the Andy Goldsworthy exhibition at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, plus their own research from library books about other famous sculptors and artists, they staged their own mid-course exhibition. The students acquired many new skills in translating their ideas into reality using only rescued rubbish and items salvaged from skips. The materials may have been second-hand but the results were first-rate.

The project put the College's green principles into practice and ably demonstrated that given inspiration and skills, fabulous art can be produced in an economical and environmentally friendly way. Opening the exhibition, lecturer Martin Hearne commended the exemplary efforts made and how well they had filled a space which might daunt many professional artists. Parents and visitors were all amazed as they walked around the gallery and realised the art the were admiring was made up of old egg boxes, beer cans, bicycle parts, lampshades, washing machine parts, plastic bottles, coat hangers, tin foil, wire, wood, wool, wheels, and assorted abandoned articles.

There had been no intention to have a competitive element to the show, but when Programme Manager for Visual Arts, Baljit Panesar, saw the standard of work these young students had produced at such an early stage in their studies, he decided to recognise their achievements by donating prizes to the best three.

The Winners

Art & Design Lecturer, Brian Hindmarsh and Bradford College’s Events and Exhibitions Coordinator, Clare Lamkin, were given the difficult task of judging.  After much deliberation they selected Kelly Smithies, Megan Boults and Dominicka Laszkowska to each receive a memory stick.

Dominicka’s piece was influenced by the work of Serge Vandercam and used tennis balls, net, a fruit tray, a chocolate box, sponge, dry paint and air cushions.   Kelly imitated the shapes made in one of Antony Caro’s sculptures and used willow, bamboo, bubble wrap, wool and sweet wrappers.  Megan was inspired by Alexander Calder and created her sculpture with coat hangers, cans, tin foil, wire, cardboard and a wooden pallet.

Brian praised all the students.  “Some of these pieces would sit happily in other galleries or as interior design.  The standard was very high but the three we selected as winners just had an added ingredient.”