London Exhibition - Final Integrated Assignment

I am lucky to be part of a third year group who are dedicated to their craft but more importantly enjoy working together. This was a sound basis to work on a major project for this academic year. The University Centre has once before exhibited in London. Although there is no requirement to do so for the purpose of assessment it is a chance for the students to show their work to a wider audience. This project was first discussed last September and a lot of hard work has gone into organising this event, with fundraising, seeking a suitable venue and framing and printing. With any group to be successful there is a need for a focal point. This is where one student stepped up, took extra responsibility and organised the the group to put on a successful exhibition - come forward Carren Stockman.

So, Monday 13th May pictures and students were tightly packed into the University minibus on our big expedition out.

Smiling faces would soon disappear on a minibus with very little space and seats that were hard as boards. Add to this was an eclectic mix of music supplied by Nikita.

The first break stop on the Toll Road outsider Birmingham. A chance to flex those aching backs.






We arrived in London at the Gallery Redchurch Street at  around two thirty and set to work. The opening night was the following day at five thirty. We unloaded the van a set about positioning the work. My initial thought was, this was going to be the most difficult part of the whole process. I didn't have to worry, as per normal this group of students handled themselves professionally, and with a bit of give and take everyone was happy with the position and space they had been given. The work of putting the frames on wall would commence in the morning so it was off to the digs.

Carren had organised our rooms at Clink261 at King's Cross. We had a mixed sex room for ten. Although the room was small, to say the least, it was clean and tidy and was surprisingly good. The above image is the devastation of eight women and two men sharing a room. No room for suitcases!!

A quick ride on the Tube the next morning and it was back to work. Everyone mucked in and helped each other put the pictures on the wall. There were no major incidents and holes filled and work up we hit the deadline of 3pm. This enabled the team to get back to the hostel, wash and put the glad rags on and return to the exhibition to meet the first guests. A good night was had by all finishing with a curry on the famous Brick Lane that Richard had organised.

Conclusion

First of all the exhibition was a great success and couldn't have been achieved without the help of the University Centre and a group of students with a strong bond and work ethic. I was proud to have my work displayed with some extraordinary work that my peer group had produced. I think all that started the course in September have improved their own work practices dramatically and as a group. I hope the lecturing staff can take a sense of satisfaction and achievement on how they have developed us, as with out their support and guidance I don't think we would have come this far.

As with every good experience there are always things you wished you had done better. For this I don't think the students or staff could or would have done anything differently. However, my gripe would be with the photography fraternity we belong too. As a group we had a sound marketing strategy, and invited specific groups to the exhibition. Now I don't know if it's because we are not one of the 'established' photographic educational schools but attendance by this group was poor. If only they had given us a chance they would have seen work that is on par or even better than most other undergraduate centres. I do get the feeling this is a trend. I have had the opportunity to visit other arts and humanity centres and look at the work being produced. Now some my say I'm biased, however, the work produce at UCBC is a good as anything out there but students are not held in the same reverence as other centres. Reputation seems to go along way with little credence.