Feb 22, 2011

Where are they now?: graduates Mike Moore and Jeff Lees

Mike and Jeff at the opening of HIVitrification at St Vincents Hospital

Mike Moore and Jeff Lees graduated from the Certificate IV in Ceramics at the Nepean Arts and Design Centre in 2007. Since they completed their study with us, they have followed their careers in ceramics with a passion.

After completing further study (Diploma of Ceramics at SWI)  in 2009, Jeff and Mike started running pottery classes for HIV positive people. The classes, called "Positive Pottery" are held at Pine Street Creative Arts Centre in Chippendale, and are supported by a generous grant from the City of Sydney.

On Friday the 26th of November 2010, Jeff and Mike's students held an exhibition called "HIVitrification" at St Vincent's hospital in Paddington.

" It was amazing; a fair amount of their work sold on the night. We even had Margaret Olley come along and purchase a piece from one of our guys." said Mike. 

In 2011 Mike and Jeff will undertake a Graduate Diploma in Visual Arts, Ceramics, at the Australian National University in Canberra. As part of their coursework, they will travel to China on a study tour, including a three week intensive residency in a porcelain factory, which also hosts an artist's residency and experimental design centre.  

Mike say his Mandarin is "lousy".  "Seeing as it is only women who put up translations on the net, I have been told by my travel agent I pronounce words like a girl" he laughed.

Mike and Jeff have numerous plans for networking whilst in China, and are investigating ongoing forms of cultural and professional exchange.

Both ceramic artists gained a great start to their career from their training at Nepean Arts and Design Centre. "I certainly would like to say how much Jeff & I learnt at Nepean; due to the professional staff; whether teaching or ancillary staff, as well as the professional facilities that NADC has to offer", said Mike.

Congratulations to our two graduates for their ongoing professional activities in their field. For more information on studying ceramics at The Nepean Arts and Design Centre, click here.
 Flyer for Mike and Jeff's 2011 Positive Pottery program. Click for larger image.

Feb 18, 2011

Congratulations to our Winners!


Printmaking category winner Sean Sweeney with his self-portrait linocut.

A large crowd packed into the Trapezium Gallery on Wednesday to hear  Nepean College Director Ann Beerden announce the winners the opening of the 2011 Student Acquisitive Art Prize.

As one of the panel of three judges, Ann Beerden announced the artists selected: Amanda Mayrhofer for painting, Sean Sweeney for printmaking, Peter Lewis for ceramics, Robert Musgrave for photography and Helen Nairn for drawing. Congratulations to all!

All artists selected for the exhibition were included because of the high standard of their work, and their professional attitude to presentation and exhibition practice. Ann praised the quality of all work on display, and conveyed the difficulty the judges had in making the decision.

There were three judges for this year's prize. Adnan Begic joined us as our external industry expert. Adnan co-ordinates St Mary's Corner, a local cultural precinct administered by Penrith City Council. As well as his current role, Adnan has a background in both  art practice and curatorial practice. College Directors Ann Beerden, and Cecelia Celesio also brought their expertise to the task.

Congratulations to all the artists in the show, we expect to hear more from you and your careers in the future!

The exhibition is open until February 24 at the Trapezium Gallery, Building P, Nepean College Kingswood. Gallery hours 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday.

Feb 11, 2011

We're back!

The Fine Arts section at NADC would like to welcome all our new and returning students for 2011.
It's been a busy and exciting week, as everyone launches into the new study year.

Coming up next week in the Trapezium Gallery, the official opening on Wednesday the 16th of February at 12 noon, of The Student Acquisitive Art Prize, showcasing the best of student work from 2010. Watch this space for more info......

 (click invite to view larger)