Degree Show at Taigh Chearsabhagh

  • Degree Show dates: December 2020 – 5 January 2021
  • Venue: Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre
  • Graduating Students: Katherine Taylor and Hector Start
  • UHI Art Degree Online Exhibition in partnership with Art North: 16th December - https://artnorth-magazine.com/uhi-degree-show

Like many other events and celebrations, the Lews Castle College UHI annual Degree Show was postponed in May this year due to COVID-19.  This impacted on art colleges nationally, creating a situation where students only option was to exhibit their work digitally or, like Uist-based students, delayed in the hope that the situation would allow for public exhibitions at a later date. That time has arrived, with the 2020 Degree Show opening to the public on Saturday 5th December at Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre. A culmination of four years of work, Degree Shows are an important bridge between art college and a student’s onward career as a professional artist.

This year, two graduating students from the BA (Hons) Fine Art now have the opportunity to hold their Degree Show. Katherine Taylor and Hector Start have studied with Lews Castle College UHI for five years, starting with a 1-year NC Art & Design course before progressing onto the BA (Hons) Fine Art. Both relocated to Uist from Moray after leaving school and have lived and studied in Uist since. Their art practice has developed over that time, taking very diverse paths in terms of their studio practice and theoretical concerns. However, both are firmly influenced by their experience of living in Uist and their connection with the environment around them.

Lews Castle College Lecturer Rosie Blake said,  ‘The resourcefulness and resilience of students has been wonderful, we were impressed by their commitment and creative output during these strange times. Looking ahead to next year, we are hopeful that we will continue to work in the studios in Lochmaddy to complete this academic year and look towards a building a strong future for the art campus in Lochmaddy in the following year and beyond.’

The Degree Show exhibition at Taigh Chearsabhagh’s Gallery 2 space will run to 5 January 2021. The students work will also be exhibited in a virtual Degree Show exhibition along with graduating art students from Orkney, Shetland and Moray. This virtual Degree Show is being hosted by Art North Projects, going live on 16 December 2020 at https://artnorth-magazine.com.

To coincide with the Degree Show, current art students at Lews Castle College will have an opportunity to participate in a ‘work in progress’ exhibition. Later in January, Staff and Alumni from the BAFA will continue with the Art School showcase, with an exhibition which opens to the public on Saturday 9 January 2021.

Thank you to Cal Mac for their support towards the Degree Show catalogue which will accompany the Degree Show exhibition and will be available at Taigh Chearsabhagh.

The Art Courses are operating in the studio this academic year after courses resumed in September. With smaller numbers and some timetabling adjustments, the NC Art & Design and BA (Hons) Fine Art students have been able to attend college almost as normal. Along with Uist based students, we were delighted to welcome two new students from Tiree and Lewis, to take up places on the NC course.

For information on Art Courses in Uist:

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  • Tel:01876 500871
  • www.lews.uhi.ac.uk
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