7 May 2009

Dundee Degree Show 2009 - Supermodels, zombies, art and design

• For attention of news/arts/features desks
• Interview opportunities available in advance with graduate students
• Photo opportunities with Erin O'Connor & students on Weds 20th May

Fashion icon Erin O’Connor, zombies straight out of the goriest 70's horror films, and some of the country’s leading young artists and designers will combine to make the 2009 Degree Show at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in Dundee one of the highlights of the cultural calendar later this month.

Thousands of people are expected to attend this year’s Dundee Degree Show, which takes place from Saturday May 23rd to Saturday June 6th at the Vision Building in Dundee’s Greenmarket.

Before the exhibition gets underway there is an invite-only VIP event, 'Designs on-The Future', where Erin O’Connor - fashion superstar, Chair of the British Fashion Council and a trustee of the Victoria & Albert Museum - will help launch this year’s show.

The VIP event, which takes place on Wednesday 20th May and is sponsored by Unicorn Property Group, will feature a catwalk show of new work from graduate jewellery and textile design students.

Erin says she is eager to see the wealth of creative talent Degree Show has to offer.

'I am looking forward to meeting the students and seeing their work,' said Erin. 'I know how important degree shows are to demonstrate the incredible creativity that there is, which in turn contributes to our country’s economy and a richer life experience.'

Over 260 graduating students will be displaying their degree projects, across the disciplines of fine art, design, textiles, jewellery, animation and digital imaging.

Among the many highlights this year are:

• Ailsa Lawson’s startling array of horror make-up, including her zombie film 'Dee Of The Dead'
• Fergus Walker’s human-powered flour mill
• Hayley Scanlan’s high-end designer sportswear
• Jessica Ramm’s recycling of an 18th century town clock mechanism
• Tom Metcalfe’s personalised coffee grinder, roaster and brewer

Profiles on these and other projects can be seen at: www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad/degreeshow/students.htm.

Dundee Degree Show will have a new look this year as it moves into new premises at the Vision Building at Seabraes in Dundee, which has been made available to the College by James Keiller Services, on behalf of Horizon Capital.

Dundee Degree Show will cap a very successful year for the College, which is part of the University of Dundee. It was rated one of the UK’s top colleges for research in art and design in the Research Assessment Exercise 2008.

The College has also been a driving force in the 'V&A Dundee - Making It Happen' project which aims to attract the Victoria & Albert Museum to establish a presence in the city.

For more information on this year’s Dundee Degree Show see www.dundee.ac.uk/degreeshow.

LISTING INFORMATION:

DUNDEE DEGREE SHOW 2009
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, University of Dundee

Weds 20th May
'Designs on-The Future' VIP, invite-only event with fashion icon Erin O’Connor, Chair of the British Fashion Council and V&A trustee.
Sponsored by Unicorn Property Group

Preview night - Friday 22nd May

Exhibition open 23 May - 6 June 2009
Monday-Friday 9.30am-8.30pm
Saturdays & Sundays 9.30am-4.30pm (excluding Saturday 6 June when the exhibit will close at 2pm)
Free admission

This exhibition is running concurrently with the Society of Scottish Artists Annual Exhibition.

Vision Building is fully accessible. Car parking is available at Vision

For further information please contact:
01382 385330
exhibitions@dundee.ac.uk
www.dundee.ac.uk/degreeshow.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk