16 May 2011

Turner Prize winner returns to alma mater - Dundee Degree Show 2011

Turner Prize winner Susan Philipsz and Pixar founder Alvy Ray Smith head up the list of VIP guests attending this year's Dundee Degree Show.

The exhibition, which will be open to the public from Saturday May 21st to Sunday May 29th at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD), attracts thousands of visitors each year.

The Degree Show celebrations will actually begin two days earlier when Susan, a DJCAD graduate, and Alvy appear in Dundee to meet with students and take in the exhibition during a special Associates Reception and Preview Night.

Susan, last year’s winner of one of the most prestigious and controversial awards in the art world, will talk to students about her work in the Dalhousie Building from 3-4pm on Thursday, 19th May. This will be followed by a lecture by Alvy from 5-6pm.

A drinks reception for students, staff and guests will then take place ahead of a tour to allow visitors to view exhibits from nearly 300 graduating student across 11 disciplines. Gallery owners, private collectors and other industry representatives are among the other invited visitors attending the Associates Night.

Whilst Susan’s talk is a students-only event, a limited number of free tickets to Alvy Ray Smith’s lecture are available to the public and can be obtained by visitors at the University's Online Store. Alvy is a pioneer of computer graphics who co-founded animation giant Pixar. A showreel of work from students on the Animation programme at DJCAD will precede his talk.

The Dundee Degree Show takes place throughout the two buildings and fourteen floors that comprise DJCAD, with every spare space exhibiting art and design. A Preview Night for family and friends of the exhibiting students will take place on Friday, 20th May before the show opens to the public the following day.

The Degree Show is one of the highlights in Dundee’s cultural calendar. Last year’s exhibits were viewed by around 10,000 visitors and the Show raised around £1.5million for the local economy.

The exhibition will be open to the public from Saturday, May 21st until Sunday, May 29th. Admission is free and the exhibition is open from 10am until 8pm (Monday - Friday) and 10am to 4pm (Saturday - Sunday).

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design has been rated as the top art school in Scotland and in the top four in the UK according to the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

DJCAD is at the forefront of the 'V&A at Dundee' project that will create a statement building on Dundee’s newly developing waterfront. This will house contemporary collections from the world-famous Victoria & Albert Museum alongside other major exhibitions, as well as showcasing design practice and research.

Notes to editors:

Dundee Degree Show
21st - 29th May 2011 (Preview May 20th)

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design
University of Dundee
13 Perth Road
Dundee DD1 4HT
T 01382 385330
E exhibitions@dundee.ac.uk
www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad/degreeshow

Thursday, 19th May
Associates Reception and Preview (ticket-only).

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Alvy Ray Smith and Susan Philipsz will be attending the reception in DJCAD canteen from 6.30-7.30pm.

Exhibition open:
Saturday, May 21st (10am-4pm)
Sunday, May 22nd (10am-4pm)
Monday, May 23rd (10am-8pm)
Tuesday, May 24th (10am-8pm)
Wednesday, May 25th (10am-8pm)
Thursday, May 26th (10am-8pm)
Friday, May 27th (10am-8pm)
Saturday, May 28th (10am-4pm)
Sunday, May 29th (10am-4pm)

Graduate work on display:
Animation
Art, Philosophy, Contemporary Practices
Digital Interaction Design
Fine Art
Graphic Design
Illustration
Interior Environmental Design
Jewellery & Metal Design
Product Design
Textile Design
Time Based Art & Digital Film

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277