16 May 2013

Pubs and people provide inspiration for Alice

Picture shows Alice's screen print of Dundee.

Illustration student Alice Newman has created a beautifully detailed tribute to her adopted city, and its pubs, for the DJCAD Degree Show 2013, which opens tomorrow.

Alice (21) originally from Glasgow, has increasingly taken inspiration from her surroundings since she moved east to study at DJCAD, part of the University of Dundee, four years ago. She undertakes a lot of reportage drawing for her practice, and aims to capture everyday goings on and charm found in ordinary places such as pubs, streets and coffee shops.

A keen printmaker, Alice has created a 150cm x 90cm wall-mounted screen print of Dundee as the centrepiece of her Degree Show exhibit. Rising from the River Tay, the city climbs the steep slope of the Law, depicting the artist's favourite Dundee haunts, views and people as it does so.

The work not only captures the characteristics of the city but also the many quirks that Alice has come to love during her time in Dundee. Following on from a recent campaign to locate 2017 'hidden gems' to support Dundee's bid to become UK City of Culture in four years time, Alice believes she has uncovered several in the course of her work.

"Dundee has been really inspirational for me in terms of informing my work, and the city and its people have stimulated all the work I've done in my final year," she said. "My entire portfolio is based on what I see around me and have experienced since moving here.

"It's been great to focus on my favourite places, pubs, views and characters from the past four years. I've loved every minute of my time here and never want to leave art college but I suppose I'll have to face the real world at some point!"

Much of Alice's reportage drawings have been done inside Dundee's pubs, places she has developed a particular interest in. In addition to her main Degree Show piece, Alice's work over the past year includes an illustrated map directing visitors to what she believes to be Dundee best hostelries, drawings of their exteriors and interiors, and even a hand-printed book paying tributes to the locals at one.

"I love what you might call 'old man's pubs'," continued Alice. "I love the original features, quirks and character and I've found everyone to be very helpful and friendly. When they see you sitting drawing, they always want to talk and are interested in what you're doing.

"The people I've met in pubs like the Ladywell Tavern, Caw's and the Clep Bar have been really interesting and have told the most amazing stories, and so the book is a kind of narrative of the characters you meet in every pub."

Alice is just one of the 290 graduating students exhibiting at the DJCAD Degree Show 2013, which opens with the traditional Preview Evening for the students, their families and invited guests on Friday, 17th May.

The exhibition will be open to the public from Saturday, 18th May until Sunday, May 25th. Admission is free and the exhibition is open from 10am until 8pm (Monday - Friday) and 10am to 4pm (Saturday - Sunday).

Other work on display includes:

• John Russell's General Store, a home grown gallery space and shop promoting Scotland's local creators and makers from all walks of life..
• Dorian Braun's exhibition of chainsaw sculpture, video work, prints, gold mining, moonshine wine and performance.
• Catriona Suiter's 'Edible' app to help people with food allergies source alternatives and connect with new friends around the world.

Students from all 11 undergraduate programmes will exhibit the fruits of their labours across the two buildings and fourteen floors that comprise DJCAD, with every spare space exhibiting art and design. DJCAD's new entrance at the Matthew Building will enable visitors to more easily navigate their way around the exhibition.

Interviews can be arranged with any of the exhibiting students.

Notes to editors:

DJCAD Degree Show 2013
18th - 25th May (Preview May 17th)

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/

Exhibition open:
Saturday, May 18th (10am-4pm)
Sunday, May 19th (10am-4pm)
Monday, May 20th (10am-8pm)
Tuesday, May 21st (10am-8pm)
Wednesday, May 22nd (10am-8pm)
Thursday, May 23rd (10am-8pm)
Friday, May 24th (10am-8pm)
Saturday, May 25th (10am-4pm)
Sunday, May 26th (10am-4pm)

Graduate work on display:

• Animation
• Art, Philosophy & Contemporary Practices
• Fine Art
• Graphic Design
• Illustration
• Interior Environmental Design
• Interactive Media Design
• Jewellery & Metal Design
• Product Design
• Textile Design
• Time Based Art & Digital Film

About DJCAD 125:
In 2013 DJCAD is celebrating 125 years of transforming lives through art and design education. That's both the lives of our students but also the lives of those that they go on to work with. The 2013 Degree Show is a moment of real celebration in the year when 290 new artists and designers join the professional world.

Across all our teaching, research and engagement activity, DJCAD is becoming recognised internationally as the art and design institution where students and staff work across disciplinary boundaries, developing new forms of creative practice and using creative practice to transform thinking in other areas.

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