22 May 2013

Family to pay tribute to Jane in Degree Show week

Photo opportunity: 11.30am on Thursday, 23rd May at front of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Perth Road.

The family of late Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design student Jane Kelly will tomorrow plant a tree at DJCAD to mark what would have been one of the biggest weeks of her life.

Jane, who tragically died in 2011 aged 22, would have completed her Fine Art degree this year and would currently have been displaying her work alongside that of her classmates at the DJCAD Degree Show.

Several members of Jane's family will visit DJCAD to plant the tree outside the institution at 11.30am on Thursday, 23rd May, and a plaque paying tribute to the popular student will be installed alongside. The family will also use the occasion to launch a campaign to raise money in Jane's memory.

A keen traveller and lover of Russian art, Jane had long harboured an ambition to visit Moscow. As her dream was unfulfilled, Jane's father, Graeme, and brother, Craig, plan to make the journey for her and will travel from Dundee to the Russian capital this summer to raise money for charity.

The funds they raise will be used to set up an art student exchange between DJCAD and the British Higher School of Art and Design in Moscow in honour of Jane, as well as going to the bereavement charity PETAL, who provided great support for the family following her loss.

"The past 18 months have been incredibly difficult for all of us but we have got to a point where we wanted to do something in commemoration of Jane in what would have been a special and proud time for her," explained Graeme. "It will be very emotional for us but we felt it was right to mark this time by doing something positive.

"She was so proud to be studying at Duncan of Jordanstone that we thought it right to celebrate what would have been her Degree Show week at the place where she was happiest. It gives us a source of comfort to know how much she loved the place and wanted to do something in recognition of this.

"Jane was a lovely, happy person. She had a great love of travel and of Russian art, and she'd always wanted to combine the two but never had the chance to visit Moscow so Craig and I are planning to do it for her and raise some money to help others while we do so.

"PETAL is only a small charity but the support and counselling they have provided us with over the past year has been invaluable and we want to thank them by raising some money. Helping other students to make the most of their talent and experience a new culture is something Jane would have wanted so we're really hoping to be able to establish the exchange with Moscow."

The family will launch a website in tribute to Jane and to allow members of the public to donate to the fundraising efforts next month.

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
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