FOUR young artists who became firm friends while studying at a Batley art school are preparing for a unique show.
They are launching an exhibition featuring a decade of talent featuring the work of former students of Batley School of Art and Design.
Aidan Nolan, Charlie Ross, Emily Stubbs and Claire Wood all met while studying on an art foundation course in 2004.
They all went off to university, but have returned to launch the reunion exhibition dubbed the Solid Foundation – Show One.
And they have collated work by 20 former Batley students for the exhibition, ranging from ceramics, textiles, graphic and fine art.
All originating from the Holmfirth and Huddersfield areas, their exhibition will run at Shaw Lodge Mills, Halifax, next weekend.
Not only is it a great chance to show what they can do, it’s an opportunity for them to raise awareness of art education.
Aidan and Charlie, both 24, live in the Beaumont Park area of Huddersfield.
They formed their own design consultancy, Nolan Ross, based at the Huddersfield Media Centre.
Claire Wood, 25, of Honley, works as an art technician at Huddersfield New College while Emily Stubbs, 24, , has set up her own ceramic design business in Leeds.
Solid Foundation was formed in the spring of 2009 and since then the four have spent a whirlwind 12 months contacting old friends and past students of the foundation course to take part in the exhibition.
To date the exhibition encompasses around 20 students from over 10 years of the foundation course, who will be exhibiting a wide range of disciplines including ceramics, fine art, textiles, graphics and art installations.
Collectively, they say: “Solid Foundation: Show One is set to be an extravaganza of local young creative talent, celebrating one of the finest foundation courses in the country.
“When we heard that the structure of art education could be altered causing art foundations across the country to be phased out, we knew that we had to promote the course and the solid foundation it has given us to build upon in the years that followed.
“We would not be where we are now without the help and guidance given by tutors on the foundation course and aim for the exhibition to be a celebration of successful past students and their achievements.”
They hope the annual show will become a permanent fixture on the creative calendar.
The exhibition takes place at Shaw Lodge Mills, Halifax, starting with a preview night on Friday, May 7, with it opening to the public on Saturday May 8 and Sunday May 9.
Contact the Solid Foundation on solidfoundationinfo@googlemail.com for further details.
