Students strut their stuff at end of year shows

Heidi Fennel’s final catwalk collection. Heidi is a second year student on ND Textiles/Fashion and is progressing on to a BA in Fashion at Huddersfield University

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Hopwood Hall College’s Art and Design department recently hosted its annual end of year show and the studios were packed full of students’ creative and innovative work from all areas of the department. Proud parents, staff and students (past and present) all came along to view the exhibitions and celebrate two years of hard work.

A glamorous addition to the proceedings was provided by the Textiles and Fashion students who highlighted their achievements with a stunning fashion show. The models, made up of both first and second year students, showcased garments on the catwalk from over the two years and concluded with the final collections. The audience was wowed with impressive tailored kimonos, exotic headwear, embellished shirts and innovative recycled dresses.

The Fine Art show, which was held in the studios, displayed varied approaches including installations, portrait paintings and illustrations. Students’ vibrant and diverse work explored personal themes, such as looking at urban decay in Rochdale and the surrounding area, all using skills and techniques developed throughout the course.

Fine Art student, Danny Markham, talks about the inspiration for his work: "For my final project I based my work around the atmosphere and familiar surroundings of Rochdale, my home town. I am a young adult, born and raised in Rochdale, which is a small town, in a small country, in which I have hardly travelled. The place makes me feel claustrophobic and trapped but I have grown up here and I have a huge family that I care about here. This strange combination of hate and love and my passion for the place is my subject matter."

The Graphics, Games and Creative Media Design students showed off their vast expertise of the technological creative industries with a professional display of work of the highest standard. Whilst the Performing Arts students showcased their acting prowess in their production, ‘Psychosis’, which was staged at the Cube on the Rochdale campus.

Annette Houghton, Curriculum Leader Art & Design, commented on the amazing work on display: “All final shows this year were interesting, inspiring and diverse, a wonderful celebration of the students’ achievement and hard work. Most students are continuing to university or returning to Hopwood Hall for Higher Education. We wish all of our students great success at whatever they have opted to do, and hope that, like past students, they come back and visit us in the future.”