Celebrations for banner art project
FOLLOWING months of hard work and dedication, the staff and students of West Lancashire College creative arts department, together with the Concourse Shopping Centre marketing team, were celebrating in style last week.
They were joined by members of the public, for the celebrations in the Concourse, to mark the end of the students’ live art commission project, working as a team to design and create banners as part of their work placement and enrichment activities.
The project culminated in the professional printing of four large-scale banners, now hanging in the front atrium of the shopping centre.
At the celebration, students and staff of the creative arts department and the shopping centre, were available to explain the project, with a special exhibition of the project timeline and what the banners represent.
Many of the guests had taken part in a photoshoot, with the aim of representing the local community on the banners.
Aimee Smith, art and design technician demonstrator at West Lancashire College, said: “During the project, students further developed their specialist skills, working individually on elements that were then combined digitally as part of the large final banners, celebrating Skelmersdale’s town.”
The banners theme was to showcase Skelmersdale.
Two represent the community and nature side of Skelmersdale, highlighting how the town was built for its community, with access to plenty of green spaces, its road network and famous roundabouts.
The other two characterise the urban and industrial side of Skelmersdale.
The banners take inspiration from various artists, such as Gustav Klimt and Friedensreich Hundertwasser, using vibrant colours and natural images.
The students used a variety of techniques to create the banners including drawing, painting, collage, 3D ceramic, block printing, copper foil technique, textiles, photography and digital work.
Jennifer Burnett, retail marketing manager at the shopping centre expressed her gratitude to the college and the students and staff who had worked so hard on the banners.
She said: “We were overwhelmed by the initial designs that the students came up with and presented to us.
“The ideas and the work behind the project were well thought through and incorporated so many different aspects from what they had learnt throughout their course, as well as fitting the brief of a project based on Skelmersdale.
“They should all be proud of their achievement; I hope it helps them develop for their future at university and in their career.”
The banners will now temporarily move over to the West Lancashire College Skelmersdale Campus, as part of the students’ end of year art exhibition.
This takes place on Wednesday, June 14 4.30– 7pm, until Monday, June 26, when the banners will return to the Concourse.