Editors letter
Claire Quinn
Are you wowed by Westwood? Enchanted by Emin? Charmed by Conran? Then read on…
If you are awed by all things aesthetic, it’s time to hotfoot it down to Free Range, Europe’s largest showcase of graduate art and design, currently showing in London’s achingly cutting edge East End.
In the eight years since its launch, this free event has become synonymous with cutting edge ideas and raw talent – an explosive combination that last year attracted record numbers of visitors as 150,000 art lovers, collectors, media and public thronged to see what the future of UK design looked like.
Exhibiting in the heart of London’s artistic community amidst the warehouses and galleries of Brick Lane’s Old Truman Brewery, Free Range 2008 showcases a rotating exhibition of the very latest in design, photography, art, fashion and interiors from over 3,000 of the UK’s top graduate talent, hand-picked from 45 of the country’s leading art colleges.
We went along to catch up with the brightest stars from creative departments at Brighton, Middlesex, Cavendish, Farhham and Barnet and were mightily impressed by the quality and variety of work. NB -Barnet has now relaunched its department of Art, Design, Media and Performing Arts as North London Arts (NLA).
This year, students from participating art colleges will be showing off works covering a huge and eclectic range of media, from illustration to advertising, printmaking to product design and from textiles to film-making. As director of the event, Tamsin O’Hanlon, explains on the official website: “Free Range is an unprecedented display of youth, art and creativity. Its vast scale, variety and location sets it apart from other more parochial student art events. Free Range offers the best opportunity for the general public and the art-buying community to uncover tomorrow’s talent at today’s prices.”
Free Range
Graduate Art & Design Summer Shows
30 May – 21st July 2008
The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL
Free Admission
Open Friday – Monday 10am – 7pm
