YAAC Launch Event
YAAC (Young Arnolfini Artist Collective) is a group of ten young artists aged 17 and above, based at the North Bristol Post 16 Centre (Cotham site). On Thursday, 14 January YAAC held their launch event, which included an exhibition (#10). At the event they also presented their new website, 'Zine', which contains reviews of shows, personal artwork and photography by the group and hosted two contemporary dance performances by Swindon's Youth Dance Academy, which includes one of the YAAC members. Around 175 people attended the event.
The event celebrated YAAC's partnership with Arnolfini, in making contemporary art more accessible for young people. YAAC's exhibition #10 in Arnolfini's Light Studio comprised a simple, yet beautiful collaborative installation made from origami paper triangles slotted together alongside a large wall painting.
The exhibition was an outstanding success with an average of 200 people visiting each day over the course of the weekend. Comments were collected from the public, staff and parents (please see below). The exhibition was featured in the Evening Post and Spike Island would like the sculpture in its foyer at some point this year. The leader of the Foundation Art and Design Course (Queen's Road) was amazed by the standard of work and looks forward to interviewing the students for her course over the next few months.
YAAC has talked in assembly to every year group about the YAAC project and ways students can get involved. In the meantime please check out the website for more information and images.
QUOTES:
The YAAC preview and launch was an overwhelming success last night! The response from the public exceeded our expectations, as the collective presented their website to a full auditorium...and their collaborative work '#10' - a beautiful series of paper sculptures. It was an amazing evening, very emotional, I feel incredibly proud of them and very lucky to have Beck's leading this initiative, her hard work a testament to the evening's success. Go Cotham! Amy Hetherington, Head of Visual Arts, Cotham.
What a brilliant evening! We were all so proud of what you at Arnolfini and our amazing students have managed to achieve with Becks over such a short period of time. A real testament to passion, energy and commitment and long may it flourish.
Geraldine Hill-Male
The YAAC launch was excellent - lovely vibe, great work - an origami sculpture installation, a zine, a contemporary dance performance and the launch of the YAAC website.
Clare Thornton - Associate Artist, Arnolfini.
I was very impressed with the YAAC launch and the work that you have been doing with the Cotham pupils. Was also good the meet you and the art staff at Cotham.
Anita Reynolds, Teacher in residence, Spike Island.
I visited your installation in the Light Studio at Arnolfini on Saturday and wanted to say that I think it is really wonderful. The conceptual link to 'bau-Stelle' is very strong; use of materials and interactive approach so imaginative, the wall painting is beautiful too!
Zoe Sherma, Arnolfini Curator.
It was great and you have exceeded expectations.
Hugh Thomas, Investors in Learning Leader, Children and Young Peoples Service, Bristol
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