On Saturday 27 May WM College held its annual Lowes Dickinson Awards and Private View of ‘The OPEN Exhibition’.
Every year all creative arts learners have the chance to enter ‘The OPEN Exhibition’ which is judged by a panel of governors and senior staff. During the opening private view several awards are given for different artistic disciplines, with the overall winner receiving the Lowes Dickinson Medal and prize of £200. The Lowes Dickinson Award owes its name to one of the founders of WM College, who instituted the art scholarship prize in 1910.
This year’s winner of the Lowes Dickinson Award was Valerie Weiner for her sculpture, ‘Chameleon’. The judges were impressed by the level of detail Valerie achieved in this piece and commented:
“It’s surprisingly realistic! The choice of mesh was inspired, the surface texture, folds and creases created by manipulating this relatively stiff material has replicated Chameleon skin wonderfully. His beaded, beady eyes gave us the sense that they are swivelling in their sockets and following you around the room!”
Brand new for 2023, the College also introduced the Sustainability Award in line with the commitment to become carbon neutral by 2023. The winner of this category was Zaki Elia for his found object piece ‘TheMariner’. On Zaki’s artwork the judges commented:
“Zaki’s piece was perfect for the Sustainability Award. He regularly raids our scraps bin, finding discarded objects in the basement both in and outside the Sculpture room. Witty, evocative of a sea farer with a porthole eye and immoveable puff of smoke, this piece made the judge’s smile.”
This annual event is a highlight in the WM College calendar, and this year exceeded expectations with over 130 entries of high-quality artwork. All successful submissions, are currently on display at The Ruskin Gallery, located at the heart of the College in the Ruskin Café until 17th July. Don’t miss the chance to purchase some original art with some of the pieces on sale!
We’d like to extend our congratulations to all the winners and our hard-working tutors, technicians and staff that support our learners on their creative journeys.
If you’re curious about creativity check out our Creative Arts courses, your work could be displayed next year!
Awards Winners
Overall Prize & Lowes Dickinson Medal
Valerie Weiner
Title of artwork: Chameleon
Ceramics Prize
Peter Buck
Title of artwork: Guardian
Sculpture Prize
Paul Howard
Title of artwork: Escape
Fashion, Textiles & Millinery Prize
Matilda Ball
Title of artwork: Decomposition
Glass Prize
Hassan Kazemy
Title of artwork: Twitter Sparrow
Jewellery & Silversmithing Prize
Iris Fernandes
Title of artwork: (untitled) Cat Box
2D- Drawing and Painting Prize
Jenny Thomson
Title of artwork: Palimpsest
2D- Drawing and Painting Prize
Izzy McBroom
Title of artwork: Generations
Printmaking Prize for Technical Excellence
Elvina John
Title of artwork: Path to Azet Village
Printmaking Prize
Kerry Sharpe
Title of artwork: Look Up
Judge’s Favourite
Felicity Field
Title of artwork: Jungfrau
Sustainability Prize
Zaki Elia
Title of artwork: The Mariner
Technical Excellence
Jane Jackson
Title of work: Poppy Seed Head
The ‘Ziya’ Prize
Wendy Arnot
Title of artwork: Grace
Witold’s Library Prize
Simeon & Joanne Piasecki
Title of artwork: The Framed Coq
Principal’s Prize
Susan Head
Title of artwork: 3 Harpies from a series
Chair of Governors Prize
Geoff Goss
Title of artwork: Looking out to Sea