OCA Europe Newsletter Summer 2024

Introducing Region Europe Student Group.

We are a group of 108 students, residing all over Europe and spanning different disciplines. Although united by a common passion for the arts, we see our cultural and artistic diversity as one of our key strengths. There is a core group that facilitates the group’s activities.

If you are a student based in or connected to the European continent - excluding the UK (see specific OCA groups) - and would like to become part of our growing community please register at OCASA. We would love to welcome you.

Looking back

During the academic year 2023-2024, the focus was on experimentation and creative practice. 

On every first Wednesday of the month, we held virtual Open Cafés. These are informal gatherings among members, where the Zoom lines are open to anyone who would like to share something, ask questions, ask for a critique, advice or simply meet fellow students and students from other disciplines. 

In September, we had a 5-hour-making day with tutor Michele Whiting, using provocations, another innovative way to work in your study, enjoying the company of a supportive student community and opening us to our creative selves. A good introductory discussion was around our ideas of culture, nature, environment, and the things that shaped us. What do we consider outcomes of our work (experiments)? We discussed how we explore our making – the things we work with in our research, what we reflect on, and keep in our sketchbook, allowing that process to define what we take forward as outcomes. We pondered when something is finished. Our focus for this day was on the ‘action of making’, seeing provocations not as instructions but as a means to freeing us up

The value to me was the personal influence all shared during discussions, cross-pollination, and the silent crit opportunity. Karen Stander

Karen Stander: Nest explorations

In November we had a practical workshop with tutor Helen Rousseau: “Something bigger, flatter, folded”. The workshop consisted in merging virtual and real: the real consisted in physically creating on a surface, a collage of light, found materials; the virtual consisted in visualising the work in the rectangular space of Zoom, through the computer webcam. The work image was the virtual collage of all the participant works, who responded to the neighbourhood space. The perception of the works was different when seen in reality or virtually, raising enquiries on our perception and how we perceive the work. This view was particularly useful for us as long distance students.

The computer as canvas

In December, photography student Peter Hungerford gave an artist talk titled “Searching for Mystery: A Journeyman's Exploration of Heart, Mind, and AI in Photography”. Inspired by landscapes, he discussed his approach to the challenge of finding a balance between heart and mind, between raw emotions and a deliberate focus on narrative, composition and technique which led to a lively discussion of our individual approaches towards finding an equilibrium and how our OCA studies affect this balance. As Peter has started to use AI in his work we talked as well about the potential of AI to influence our creative work.

Peter Hungerford: Mind and heart

In January, Faye Hall led an informal workshop where we explored ways to observe, translate and react to various stimuli through an open approach to drawing. We were invited to respond to examples of visuals, sound and film in a quick, reactive way with our choice of drawing media - with the aim to overcome over-thinking and “getting-started” anxieties.

I really enjoyed Faye Hall's drawing workshop! I didn't feel pressured and I could go at my own pace. Through her expertise and experience, Faye guided us by encouraging us to respond to our own creative impulses. It was fun, collaborative and I would love to do it again soon! Nicole Waymark

During the session, I felt a bit out of my comfort zone, but in a good way. It gave me an incentive to explore and observe different ways the drawing could be done. Gurdeep Kaur

Gurdeep Kaur

In February, Jane Murdock gave an artist talk where she critically reflected on her current body of work in the context of the human-fungal narrative and how OCA, and in particular the MA, continue to impact upon her work as an alumna.

Jane Murdoch: Self-portrait

In March, tutor Bryan Eccleshall led a stimulating workshop where we investigated which sources nourish our creative method, which steps are involved in our making process and how to document and visually map this process using whatever material we preferred.

 Annalisa Mercuri

In June, the OCA alumna Ailish Henderson presented her journey through the OCA textiles pathway, her current practice as a fine art textile artist and her upcoming book “Narrative Textiles”. Sha gave vivid insights into the development of her highly personal artworks and the importance of memory and storytelling for her practice.

Looking forward

With a full year behind us, we are looking at future ways to enhance our activities, based on feedback received from the group. The focus for the new academic year will again be on experimentation, creative research and presentation. We will continue to have a range of activities that bring us closer to one another, which will include:

• Regular monthly Open Café sessions as a means of encouraging peer crit and informal interaction - every first Wednesday of the month, in the evening

• Tutor-led events, including workshops with Bryan Eccleshall and Amy Tidmarsh

• Artist talks 

• A visit to the Venice Biennale.

• We will continue to look for and encourage group Collaborations, whether ad-hoc or in a more formally organised way. An idea we will pursue is an exhibition in Munich in 2025 or 2026

We are looking forward to an exciting and stimulating year and welcome new members who would like to take part to register at OCASA. The only condition is to live and / or show connection to continental Europe.

Your thoughts / get involved

We want to hear from you!

We’re keen to hear your thoughts on potential topics for talks, speaker suggestions, and any queries you have regarding your studies. What have you particularly enjoyed that you’d like to see more of? Are there areas where you feel we could improve?

Additionally, if you’re interested in assisting with the management of our group, we’d be delighted to have you on board. We’re always in need of support with communications, planning, organising, and more. We’re also hoping to arrange face-to-face gatherings in various European countries very soon. Why not join us and help shape our future activities?

Warmly, 

Annette, Annalisa, Karen, and Lia