Exhibition of up and coming artists at Urbis

The work of 37 MMU art graduates is to go on show at Urbis from 29th October as part of Catapult 07, an exhibition showcasing fresh artistic talent in the city.

The aim of Catapult is to act as a spring board for new artists into the professional sphere and rising stars from MMU were selected by Urbis staff during this year’s Art and Design Degree Show.

Innovative exhibits by MMU Sculpture, 3D Design and Interactive Arts graduates include Melanie Warner’s Bog Standard Gallery, a gallery made from a portable toilet; Chris Knight’s subtlety scattered plaster cast songbirds; Andrew Lim’s stacked table sculpture; Helen Dowson’s box of trinkets; Sarah Brown’s formations of bound paper and an installation by Vanessa Holt.

First professional show

Chris comments: “This is my first major show since graduation and I’m so pleased to be a part of it, especially as I’ve always loved the Urbis building. My style is to produce works that don’t look like obvious pieces of art and I think my birds will work really well in the modern space of the gallery.”

Vanessa said: "I feel inspired and excited about my involvement in the Catapult exhibition. To have been selected and have my work on show in a prestigious, well known Manchester art gallery really does create enthusiasm. I feel the exhibition rewards my dedication towards my degree and hopefully enhances my experience in the world of art."

Head of Creative Programmes at Urbis, Pollyanna Clayton-Stamm said: “I’m overwhelmed by the standard, variety and professionalism of the work submitted by the students this year. The quality is exceptional and we are really excited about pulling together a show which promises to have such great depth!”

Catapult 07 runs until February 2008. Entry to Urbis is free and it is open daily.

For further information on Art and Design courses at MMU go to www.artdes.mmu.ac.uk.