Gray’s supports exhibition to widen access to art education
Thursday 19 December 2024
Gray’s School of Art is working in partnership with arts organisation, the Freelands Foundation, and is one of six leading art and design institutions in the UK to host the esteemed Freelands Studio Fellowship which aims to broaden access to art education and the visual arts across the UK.
Tia Taylor Berry, who lives in Aberdeen and is originally from Northumberland, is the second artist to be awarded the Freelands Studio Fellowship at Gray’s School of Art.
Tia’s exhibition, entitled ‘Chromatic Visions’, opens at Gray’s School of Art from 13 to 23 January 2025 and is inspired by the Rider Waite Tarot cards, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, considered to be the one of the most widely circulated Tarot decks in the world.
Tia’s solo exhibition will unveil for the first time her own illustrated deck of tarot cards, showcasing 78 original, mediumistic drawings, each created with coloured pencil on paper.
Tia explains more: “In my practice I use paint, pencil and sculpture to create complex geometric diagrams and mappings of the architectural structure of what I call Spiritual space with forms, forms such as triangles, circles, diamonds being and reoccurring motifs. My Tarot deck ‘Chromatic Visions’ is an extension of this practice and my research into such esoteric themes. I look forward to the exhibition where I, invite the audience to experience this spiritual space, beyond the material world, beyond what can be seen.
“For the exhibition at Grays I’ve created 78 abstract drawings that each respond to a card in the original Rider-Waite Tarot deck illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith. Each drawing has been formed through the mediumistic act of automatic drawing whilst in a trance like or meditative state. Having started the project last January, I have completed all 78 drawings in a period of 9 months and I am now so very grateful and excited to be able to share them with the community at Gray’s and the world at wide.
“My time at Gray’s has been incredibly meaningful. One of the most cherished moments I’ve experienced whilst here has been my time with the community that makes up the Art School. I have had so many beautiful encounters and conversations here that will forever stay with me. The people have created and nurtured a deeply magical environment, it’s something to be treasured, and it has been a gift to experience it all, to teach, to learn, to share.”
Dr Dan Allen, Dean for Gray’s School of Art said: “It is fantastic to see Gray’s School of Art represented as part of the network of six universities across that UK involved in the Freelands Studio Fellowship. We are delighted to support the Freelands Foundation and to share their vision to enhance career-enhancing opportunities for talented emerging artists such as Tia.
“Our partnership demonstrates the vital contribution RGU is making to enrich the social and cultural development in the North East of Scotland. Over the past year, Tia has received mentoring sessions with a member of Gray’s teaching staff and developed her teaching practice by leading tutorials and lectures. The exhibition is part of a range of events and exhibitions supported by our creative unit, Look Again, which aims to connect, highlight and strengthen the region’s creative sector, and I’d encourage members of the public to come and enjoy Tia’s exhibition.”
A spokesperson from the Freelands Foundation said: “The Foundation's mission is to support artists and cultural institutions, to broaden audiences for the visual arts and to enable young people to engage in the arts.
“The Fellowships create new opportunities for emerging artists and are warded annually to talented early career artists who are then invited to spend a year in one of the collaborating art schools to develop their practice. We are delighted that Gray’s School of Art is part of the fellowship programme and that they share our vision to support emerging artists. We would encourage everyone to visit Tia’s exhibition and to see her striking collection of work.”
Recipients receive a £24,000, which will increase to £26,000 for the 2025 and 2026 fellowships, bursary alongside a designated studio space, a teaching mentor, opportunities to work with students to gain teaching experience and receive a solo exhibition as key part of their fellowship.
Alumni of any of the 5 other schools can apply to be a Freelands Studio Fellow at Gray’s but Gray’s alumni can only apply to one of the other 5 art schools.
Next year, eight art and design institutions will be involved in the 2025 and 2026 fellowship programme, including Gray’s School of Art and the opportunity to apply to be a fellow is open to all studio-based Gray’s School of Art alumni and artists from across the UK.
Tia has exhibited both nationally and internationally, including exhibitions in Canada and Norway as well as having her work held in private and public collections in the USA and Norway. She originally graduated from Manchester School of Art before completing a master’s in fine art at Newcastle University. After her Freelands Studio Fellowship she will be travelling to Vermont, New Hampshire, USA to attend a residency fellowship at The Vermont Studio Centre.