Arts

Hollywood comes to Essex

A replica of the world-famous Hollywood sign that stands on the hills above Los Angeles will be the centre-piece of a new exhibition opening at the University this month.

How Keran James' Hollywood(Land) might look on campus

The exhibition, entitled False Impression?, is the second student-curated exhibition to open at the Gallery this term. It has been entirely organised by a group of MA Gallery Studies students and asks whether any art can be truly original and whether artists ever escape their debt to tradition.

Included in the exhibition are a number of works inspired by well known artworks by other artists. Some works derive from appreciation for the underlying work, others are a homage to another artist, whilst some transfer the original work into a new time. Regardless of whether the 'originals' are 50 or 500 years old, no matter whether they are Renaissance or Pop Art, all works in the exhibition are linked through modern context and contemporary art.

Items displayed within the gallery will include works by a number of international artists including Homage (Warhol's Brides Stripped Bare) by Root Cartwright. Homage is from a body of work examining the relationship between the photographic object and the object photographed, and features Andy Warhol's famous Campbell soup cans without the label. Overlooking the gallery, from the hill opposite, will by Keran James' Hollywood(Land), a replica of the instantly recognisable real estate sign that has stood since 1923. The 'original' sign is a strange emblem of glamour, representing the hopes of generations of budding actors and to the rest of us, a world of spectacle and excess. It has become a part of the film industry's heritage but at the University it will force the viewer to question their position as consumer of images.

False Impression? opens at the University Gallery on 28 May and runs until 21 June. Admission is free and opening times are as follows: Monday to Friday 11am to 5pm, and Saturday 1pm to 4.30pm.

Summer Season at East 15

The East 15 Acting School new summer season kicks off with the 3rd year BA Acting performances.

Following their successful West End Showcase, the 3^rd year BA Acting students return to the Corbett Theatre to perform their final shows, starting with Cardiff East by Peter Gill, directed by Caroline Eves, showing 21-24 May, and ending with Balm in Gilead by Lanford Wilson, directed by Dawn Wilton, showing 28-31 May.

The season will continue with the Postgraduate Acting Students performing The Good Sisters by Michael Tremblay, translated by Noel Greig, directed by Lois Baxter, 5-7 June, and Macbeth by William Shakespeare, directed by George Roman, 12-14 June.  Both of these performances can also be seen in the Corbett Theatre at East 15 in Loughton.

To end the 2003 summer season, the Postgraduate Acting Students will bring their final performances into town.  Frida and Diego - A Love Story by Greg Cullen, directed by John Gillett, will play in Stratford Circus 10-12 July, and in the Arcola Theatre 22-23 July. Neaptide by Sarah Daniels, directed by Jacqui Somerville performs at Stratford Circus 17-19 July, and at the Arcola Theatre 25-26 July.