Arts

Fragile: Think with care

The second art exhibition curated by MA Gallery Studies students from the Department of Art History and Theory opens this month.

Fragile: Think with care is an exhibition of contemporary ceramic vessels which includes works by international and well known English ceramicists, such as Lidya Buzio, Wayne Higby, Jeannie Mah, John Pollex, Michael Kay, Stephen Dixon and Philip Eglin.

This ceramic vessels featured in the exhibition, against all appearances, do not aim at being decorative or functional.

Contemporary ceramicists combine painting, drawing, photography, architecture and text on the round surface of the vessel, intentionally using clay for its unique qualities and resonance. They make a personal statement using the traditional cultural associations of the vessel to interpret the constantly changing modern world.

Like Trojan horses, they encourage us to take a second, closer look in order to recognise another layer of meaning which adds depth to our first impression. This exhibition is a comment on the issue of arts versus crafts, emphasizing the communicative power of the decorated pot.

Running alongside the exhibition will be workshops for local children and Gallery tours.

Fragile: Think with care will be at the University Gallery from 24 May until19 June. Admission is free and opening times are as follows: Monday to Friday 11am to 5pm, Saturday 1pm to 4.30pm. There will be a Kids Workshop on 2 June from 10am to 12.30pm as well as Gallery tours on 27 May, and 3, 10 and 17 June. For further information e-mail ceramics@essex.ac.uk.

Wilde play at Lakeside

A student production of one of Oscar Wilde's best-loved plays, The Importance of Being Earnest, opens at the Lakeside Theatre in June.

Directed by first year Drama student Brett Thorne, the production opens on 9 June.

The play follows the antics of Algernon Moncreiff and Jack Worthing as Algernon poses as Jack's imaginary younger brother Ernest.

Brett explained why he chose the Wilde play as his directorial debut: 'I was introduced to the play by a friend who I have worked with before at the Lakeside Theatre. It makes me laugh every time I read it.'

Brett will also be performing in Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler and A Hatful of Rain by Michael V Gazzo at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The Importance of Being Earnest will be at the Lakeside Theatre from Wednesday 9 to Friday 11 June. Performances start at 7.30pm with a 2.30pm matinee on Thursday 10 June. Tickets are available from the Arts Office, telephone 01206 873261 or e-mail arts@essex.ac.uk.

Also in the printed June edition of Wyvern:

• Graduate's work on display
• East 15 students perform at music hall gem