Prize-winning Verity prepares to open solo exhibition

A NEW exhibition of work by a prize-winning Manchester School of Art graduate will open at Manchester Craft & Design Centre on February 25.

The exhibition, titled Behind Closed Doors, features pieces made for Verity Howard’s final project at university alongside new work made during a 2015 residency at Guldagergaard: The International Ceramic Research Centre in Denmark.

Verity said: “I feel very lucky to have a solo show for such a long period of time and with such good exposure in the city that I studied. I used to look around the Manchester Craft and Design Centre as a student and never imagined that I would be showing my work there.”

Verity has won numerous awards for her work, including the Guldagergaard Network Award, the Makers Dozen Award, the Sarah Malone Alumni Prize and the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair Award as well as the graduate award from the Manchester Craft and Design Centre and the Ian Thompson 3D Design Award from the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts.

She said: “I am fascinated by people’s everyday lives and activities. I am interested in capturing snapshots that convey a sense of stillness, absence of presence and being the outsider looking in. I aim to translate this interest through ceramic forms which convey the volume and depth of darkness.”

Speaking about her time at the Manchester School of Art, she said: “I was greatly encouraged and supported by all the staff on the Three Dimensional Design Course especially Sharon Blakey. I have many fond memories from my degree at MMU in particular all the friendships I made and the support we gave each other.”

Verity’s advice for current students hoping to follow in her footsteps is: “If you work hard, enjoy what you’re working on and it interests you then you’ll do well. Have confidence in your own work and trust your own judgements about your work’s integrity.”

Manchester Craft & Design Centre’s MMU Graduate Solo Exhibition Award marks its 10th year this year, and the Centre is celebrating with 10 special events and commissions, more information about which can be found on their website.

Joe McCullagh, Head of Design at Manchester School of Art, said: “This award is a very special and celebratory one being the ten-year anniversary. The award is a vital career boost for our award-winning students where their creativity and individual talent is being recognised by an institute so well respected as MCAD.

“This fantastic award with its mentorship and support helps our students in the ever-challenging space between leaving university and getting started being a designer/maker. Importantly, the award also emphasises the importance of craft and design today and its investment in the makers and designers of the future.

“This important relationship between MCAD, Manchester School of Art/MMU is a unique one not only for the region but for craft importance nationally. This award enables us to work together to celebrate all that is truly great about craft and design.

“We wish everyone a happy ten-year anniversary to past, present and our future award winners.”

The Award offers one talented graduate a package including bespoke professional development support, extensive promotion through the Centre’s online media and a solo exhibition at the Centre a year after graduation.

Behind Closed Doors: Ceramics by Verity Howard will run from February 25 to May 29. For more information about the Manchester Craft & Design Centre, visit http://www.craftanddesign.com/. For more information about undergraduate and postgraduate study options at the Manchester School of Art, visit http://art.mmu.ac.uk/.