A Design Crafts student is celebrating after seeing her hand-made decorative tiles adorn the entrance to De Montfort University Leicester’s (DMU) Heritage Centre.
STRIKING: Gemma with Interior Design lecturer Nicky Harding in front of her art work
Thousands of people each year will walk past the tiles created by third year Gemma Whitaker as they decorate the double doors leading into the main area of the Heritage Centre, which celebrates DMU’s rich history.
Heritage Centre curator Elizabeth Wheelband and DMU archivist Katharine Short are committed to ensuring students have as much input as possible into the museum space, from its design and fitting to the exhibitions themselves.
Gemma visited the centre to see her tiles being fitted after drawing on all the skills she learned on her course and said: “I am so happy to see them going up. I had been a bit nervous about them all fitting but they look great!”
Gemma designed the tiles as part of her end of year project during her second year. She chose to follow a brief set by DMU’s Interior Design academics, which was to create a tiled surround for the Heritage Centre entrance, with the winner having the tiles made and fitted.
Gemma went to the DMU archives to study maps of the area and incorporated them into her design, as well as images of Castle View, which leads to Leicester Castle’s Great Hall, the DMU logo and the arches of the Church of the Annunciation, which form the centrepiece of the Heritage Centre exhibition space.
Gemma designed transfers, placed them on the tiles and then fired them in the DMU kilns at temperatures of 830C.
PERFECT FIT: Gemma fits the final tiles to her striking piece of art
Gemma added: “It has been a real learning experience and a great opportunity for everyone who entered the competition to do this formal design work. It was also great working with Nicky (Harding, Interior Design lecturer at DMU). It is going to be good putting this on my CV.
“I really enjoy my course and love being in the workshops. It’s really hands on and I love that.
“I had originally intended to create pottery and run my own business but this has opened my eyes to doing some public art too.”
Archivist Katharine said: “I think visitors will be thrilled to see a work that is a collaboration between the campus, the archives and the city of Leicester. What I love the most is this shows how the archives at DMU are not just there for people interested in history but can inspire people across all disciplines. Gemma has created a unique piece of art because of this.”
De Montfort University’s Heritage Centre showcases the rich history that surrounds our campus and tells the story of the university and its contribution to teaching, research and the lives of our students over 145 years.
Built around the medieval arches of the Church of Annunciation, the Heritage Centre tells visitors the story of The Newarke and how this historic location developed during Roman settlement, expanded into a significant religious site during the 1300s and is believed to be where King Richard III’s body was laid out for public view, before he was taken to Grey Friars Church.
Posted on Tuesday 24 November 2015