Now and Then

This stop motion was created by current level six BA student, Amy Templeton especially for Art has left the Building. She used a selection of images from the scanned archive, one of which may be familiar from earlier in this blog. The Ruskin Hall cartoon was taken from a yearbook and the legs from a fashion magazine both produced in the 1980's at Bournville and the circle with dots is from an interior sleeve of a 1960's prospectus. These were then reconfigured with Amy's singular imagination.

Ruskin on legs has also appeared in the poster for the Re:Call Closing party on March 20th....

art of the past

Below is a sample of the images gleaned from a small archive carefully saved by Steve Butt. Sadly much work has been lost over the decades but it has been fascinating to discover these pieces, dating as far back as 1929. Not everything is named and little is dated but this work has survived through the  years, as a testament to those who were here before us.

(Unknown) lino cut print

Jacqueline Fletcher mural design

C. Smith painted graphic design

K. Brown painting

E. Martin drawing 1929

The Beginning of Time

We are delighted to share the images below sent as festive postcards in 1906 and 1908. They show the room which is currently the library at Ruskin Hall and the teaching staff of those early days. These images were given to art has left the building, by Peter Beswick, who had received both postcards from one of his students. To date, they are the oldest images this project has of Bournville School of Art.

The People and The Place

It's the people that make a place and it's the people and the place that we plan to celebrate at art has left the building. We are still trying to sort out how to store online a delightful selection of scanned images. We hope to have many more to share over the coming months. 

One of my favourites to date is below, courtesy of Steve Butt. It's a photo of staff and students from an unidentified year in the 1980's. This photographic tradition had ceased to exist by the time I arrived on my course at Bournville but I think we ought to reinstate it for the final year.

Year 110

October 21st 2012 was the one hundred and ten year anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone which began the building of Ruskin Hall and the creation of Bournville School of Art.

This map shows Ruskin Hall in 1914 before the Maple Road building came into existence.

Art has left the building is designed to celebrate and commemorate the 111 years that Bournville School of Art will have been in existence. In July 2013 it closes its doors on its artistic legacy and becomes the Birmingham City University Language School, for international students.

This image was taken from the 1983 Bournville Yearbook created by students and now prescient, I imagine the cartoonists are amongst those pictured below.

In Memorium

This blog is designed to document and commemorate the final year of Bournville School of Art. It will link to a website and will incorporate a commemorative arc/hive and will highlight past and present creative practice by both past and present staff and students. We welcome responses and contributions from anyone who has a connection with Bournville School of Art either as a student or a member of staff.

For initial inquiries do email amanda at:   amagrist@googlemail.com

Below is a highlight of the Bournville School of Art Prospectus through the decades. These treasures were found in the Bournville library. The collection is not comprehensive. All that we have found will be on the website in the future and if anyone can fill in the gaps do let us know... We only have one for the 1920's, one for the 1930's and one for the 1940's.