Hugh Baird College A-level Art and Design students win 1st place

EARLIER this year, Hugh Baird College A-level students Melissa Drummond and Ellie Nelson took part in the prestigious Sefton Open Exhibition. The Sefton Open Exhibition gives the local community and visitors the chance to discover the wealth of artistic talent that Sefton has to offer. The exhibition gave Hugh Baird College students the opportunity to have their work displayed next to professional artists and amateur artists from across the borough. The exhibition, ran by the Southport Palette Club, gives local artists the chance to showcase their work from a range of creative disciplines such as:- ceramics, sculpture, paintings, textiles or photography. Within the exhibition, there is the Atkinson Art competition for art students based in Sefton. The competition had a number of entries from local Schools, 6th Forms and Colleges across the borough. Melissa Drummond, Hugh Baird College A-level Art and Design student, won 1st prize in the abstract category for her piece which was produced as part of her coursework based on the theme of 'distortion.'

Melissa Drummond 1st Prize for Abstract Category

Melissa Drummond, Hugh Baird College A-level Art and Design student, said:- "I feel so honored to have won 1st prize in the abstract category, it has given me a real confidence boost to know that so many people enjoyed my work. Alongside Melissa her peer, Ellie Nelson, Hugh Baird College A-level Art and Design student, also won 1st prize in the portrait category for her piece of work that also looks at the theme of 'distortion'."

Ellie Nelson 1st Prize for Portrait Category

Ellie Nelson, Hugh Baird College A-level Art and Design student, said:- "I am so humbled to have won the 1st prize, it's so exciting to see your work displayed in a gallery alongside professionals."

Both Melissa and Ellie were lucky enough to win ₤50's worth of CASS art vouchers each, which were kindly donated by the Art Society Southport and were honoured at the Awards evening which was held earlier in April 2019, at the Atkinson, in Southport.

Lauren McInerney, Hugh Baird College A-level Art and Design Tutor, said:- "I am utterly delighted that our students, Melissa and Ellie have been awarded 1st place. It is such a privilege to have the work of our students displayed beside the incredible entries from Southport's Palette Club and in the fantastic setting of the Atkinson.  It is a brilliant opportunity for any young artist, to display their work and have their work commended so highly by members of the local arts society and Atkinson team is a real achievement. Throughout the A-Level Art and Design program at Hugh Baird College, we seek out invaluable opportunities for students to display their work within the local community, as it helps them prepare for future careers in the creative industries."

For more information on the A-level courses available at Hugh Baird College, please visit the Collage's website or alternatively call them on:- 0151 353 4444.

Ellipse 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing

ON the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 blast  off, it was appropriate that their was a partial lunar eclipse. Sadly conditions in the UK on the night where not perfect, but we did get a few pictures, like this image above.  Do you remember watching Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin (1930-) becoming the 1st humans ever to land on the moon? Or hearing Armstrong famously saying:- "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," as he took his 1st step on to the lunar surface, at a location named Tranquility Base We are interested to know what people where doing when mankind 1st stepped foot on the Moon, on 20 July 1969.. Please do let us know via emailing us to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com. It is worth noting that the 2 astronauts in spent 21 hours 31 minutes on the Moon as the Command Modual, piloted by Micheal Colins (1930-) orbited above, 30 times. The 3 man mission, from blast off until splash down, lasted 8 days, 3 hours, 18 minutes, 35 seconds. Interestingly of the 3 Apollo 11 astronauts, Collins is famous for orbiting the moon in solitude and for never set foot on the moon. Watching a lunar eclipse as the full Moon, moves into the shadow of the Earth, then dims dramatically is always quite magical, but being 50th Anniversary of the 1st moon landing, even though it was just a 60% partial lunar eclipse made it a must see event for stargazers.

Did you know that? Apollo 11 essentially created their own solar eclipse, as did the Gemini 12 mission, coincidentally, both with these flights had Aldrin onboard!  With space tourism flights on the horizon, they will surely have to consider adding special eclipse trips.