OCA Europe Regional Group Newsletter Summer 2025
- OCA Europe
- 12 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Introducing Region Europe Student Group.
We are a group of 102 students, residing all over Europe and spanning different disciplines. Although united by a common passion for the arts, we see our cultural and artistic diversity as one of our key strengths. There is a core group that facilitates the group’s activities.
If you are a student based in or connected to the European continent - excluding the UK (see specific OCA groups) - and would like to become part of our growing community please register at OCASA. We would love to welcome you.
Looking back
During the academic year 2024-2025, the focus was on experimentation and creative practice.
On every first Wednesday of the month, we held virtual Open Cafés. These are informal gatherings among members, where the Zoom lines are open to anyone who would like to share something, ask questions, ask for a critique, advice or simply meet fellow students and students from other disciplines.
In October, OCA alumna Sonia Boening shared her experiences with hosting a residency with fellow artists from the London OCA Artists' Group in Munich.
In November, Creative Arts student Trine Wade shared her recent journey, which took her back to her ancestral roots in Norway. Through art objects placed in the landscape, she explored themes of forgiveness, repatriation, and the impact of inter-generational trauma, forging a personal connection while honouring the memories of those before her.
A powerful presentation of a very deep inquiry into place and identity. Trine’s exploration of art processes and research was very inspiring as was her presentation. Brindusa Burrows
Hunting for traces; Research, theory and practice.
Man has been a hunter for thousands of years. In the course of countless chases he learned to reconstruct the shapes and movements of his invisible prey from tracks on the ground, broken branches, excrement, tufts of hair, entangled feathers, stagnating odors. He learned to sniff out, record, interpret, and classify such infinitesimal traces as trails of spittle. He learned how to execute complex mental operations with lightning speed, in the depth of a forest or in a prairie with its hidden dangers[…] This knowledge is characterized by the ability to construct from apparently insignificant experimental data a complex reality which could not be experienced directly. The data is arranged by the observer as to produce a narrative sequence, which could be expressed most simply as "someone passed this way". [...] The hunter would have been the first ‘to tell a story’ because he alone was able to read, in the silent, nearly imperceptible tracks left by his prey, a coherent sequence of events[…] What may be the oldest act in the intellectual history of the human race [is] the hunter squatting on the ground, studying the tracks of his quarry.[1]
[1] Carlo Ginzburg, "Clues: Roots of Evidential Paradigm,” in Myths, Emblems, Clues, (London: Hutchinson Radius, 1990), 102-105.
In December, we gathered for a well-attended discussion led by Ariadne Xenou on the interrelationship between research and practice.
Drawing on vivid examples, including the work of Carlo Ginzburg, Ariadne helped us navigate this challenging yet, for us as students, deeply relevant subject.
The conversation flowed easily, touching on unexpected connections and sparking plenty of “lightbulb moments.”
By the end, we all left not just with a deeper and more nuanced understanding, but also with a renewed sense of curiosity about how research can inspire and shape our creative work.
Thank you for this! I could listen to such a lecture every Saturday! Baiba Vagule
In January, Bryan Eccleshall led a stimulating workshop, titled Making the Iceberg: Developing a generative practice, on ways to identify those elements in our creative practice that help us to sustain a renewable and self-sufficient approach to art making. The lively discussion touched on a multitude of topics, like identifying and nurturing sources of inspiration, effective methods for documenting creative ideas, establishing productive habits, learning from perceived failures, integrating writing into the artistic practice, and more.
Really inspiring - thank you Bryan and fellow students! Anne Stenbom
Lesley Hawker
In February, Amy Tidmarsh challenged us in an inspirational 3h workshop, titled Thinking critically about colour, to reflect on how we use colour and question our relationship to it. In practical exercises we explored the effects of e.g. changing or inverting proportions, bringing in opposition, changing saturation or introducing a wildcard colour - with often surprising results.
My wire work is monochrome. My learning was focussed on if I could explore colour to align with the ephemeral nature of my nests. I enjoyed and appreciated the thinking and making space which was created. Karen Stander
In March, in a two-part workshop led by OCA tutor Katrina Whitehead, we learned about mini eco-systems and creating our own terrarium. See the Padlet for background on Terrariums, Katrina's presentation as well as a recording of the event.
In April, we took part in a two-hour workshop on affective care and intercultural art practice, led by OCA alumnus Stefan Schaffeld.
The session focused on deep listening, affect, and sentient life, prompting us to consider what we know, sense, and care about in a more-than-human world.
Following Stefan’s introduction and Q&A—featuring examples of intercultural listening practices and river care—we explored creative approaches to sensing and understanding the world around us.
Participants found the workshop highly engaging, with many of us encountering new and thought-provoking concepts.
As Peter Hungerford reflected afterwards,
“I came away with many new ideas that I can immediately see applying to my own work.”
In June, fellow student Steve Meyfroidt (BA Drawing, Level 3) led an inspiring session with a presentation and Q&A from participants. Steve's unique journey blends traditional drawing with digital processes in what he calls "computational drawing." He traced the development of Performance Fingerprints, a dynamic project that merges live drawing, improvised music, gesture, and audience interaction. Developed in collaboration with renowned musicians and performers in Belfast and Cork, the session offered deep insights into Steve’s experimental approach, his curiosity-driven practice, and the rich potential of combining the virtual and physical in contemporary drawing. Participants were able to make rich connections to their own practice.
Looking forward
With a full year behind us, we are looking at future ways to enhance our activities, based on feedback received from the group. The focus for the new academic year will again be on experimentation and creative research. We will continue to have a range of activities that bring us closer to one another, which will include:
Regular monthly Open Café sessions as a means of encouraging peer crit and informal interaction - every first Wednesday of the month, in the evening
Tutor and artist led events, including workshops with Arlene Sharpe, Hondartza Fraga, Amy Tidmarsh and Michele Whiting
Artist talks
We will continue to look for and encourage group Collaborations, whether ad-hoc or in a more formally organised way.
We are looking forward to an exciting and stimulating year and welcome new members who would like to take part to register at OCASA. The only condition is to live and / or show connection to continental Europe.
Your thoughts / get involved
We want to hear from you!
We’re keen to hear your thoughts on potential topics for talks, speaker suggestions, and any queries you have regarding your studies. What have you particularly enjoyed that you’d like to see more of? Are there areas where you feel we could improve?
Additionally, if you’re interested in assisting with the management of our group, we’d be delighted to have you on board. We’re always in need of support with communications, planning, organising, and more. We’re also hoping to arrange face-to-face gatherings in various European countries very soon. Why not join us and help shape our future activities?
Warmly,
Anne, Annette, Lia and Peter
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