ET25.2 What do volcanoes and Downing have in common?

We reveal the winners of the Twining Egginton Prize in Fine Arts, before meeting Dr Rachel Coombes, Keeper of the Heong Gallery. Nick and Sara Rawlinson chat about the recent Magma Rising exhibition.

Cover image copyright Sara Rawlinson.

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Dr Rachel Coombes specialises in the visual and musical culture of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century France. Her broader research interests lie in the interrelationships between the visual arts and music, the role of these arts within collective and cultural memory, and the ways in which the practice of these arts is informed by religion and politics.

Since completing his PhD in 2001, Professor Nick Rawlinson has undertaken a broad range of research in seismology, Earth imaging and tectonophysics. He is particularly interested in developing and applying new methods to large seismic datasets in order to improve our understanding of Earth structure and processes.

Sara Rawlinson is a contemporary photographer specialising in both abstract fine art and heritage architecture. She has had a camera in her hands most days since she was six years old. She spent a decade in academia, teaching seismology and natural hazards, before returning to her childhood love of photography in 2013. Her academic years still heavily influence her photography – often showcasing textures, landscapes, geological features, and geological current events such as sea level rise and volcanic eruptions.

www.sararawlinson.com

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The Twining Egginton Prize was established in 2014 by Downing alumnus Edward G. Blankenship (Architecture, 1968) in honour of his friend and fellow architect Geoffrey Twining Egginton and his wife, Susan. The prize is awarded each year to any current undergraduate or graduate member of Downing College who has excelled in Fine Arts. For only the second time in its history, the Twining Egginton Prize submissions are currently on display to the public at the college’s contemporary art space, The Heong Gallery. This year, there were over 30 entries from 18 artists, a new record for the prize. The artworks range across photography, ceramics, painting, textiles and more, highlighting the creative talents of the college’s students, who juggle their practice alongside a busy academic schedule. We are very grateful to the art critic and curator Martin Gayford for judging this year’s entries and helping us identify the prize winners among a wide and varied field.

The winners of the Twining Egginton Prize for Fine Arts 2025: First prize: Sophia Lin, “With Love” Runner-up prize: Frankie Ratcliffe, “My Hands are a Machine” Runner-up prize: Molly Ollivier, “Kyoto”.

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Sunday 4 May, 6-7pm, Chapel: Choral Evensong

Monday 5 May 5-5.30pm, Chapel: Take-a-Break Choir

Thursday 8 May, 6-7.30pm, Heong Gallery: Creativity for Stress Release. Email Rebecca on wellbeing-advisor@dow.cam.ac.uk.

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13 & 14 May: Mothership (Work in Progress) https://www.theatrepeckham.co.uk/show/mothership/