Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

A new pop-up gallery has opened in Llanelli at historic Plas Llanelly House. The new gallery features exhibits by awarding-winning artist Denise Di Battista (John Street Gallery) and Llanelli Photographic Society member Arthur Mallett. “This is a first for Plas Llanelly House,” said trustee Alison Evans. “We’ve got some great rooms to show off her at Plas Llanelly House and it’s great to be able to create a buzz in the house with the installation of a pop-up gallery. “Denise Di Battista is a very well known local artist who already runs a successful gallery in John Street. “Arthur Mallett is a wonderful photographer and his prints will also attract a great deal of local interest." The pop-up gallery is on the ground floor and everyone is welcome to come in and have a browse. Arthur Mallett is a member of Llanelli Photographic Society and gained his AWPF (Associate of the Welsh Photographic Federation) in 2010. He said: “I have taken photos for most of my life but only took it...

Latest news from the Oriel Myrddin Gallery in Carmarthen -  Rambles through tunes with Ceri Rhys Matthews Thursday 2 March 2017, 6.30 -8.30pm Discount tickets for Welsh learners! Join Ceri Rhys Matthews, folk musician, artist and founding member of Welsh group 'Fernhill' for a ramble through welsh folk tunes, reminiscence and songs. In his solo show he creates a patchwork of song, flute, poetry, bagpipe, social history and memory. Not storytelling, but telling stories; not performing, but playing music; not chatting, but sharing histories. Refreshments available. Cost: £8 £5 for Welsh Learners Other concessions available. Booking Essential - call 01267 222775 Oriel Myrddin Gallery, Church Lane, Carmarthen, SA31 1LH

An exhibition to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Ceredigion artist John Elwyn opens today, Monday 28 November 2016, at Aberystwyth University’s School of Art Museum and Galleries. Born in Adpar in south Ceredigion, where his father ran a woollen mill on the banks of the river Teifi, John Elwyn trained at Carmarthen, Bristol and the Royal College of Art in London. He subsequently lived and worked in Hampshire until his death in 1997. The exhibition John Elwyn: ‘A Quiet Sincerity’ has been curated by the artist’s friend and biographer, Professor Robert Meyrick, who is Head of the School of Art at Aberystwyth University. “John Elwyn is of one of Wales’ most distinguished artists whose paintings have contributed significantly to the British landscape tradition,” said Professor Meyrick. “He painted subjects that reflect his Welsh heritage and empathy with the Welsh people, their language and social traditions. “Like John Constable in Suffolk, Samuel Palmer in Kent and Graham Sut...

Kim Whitby, who graduated with an MA in Fine Art from the Aberystwyth School of Art in 2014, has reached the final of Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year 2016. Kim, who was brought up in Aberaeron, was one of 300 ‘wildcard’ artists who pitted her skills against professional artists in the competition. The semi-final which was screened on Tuesday 22 November, was held in Margate, Kent, and saw artists using Margate’s Harbour as their inspiration. Kim completed a Bachelor of Education Art degree at King Alfred's College, Winchester, before teaching full time for many years as an infant teacher, initially in Devon and then in Ceredigion. In December 2014 she completed a Fine Art Masters degree at Aberystwyth University, and has since focused on developing her artwork. “My time on my Fine Art MA in Aberystwyth was a Ronseal experience. It did everything it said in the tin!” Kim commented. “I certainly finished my course in a place professionally that I could never have imagined get...

Steffan Jones-Hughes has joined the team at Aberystwyth Arts Centre as Visual Arts Manager. An experienced curator, arts administrator and artist has been appointed as Visual Arts Manager at Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Steffan Jones-Hughes will be taking on the role after working for twelve and half years developing Wrexham’s arts and cultural ecology, first in the Regional Print Centre and more recently at Oriel Wrecsam. During his time with Wrexham County Borough Council, he worked alongside Oriel Wrecsam as they successfully ensured a £2.3m investment from the Arts Council Wales to transform and revitalise the town. Director of the Arts Centre Gareth Lloyd Roberts said: “The Visual Arts have always been a hugely important aspect of the work we do at Aberystwyth Arts Centre and we’re delighted that Steffan, who has years of experience and considerable Visual Arts knowledge, will be joining us in November. We’re all very much looking forward to welcoming him to the Arts Centre team; ...

Press release from Hywel Ddea University Health Board : Staff working in Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Children’s Services are thanking Coleg Sir Gar students for volunteering their time to redecorate the Rainbow Room on Cilgerran Ward, Glangwili Hospital. We would like to say a big thank you to the students on the Level 1 Visual Art course at Coleg Sir Gar who have given up their time to spruce up the room for the children and young people who use the service. Play Specialist, Dawn Thomas, commented: “The whole team felt that we needed to do something to brighten up the room and create a nice environment for the children when they come to stay. I really do feel a sense of pride when I look at the room, we’d never have been able to do it without the help of the Coleg Sir Gar students.” Sarah Lees, Coleg Sir Gar’s Course Co-ordinator for Level 1, explaining why the students wanted to take part in the project, said: “It’s been a great opportunity for the students, a great starti...

Research by Aberystwyth University on the emotional impact of art and literature has been chosen as one of the highlights of the Being Human Festival showcase to be held at Senate House, London. The ‘Quantified Romantics’ project is being led by Professor Richard Marggraf Turley from the University’s English & Creative Writing Department, and Professor Reyer Zwiggelaar from Computer Science. Together, they’ve been developing a technique to measure our emotional response to art – in particular, the poetry, prose and paintings of the Romantic period. Do gothic novels really stir the pulse, as their Romantic authors claimed? Can paintings of yawning chasms, nightmarish creatures, ruined abbeys in dark forests and rocky precipices actually cause measurable chills of terror? In their pursuit of answers, Marggraf Turley and Zwiggelaar, with Research Associate Tom Blanchard, have been using a specially-designed ‘smart’ wristband to collect biometric data on how people react emotionally ...

A missing marble bust by eminent Welsh sculptor Joseph Edwards (1814-1882) has been rediscovered overlooked in an under-stairs cupboard in the Old College at Aberystwyth University. The bust, of prolific nineteenth century scholar and historian Thomas Stephens of Merthyr Tydfil (1821-1875), is believed to have reached Aberystwyth along with Stephen’s papers which were donated by his family to the National Library of Wales. At the time, the National Library of Wales was housed in the Old College. The bust may have been overlooked when the papers were transferred to the new National Library of Wales building in the late 1930s. Neil Holland from the School of Art explains: “A great deal of work has taken place since the 1960s to re-catalogue and re-assemble artefacts and collections donated to the University since 1872, and as far as we can recall we have never come across any accession record for the bust of Thomas Stephens in all that time. So it has been hidden away for at least 40 y...

Greenspace Gallery is supporting Age Cymru Sir Gâr this March. The Carmarthen gallery is hosting an exhibition until March 26, called “Painting our Mother”. It is all about recognising our relationships with our mothers. Local professional artists and students of art have all submitted paintings/artworks of their mothers in a variety of mediums. Exhibitors have paid a free to have their artwork displayed and Dorothy Morris, owner of the gallery is donating the fee to Age Cymru Sir Gâr for the charity to continue to support older people throughout Carmarthenshire. The Greenspace gallery is situated at 30 King Street, Carmarthen. Ann Dymock, chief officer of Age Cymru Sir Gâr, who attended the gallery to accept the donation said, “It's wonderful that creative local businesses such as the Greenspace Gallery support local charities such as ours. Relationships with the commercial sector can be so beneficial to the people we support and rewarding for the company involved...

Latest news from the Oriel Myrddin Gallery in Carmarthen -  Clwb Artistiaid Ifanc - Oriel Myrddin Gallery - Young Artists Club 2016 Mae clwb celf creadigol ar gyfer plant 8-11 oed yn cychwyn ar ddydd Sadwrn 16 Ionawr 2016 odan arweiniad yr artist Julie Ann Sheridan. Mae croeso i gyw artistiaid ifanc ymgofrestru ar gyfer tymor bywiog newydd o weithgareddau celf rhwng 11am a 1pm (bob pythefnos) yn stiwdio’r oriel. Dyddiadau tymor y Gwanwyn 2016 : 16 & 30 Ionawr 2016 13 & 27 Chwefror 2016 12 Mis Mawrth 2016 £20 y tymor (rhaid archebu lle ymlaen llaw - dim ond hyn a hyn o leoedd sydd ar gael) I gofrestru ar gyfer Clwb artistiaid Ifance cysylltwch â’r oriel A hands-on, creative art club for children aged 8-11 begins on Saturday 16 January 2016 taught by artist Julie Ann Sheridan. Budding young artists can sign up for a lively term of (fortnightly) Saturday art activities in the gallery’s studio space from 11am–1pm. Spring 2016 term dates: 16 & 30 January 2016 13 ...

There's a new exhibition opening on Saturday at the Oriel Myrddin Gallery in Carmarthen. It features the work of Anna Barratt, David Begley, Kelly Best, Helen Booth, Julia Griffiths Jones, Robert McPartland, Annie-Mie Melis, Abigail Sidebotham and Stephanie Tuckwell. There's also an Open Sketchbook event in the studio from 11am to 4pm. You can make you own handmade sketchbook with students from Carmarthen School of Art. Admission is free.

Latest news from the Oriel Myrddin Gallery in Carmarthen - Still Life Painting Workshop Still Life Painting for adults with artist Linda Norris Wednesday 1 April 11am-1pm or 2-4pm Sign up for a morning or afternoon of painting from observation in the Oriel Myrddin Gallery Studio. All levels of experience welcome. Cost: £10 Booking essential Oriel Myrddin Gallery, Church Lane, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, SA31 1LH

Latest news from the Oriel Myrddin art gallery in Carmarthen -  Clwb Llyfrau Oriel Myrddin Book Club The Life of Rebecca Jones Angharad Price 10 Medi // September 2014 6:00 - 7:30 with // gyda Ciara Healy Oriel Myrddin are hosting an occasional book-club that loosely relates to the exhibition showing in the gallery. The group is friendly and informal and all are welcome to join this discussion group in the gallery setting. Bydd Oriel Myrddin yn cynnal clwb llyfrau achlysurol; Bydd y llyfr yn cysylltu'n anffurfiol gyda’r arddangosfa. Mae croeso i chi ymuno â'r grŵp trafod anffurfiol a fydd yn cymryd lle yn yr oriel. Free // mynediad am ddim  For young people aged 12-15 I bobl ifanc 12-15 oed Join artist Daniel Trivedy; learn new techniques and push the boundaries of art-making. ArtLab will encourage thinking and talking about art, as well as offering practical sessions in the studio Fortnightly, 2-4pm starting Saturday 20 September 2014 Sign up for ArtLab, contact th...

Last year’s Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council has presented two paintings from his personal collection to the County Museums Service. Cllr Terry Davies has donated an original Valerie Ganz painting of three miners and a Bryan Hitchman painting of miners and a train at a railway station. He said: “I worked closely with Ann Dorsett for many years when she was with the County Museums Service and wanted to see more about the coal industry featured. I donated my collection of plates and paintings and obtained a grant and made a donation myself to make a short film not just about how coal is produced but the social side, choirs, soup kitchens and the Strike. “I had left the Valerie Ganz painting to the Museum in my will and decided to give it now along with the Bryan Hitchman painting.” County Museums Curator Gavin Evans said: “These paintings are a wonderful gift and we are very grateful to Cllr Davies. They are also a marvellous example of how our archives are built up mainly thro...

Latest news from the Oriel Myrddin Gallery in Carmarthen -  Make & Do Summer 2014 Art all summer long at Oriel Myrddin Gallery Sign up for our lively programme of art workshops over the summer holidays. Under 8s to be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential – please call us to reserve your place 01267 222775 Sun prints Wednesday 30 July 1–3pm Create art from the sun with Kate Dunwell. Suitable for ages 5+ Adults £5, children £3 Hands and feet fun for all the family Wednesday 6 August 1-3pm Use your hands and feet to create wonderful animals, insects and fish. Adults £5, children £3 Woolly weaving Wednesday 13 August 1–3pm Make your own woolly cushion from sheep’s wool with Louise Bird. Suitable for ages 5+ Adults £5, children £3 Mono-printing Friday 8 August 1–3pm Explore mono-printing techniques with Julie Ann Sheridan. Suitable for ages 14+ £8 per person World in a box Friday 15 August 11am–3pm Create a 3D world using wood, cardboard and collage with Louise Bird...

What's On at the Oriel Myrddin gallery in Carmarthen. Latest news - What's on // Digwyddiadau July // Gorffennaf Saturday/Dydd Sadwrn 19 July/Gorffennaf 2014 1- 3pm Daniel Crawshaw Meet the artist // Cwrdd â'r artist Daniel Crawshaw will be in the gallery from 1-3pm on Saturday 19 July to talk to visitors about his current exhibition at Oriel Myrddin, High Country Gothic. Bydd Daniel Crawshaw yn yr oriel o 1-3pm ar ddydd Sadwrn 19 Gorffennaf i siarad ag ymwelwyr am ei arddangosfa gyfredol yn Oriel Myrddin, High Country Gothic. All welcome // Croeso i bawb Saturday/Dydd Sadwrn 19 July/Gorffennaf 2014 Midday Talk // Sgwrs Canol Dydd Meg Anthony : “I Collect Therefore I Am” Why collect? Growing an interest in collecting art and craft. What’s in it for me? How should I collect and does it matter what I collect? How will I display my collection? Artists and collectors. Schemes to help you collect. The legacy of a really good collection. Pam casglu? Tyfu diddordeb mew...

Ainsley Hillard will be exhibiting at Aberglasney Mansion House and Gardens in the Tywi Valley, Carmarthenshire, from October 10, 2014, and is interested in bringing together the past and the present. Her arts practice is site-referential, being informed by specific places and the memories they hold. Over the past year, Ainsley has been collaborating with acoustic engineer Rhys James to create a site-specific audio-textile exhibition, that will be installed in the interiors of Aberglasney House as well as the Cloister Gardens. Born and living in Carmarthenshire she is interested in the social-history of Aberglasney which has acted as a catalyst, inspiring her to develop and create a new body of work informed by the original archival materials and records both past and present. Ainsley has also been inspired by the poetry of John Dyer, ‘Grongar Hill’ and ‘A Country Walk’ to develop audio-textile installations. Ainsley’s aims: • To reveal stories both individual and collective tha...

Latest news from the Oriel Myrdddin Gallery in Carmarthen -  Anthony Stokes and Jacqueline Poncelet: Bryn Ogwr 8 March/Mawrth - 26 April/Ebrill 2014 Bryn Ogwr is the name of the house in Cwm Ogwr (Ogmore Vale) where Jacqueline Poncelet and Anthony Stokes now live and work. The two separate bodies of recent work in this exhibition were made at Bryn Ogwr; the paintings (Jacqueline Poncelet) and the photographs (Anthony Stokes) respond directly to the surrounding land and townscape. Although there are differences in the medium and methods used to make these works, there are also surprising visual relationships and complementary formal arrangements. Print International/Printiau Rhyngwladol 3 May/Mai – 14 June/Mehefin 2014 Print International is the 6th edition of a selected exhibition of prints, on tour from Oriel Wrexham. The exhibition was selected by Professor David Ferry from Cardiff School of Art & Design. It incorporates printmaking in its broadest sense, from etch...

A Pembrey 'war zone' has inspired an artist to create his latest works. Osi Rhys Osmond paints the wonders of life redeeming "man's madness" in the practice war zone on the end of Cefn Sidan Beach. His artistic interpretation contrasting military might versus nature’s beauty is captured in the latest ‘Back Wall’ series of Welsh artists at Oriel Myrddin, Carmarthen, a show running until August 17. Carmarthenshire coastal landscape artist Mr Osmond watches the skilled aerobatics of Top Gun pilots practising their warfare alongside the fastest feathered winged predator in the bird world – the peregrine falcon, seeking out its next meal. He has captured the scenes on location overlooking RAF Pembrey’s bombing ranges and the proofing and testing Ministry of Defence establishment at Pendine. His sets up his easel on the Llansteffan coastal peninsular looking seaward east towards Cefn Sidan, Pembrey, and across to Gower; then south over Pendine to Lundy and Caldy ...

Young people from the Gypsy Traveller Community have hand carved an eye-catching bench for patients and visitors at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. The young people from Bush School, Pembroke designed and carved the bench which was funded by the health board’s Support for Life and the Priory Project. Equality and Diversity Officer Jane Whalley said; “Research shows that Gypsies and Travellers suffer from a range of preventable health problems but are often put off from seeking help because of past negative experiences or fear of discrimination. “A project like this helps to build trust and encourages the community to get involved with the health board in decisions on design and delivery of services that are more accessible for their communities. “By creating more accessible services and improving the patient experience for Gypsy Travellers, the health board will support them to live healthy lives across all age groups. “This project has helped bring the two ...