tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53270199396807099192024-02-07T05:09:32.849+00:00Bird in the HouseWriting in west Wales...thinking about art and contemporary craftBird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.comBlogger316125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-40309856281006160772013-06-09T19:38:00.001+01:002013-06-10T01:32:39.029+01:00Welsh Artist of the Year 2013<br />
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<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Sarah Ball</b> - <i>Gang member IV </i><i><br /></i></td></tr>
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<i></i>I was privileged to be a selector for <i>Welsh Artist of the Year 2013 </i>this year, along with artist and broadcaster, <b>Richard Huw Morgan</b>, painter, <b>Neale Howells</b>, Ceramicist, <b>Christine Jones</b> and St David's Gallery Exhibition Officer, <b>Ruth Cayford</b>. Today the awards ceremony was held at St David's Hall in Cardiff<i>.</i></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The winner, painter <b>Sarah Ball</b> was for me a clear contender from
the start. The diminutive size of her skilfully made portraits bring a powerful
intensity to her work and echo the photographs from which they were sourced (often
from police records and museum archives).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They have the slightly unsettling presence of subjects in a rogues’
gallery. Isolated from the background paraphernalia of life, like mug shots or
passport photos, the faces and titles alone must tell you their story. They
have a ghost-like quality which reminds us of the very function of a portrait,
to capture a fleeting, living moment and hold it still for our gaze forever. Peering
in to the fine details, as you must to appreciate these pieces, you are drawn in
to imagine the circumstances and stories that might lie behind the image. </span></div>
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<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>John Abell </b>- <i>Three Graces: All the Floods Left Them </i></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The runner-up this
year was also a very strong voice in the mix. <b>John Abell </b>is a young print-maker
of exuberant talents – he describes himself on his blog as ‘…artist, vagabond and
part-time dandy ’and that energy and swagger is apparent in his large-scale
woodcuts. Like Sarah Ball, he is telling stories but the techniques could not
be more different, Abell’s work is audaciously vigorous and bold. The materials
he uses to make his printing plates are scavenged and makeshift bringing an
edgy immediacy to an ancient technique.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><b>David Barnes </b>received
the photography prize this year for his image<i> Swan</i>. Again we are invited to engage with implied
story telling through his cleverly realised compositions and subjects which
often hint at nefarious or marginal antics and exchanges but also bring into
play sophisticated subtexts of visual language.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">There are two
sculpture prizes this year, for quite different pieces of work. <b>Sean Olsen's</b>
intriguing robot <i>Paint-Bot V-2 </i>which we imagine might create its own strange artworks – it
has the dormant quality of a ‘sorcerer’s apprentice’ that might be snapped into
life at any moment. <b>Jonathan Anderson’s</b> glossy, black ‘Dark Anomaly’ is a departure
from his often-used material of coal-dust, bringing a raw edge to his sculpture
that simultaneously talks about the beauty and mystery of the infinite cosmos
and the lumpen materiality and insatiable consumption of human beings.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We were spoiled for
choice with ceramics this year with a very strong submission of exceptional
work, the winner, <b>Morgen Hall</b> surprised us with her new collection of soda fired porcelain tapas
dishes that could as easily be sculptural objects as functional ceramic ware.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The drawing prize,
awarded to <b>Iwan Bala</b> recognised the media and techniques he has used in his
work on paper. There is a distinct sense of materiality, with the rough
textures and the use of drawing implements and washes to create this and his
other distinctive works. Bala is known for the political and polemical content of
his work, but this prize also acknowledges the artistic choices in their
making.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A photograph by
<b>Patricia Zaid </b>won the Student Prize and takes a quite traditional subject
of a chapel interior bringing a timeless poignancy and atmospheric quality to the image.</span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Four artists were highly commended, <b>Jin Eui Kim</b> for his ceramic piece <i>Object No. 8</i>, <b>Jo Berry</b> for her painting, <i>Untitled</i>, <b>Jonathan Williams</b> for his photograph, <i>Home is not where you live, but where they understand you</i> and <b>Angharad Pearce Jones'</b> for her sculpture triptych <i>Disc Cutter Landscapes</i>. </span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-86383716577580762382012-09-10T20:04:00.002+01:002012-09-10T20:09:17.629+01:00Spirit of Things<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Yoriko Murayama </b>- seen <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=457700934274639&set=a.152281828149886.29502.139432376101498&type=1&theater" target="_blank">here</a><b><br /></b></td></tr>
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I like the look of the next exhibition at<b> Flow Gallery</b> in London's Notting Hill - <i>Spirit of Things: Crosscurrents between Japanese and Finnish Crafts</i>. Gallery owner, Yvonna Demczynska says of the show: <i>"I have travelled to both Japan and Finland
and from these trips I have often wondered why the two cultures share
the same spirit of simplicity, organic formations and pared down essence
in the objects they create"</i>. <span class="style12">Artist's Include: <b>Akiko Hirai, Anelma
Savolainen, Anna Maria Väätäinen, Chioyoko Tanaka, Hisako
Sekijima, Kati Tuominen-Niittylä, Kristina Riska, Ritsuko
Jinnouchi, Ulla Maija Vikman, Yoriko Murayama, Yoshimura
Toshiharu</b>. </span>The show runs from 12 September - 10 November. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-49197324738831767342012-09-09T09:55:00.000+01:002012-09-09T10:39:44.109+01:00Graduate/Graddedig 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I went along to the <b>Wales Millennium Centre</b> in Cardiff last night to the opening of a survey show curated from Wales' graduate courses by Carmarthenshire artist and educator, <b>Peter Finnemore</b>. The show was displayed within the main body of the Centre on three floors and, as Peter Finnemore outlined in his Curators Notes, the architecture of the venue was influential on the choices as well as the quality of the works. It is not an easy space at all in which to show artworks, and with that taken into account it was a good show; it is heartening to see the quality of new work being produced here.<br />
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I particularly liked Peter's insightful comments in the introduction of the exhibition <a href="https://www.wmc.org.uk/Productions/2012-2013/18969/107983/" target="_blank">catalogue</a>, a clear statement of the political dangers inherent in an environment of austerity and financial anxiety where the arts are a soft target for swingeing cuts. <br />
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<i>"...It is well documented that the creative arts (in its many forms) is one of the biggest industries within the UK. It is a tool for regeneration, it drives wealth and it enriches individual well-being, communities and culture. It can also be utilized as a soft power to increase national standing and promotion upon the international stage. A career within the arts is a useful and productive life. The arts and humanities are not a luxury but a necessity. Creative thinking and the acquirement and mastery of artistic skills in traditional and new technological forms are essential to new economies, which themselves are driven by innovation, invention and imaginative problem solving. Creativity is capital.</i><br />
<i><br />An investment in art and education is an investment for the future. George Orwell’s laments on the failings of the UK were likened to the wrong family members being in charge; this is true in 2012 as it was in 1941. A political climate of austerity and anxiety, the rise in tuition fees, the arts and humanities being a soft target for cuts, bodes to the fostering of a new dark age upon culture and innovation. Fine Art courses are the creative emblem for any arts based universities; the closing down of an arts course with strong historical traditions, such as the fine art course at the University of Newport, is folly. However this model of thinking is not for everyone, there is room for expansion of the arts; for example, Trinity St David’s in Carmarthen will be starting a new BA (hons) course in Fine Art and Design (Celf a Dylunio) mediated through the Welsh language and a bilingual MA beginning this September.</i><br />
<i><br />Set amongst this background there is a continuing personal, social and cultural need for expression, creativity and innovation. Current graduates have a professional outlook upon art making activities and a career within the arts; this exhibition gives evidence to this and the quality and diverse creativity of the arts produced in colleges throughout Wales..." </i> from Peter Finnemore, <a href="https://www.wmc.org.uk/Productions/2012-2013/18969/107983/" target="_blank">Curator's Notes</a><i><br /></i><br />
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I also enjoyed being a passive 'performer' in <b>Tiff Oben's </b>MA piece, <i>VIP Area</i>. It was initiated with a formal RSVP invitation sent out through Tiff's mailing list to<i> </i>attend an exclusive VIP event at the opening with complimentary Möet and Chandon champagne. We were required to attend in formal wear and told that the door staff would be refusing entry to informally dressed guests.<br />
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<i>"Tiff Oben’s participatory installation, VIP Area, is activated and extended through the viewer’s unknowing participation as they act as central protagonists within the works’ narratives. Blurring the boundaries between reality and performance art, the elitist opening event wilfully aims to create an antagonizing sense of difference within the viewing- audience. The strict and prejudicial entrance requirements upheld by doormen divide friends and acquaintances, segregating and generating a sense of otherness between those on the inside and those on the out. The viewer on the outside focuses, often surreptitiously, on the revelry on the inside. Their exclusion is integral to the work which visualizes and makes an exhibition of exclusivity. Negative responses, confusion, anger, bafflement and division are deliberately and unethically fostered so that it becomes truly inclusive (despite exclusions) and truly participatory (even with those who feel that they could not, or are not allowed to, participate). Thus the politics of viewing are inverted as the viewer becomes<br />the subject of the work of grotesque, excitement, repression, beauty, fun, and the mundane." </i>From Graduate/Graddedig 2012 <a href="https://www.wmc.org.uk/Productions/2012-2013/18969/107983/" target="_blank">catalogue</a>.<br />
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I liked the insider-outsider tensions that were set up, and the clever layers of looking that were at play. I don't really own much in the way of formal wear, so that was a
challenge before I even got to the venue - I felt suitably discomfited. It was smart to set this up within the opening of an art exhibition, an event seemingly run-through with exclusive and excluding protocol.<br />
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In a similar vein, I've thought a lot recently about the 'Private View' as a phenomena and an accepted term within the art world, it is curiously misleading. For any arts organisation in receipt of public funding, the evaluated focus of pretty much all and every activity is <u>inclusivity</u> and reach into the community, it is only within the purely commercial sector that the term has any true meaning - an event to court the wealthy collector/buyer to part with their cash in advance of the onslaught of the hoi-polloi. I'm all for an opening celebration, but the persistence of 'Private View' as a term means something; something rather dubious perhaps about the institutions of art. The democracy espoused within a lot of art practice and insisted upon through arts funding maintains a revealing dissonance with the protocols and language of the industry.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-34905561634029489032012-09-03T22:37:00.000+01:002012-09-04T00:18:23.758+01:00On the Edge of the World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We said goodbye to our summer exhibition at <b>Oriel Myrddin Gallery</b> today, <i>On the Edge of the World </i>has been a delight to live with for the eight weeks it has been with us. The work was curated from the British Council Collection and was originally shown at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh in 2010 as part of a bi-centenary programme of
events to celebrate the achievements and lasting legacy of Charles
Darwin.<br />
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The exhibition featured work from: <b>boredomresearch, Christine Borland,
Dalziel+Scullion, Anya Gallaccio, Tania Kovats, Rob Kesseler, Michael
Landy, Heather & Ivan Morison, Simon Starling, Alison Turnbull,
Marc Quinn.</b><br />
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<i>"The 14 contemporary artists selected for this exhibition
assume the role of modern-day explorers. Through their work, they make
connections between us, our environment and nature. For many of them,
travel is an important part of their practice; they seek to examine
and interpret the complex and changing natural world around us. Here
we see the enduring legacy of Darwin and his commitment to bringing new
interpretations, rare discoveries and insights to a wider world
carried beyond a scientific community into the imaginations of artists
today."</i><br />
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My personal favourite fr<i></i>om the show was <b>Tania Kovats'</b><i> <a href="http://collection.britishcouncil.org/whats_on/exhibition/11/15800/object/50321/48" target="_blank">two hundred and eight two</a>, </i>a slice of oak tree onto which Kovats has traced each individual ring in india ink to make a delicate, poignant record of the tree's life span.<br />
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It was also a great pleasure to host 8 of <b>Michael Landy's </b>etchings from his 2003<i> <a href="http://collection.britishcouncil.org/collection/portfolio/7/149" target="_blank">Nourishment </a></i>series. Each etching depicts a common weed that might grow between paving slabs - 'street flowers' as Landy describes them. These were the works that emerged after Landy's famous work<i> Break-down </i>which saw him destroy all of his posessions in 2001.<br />
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One of the favourite pieces in the show for our visitors was <b>boredomresearch's </b><i><a href="http://collection.britishcouncil.org/collection/search/9/19263/object/49512" target="_blank">Oriental Bug Garden </a>(2004), </i>a digital piece that uses gaming and artificial life modelling technology to create a screen based work that has a self-generating pattern of triggers and collisions which, in turn create an incidental soundtrack. Meditative and tranquil, the sound sets the tone for the whole exhibition in many ways.<br />
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The centre piece of the show was arguably <b>Anya Gallaccio's</b> installation, <a href="http://collection.britishcouncil.org/collection/search/9/18428/object/49255" target="_blank"><i>Preserve Beauty</i></a> (2003). 800 brilliant red Gerbera flowers were installed behind a sheet of glass and left to disintegrate over the duration of the exhibition. The process of decay was quite present in the gallery as the piece went through various stages - sometimes the smell was quite interesting! <br />
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<b></b><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-74178785866390562332012-09-02T16:10:00.002+01:002012-09-02T21:40:16.413+01:00Vetch Veg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Owen Griffiths </b>seen <a href="http://thefestivalofideas.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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Swansea has seen a marvelous art project develop on part of the old Vetch site of Swansea City Football Club over the last nine months. <a href="http://www.axisweb.org/atSelection.aspx?SELECTIONID=169106" target="_blank"><b>Owen Griffiths </b></a>has been the inspiration and the engine behind creating and populating a community vegetable garden on the site with the enthusiastic participation of local residents and groups. <b>Glynn Vivian Gallery</b> is holding an off-site event, the <a href="http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=50629" target="_blank"><i>Sandfields Festival of Ideas</i></a> on the site this weekend with a lovely programme of events including performance from Peter Finnemore, food from the Bangladeshi Community who have a plot at the garden, music from Joan Joans, Sarah Passmore and the Swansea Ukelele Orchestra, yoga with Glynn Vivian Gallery's Karen MacKinnon and much more...<br />
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Vetch Veg is a socially engaged art project commissioned as part of the Cultural Olympiad, you can read all about the project on the <a href="http://vetchveg.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><b>Vetch Veg</b></a> site.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJy2zqC-dHuzaLFet0Ib710nO-FmkZlFQq17Jbf5egzw28CPaKKxeelDGkBB0kefJxWQEPb6I5QnmH97RwVv6nTNrP96COnXIY-k3ZA5bIlCeBzg1M1TEAPR_A3O4Lk4XbzJGiQV6kOM49/s1600/IMG_0822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJy2zqC-dHuzaLFet0Ib710nO-FmkZlFQq17Jbf5egzw28CPaKKxeelDGkBB0kefJxWQEPb6I5QnmH97RwVv6nTNrP96COnXIY-k3ZA5bIlCeBzg1M1TEAPR_A3O4Lk4XbzJGiQV6kOM49/s400/IMG_0822.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-5364920114471469202012-08-27T16:06:00.003+01:002012-08-27T16:08:21.430+01:00Assemble/Cydosod at Melin Glonc<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzI2sDebBwwh3x6jAiWeQ0gmfXaAL-3MPMWcEjFQtcTrDL9wXLpmQvcrAgFW31OVZdLfOFOf79_5tSQXDojN8GjPZ3PFKfiITk2WjXjAIIdEpGNjBwYMMedjU5g9SNX2V7p2vJj0KYfLUI/s1600/228452_10151008150031249_2042484587_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzI2sDebBwwh3x6jAiWeQ0gmfXaAL-3MPMWcEjFQtcTrDL9wXLpmQvcrAgFW31OVZdLfOFOf79_5tSQXDojN8GjPZ3PFKfiITk2WjXjAIIdEpGNjBwYMMedjU5g9SNX2V7p2vJj0KYfLUI/s400/228452_10151008150031249_2042484587_n.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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If you missed <b>Mike Murray's </b>exhibition, <i>Assemble/Cydosod </i>at <b>Goat Major Projects </b>in Cardiff, you can see selected works at <b>Melic Glonc</b> in Carmarthenshire until 1 September.<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-15853382652749942312012-08-25T11:44:00.003+01:002012-08-25T11:46:08.608+01:00Antonia Dewhurst - Ty Unnos/One Night House<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEHaYQJVdCNnVhw6yfgNsflv-mWBAYbzRAXSnRECGea0NfdK9g6WvpfzYjk_MOu5Y6675QwGvyXHrUqK63IRTqefefYgJVwgsC9uP8osY_XIdS3FzZB0IG5wvQeAmXZPDLqpgSlpggB0U/s1600/394638_10151160218626554_306678483_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEHaYQJVdCNnVhw6yfgNsflv-mWBAYbzRAXSnRECGea0NfdK9g6WvpfzYjk_MOu5Y6675QwGvyXHrUqK63IRTqefefYgJVwgsC9uP8osY_XIdS3FzZB0IG5wvQeAmXZPDLqpgSlpggB0U/s400/394638_10151160218626554_306678483_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Antonia Dewhurst </b><i>- </i><i>Tŷ </i><i>Unnos/One Night House - </i>courtesy of Antonia Dewhurst</td></tr>
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If you are in the Newtown area of Mid Wales, make sure you drop into <a href="http://www.orieldavies.org/en" target="_blank"><b>Oriel Davies</b></a> to see <b>Antonia Dewhurst's</b> <i>Test Bed Project</i> - <i>Tŷ Unnos</i> in the park adjacent to the gallery. Antonia built the house in accordance with the historical Tŷ Unnos/One Night House tradition:<br />
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<i>"Tŷ Unnos is an old Welsh tradition dating back to the 17th century: if
one could build a house between the hours of sunset and sunrise and have
smoke rising from the chimney by dawn, the ownership of the land could
be claimed. While Antonia does not lay claim to Newtown’s park on 19
July she will build a Tŷ Unnos - literally overnight - in the town’s
parkland opposite Oriel Davies. This will be a temporary structure made
from recycled materials - wooden pallets, tarpaulin and corrugated iron.
After a night of feverish building the structure will be in place by
the morning of 20 July, complete with smoke rising from the chimney."</i><br />
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/46300334#" target="_blank">Here's</a> a short stop motion video of the construction.<br />
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You can also see Antonia's <i>Gimme Shelter </i>series of small scale constructions in the <b>Test Bed Space</b> inside the gallery - including the newly made piece of the Tŷ Unnos in the park.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIBcXwXR_SvbePYJbg0O94BwtTFWvYw4ak2xYx4wyxTksxJrOwOfsUKW7t1gaRNizH7eZ3OlNP5VyIVEQB72UO_uj9Wsn-uIKmQv0d3QyfTbAolBehdNTm7W9jiCTYOyfwMNk9Q_pdmMr/s1600/320135_10151211266676554_693655505_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIBcXwXR_SvbePYJbg0O94BwtTFWvYw4ak2xYx4wyxTksxJrOwOfsUKW7t1gaRNizH7eZ3OlNP5VyIVEQB72UO_uj9Wsn-uIKmQv0d3QyfTbAolBehdNTm7W9jiCTYOyfwMNk9Q_pdmMr/s400/320135_10151211266676554_693655505_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Courtesy of Antonia Dewhurst</b></td></tr>
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The house remains in situ until 5 September and Antonia is occasionally 'In Residence' <i>- </i>ring the gallery for times on 01686 625 041<br />
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<i><br /></i><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-14773059704595881082012-08-25T11:15:00.002+01:002012-08-25T11:16:42.177+01:00Mike Murray - Assembled at Home/ Cydosod yn y Cartref<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbiu3mkP3uzlwjJTRd7f9k1zQJsqlWV-gGasaw9Z0LU-eHhFFAmUtEfQwl0zaJ54wHWAYjZPzmU4vrlSvWzYKn69Xk8knWrfvB3ttPlwJ6DtL62a_uPZ3LePDUBNAEk6uyhLHTLxgEdXI/s1600/Who-ya-going-to-call+contrast+FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbiu3mkP3uzlwjJTRd7f9k1zQJsqlWV-gGasaw9Z0LU-eHhFFAmUtEfQwl0zaJ54wHWAYjZPzmU4vrlSvWzYKn69Xk8knWrfvB3ttPlwJ6DtL62a_uPZ3LePDUBNAEk6uyhLHTLxgEdXI/s400/Who-ya-going-to-call+contrast+FB.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Mike Murray </b>- <i>Who ya going to call - </i>Seen <a href="http://www.goatmajorprojects.com/index.htm" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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My favourite show of the moment is <b>Mike Murray's</b> <i>Assembled at Home/Cydosod yn y Cartref </i>currently showing at <a href="http://www.goatmajorprojects.com/index.htm" target="_blank"><b>Goat Major Projects</b></a> in Cardiff.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>"Mike Murray will be presenting new works on paper at GMP
from 12/08. Murray's watercolours are the result of using the techniques
associated with 'Free Association'. The resulting observations look at how we
define and associate ideas of self-awareness and character traits through the
placement and assembling of groups of what may seem random objects. All these
objects come together through a process of experience, memory and personal
preference which the person assembling is likely to be unaware of as it is automatic
and beyond conscious knowing. The collections appear as dislocated from their
surrounding, the places that bring meaning to their use and purpose are
removed. A subconscious dialogue occurs between mute objects and we are invited
to contemplate the meaning and purpose of the objects that surround us
everyday. Mike Murray's work explores ideas and processes that we could term as
surrealism, the influence of the subconscious in our everyday and what exists beneath
the thin surface we mistakenly describe as reality. The resulting work presents
a form of dark humour at odds with the delicate and refined process of the
watercolour.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>For part of Assembled at Home, Mike will be resident in the project
space responding to a book of diagrams for making house hold objects
that forms the title of the show."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The show continues until 28 August - look <a href="http://www.goatmajorprojects.com/page10.htm" target="_blank">here</a> for opening times. <i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-91844055887602345972012-08-25T10:56:00.000+01:002012-08-25T10:56:06.464+01:00Colony: Contemporary Art in Alternative Spaces<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkat1Cdg-jtyYmomXHP_Pg_mRGvPeTznRJwMyeCMK4XvH4FK3ySvU8J870A5gXaKU8y5UnQJOBvo_dV6rnxLwizApqamJJ2aMDop9SaMj8kb8BI52md4Qrl8zM_hYUI2obgX5gr1cCq3fz/s1600/IMG_0632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkat1Cdg-jtyYmomXHP_Pg_mRGvPeTznRJwMyeCMK4XvH4FK3ySvU8J870A5gXaKU8y5UnQJOBvo_dV6rnxLwizApqamJJ2aMDop9SaMj8kb8BI52md4Qrl8zM_hYUI2obgX5gr1cCq3fz/s400/IMG_0632.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Sean Puleston </b></td></tr>
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I went to the inaugural opening of a nice new initiative a couple of weeks back in Cardigan, west Wales. Artist, <b>Lee Williams</b>, recently returned to his native Wales from London has gathered together a group of artists to show work in a couple of buildings either side of the river Teifi on Cambrian Quay and Teifi Wharf. <span itemprop="description">The works on show include installation, photography, video and sculpture and make use of some lovely interior spaces, partly renovated (above <b>Fforest</b> on Tefi Wharf) or partly derelict (Cambrian Quay). Artists showing include: <b>Jonathan Anderson, Alex Duncan, Sean Puleston, Erin Rickard</b> and <b> Lee Williams</b>. </span><br />
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<span itemprop="description">The show continues over the bank holiday weekend until 27 August 2012 and if the weather is nice you can also get a bite to eat at <a href="http://pizzatipi.co.uk/" target="_blank">Pizza Tipi</a> - lovely!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-63130556499475307742012-08-25T10:30:00.000+01:002012-08-25T10:32:05.117+01:00Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru 2012<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTNYIG9tBaR0rjK05OtXxwDsNCAF2eSjJS3jWVdr6BJfYHwxXZ6_ld8FxkPmiHCD1z_agVpSdPd55z0DfxRFuhWM59mCmdTZN21VlCWU4RtzitIt9EySv_Bpl6xbt-V6TfF8mo7tdBp7B/s1600/DSCN4257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTNYIG9tBaR0rjK05OtXxwDsNCAF2eSjJS3jWVdr6BJfYHwxXZ6_ld8FxkPmiHCD1z_agVpSdPd55z0DfxRFuhWM59mCmdTZN21VlCWU4RtzitIt9EySv_Bpl6xbt-V6TfF8mo7tdBp7B/s400/DSCN4257.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Carwyn Evans </b>- <i>Cast</i></td></tr>
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Congratulations to <a href="http://www.carwynevans.com/" target="_blank"><b>Carwyn Evans</b></a> for his gold medal win at <i>The National Eisteddfod of Wales 2012</i> in the Vale of Glamorgan. I was particularly proud to see Carwyn's work win as I know that his time working with us at Oriel Myrddin Gallery in 2011 as part of our <a href="http://projectobject2011.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank"><i>Project Object</i> </a>series of exhibitions was instrumental in bringing this current work into being.<br />
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The Gold Medal for Craft was won by <a href="http://www.annegibbs.co.uk/index.html" target="_blank"><b>Anne Gibbs</b></a> with a series of abstract arrangements of ceramic objects <i>Am gael bod rhywle arall / To be elsewhere</i>.<br />
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Other highlights for me were <b><a href="http://angharadpearcejones.com/" target="_blank">Angharad Pearce Jones</a></b>' new <i>Tirlun y torrwr / Disc cutter landscape</i> series and <a href="http://www.sarah-ball.co.uk/gallery/portraits/" target="_blank"><b>Sarah Ball</b></a>'s little portrait paintings. <span id="goog_106017359"></span><span id="goog_106017360"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-38172147143762920762012-07-18T20:25:00.002+01:002012-09-04T00:19:54.290+01:00High Tide Heels<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYl5AuwaJBGfrd78ogD1rNyOkRnvhVYTVkpTaZh7A1RNc18p57LkDrhTklOkUlMT-t6nCUoOQCpFDHCuoVJMpND-zmr81CPc1gg5yOZ9lKLMBspa9JBXrUJChW7Rbsq_m4295a3K935Kp/s1600/droppedImage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYl5AuwaJBGfrd78ogD1rNyOkRnvhVYTVkpTaZh7A1RNc18p57LkDrhTklOkUlMT-t6nCUoOQCpFDHCuoVJMpND-zmr81CPc1gg5yOZ9lKLMBspa9JBXrUJChW7Rbsq_m4295a3K935Kp/s400/droppedImage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>High Tide Heels </b>- seen <a href="http://www.hightideheels.be/High%20Tide%20Heels.html" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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I saw these posted on Facebook today and they made me laugh out loud - imagine trying to walk in them! Very appropriate for this miserable British summer though!<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-67066004639400433802012-07-15T10:14:00.001+01:002012-07-15T10:16:31.809+01:00Take the M4 East then the M5 South<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have recently installed some new work at an exhibition in Somerset, <i>Take the M4 East then the M5 South</i>. The exhibition features six artists that have previously shown as part of <i>Rhôd</i>, an annual exhibition and event held in west Wales: <b>Sam Aldridge, Kathryn Campbell Dodd, good cop bad cop, Jason Pinder, Anthony Shapland </b>and <b>David Shepherd.</b><br />
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The exhibition has been organised by <a href="http://www.revealsomerset.org/" target="_blank"><b>Reveal Somerset</b></a> following their presentation at the Rhôd symposium, held at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff in July 2011 and can be seen at <a href="http://www.thebrewhouse.net/exhibitions/1380/take-the-m4-east-then-the-m5-south" target="_blank"><b>The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre</b></a>, Taunton, it runs until 11 August - more pics <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36075382@N06/sets/72157630476019404/" target="_blank">here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-4334999564706938232012-07-02T00:01:00.000+01:002012-07-02T00:04:06.507+01:00Rhôd 2012<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKM62G_8JtE2ejr52V2z3tjk9g7gZtiOzMf5S6jLaW6pAVJK5Jo40X4jPi21KyHcB2-9qEtPqFFDfSFvtFKpCUXZXOt34iDiy_CL3bOosJZRoK8IY_T_HGvDIOQI8OFis6Wpn88mcF6htP/s1600/clare.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKM62G_8JtE2ejr52V2z3tjk9g7gZtiOzMf5S6jLaW6pAVJK5Jo40X4jPi21KyHcB2-9qEtPqFFDfSFvtFKpCUXZXOt34iDiy_CL3bOosJZRoK8IY_T_HGvDIOQI8OFis6Wpn88mcF6htP/s400/clare.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Clare Thornton </b>- <i>Tact Series: Orange</i></td></tr>
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I had the great privilege in 2012 to be selected as curator for <a href="http://therhod.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><b>Rhôd 2012</b></a>. Now in its fourth year this annual contemporary art event is held at Melin Glonc, a 16th Century corn mil set in 11 acres of ground in the rural village of Drefelin in Carmarthenshire.</div>
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Over the four years of its existence the event has seen about fifty artists exhibit on the site both inside and in the grounds of the mill building. I was selected to show my own work there in 2010.</div>
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For the 2012 event in early June, I chose ten artists to participate in the show all of whom visited the mill over the preceding months and made their work in response to the site, <b>Jonathan Anderson</b> (Swansea), <b>Phil Babot</b> (Cardiff), <b>Antonia Dewhurst</b>
(Conwy), <b>Eddy Dreadnought</b> (Sheffield), <b>Maura Hazelden</b> (Pembrokeshire),<b>
Anne-Mie Melis</b> (Cardiff), <b>Seren Stacey</b> (Carmarthenshire), <b>Clare Thornton</b>
(Bristol), <b>Jobina Tinnemans</b> (Pembrokeshire), <b>Elizabeth Tomos</b>
(Carmarthenshire).</div>
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<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Eddy Dreadnought </b><i>- Moving Away from Aborescence - Towards a Rhizomatic Future</i></td></tr>
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Pete Telfer from<b> <a href="http://www.culturecolony.com/home" target="_blank">Culture Colony</a></b> was kind enough to film the event and me talking about the artists' contributions to the show - you can watch it <a href="http://www.culturecolony.com/videos?id=10137" target="_blank">here</a> - if you are not a member of Culture Colony you can register for free to watch dedicated Welsh arts content.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7SDMz9dCerui2hQCka8VA9PmIAnMZg-XP7O8Ufr0DGuv-C4icvUmZxbmNE65W1piV4vOOH4XZhfXejZIXU06Tx_ZKf42Jv1xtVdXMTXSql5YpgfA4y_6uasU72J5lZ8a7gOsEhBoEBZz/s1600/seren.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7SDMz9dCerui2hQCka8VA9PmIAnMZg-XP7O8Ufr0DGuv-C4icvUmZxbmNE65W1piV4vOOH4XZhfXejZIXU06Tx_ZKf42Jv1xtVdXMTXSql5YpgfA4y_6uasU72J5lZ8a7gOsEhBoEBZz/s400/seren.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Seren Stacey </b>- <i>Untitled (detail)</i></td></tr>
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<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-6319233631117326822012-07-01T22:59:00.000+01:002012-07-01T23:00:47.202+01:00The Institute for Imagined Futures and Unknown Lands...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPB3uLHN2tKa0eo8qrGuut8_2EAZsVj6Gol-3d4_eN5FO33HDMPlOx52NViSun3q-EzqLlxhgvmTIcNsb5q21PBR4LlDlUF2itW_2iZ3ZO7a3YkzHw1ccLTGeBkB381Pw1ii3LQkAf_ESK/s1600/fern.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPB3uLHN2tKa0eo8qrGuut8_2EAZsVj6Gol-3d4_eN5FO33HDMPlOx52NViSun3q-EzqLlxhgvmTIcNsb5q21PBR4LlDlUF2itW_2iZ3ZO7a3YkzHw1ccLTGeBkB381Pw1ii3LQkAf_ESK/s400/fern.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Fern Thomas </b>- <i>When the Moon Fell Out of Orbit</i></td></tr>
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The current exhibition at <b>Mission Gallery</b> in Swansea is <a href="http://www.missiongallery.co.uk/exhibitions/when-the-moon-fell-out-of-orbit/" target="_blank"><i>When the Moon Fell Out of Orbit </i></a>by <b>Fern Thomas</b>. Following her recent MA studies at <b>Oxford Brookes University</b> in Social Sculpture, Fern has established the <a href="http://www.imaginedfuturesunknownlands.org/" target="_blank"><i>Institute for Imagined Futures and Unknown Lands</i></a>. Through her research she is exploring intuitive thoughts and visions brought through dreams, imaginative ideas and images to ask questions of our current condition in the world and what our future might hold. The artworks use texts, objects, structures, performances and actions to set a kind of transformative process into being through which she and her audience engage in an ongoing exploration of the resulting imagined material.</div>
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There has been a series of weekly performances during the show in which Fern relates a series of dreamed/imagined narratives full of poetic and symbolic triggers, through repeating these sequences she hopes to come to a greater understanding of their significance, these are active interventions into the collective imagination which is manifested through and around the exhibition.</div>
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The works are also beautifully imagined within the gallery space and make direct reference to the history of the architecture of Mission Gallery. </div>
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The exhibition runs until 15 July 2012.</div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-33941870170298989182012-07-01T22:19:00.000+01:002012-07-01T23:19:48.122+01:00Antonia Dewhurst - Ty Unnos<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Antonia Dewhurst -</b><i> Gimme Shelter - </i>seen <a href="http://www.a-n.co.uk/degrees_unedited/article/958053" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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I am really looking forward to <b>Antonia Dewhurst's</b> forthcoming <a href="http://www.orieldavies.org/en/exhibition/gimme-shelter" target="_blank"><b>Test Bed</b></a> project at <b>Oriel Davies Gallery</b> in Newtown. Antonia's series of shelters, <a href="http://bird-in-the-house.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/antonia-dewhurst.html" target="_blank"><i>Gimme Shelter</i></a> which were made as part of her degree work at Coleg Menai, Bangor in 2010/11 have led her to undertake the creation of a <i>Ty Unnos </i>dwelling in the parkland alongside Oriel Davies on the night of 19/20 July 2012.</div>
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<i>"The tradition of the Ty Unnos (One Night House) was established in Wales around the end of the 18th century and beginning of the 19th century when
over 5000 Enclosure Acts were passed. This resulted in common land being passed into the hands
of landowners. In response to the resulting homelessness and poverty
there was a rise in the tradition of the <b>Ty Unnos.</b></i></div>
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<i>Thought to date back to Hywel Dda, but never enshrined in law, this
tradition stated that if a house could be built between sunset and
sunrise and have smoke rising from its chimney at dawn, then the builder
could keep the house and the land as far as a hammer or axe could be
thrown from each of the quarters.</i></div>
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<i>Materials would be collected secretly over several months and all the
builder's friends and family would be involved on the night. Often the
only clue the landowner's agent would find was that the local carpenter
was making a door for someone. However, the house was often pretty
primitive and the 'door' might be a woven hazel screen, the walls of cut
peat, the roof thatched with gorse or whatever was to hand. The chimney
too might be of woven hazel or willow and these house-names persist
today e.g. Corn Helyg, Willow Chimney.</i></div>
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<i>Once the house-builder's title was established they could amass more
permanent building materials and replace the original building with a
more substantial dwelling and these too persist into the present day in
the house-name Ty Newydd - the new house."</i></div>
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<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Antonia Dewhurst </b><i>- Materials for Ty Unnos - </i>Courtesy of <a href="http://www.culturecolony.com/galleries?album=10007" target="_blank">Antonia Dewhurst </a></td></tr>
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In keeping with the tradition, Antonia has been collecting her materials over the last couple of months and is getting ready to undertake the building of her dwelling overnight on 19/20 July.<i> </i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-55078121876143481482012-04-22T13:10:00.002+01:002012-07-01T23:21:19.059+01:00SOFA New York 2012<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Walter Keeler </b><i>- </i>Image by Dewi Tannant Lloyd</td></tr>
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I am in New York at the moment visiting <i>SOFA - The Sculpture Objects and Functional Art Fair</i> - being held in the Park Avenue Armory for 20 - 23 April. I am here as part of a research delegation of Welsh craft galleries who are accompanying and assisting <b>Ruthin Craft Centre</b> who have a stand here this year. </div>
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<b>Ruthin Craft Centre</b> are representing the work of potter and ceramicist, <b>Walter Keeler</b> and textile artists, <b>Eleri Mills</b>. We are writing a dedicated <a href="http://sofacymru.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">blog</a> for the initiative - I do hope you'll visit!</div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-90111031924211702502012-04-04T07:58:00.000+01:002012-07-01T23:21:35.306+01:00Lab Craft: Digital Adventures in Contemporary Craft<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>L</i><i>ab Craft</i>, the Crafts Council touring exhibition is in its final week at <b>Oriel Myrddin Gallery</b>. It's the last chance to see this extraordinary show as it ends its tour here. </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/orielmyrddingallery/sets/72157629528213477/">Here</a> is a link to more images of the show.<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-29385493932212568392012-02-22T19:54:00.000+00:002012-04-04T08:05:46.653+01:00Rose Wood<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_Js_-I3D_KxpSnmXA0tpGWjrbeHlSQ3pCgDdB-5eY_pk1YpyPEEAwuUTOSYF1fAXZ4yMvnIIs4b_Edc8NJXn_xE59GS1m0a8sA1PDDQO5SUkda7P3rZtkUSTW8xEsqAcoZjNdqOfxt2e/s1600/image-10-COLLECTION.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_Js_-I3D_KxpSnmXA0tpGWjrbeHlSQ3pCgDdB-5eY_pk1YpyPEEAwuUTOSYF1fAXZ4yMvnIIs4b_Edc8NJXn_xE59GS1m0a8sA1PDDQO5SUkda7P3rZtkUSTW8xEsqAcoZjNdqOfxt2e/s400/image-10-COLLECTION.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Image courtesy of <b>Rose Wood</b></td></tr>
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conjunction with <b>Oriel Myrddin Gallery's </b>exhibition <i>Lab Craft: Digital Adventures in
Contemporary Craft</i>, currently touring from The Craft Council, west Wales
based accessories designer, <b>Rose Wood</b> will be showing a range of her
laser cut leather jewellery in the gallery shop.</div>
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Rose wo<span class="text_exposed_show">rks
with laser cut components, slicing and slotting flat shapes to build
into sculptural jewellery. Working predominantly in leather and textiles
she enjoys the tactility of the making process. </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show">The jewellery pieces are made from soft leather and have a gestural, performative element to their design, they are sensuous in their physicality and designed to be enjoyed and experienced as tactile objects. </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show">Rose has also designed intriguing folded textiles that act as sculptural garments and performance pieces.</span></div>
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/27865946">Untitled</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user7219189">rose wood</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/27865946?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-75673569383607721622012-02-21T23:10:00.000+00:002012-04-04T08:02:31.172+01:00Lab Craft: Digital Adventures in Contemporary Craft<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi188d74YnvR031jByJQuBHpYcdHW2uEsQF4T2KdQmRnEphEgYo3TXH5luV_SEg4kymIYCUZMxmyYSbPEX_PxwMXvOOLwN35jJuYRBG274WV2TJyYNXTMtA6RG76TSiDdERMQKyYWKuq3OK/s1600/IMG_6489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi188d74YnvR031jByJQuBHpYcdHW2uEsQF4T2KdQmRnEphEgYo3TXH5luV_SEg4kymIYCUZMxmyYSbPEX_PxwMXvOOLwN35jJuYRBG274WV2TJyYNXTMtA6RG76TSiDdERMQKyYWKuq3OK/s400/IMG_6489.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Installation of <i>Lab Craft </i>at <b>Oriel Myrddin Gallery</b></td></tr>
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I'm really excited that we are currently in the process of installing The Crafts Council touring show, <i>Lab Craft: Digital Adventures in Contemporary Craft</i> at <a href="http://www.orielmyrddingallery.co.uk/exhibitions.html"><b>Oriel Myrddin Gallery</b></a>. The work arrived with us yesterday and our colleagues from The Crafts Council arrived today to work with us on the installation.</div>
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We first saw the show at <a href="http://www.tentlondon.co.uk/"><b>Tent London</b></a> in 2010 and were really captured by the ideas and possibilites that the show present to the contemporary designer and craftsperson. </div>
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<a href="http://labcraft.org.uk/"><i>Lab Craft</i> </a>includes 26 makers who combine hand, mind, eye, technical
mastery of tools and materials, and aesthetic sensibility, with
cutting-edge digital technologies. Using rapid prototyping, laser
cutting, laser scanning and digital printing, <i>Lab Craft </i>explores the use
of technology as an extension to the capabilities of the human hand.</div>
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Curated by <b>Max Fraser</b>, the exhibition includes work by some of
the most experimental names currently working in craft and design,
including; <b>Tord Boontje, Michael Eden, Gareth Neal, Timorous Beasties </b>and<b> Nina Tolstrup</b>,
with many showing innovative work previously unseen. Textiles,
ceramics, furniture, jewellery, glass, lighting and much more are
presented to engage and intrigue anyone with an interest in craft,
materials, design, and technology.</div>
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Watch this space for more images and thoughts as the show comes together. There will be an opening event on Saturday 3 March at 2pm with a talk by craft practitioners <b>Anna Lewis</b> and <b>Claire Savage Onstwedder </b>called <i>Crafting Technology</i>. Both Anna and Claire work with <b>CIRIC </b>at Swansea Metropolitan Museum. </div>
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<i>Lab Craft</i> will run from 25 February - 7 April 2012.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-25461907176259668312012-02-21T22:48:00.002+00:002012-04-04T08:03:56.315+01:00Lost in Lace<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmrTQFeKm-Io0yilfb24UXEfhHT8XZEHS2D0AQtQOMveVrkNhS3iCSWS7PD5xXs9p5F2ZljcN-Ej8c7bGZnmgXjGSbGmPvLXy-pqFNT-Yq9bzHhu6nhAY91HEpUqtxSg_rczsanPNWbMQ/s1600/IMG_6202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmrTQFeKm-Io0yilfb24UXEfhHT8XZEHS2D0AQtQOMveVrkNhS3iCSWS7PD5xXs9p5F2ZljcN-Ej8c7bGZnmgXjGSbGmPvLXy-pqFNT-Yq9bzHhu6nhAY91HEpUqtxSg_rczsanPNWbMQ/s400/IMG_6202.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><i>Lost in Lace</i> at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery</td></tr>
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I managed to get to see <i>Lost in Lace</i> at <b>Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery</b> before if closed at the weekend. This major show was curated by <b>Lesley Miller</b>, one of the speakers at Oriel Myrddin Gallery's <i>warp+weft Symposium</i> in 2010.</div>
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The exhibition brought together 20 international artists and makers to think about the qualities and properties of lace and to play with these contexts in relation to the architectural space of the gallery.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4q7gFEddUnp0BEIqytFbY6OQQ0vHGWWPGLt1CuLCVER7b6aruTtuERzUthS_KqADMJIYk3Vlfrjp0MgJDTpAAefSSYDOGm38vkUzCxZpb7ntY6QaZ4tN5_fD-NXljUy34BuB-BBlsdqX/s1600/IMG_6218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4q7gFEddUnp0BEIqytFbY6OQQ0vHGWWPGLt1CuLCVER7b6aruTtuERzUthS_KqADMJIYk3Vlfrjp0MgJDTpAAefSSYDOGm38vkUzCxZpb7ntY6QaZ4tN5_fD-NXljUy34BuB-BBlsdqX/s400/IMG_6218.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Chiharu Shiota </b>- <i>After the Dream 201</i></td></tr>
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The show included an installation by Berlin based artist <b>Chiharu Shiota </b>using her distinctive black-string installation technique which en-traps objects in its web of lines and space, in this case long, white dresses which seem to hover, ghost-like above the ground.</div>
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There is a dedicated <a href="http://lostinlace.org.uk/">website</a> for the show which has information about the ideas behind the show and the artists involved.</div>
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-76553617114988333812012-02-14T21:19:00.001+00:002012-04-04T08:04:25.187+01:00Charmed Life: The solace of objects<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLe-utYQr5vRfFAuBmHPQ0Fon8CTfFcadEdKkKtWk_PMgBVAS0KA1Jcj8paMRamgEFU1IqvNRHO7Ir1msZvVxZT4G27A2RAGPYrPO0Uk-hbJFRL13zPW8Hg6tY48THHujhaXTDe79rc311/s1600/idoc.ashx.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLe-utYQr5vRfFAuBmHPQ0Fon8CTfFcadEdKkKtWk_PMgBVAS0KA1Jcj8paMRamgEFU1IqvNRHO7Ir1msZvVxZT4G27A2RAGPYrPO0Uk-hbJFRL13zPW8Hg6tY48THHujhaXTDe79rc311/s400/idoc.ashx.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Felicity Powell </b>- <i>Conjuring Coral </i>- seen <a href="http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/exhibitions/charmed-life/waxes.aspx">here</a></td></tr>
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<b>The Wellcome Collection </b>in London is currently showing an exhibition of charms and amulets, <a href="http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/exhibitions/charmed-life.aspx"><i>Charmed Life: The solace of objects </i></a>which is the result of a project with artist, <b>Felicity Powell</b>. Powell has had the opportunity to engage with the museum's collection of 1400 amulets and charms collected in the early twentieth century by folklorist, <b>Edward Lovett</b>. She is also showing her own extraordinary wax <a href="http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/exhibitions/charmed-life/waxes.aspx">drawings</a> and <a href="http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/exhibitions/charmed-life/exhibition-films/sleight-of-hand.aspx">films</a> alongside the collection.</div>
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The exhibition publicity uses this insightful quotation from 1580: <i>“It seems that the soul... loses itself in
itself when shaken and disturbed unless given something to grasp on
to; and so we must always provide it with an object to butt up
against and to act upon.”</i> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Michel de Montaigne, 'Essais' </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The exhibition runs until 26 February 2012.</span> </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-21953763966093554712012-01-19T22:50:00.000+00:002012-01-19T22:52:12.393+00:00January at Mostyn Oriel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNrKdk8dRXhbSdK_zV6VqmZWCID-jhv4Dr1ys2aXnqEwSOSL8jC6dmOu3bpooIYc6LQPsDMpziyQarqvHwd8l-CTB-qV4wUxMb4OMgKLOsuHnGujyQ5vn3mPM9hJYcMsigoT_9Qt2E1lP/s1600/IMG_5954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNrKdk8dRXhbSdK_zV6VqmZWCID-jhv4Dr1ys2aXnqEwSOSL8jC6dmOu3bpooIYc6LQPsDMpziyQarqvHwd8l-CTB-qV4wUxMb4OMgKLOsuHnGujyQ5vn3mPM9hJYcMsigoT_9Qt2E1lP/s400/IMG_5954.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I took a trip up to north Wales last weekend to see <b>Gareth Griffith's </b>exhibition <a href="http://www.mostyn.org/whats_on/shelter1"><i>Shelter</i></a> at <a href="http://www.mostyn.org/"><b>Mostyn Oriel</b></a> in which I had a small piece of work. The show was really lovely (it closed on 15th January), about 60 artists had contributed and the work was shown on a simple trestle table as a 'field' of shelters. A crazy artists campsite of miniature dwellings! All sorts of ingenious solutions had been devised to the brief to make a shelter 20 x 20 x 15 cm out of found materials or materials to hand.</div>
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I was also glad to get to see the other shows currently running in the gallery, <a href="http://www.mostyn.org/whats_on/detail/ha_ha_road"><i>Ha Ha Road</i></a> in the main gallery space takes a look at the use of humour in contemporary art - <i>"The selected artworks demonstrate how acts of absurdity, irrationality
or playfulness can interrupt reality and momentarily destabilise common
assumptions." </i>The perfect antidote to post-Christmas gloom, many of the works genuinely raised a smile. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bD8wTnySiqSKJ6go8LD_16RqgJrWNf2lZ63KYNxY9JV-61jQZgJ1b3Ab9CasioLg4h9UJ8zwpkWIlg-OZcDkW9lc42TqDM5Ik1fjU6idf6yPifxM0Wq2cGgP6sIIzCejM6parhqA8a9P/s1600/Grazia_toderi_image-580x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bD8wTnySiqSKJ6go8LD_16RqgJrWNf2lZ63KYNxY9JV-61jQZgJ1b3Ab9CasioLg4h9UJ8zwpkWIlg-OZcDkW9lc42TqDM5Ik1fjU6idf6yPifxM0Wq2cGgP6sIIzCejM6parhqA8a9P/s400/Grazia_toderi_image-580x300.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Grazia Toderi </b><i>- Orbite Rossa -</i> seen <a href="http://www.mostyn.org/whats_on/orbite_rosse">here</a></td></tr>
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I also enjoyed <b>Grazia Toderi's</b> video <a href="http://www.mostyn.org/whats_on/orbite_rosse"><i>Orbite Rossa</i></a> installed in gallery 6 as part of the gallery's <i>Love Video</i> series. Night-time cityscapes are layered and superimposed in a slowly changing vista of lights. The result is a mesmerizing and slightly disorientating experience, the gradual alterations to the landscape and the impossible movements of light within it set up beautiful. <i>"...luminous geometries...".</i> Personally, I saw a kind of melancholic dystopia - Blade Runner came to mind with its nocturnal rooftop city scenes - a balance of beauty and sadness in the universal city-at-night.</div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-53735567337485555752012-01-17T14:29:00.000+00:002012-01-19T22:58:08.722+00:00Mike Nelson - Coral Reef<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Zn_ooWyd8tyb9cfQpyAF4aITzVCJVXcUuFHQ87g3owEgfFSX5SJnNxTf9s3UJOl8ikcRFC9KKF0FWq55opXguRv9ptskmCBTpg9lkRemGgMWntTc2emdAuLLGQ9mPbTOgI5CfKY0B3nD/s1600/3.-The-Coral-Reef-Mike-Nelson-Courtesy-of-the-Artist-and-Matts-Gallery-London-Collection-of-the-Tate-1023x730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Zn_ooWyd8tyb9cfQpyAF4aITzVCJVXcUuFHQ87g3owEgfFSX5SJnNxTf9s3UJOl8ikcRFC9KKF0FWq55opXguRv9ptskmCBTpg9lkRemGgMWntTc2emdAuLLGQ9mPbTOgI5CfKY0B3nD/s400/3.-The-Coral-Reef-Mike-Nelson-Courtesy-of-the-Artist-and-Matts-Gallery-London-Collection-of-the-Tate-1023x730.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">Mike Nelson: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Coral Reef,</i> 1999, installation view; </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">image courtesy of the Artist and Matt’s Gallery,
London, Collection of the Tate.</span></div>
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On a recent trip to London, I went to visit <b>Mike Nelson's </b><i>Coral Reef </i>recently acquired by Tate Collections and installed at <b>Tate Britain</b> until January 15th. This work was made in 1999 for <b>Matt's Gallery</b> in London, at the very end of the 20th Century but before events which have come to define current times; 9/11, 7/7 and the economic crash of 2008 in particular. In the light of our recent history this claustrophobic, disorientating piece has extraordinary resonances.<br />
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Entering the work through a grubby reception room, you begin your journey into a complex series of rooms and corridors. Each room has its own character - all are shabby, depressed, clues are scattered throughout to tempt us to construct a narrative for ourselves. The title, <i>Coral Reef </i>reflects Nelson's concept of a fragile structure which exists under a metaphorical ocean surface, in which <i>"...in a sense each room is indicative of a different belief system"</i>. We are <i>"...invited to become lost in this world of lost people"</i> and that is exactly what the experience achieved for me.</div>
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Under electric light, the structure doubles back on itself, the spaces are tight and only just big enough to occupy. A sense of panic rises even though this is obviously a work of art, installed in a gallery - one cannot actually come to harm or get forever lost in the maze - the fiction is powerful enough to suspend the rational just enough to allow the anxiety to emerge. You can hear others elsewhere in the structure, doors are opening and closing, squeaking on their hinges, it could be reassuring but it also increases the panic. The residual evidence of characters living out their days, conducting their business and worshiping at their own particular alter in these uncared for spaces is disturbing, familiar and loaded with prophetic tension. In a carefully constructed, paranoia educing twist we are led to believe we have reached the room through which we entered only to find the exit leads us into a loading bay, its shutters down - we have no choice but to turn and retrace our steps. </div>
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It is a remarkable experience, <a href="http://channel.tate.org.uk/media/207494480001">here</a> is Mike Nelson talking about the work and its contemporary significance.</div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-21168887502468869522011-12-12T23:53:00.002+00:002012-01-19T21:50:43.222+00:00Breath taking<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjet4g6r3Xp0yNuwyX7xFbxfiGc8gIlz-M9AHkyJo_QNqUzWiJ6QFMWp3CQRKI7zuLdG4Kqavxbd0dWfLe7cBWkDvktahKQQWpBHHK7aMepMp-TS4u6CciGpYbBUuv3JqdIFMomt1bSvRg-/s1600/8c1403b428939614-apartments-el-ultimo-grito-2009.-photo---michael-tolke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjet4g6r3Xp0yNuwyX7xFbxfiGc8gIlz-M9AHkyJo_QNqUzWiJ6QFMWp3CQRKI7zuLdG4Kqavxbd0dWfLe7cBWkDvktahKQQWpBHHK7aMepMp-TS4u6CciGpYbBUuv3JqdIFMomt1bSvRg-/s400/8c1403b428939614-apartments-el-ultimo-grito-2009.-photo---michael-tolke.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b>El Ultimo Grito </b>- <i>Apartments - </i>Photo: Michael Tolke - seen <a href="http://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/collection-and-exhibitions/exhibitions/touring-exhibitions/view/hot-glass/objects">here</a></td></tr>
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I am hoping to get to visit <i><a href="http://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/whats-on/view/breath-taking-revealing-a-new-wave-british-glass-blowing?cc_events=all&region_id=0&year_filter=0&list_p=1">Breath taking</a>: Revealing a new wave in British glass blowing</i>, an exhibition of contemporary glass blowing at <b><a href="http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/community/arts_centre/gallery_1.htm">Oriel Wrecsam</a></b>. It is a <b>Crafts Council </b>touring exhibition featuring 17 contemporary makers/artists and five exemplary works from the Crafts Council collection. There have been some really interesting innovations in using glass as a craft/art medium in recent years and this overview of contemporary practice should be an inspiring education in the discipline.</div>
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I was lucky to meet one of the contributers, <b><a href="http://www.jessicalloyd-jones.com/index.htm">Jessica Lloyd-Jones</a></b> in Conwy recently, she was one of the commissioned artists at the <i>blinc Digital Arts Festival</i> along with Jake and me in October. Her work is fresh and sharply conceived using glass and light in innovative ways in both public art commissions and art installations.</div>
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The exhibition is showing at Oriel Wrecsam until 28 January 2012.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QMbQldAPpJ-ROujN6sod_X0SaCcxNEjDSopL6GCrAjqBjNaEWcpUz985yp9BwkuRTqTKBqGtZqtq7O4m-M_ywwnjhAZHOe4caVPPyrkjcUBYRAU_tzbHsuiL-pN2qkaagsr5Wgg7nhns/s1600/NeonBulbWeb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QMbQldAPpJ-ROujN6sod_X0SaCcxNEjDSopL6GCrAjqBjNaEWcpUz985yp9BwkuRTqTKBqGtZqtq7O4m-M_ywwnjhAZHOe4caVPPyrkjcUBYRAU_tzbHsuiL-pN2qkaagsr5Wgg7nhns/s400/NeonBulbWeb.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Jessica Lloyd-Jones </b><i>- Neon Bulb 2 - </i>seen <a href="http://www.jessicalloyd-jones.com/page49.htm">here</a></td></tr>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327019939680709919.post-13508478126804525422011-12-12T22:01:00.002+00:002012-01-19T21:51:26.828+00:00Artists Christmas Tree 2011<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b>Steffan Jones-Hughes & Jeanette Orrell</b></td></tr>
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Every Christmas, <b>Oriel Myrddin Gallery</b> invite an artist to make, design or decorate a Christmas tree for the gallery. This year North Wales artists,<a href="http://www.axisweb.org/seCVPG.aspx?ARTISTID=12103"> <b>Steffan Jones-Hughes</b></a> and <a href="http://www.axisweb.org/seCVPG.aspx?ARTISTID=13190"><b>Jeanette Orrell</b> </a>were chosen. Steffan and Jeanette are partners in their home life, but this is the first time they have worked together on a artistic project.</div>
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The commission is made from their last years tree which they saved back and then painstakingly covered with pages from old paperback books, the branches have then been decorated with little bottles that have been given new hand drawn labels. The bottles were inspired by a hoard of Victorian bottles that were dug up in the artists' garden, but these particular ones have been collected from antiques shops flea markets especially for the project. The bottles make reference to the idea of glass baubles and the little characters on the labels suggest stories and narratives which are echoed in the book pages covering the branches.</div>
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Steffan and Jeanette came to talk to us about making the tree and their life deep in the countryside of Denbighshire. They mused that they would have liked to have a little light in each bottle; as a child Steffan remembers seeing a tree that was lit up by fireflies and their Christmas tree also reflects this enchanting memory.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYE-jhajTyyxm-jxppmS_9ujAnM5rEUpWFtQ4EOgDwbrWm1qQ2wG-Dajr6t_pSy-kZ5XHb3k5Ic_w-ixZKsM6gpUL9LJvRn_hRQq8M6VXhrvQ_xF-BFe1qcyfA1Fs-gpGUFd9PPysEHoZ3/s1600/6365980653_0df5808a98_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYE-jhajTyyxm-jxppmS_9ujAnM5rEUpWFtQ4EOgDwbrWm1qQ2wG-Dajr6t_pSy-kZ5XHb3k5Ic_w-ixZKsM6gpUL9LJvRn_hRQq8M6VXhrvQ_xF-BFe1qcyfA1Fs-gpGUFd9PPysEHoZ3/s400/6365980653_0df5808a98_b.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.kathryndodd.com</div>Bird in the Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470357421426084584noreply@blogger.com0