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Three jazz compositions, three musicians and three films

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Triptych Jazz & Ffilm

Composer: Jochen Eisentraut

Music: Jochen Eisentraut Trio, Film: Eilir Pierce

Acclaimed composer and jazz musician, Jochen Eisentraut has collaborated with award-winning film-maker, Eilir Pierce to create an exciting new music and film project. Triptych Jazz & Ffilm, premiering at Galeri, Caernarfon on Sunday 13 May 2012, is structured around the number three, taking the idea of the triptych from triple mediaeval altar paintings. A sub-theme also explores the relationship between permanence and ephemerality, in music, landscape and culture.

Gwynedd based Eisentraut is a legendary jazz pianist/saxophonist and part-time music lecturer at School of Music, Bangor University. His portfolio consists of many musical compositions for numerous films and plays including theme tune for popular S4C soap opera, Rownd a Rownd.

Independent film-maker, Pierce, also based in Gwynedd has an alluring track-record of provoking the screen with his distinctive visual style. The music and images explore ideas of the permanent in landscape, language and music. Eisentraut juxtaposes them with living and changing apparitions such as light, weather, human striving and artistic improvisation.

Triptych Jazz & Film is placing new media at the heart of an artistic project. After the live performance, a full recorded version of Triptych Jazz & Ffilm will be uploaded for viewing on YouTube and DVD’s of the pieces will be available to purchase.

According to Eisentraut, “The decline of the traditional media, such as TV, cinema and CDs, is affecting most aspects of culture and is another example of how a permanent feature of human existence can be transformed in a short time.”

“YouTube has become a primary transmitter of both music and visual ideas, yet dancing cats and biting babies provide much of the content. Triptych Jazz & Ffilm is making a claim on this medium for material of a different kind.”

Experience atmospheric music, heart-stopping improvisation, interwoven with beautiful moving images. This will be a relaxed cabaret style evening and will also feature an exclusive set from the Jochen Eisentraut Trio. Tickets available from www.galeri.com.

Triptych Jazz & Ffilm is funded by Arts Council for Wales.

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Come and see two special new exhibitions

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Two new art exhibitions will be opening soon at Gwynedd Museum and Art Gallery in Bangor. New work by the artist Andrew Smith and the designer Ann Catrin Evans can be seen at the Museum between 21 April and 9 June. The exhibitions will be officially opened by Mike Knowles.

Edge of Colour is an exhibition of new paintings by Andrew Smith, all made in his studio in Harlech where the refractive light of Tremadog Bay spills through large windows animating the interior space and influencing his investigation of colour.

Andrew says of the new work: “The process of making has, over time, led to colour being the only real direction for my painting. In considering drawing and colour, the edges of colour define the parameter of the image and inherent the external environment in the painting. The interaction of the quality of colour is both the image and the structure.”

Andrew has worked consistently with colour for over twenty years exploring different process and methods including printmaking (The Surface of Colour 2001); collaboration, in establishing links with international partners (Galicia 2002, Macedonia 2003, Mexico 2004, Poland 2004 and Australia 2009) and public art projects (Barry 2009, Cardiff 2010 and Russia 2011). This is Andrew’s first exhibition in Wales since En Route at Oriel Davies Gallery 2007.

Ann Catrin Evans is a 3D designer maker who works with metal. She is known nationally and internationally for her unique Door Furniture and Public Sculptures.

This exhibition shows all new work in iron wire, slightly more delicate and fragile than her previous work. Large framed abstract and landscape wire pieces, colourful copper embossed drawings, and intricate vessels and platters and fine statement jewellery.

Since graduating in 3D Design Ann has completed an impressive number of commissions in various materials, collected various awards, and her work has been shown in many important exhibitions at home and abroad.

In 2011 Ann designed artwork for the multipurpose outdoor amphitheatre Llys Dafydd in Bethesda including railings and a gate, a sculpture of The Quarryman in corten steel, and designs carved on slate based on the Traditional Slate Carvings of Dyffryn Ogwen by Gwenno Caffell.

Delyth Gordon, Gwynedd Council Visual Arts Officer said: “We are delighted to host two exhibitions which present new work by Andrew Smith and Ann Catrin Evans. Balance and design are a constant consideration in the work of these two artists. The respective exhibitions present the viewer with a dynamic boldness of colour by Andrew and both strength and sensitivity of form by Ann.“

The Gallery is open to the public – Tuesday to Friday 12:30-4:30pm and Saturdays from 10:30-4:30, Free entry. For more information contact via telephone 01248 353368 or www.gwynedd.gov.uk/museums

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Art Exhibtion of Art work Created by Arts in Health and Wellbeing Participants

Wednesday 4 April 2012

Till May the 13th in Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw, there will be an exhibition of art work created by arts in health and wellbeing workshop participant that were tutored by Tess Urbanska.

The work is a result of ten sessions of two hours workshops over a period of ten weeks with the tutor, the artist Tess Urbanska. The sessions were funded by Gwynedd and Ynys Mon Mind and the Community Arts unit at Gwynedd Council. The sessions were designed to promote health and wellbeing through the arts.

The tutor said that she is “feeling very lucky to be part of this project and as an artist myself, I have really enjoyed meeting with other creative minds and being in a room with a ‘buzz’. It has been a very positive and worthwhile experience for me, and this is mostly down to the group”.

The collection of work will be exhibited till the 13th of May, for more information on the opening times of the gallery click here.

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Harlech 394

Tuesday 3 April 2012

Following on from the success of the Chwedlau’r Ddraig / The Dragon Tales community writing project last year, Cytser – The Constellation Project have teamed up with the keeper of the nation’s castles, Cadw, to create a new writing project inspired by Harlech Castle. Students of Ysgol Tan Castell in Harlech have been invited to participate in this new initiative called ‘Harlech 394′. So named as 394 is both the total of the skilled workers that built the castle and also the maximum amount of words the students are allowed to use in writing their new stories.

Last Friday, the students we joined at the castle by artist and ‘living historian’, Sean Harris, to explore the castle from a new perspective, not just using their eyes, but their hands, ears and imaginations to bring the castle and its incredible history to life. Over the next two months they will work with renowned storyteller and author Cath Aran on developing and writing their stories that will be inspired directly from all parts of the castle, its history and its future.

The stories will then be printed bi-lingually and will presented at an official book launch at Harlech Castle as part of the Harlech Chapters literature event due to take place in late May.

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Take part in a special workshop this Easter

Wednesday 28 March 2012

During the Easter holidays this April a special ‘Sound Art’ workshop will be held as part of the Cauldrons and Furnaces project which is part of the wider Cultural Olympiad national programme.

There will be a chance for children aged between 14-19 to attend the four day project – which is free, on 2, 3, 4, 5 April at Galeri, Caernarfon.

Under the supervision of the composer Ed Wright the workshop will give students the chance to compose, improvise and perform electronic music. The final piece of music will be performed at Caernarfon Castle as part of the ‘Cipio’r Castell’ event which is part of the Cauldrons and Furnaces wider project which will take place on 1 July.

The Cultural Olympiad is an opportunity to showcase Gwynedd’s creative and artistic talents, and ‘Cipio’r Castell’ at Caernarfon is part of this project. On 1 July hundreds of local school children will congregate on the town’s square before taking possession of the castle and transforming it into a huge exhibition space for their creations and music.

Throughout June the art illustrations will be on display including graffiti, sound instillations, kaleidoscopes, tepees, animations and film clips.

Gwawr Wyn Roberts, Gwynedd Council’s Community Arts Development Officer said:

“These next few months are going to be fantastic for the arts in Gwynedd. These workshops provide an opportunity for us to celebrate Gwynedd’s history, culture and identity in a thoroughly modern way.

“This workshop provides a great chance for Gwynedd’s young people to be part of this national event, which has already seen 16 million people from across the UK taking part.”

To book your place call William Mathias Music Centre on 01286 685230

For more information, including tickets for the ‘Cipio’r Castell’ event visit the Caernarfon Tourist Information Centre, telephone 01286 672232 or go to www.visitsonowdonia.info

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Arts in Health & Wellbeing

Tuesday 27 March 2012

On this Friday, the 30th of March, the Annual General Meeting for Creu Iechyd will be held in Oriel Ynys Môn, Llangefni. Creu Iechyd is Gwynedd and Anglesey’s Arts in Health and Well Being Steering Group.

It’s an opportunity for artists and healthcare practitioners to come together. During the Annual Meeting there will be a chance to elect new members, to enjoy some short presentations, to networking and to voice your opinion.

Our guest speakers this year are Pauline Down – Music in Health, Alys Conran and Jill Teague – Writing in Health and Gareth Foulkes – Disability Arts Cymru.

It is free of charge and there will be a warm welcome for everyone, for more information or to register contact the group’s secretary Gwawr Wyn Roberts, via e-mail GwawrR@gwynedd.gov.uk or over the phone 01286 679721 / 07789 032517.

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Spyd ar y Soffa

Thursday 22 March 2012

During the last fortnight of March this year the successful show “Spyd ar y Soffa” was on tour around some of the schools in Gwynedd.

Saving money is the theme of ‘Spyd ar y Soffa’ and the story is centred on Spud and his dream of flying around the world in a rocket!! But he has a problem, the lack of money; so Anti Isa is on hand and teaches Spyd how to save money through storytelling and reading books. She persuades Spyd that the best way to save money is to earn it in an honest wan and to save it in his money box.

“The show was amazing!” said a girl from Ysgol Crud y Werin, Aberdaron at the beginning of the tour; this was heard thought the tour.

The show was funded by Families First and produced by Gwynedd Library Services. For more information about the show or about Gwynedd Literature Promotions contact Gwen Lasarus- Gwynedd Literature Promoter, Caernarfon Library, Lon Pafiliwn, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 1AS. Or 01286 679465 / GwenLasarus@gwynedd.gov.uk

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Pesda Roc Bach

Thursday 22 March 2012

Easter Weekend, 4-8 April

Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda.

Pesda Roc Bach 2012 returns to Dyffryn Ogwen this Easter with a range of music and events to suit everyone’s tastes. The festival opens with a special screening of the film Separado! A documentary in which Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals) takes us on a pan continental road trip in search of his long lost Patagonian uncle, the poncho wearing guitarist Rene Griffiths. The Guardian describes it as an ‘Eccentrically charming documentary’. The film’s star, Rene Griffiths, will be performing on the night at Neuadd Ogwen. Other performers include 9bach, a local folk band who have recently returned from touring Australia. Martin from 9bach said, “I am looking forward to seeing Separado as I’ve heard so much about it and never seen it. Also Georgia Ruth playing with Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog is one not to miss. Having Heather Jones playing with us is a great honour. We are especially excited as we will be playing some new songs that will be on our second album for the first time”. Heather Jones is Wales’s most prominent folk singer since her first success in the 1960’s. She continues to be popular in both the Welsh and English folk scenes.

Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog will be releasing their latest album in the coming months entitled, ‘Draw Dros y Mynydd.’ As well as performing their own set they will also be performing as Georgia Ruth’s band. She has recently released her first EP, ‘In Luna.’ Mr Huw is also releasing a new EP, ‘Yr Afiechydon’ which will be on sale on the night. Elin Fflur, will also be performing whose heartfelt performances and astounding voice has captivated audiences throughout Wales and beyond. Dilwyn Llwyd, one of the event’s organisers said, “This festival is a natural progression from the relaxed gigs that have held every month in Bethesda. Music is central to these events.” Tickets are now available from Kath’s Shop, Bethesda and www.sadwrn.com. There will be a bar and food available at Neuadd Ogwen and a warm welcome for all. All nights start at 7 p.m. with tickets priced at £5 before hand or £7 at the door.

These are the main events:

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Adventures first…

Wednesday 21 March 2012

Photernative Wales

An experimental photography collective, bending light in unusual ways!

Photernative Wales is a collective of artist-photographers from across North Wales who believe photography isn’t just about the latest innovation. They are passionate about discovering the creative possibilities of all types of photographic processes often adapting cameras or inventing new ones to achieve their goals. From 23rd March until 6th May 2012 this new exhibition ‘Adventures first…’ at Oriel Pendeitsh Gallery, Caernarfon brings together the work of 19 members of the collective.

In exploring creative possibilities with experimental and alternative photographic processes, from pinhole to palladium, cyanotype to black and white, vintage, toy and homemade cameras, they all play a part to create some very interesting images.

Delyth Gordon, Visual Art Officer for Gwynedd Council says “ We are very pleased to host this new exhibition at Oriel Pendeitsh Gallery. In this age of automatic, press button, instant results this exhibition will hopefully engage the viewer in a range of themes, ideas and techniques and will be captivated by the magic of ‘bending of light’.”

The group was set up in 2010 and regularly provides exhibition opportunities for members, some of whom are able to offer workshop sessions in the community by arrangement.

exhibiting are :

 

David McBride

Sonja Benskin Mesher

David Makin

Vivienne Rickman-Poole

Alison McLean

Ben Du Ros

Tim Pugh

Wendy Dawson

Chris Bird

Gill Bird

Ian Thompson

Gareth Hobson

Caroline Race

John Clarke

Sue Clarke

Susie Liddle

Chloe Rafferty

Alan Whitfield

Antonia Dewhurst

 

For further information about Photernative please go to:

www.photernative.posterous.com

Oriel Pendeitsh Gallery, Caernarfon

March 23 – 6 May, 2012

Open Monday – Saturday 10.00 – 3.30 / from April 2 open Monday – Sunday 9.30 – 4.00

01286 676 476 / 01286 679 564

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The Welsh Premiere of the Forest

Monday 19 March 2012

Between the 29th and 31st of March there will be a chance to see a thrilling performance with no language by Fevered Sleep / Fuel – Y Goediwg / The Forest in the Galeri in Caernarfon.

There is a place at the very heart of the forest. A place where thing are not what they seem. People become animals, birds become music, day becomes night-time, leaves become light. It’s all around you. It’s full of adventure. It’s always changing….It the forest.

“Exquisite….it’s like a dream of a night in the forest. There is a grace to this show that captivated and moved me…”The Times ****

A thrilling, surprising and exciting performance with no language.

£5 for more information click here.

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