Cardiff Octoberfest

Cardiff's annual "Made in Roath" event, dominating the east side of the city, drew to a close this evening but it is only one of a plethora of major art events happening around the city this month. Coincidence or out-and-out competition, I'm not quite sure. "Cardiff Contemporary", is popping up all over the city till 9 November and has certainly stolen the limelight from MiR. Bigger still is the prestigious "Artes Mundi", attracting an international audience to the National Museum from 24 October onwards. Meanwhile "Empty Walls" gathers over 20 national and international street artists to decorate Cardiff's grey buildings with vibrant murals. On the weekend of 25/26 October Cardiff Open Studios throws the doors open on the remainder of the city's artists. In Cardiff Bay, the Butetown History and Art Centre launches Wales' first exhibition of 'Outsider Art', running until 16th November.

I had to spend several days scurrying back and forth across town because several pieces of my work were on display. My "United Colours of Madiba" painting got its first airing at Roath's SHO Gallery. My photograph of the Howard Gardens Art College campus was used prominently for the publicity and display at G39. In BHAC my "Portrait of a Diary as a Young Idea" fits well into the impressive array of paintings and sculpture on the 'Outsider Art' theme.

Fun though this may be, it is bewildering even for someone like myself who thought they were getting to grips with the artist personalities and groups in Cardiff. One would have thought, with 11 other months to choose from, there would be scope to spread these events out a bit! My heart tells me I should engage with the Made in Roath event, even though (said very quietly) I no longer live in ...erm ...Roath (and now the Roath Independence referendum has voted an overwhelming "YES" I may need a passport and visa to go to work). Made in Roath continues to be ultra popular, community based, democratic and encouraging mass participation and pride in the local area. In contrast "Cardiff Contemporary" goes down the more traditional route of professional artists presenting their work to the public in galleries, pop-ups and (occasionally) street corners. Exhibitions are selective and chosen from within the city's art scene. My head tells me I need to aim to engage with this event and, well, entering "Artes Mundi" is a distant pipe dream!!

Fortunately I can head for one of October's beer based "Octoberfest" events, hopefully numbing my brain to all this choice and confusion!!

http://madeinroath.com/
http://www.cardiffcontemporary.co.uk/
http://www.bhac.org/

Wilson up close and personal

Last week I had to run an errand across town and, on my way back, decided to drop into the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff. I’m alarmed at how infrequently I visit this place, packed as it is with world class exhibits and a marvellous array of international art. And it's free to enter!

Prize exhibit at the moment is a £23 million painting of Salisbury Cathedral by John Constable, an awe inspiring work, vast in size and as crisply coloured as the day it was first painted. Photographs don’t do it justice. Three teenage schoolgirls sat in front of it for the ten minutes I was there, not saying anything, not even moving but, like me, enjoying the artwork.

In the adjacent galleries an exhibition of paintings and drawings by Wales’ most illustrious painter, Richard Wilson, was taking place. I’m glad I caught it. Wilson (1714-1782) travelled widely, redefining landscape painting and changing the very definition of beauty. Instead of the stylised and symbolic works of his contemporaries, he painted what was in front of him, actual landscapes and genuine settings (with only the occasional compositional device thrown in). Country house owners rushed to have their actual estates painted in all their glory. Meanwhile his bleak unadorned portrayals of Welsh mountain peaks were shocking to traditional eyes because of their stark simplicity.

Fascinating to me were Wilson’s delightfully witty portrayal of people. It’s not something you would notice unless you could stand a few feet in front of these big canvases. Sparingly placed at the edges of his landscapes are people going about their everyday business, walking, fishing, washing clothes, swimming. His painting of the town of Pembroke has a small child climbing a tree while, at the bottom of the cliff, his father tries to beckon him down. In the background there are skinny dippers discarding their clothes and swimming in the river. Even more remarkably for the time, Wilson portrays a woman breastfeeding her baby overlooking the River Arno, Italy, while her husband lies beside her tending his fishing rod (that’s not a euphemism by the way). The woman stares out of the canvas, challenging you to contemplate the intimate moment you’ve stumbled upon.

Wilson inspired John Constable and this exhibition is heralded as a once-in-a-generation gathering together of his paintings (a once-in-300-years tercentennial celebration of his birth). A marvellous opportunity. Paintings (well, the best ones) always reveal new and interesting qualities when they’re viewed ‘live’ and close up.

Richard Wilson and the Transformation of European Landscape Painting until 26 October 2014
www.museumwales.ac.uk/cardiff

Part of the Wallpaper

While renovating my tiny kitchen in my Victorian terraced house I came across a patch of 1960s wallpaper behind a panel. It was a boldly coloured floral pattern in acidic shades of blue. I liked it and kept it, framed behind a sheet of perspex. I’m surrounded by remnants of old hearths and chimney breasts that no longer serve a purpose. My living room proudly retains a lead-based paint encrusted sash window.

Therefore I can relate strongly in many ways to Shani Rhys James installation, Florilingua, which was opened to the public this weekend inside the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff. I enjoy paintings which take on another dimension. Shani Rhys James is one of Wales’ best known painters, recognised for her giant canvases which often take her own image as the subject.  But Florilingua expands to take on three dimensions and a sensory explosion of colour, sound and smell. Ostensibly it purports to speak about the domesticity of the lives of Victorian women. A bold floral ‘wallpaper’ pattern, painted by the artist, covers the interior walls of a bunker-like room constructed in the WMC concourse. From the ceiling hangs a small and suitably sombre black chandelier (bejewelled with rich red crystals) which illuminates the room. Poetry in English and Welsh can be heard, while the female poet’s lips mouth the words from a tiny screen in the middle of the far wall.

Even the solid construction of Shani’s bunker speak about the strength of Victorian domestic architecture. Contrary to Britain’s 19th century vision of male dominance and female subservience, nay invisibility, Florilingua resonates with a strength and depth. The rich yellows and reds are not restrained in any way, while the heady smell of fresh oil paint could render a small child unconscious! Maybe this installation is a physical respresentation of Shani’s multi-facted and opinionated persona (which belies her diminutive stature). I heard more than one person exiting the room commenting that they felt they had just experienced what it was like to walk into the middle of one of Shani’s paintings.

There is something quite incongruous about this unassuming white plywood box on the edge of the vast WMC concourse, but it’s a great setting which emphasises the extremes going on here. If anyone is heading down to Cardiff Bay then go search it out!

If Not Now, When?

An interesting inaugural meeting took place tonight in Cathays, Cardiff, entitled "If Not Now, When?" It gathered together a meeting room full of visual artists and creative types from the Cardiff area who shared a very loose commitment to political topics and social issues. The event was organised by artist Shaun Featherstone, I think, though 'Made in Spring' and the G39 Gallery seem to have a hand in this week's events.

Okay, I really should have a clear picture in my mind of the background to the meeting, especially considering I was tasked to write the minutes!! The event was made more memorable by a heavy rain shower that found its way through several holes in the roof. There was also an appearance by possibly the largest bag of potato crisps in the known world.

Topics for discussion included "Is art an effective means of protest?" and "Do art and politics mix?" The tentative suggestion was raised that an Artists Union could be set up for Welsh creative types. At the very least, a Facebook page will be created (by a graphic designer no less, so expect to be impressed).

Well, it was great to meet (and listen to) such a thoughtful and talented bunch of creative people. I hope something comes of it (another meeting is planned) though my head tells me the task of organising artists will be as successful as herding cats!!

Open Studios West

Had a fabulous afternoon today visiting artists' studios in Pontcanna and Riverside for the second year of the Cardiff Open Studios weekend. It's a great opportunity for artists across the whole of the city to invite members of the public around their workspaces, especially good for artists outside the "Made in Roath" catchment zone.

Pontcanna has the amazing Kings Road Studios which has been established for 20 years, now has a couple of dozen resident artists and an on-site micro brewery, would you believe! I was offered a mug of tea and a cake and had a nice chat with several of the clever and hugely talented occupants. It surprised me how many of the resident artists I'd seen or heard of before - this is obviously a hotbed of Wales talent.

Riverside claimed several hidden gems, including photographer Kim Fielding esconced with several other colourful characters behind the doors of the long-closed Wells Hotel. The building itself is impressive, retaining its old weathered pub signs. It even has its own resident ghosts, a pair of murdered nuns.

Finally I had the privilege of visiting the studio of Jacqueline Alkema, who I've known by sight for years and was one of the judges at 2013's The Gate Open Exhibition. Her paintings are simply delightful, tremendously thoughtful, multi-layered and brilliantly crafted.

It's just a shame the event is so poorly publicised. I found about it purely by chance and most visitors were already friends and neighbours of the artists. Come on Cardiff Council, pull your finger out for 2014!!

www.cardiffopenstudios.com/

Taking it as Red

'Red, Blue and Tan'
acrylic on canvas
24 x 30 x 3cm

A subject that lends himself to a vivid colour portrait - the controversial Malaysian owner of Cardiff City Football Club, Vincent Tan. He changed the colour of the Bluebirds' football strip from blue to ...erm... red because it was a much more positive colour in his home country. His investment helped Cardiff reach the Premiership league for the first time in 50 years, so no-one should be complaining!

I like the colour red, so when it comes to portraying him on canvas I'm not complaining either. This one has been submitted to The Gate Arts Centre annual open exhibition and will be on view from 17th October to 15th November 2013. In the event that one of Mr Tan's friends, family or staff are wandering the streets of Roath in the next few weeks, I would suggest a version of this painting will look superb on the wall of the football club boardroom!

Food for Thought

Britains Got Talent star and Cardiff Art College graduate, Nathan Wyburn, was in town this week exhibiting his food art. I dropped in today to see his work and have a chat.While making a portrait of Simon Cowell from marmite on toast may appear on the surface to be a populist gimmick, his art is quite thoughtful and being put to great use. He's become an ambassador for an anti-bullying charity, for example.

Nathan has also made a giant portrait of Rupert Murdoch (produced at the height of the Leveson Inquiry in 2012) made from small images of his phone-hacking victims. He's also made a recent portrait of the late Maggie Thatcher, poignantly using coal dust as a medium (she's fondly remembered by South Wales miners for defeating their strike and closing their mines). For me it's refreshing to find a young art graduate engaging with overtly political themes. He makes them accessible to a wide audience.

Personally I like the temporary nature of his works. They are sometimes made from perishable foodstuffs. They also often take topical personalities and events as their subjects. It's another challenge to the commonly held idea that art is timeless and universal.

Nathan says he's been constantly busy in the UK and overseas since he graduated last June. Of course, I'm very jealous, but very pleased to hear it all the same! I'll, erm, toast his success *groan*

Opening my Banksy Account

Banksy Mousetrap, Kingsdown, Bristol (2008)

It's amusing to read the recent consternation about the Banksy stencil (or lack of) on a Poundland store in Wood Green, London. There are people trying to make big bucks out of something that is seen by many as illegal and antisocial.

I'll admit I'm a big fan of Banksy. He combines intelligence, wit and daring, always with great skill and often with a sprinkling of politics. His work has done a lot to convince people to treat graffiti as legitimate art. I've been an avid 'graffiti hunter' since my architecture school days when (for a student project) I designed a Graffiti Museum for Bristol. There are very many tremendously talented and imaginative graffiti artists working in Bristol and Cardiff. My local Cardiff park has hosted a "Roxe Jam" since 2007 where, every July, a 130 metre length of Railtrack-owned wall is repainted by an international collection of artists.

Street art, Cathays, Cardiff (2012)

One of the essential qualities of street art I've noticed is its transitory nature. Many pieces are scrubbed away by the local municipal cleansing department, the remainder are eroded by the weather, replaced by the artists or amended by their rivals. Their artists, like Banksy, are often elusive.

But, as Banksy knows from experience, it seems however much an artist tries to remain outside the establishment the gallery and auction house system will eventually reel them in. In the art world it's a strategy of the very best artists to always strive to stay one or two steps ahead. I'll watch with interest to see what cunning plan the Banksy's of this world come up with next!

Beaten by a Naked Woman

It is seldom a reason to celebrate when one's mother is strung up in public and beaten by a naked woman. However, in this instance I'll celebrate with a clear concience. My mom's portrait was hung in the open exhibition at "Ink Spot", Cardiff and I've just found out the painting won second prize in the people's vote! If I don't say so myself, the standard of entry was very high.

And the naked woman? Well, the first prize went to a very respectable painting of a nude.

Spot at Inkspot

October 2012 is a busy month indeed. My favorite art cavern, Inkspot (in a re-used church on Newport Road, Cardiff) is holding an art competition to coincide with the Made in Roath event. Entries will be diplayed in the first floor fine art materials shop, between 13th and 20th October. Entries are subject to a public vote, with the winner getting a prize.

I've entered my orange portrait, The Fig Tree, into the event. If you're passing by, do drop in and cast your vote. Preferably vote for mwah!!

Closing Down Sale

Meanwhile, back in the provinces, my latest painting rolled off the production line last week. It is of another corner shop, Meeks, in Roath, Cardiff. Its rare original frontage may soon be no more, because the landlord is reclaiming the building for 'development'. The shop has been open for 100 years, another victim of 'progress'.

Closing Down Sale
acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 x 3 cm

Multicolour Sweet Shop

Cornershop
Acrylic paint on canvas
25 x 25 x 3.5cm


One of my favorite views in Cardiff, a small shop on a very acute corner in what used to be called Cardiff Docks. It's not the most salubrious area, somewhere architecture students will go to study 'urban grain', so a multicolour makeover was a reasonably difficult challenge.

The result seems to be quite successful, if I don't say so myself. The red car and the passers-by help to add a bit of scale. For the fans of clutter there is street furniture, posters, fire alarms and a satellite dish...

Buildings have faces and characters so I guess you can describe this as another portrait. In that case it's a fusion of my many black & white pen & ink street scenes and my technicolour painted heads!!

Pontcanna Gallery

Spring has arrived, the sun is shining so I decided to visit Pontcanna Street Gallery. I'd been tipped off that my friend Lynne was exhibiting there. To my delight another fellow college graduate, AndyLumbourg, also had some paintings on show.

I'm ashamed I've never visited Pontcanna Street Gallery before now. It is quite delightful, in one of the nicest streets in Cardiff, friendly, welcoming and busy. There were a number of well known Cardiff and Wales artists on display, including the paintily Mark Samuel (whose work I first noticed several years ago). It also claims to sell work by John Knapp-Fisher, who was a minor inspiration to me when I was a teenager living in West Wales.

Well, the standard is extremely high. I'll have to work hard before I've got a suitable range of paintings worthy of display here. Portraits of mwah probably do not have the required universal appeal, haha.