Edward Gordon Craig 1872-1966: Treasures of a theatre designer

1 'La Procession Nocturne (Liszt)', wood engraving, 1927

Edward Gordon Craig 1872-1966
Avant-garde Theatre Designer & Artist
Stage Designs & Photographs, Drawings, Engravings, Woodcuts & Etchings
Aberystwyth University School of Art Gallery
29 November - 28 January
A Monnow Valley Arts Centre touring exhibition

An exhibition crammed with a cornucopia of small prints, drawings, photographs and ephemera. Of particular interest to students of literature, theatre, stage design, printmaking and illustration.

All photographs of installation views Margaret Sharrow, 2011

2 For King Lear, 1925

3 'La Commedia', woodcut, 1911

4 'Odysseus Arrives at Crete'

5 'Ophelia'

6 Photograph of set model

7 'Weep you no more sad fountains', 1906

Review: Fforma @ Morlan Centre, Aberystwyth through September 2010

Pam Berridge, 'Swithland', watercolour and agyrotype

Last weekend I attended the opening of the latest exhibition by the Aberystwyth-based artists' group Fforma, at the Morlan Centre, Aberystwyth. A variety of media, particularly photographic media, is in evidence. Nothing unusual in the hanging (entirely excusable due to the opening date being moved forward unexpectedly), just quality images at reasonable prices. Welsh and Celtic landscape and culture are recurring themes.

The opening was quite a jolly little event - we ended up exchanging ghost stories, of all things, over drinks and nibbles. The drinks are long gone, but this foyer exhibition is a good one, and will repay a stop to or from the delights of Aberystwyth's prom. Free, until at least 3 September, probably longer, I hear. Note that the Morlan Centre is closed for much of August - check with their website for when events are on at the centre, to be sure when they are likely to be open. (Hover the mouse over the calendar to check each day's events - if there's something else besides Fforma, Morlan should be open for part of the day.)



















Tina Carr and Annemarie Schone, 'Cwmystwyth SN 803 746 lead and blende dressing complex of Pugh's mine', vintage black and white silver print


















Martin Crampin, 'Pennant melangell fragments', giclée print


















Fiona Wright, 'Beinn Bhan from Bealach na Ba', silver gelatin print






















Elaine Henderson, 'Web', silver gelatin print





















Two exhibition views, Morlan Centre.

Images copyright Margaret Sharrow, 2010

Images this page, aside from exhibition views, remain copyright of the artists.

26 July 2010

Degree Show stars of Wales

Once again the degree shows of Wales have turned up a lot of interesting work (as well as the odd persons who weren't trying very hard, or who lacked or shunned guidance - but I shall cheerfully mention these no more). The shows at Aberystwyth University School of Art, Newport (Caerleon) and Trinity College (Carmarthen) were very different in scale, concept and emphasis. Having been spoiled by the fabulous architecture at Aberystwyth, I still find it a bit odd to see people at other schools having to exhibit underneath stairwells and in other spaces that might be bypassed by the visitor, although these spaces present obvious challenges and opportunities for creativity.

Above: Sophie Guiver, Trinity College Carmarthen

Aberystwyth continues to present a more conservative approach to exhibition overall (although it is always lifted by the light pouring through the magnificent skylights upstairs) - though a growing number (and not just in the Contemporary Concepts and Practice group) are bursting away from the white cube approach to use a variety of presentation styles, which I applaud. In this way they are perhaps catching up with other schools of art, while maintaining standards of technique, particularly in printmaking. It was also good to see those who had grasped drawing skills, though it is still rare to see someone who has done so to a level that they feel confident to become playful or to introduce deliberate rather than clearly accidental distortions.

Sorry, I'll get off my soapbox now. Because I did genuinely enjoy all the shows I attended. I was, by turns, inspired, challenged, intrigued and amused. I shall leave you with a series of image of pieces that particularly struck me, in no particular order. They are all installation views and as such do not perhaps convey the full intent of the artists, for which apologies, but then I am loath to reproduce things in an accurate, copyable form without permission. So you will have to make do with my own style of recording.





















Rob Perry, Aberystwyth (MA)






























Laurence Stephens, Newport (documentary photography)

Tristan Hooper, Newport (documentary photography)

Heather Dobbins, Trinity College Carmarthen

Heather Dobbins, Trinity College Carmarthen

Amber Bolwell, Trinity College Carmarthen

Nikki Warlow, Trinity College Carmarthen

Elisabeth Williams, Trinity College Carmarthen

Elisabeth Williams, Trinity College Carmarthen

Daniel Roberson, Aberystwyth (MA)

Samuel Cooper, Aberystwyth

Aletia Thomas, Aberystwyth

Aletia Thomas, Aberystwyth

Kimberley Lewis, Aberystwyth























Rosemary Fahimi, Aberystwyth






















Aberystwyth. I thought I'd taken photos of everyone's labels, but I missed this one - apologies. Could someone help me out, please?























Chiara Tocci, Newport (documentary photography)

Ella Edwards, Newport (fine art)





























David Hucklesby, Aberystwyth

























Rebecca Backshall, Aberystwyth





























Lisa Stiff, Aberystwyth





























Sarah Poole, Aberystwyth






























Constanze Thielecke, Aberystwyth























Emily Payne, Newport (fine art)
























Emily Payne, Newport (fine art)

Rowena Clee, Newport (fine art)





Richard Wood, Aberystwyth

Paper Penguins

Captured penguins

One of the joys of being at the School of Art is the little unexpected things. For example, a couple of days ago someone put up a series of paper origami penguins in the main hallway by the notice board.

They were trundling along in a sedate curve but kept being knocked over by people unaware of their existence ('Mind the penguins!' 'What penguins?') or blown over whenever someone opened the door. I suspected the caretaker of righting them but some clearly preferred staring at the ceiling, which is very nice with the view through an oval hole in the first floor floor, ringed by wooden banisters. 'Waste of space!' pronounced Former Tutor, but I thought, if I was working somewhere, and suddenly Paper Penguins appeared in the corridor, it would bring a Moment of Joy into my day. This surely is one function of art. Not all art, certainly, but some art should be allowed to bring joy, and not just Big Ideas.

There is a sad postscript to this story. I came in this morning, and they had all been gathered up and affixed to the noticeboard in a stack, with a pushpin. Ouch!

More puzzlingly, a quick internet search for 'origami penguins' revealed nothing so simple and elegant as those innocents massacred against the green baize. You might try http://website.lineone.net/~john.montgomery/origami/penguin.html.

I will have to seek out the penguins' maker. I wonder if it was the same person who put a piece of red string leading from the street,

up through the car park, in through the front doors, and up several flights of stairs, to what, I never found out. 'I'm expecting something grizzly - a body!' enthused Tutor. What actually happened was that as I left that evening, in the dark, I felt something like a small animal tugging at my ankle. It turned out to be the string, in which I had become entangled while crossing the lawn.

welcome page ----- Margaret's webpage ----- Facebook ----- Flickr ----- Saatchi Online