Art Exhibition
Plas Glyn y Weddw Gallery
Llanbedrog
Gwynedd
21-03-2010
Team-work is the ethos behind this project that is being exhibited here. The magic that has taken place has been achieved by the hard work of all involved from the tutors to the learners, staff and carers.
The environment of Cwmni Seren Cyf in Blaenau Ffestiniog is an Aladdin’s cave for any creative person, full of odds and ends, which have been donated by the public to be reused and recycled. The workshop is a hive of activity during our art sessions, and most of what is on display here has been made using materials that have escaped landfill.
Our passion and inspiration has been our culture here in Wales – our roots. All the work has been made with a hope of capturing a sentiment to our home and the things that describe Wales in a visual way (with some use of artistic licence!) All the participants on the Coleg Harlech WEA funded Art course have their own individual expertise that comes together to create the Art work on display. Everyone has his or her own speciality ranging from an acute eye for detail to an explosive energetic and expressionist response to the given syllabus.
The achievements that have been made by every learner in producing this body of work are unique to them. Their contributions have meant that each session is positive and exciting, which in turn has lead to the well-being and holistic health of the group and all involved. We have thoroughly enjoyed working together and hopefully the work reflects this.
Artist’s Statement
Therese Urbanska graduated from Coleg Menai in 2004 – one of the first graduates on the new Fine Arts degree course held there in partnership with NEWI Wrexham. She was the winner of the Young Artist Award at the Spirit of Llyn Art Competition 2004 with her work ‘Dacw’r Bwthyn Gwyn’ in Mixed Media.
In the earlier part of 2009 Tess was fortunate enough to be one of the several Artist involved in the ‘TIR’ project organised by the Oriel Plas Glyn Y Weddw (see web site for more details) and spent 10 weeks as Artist in Residence on the stunning Inis Oirr, one of the Aran Islands off the West coast of Ireland.
There she was exposed to the extreme weather conditions that are an integral part of Island life, dramatic sea and skyscapes became every day occurrences that stored in her subconscious. When Tess returned to Wales the experience had had a profound effect on her painting and she began to concentrate on the dramatic sea and skyscapes that are in abundance around the coastline of the Lleyn.