Arts & Crafts

from Shire Magazine September-October 2022

by Superstar Publishing

Letters

PASSION FOR PAINTING

When Jon Young took up his brushes again after a 30-year break, he knew painting was what he was destined to do

Despite taking A-level Art and working in design and print, Jon Young failed to get into art school and ended up studying for a Geography degree instead. He went on to teach Geography and PE as well as children with special educational Jon in his studio needs, and then spent a couple of decades in inclusion, working with young people who were out of school for a variety of reasons.

He said: “At the tender age of 50, following the loss of my parents, I started painting again after a 30-year break. The minute my brush touched the canvas, the sensory feedback hit me and I knew this was the

“I am drawn to place for me. people and places. “I use acrylic in I guess that’s the geographer in me! I like bold images: my painting. This wasn’t something I had used before, as I am not sure the a composition, a paints were around colour, a mood” in the 1970s, but I love the flexibility it offers.”

“I am drawn to people and places. I guess that’s the geographer in me! I like bold images: a composition, a colour, a mood. As my interests change, so too will my subjects. I will swap between people and places every now and again. I am particularly drawn to the coast. Most of my younger life was spent living by the sea and now I return to it whenever I can. I am lucky as the magical coasts of Mid and North Wales are not too far.”

Life changing

During lockdown, having had his share of medical issues and work stresses, Jon decided it was time to start a new venture and throw himself headlong into Jon Young Art.

He said: “Difficult times to start a new business, but maybe the right one for me. From odd snippets of time painting here and there, I now paint a lot more. I tried painting to a timetable but it did not work, so I now paint when I want to – or have to – which means that some weeks I will produce two or three paintings, some weeks none.”

Jon likes to get out and about, exploring and finding inspiration. He said: “I love cycling, canoeing, hillwalking, open space and light. I want to experience a place. Being active or just sitting outdoors affords a real appreciation of where we live. If I can share a bit of that in my paintings, I’m happy. We live in a wonderful part of the country, in rural Shropshire. The Granary is a set of old cowsheds and barns we have converted. My wife Cathy has created a lovely series of gardens, and a few weekends a year we open them up to share. It’s a great opportunity to chat and relax with people.”

Family influences

Jon’s father was a commercial artist for a large London company before setting up as a freelance. His mother studied fashion at art school. They both had a huge impact on Jon’s understanding of art, and still influence his work today. Jon also draws on his teaching experience and plans to develop a workshop programme at The Granary, giving others the chance to explore and enjoy their creativity.

He said: “Having spent years working in inclusion, teaching young people one to one, I have learned there is no one answer or piece of advice. What works for one person, may not work for another; what worked yesterday may not work today. The biggest lesson is to never give up trying. Find the things that gain your interest, be honest to yourself, look and listen – but above all it’s meant to be fun, so look for the good in your own work and other people’s.”

jonyoungart.co.uk

Left: Cathy Below: Barmouth Winter Sun

Top of page: Stormy Skies Arisaig

Home show for Welsh wonder

“…a subliminal forest of thought”

A major solo exhibition by Cerith Wyn Evans, the most widely established and internationally recognised Welsh artist working today, takes place this autumn at the Mostyn gallery in Llandudno

Cerith Wyn Evans was born in 1958 in Wales and lives and works in London, but his homecoming show – due to open on 8th October at Mostyn – is sure to attract great attention from art lovers locally, nationally and internationally.

Wyn Evans’ work, especially his intricate neon sculptures, interrogate the idea of perception and question not only how we interpret the works, but also how we interpret their spatial surroundings as well as the broader systems of spoken, visual and written language. The neon works are not simply neon but forms of perception that allow visitors to immerse themselves in the exhibition environment, with the audience walking through, around and under a plethora of intricate light works, sound works, vibration works and transparencies. These will fascinate, seduce and at the same time challenge the individual’s perception of what constitutes art, what it is to be a viewer, and what is communicated to us and from us within this environment.

Wyn Evans’ work is a fully immersive, sensory exploration of the mind and body, our cognitive system and consciousness.

Aspen Drift (2021)

Burning desires

Wyn Evans harnesses the potential of language to create moments of rupture and delight, where desire and reality conjoin, evident in his series of firework sculptures where wooden structures spell out texts and fleetingly burn over a period of time. These performative sculptures take on new life when documented through photographs or film. Likewise, in an ongoing series of neon text sculptures, he uses favourite passages of text or film subtitles to create powerful, open-ended works that produce a retinal after-image in the viewer.

Radical and romantic

The visual narrative will unfold through a sort of ‘controlled randomness’ throughout Mostyn, in which different artworks will be at once radical and romantic. Neon works will be suspended and isolated in space, and sound will be emitted from glass and aluminum panes through small directional speakers that play faint, tinkling notes or a barely audible radio signal. Light columns seven metres high will emerge from the floor as a subliminal forest of thought.

The artist’s practice explores the way that ideas can be communicated through form, incorporating diverse media including installation, sculpture, photography, film and text – in fact, he began his career as a filmmaker producing short, experimental films and collaborations. His strategies of exhibition making are often site-specific – exhibitions as a catalyst to produce a reservoir of possible meanings and discursive experiences. His poetic work derives its refined aesthetic from a range of influences including film, music, literature and philosophy. Visual or textual sources and ideas are often repeated across different bodies of work, an indication of a desire to keep ideas in play or bring them back to life as raw material for future use.

2nd September, Weaving with Trevor Blackburn

Trevor has some lovely scarves, shawls and other woven items and he will be here adding to his collection and happy to chat about his craft.

3rd & 4th September, Spinning Masterclass with

Jenni Frost Jenni uses wool from her own fl ock to make beautiful cushions, scarves and shawls. Under her tuition, you can learn the basics of this lovely craft. jennifrost@outlook.com

6th & 7th September, Tracey

Davies Tracey’s watercolours include buildings and landscapes, as well as portraits and pet portraits from photos.

8th & 9th September, Gill

Benjamin The local artist will be busy adding to her collection during these two days. Gill is happy to take commissions and to talk through any of your own creative ideas.

15th & 16th September, Eco Silver Jewellery by Sandra Roberts Sandra repurposes

silver from the jewellery industry to make her unique pieces.

22nd & 23rd September, Elaine at Cherry Bea, and

Liz Elaine knits clothes to dress her cute teddies, whilst Liz makes fabric bags with eyecatching embellishments.

29th & 30th September,

Chris Cornwell An artist in watercolours and oils, this will be Chris’s fi rst visit to the centre.

1st & 2nd October, Sunnyside

Crafts Linda has gift items made from wood, seaglass and more.

6th & 7th October, Jackie

at Jewels Jackie has a large collection of jewellery, made with stones, beads and crystals.

8th & 9th October, Thelma Evans

Thelma’s delicate paintings include fl oral scenes, landscapes and seascapes.

12th October, Crafty Sisters

Jewellery in striking colours and designs, cards and tote bags.

22nd & 23rd October, Marie at Earth Deva Quirky items, some with a mythical theme.

Morton Roberts, Ruthin Library, 3rd October - 23rd December

Born in Denbigh in 1947, Morton Roberts was educated in Ruthin, Wrexham and Newport College of Art and Sculpture. His career for the following 35 years took him into the world of leather goods, but he always had an interest in painting. Moving to Betws y Coed in 2006, the sheer beauty of his surroundings rekindled his creative passion and he started to draw again. This exhibition is influenced by Picasso, moving water, old buildings, landscapes, seascapes and boulders. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2016, Morton has found that planning this exhibition has revived his creativity and it is dedicated to his family and all fellow sufferers.

‘The Tailor’s Tale’, Ty Pawb, Wrexham, until 24th September

‘The Tailor’s Tale’ brings together artistic responses to the famous Wrexham Tailor’s Quilt, created by James Williams between 1842 and 1852. The quilt, now housed at St Fagan’s Museum and loaned to Tŷ Pawb for this exhibition, is actually a single-layer patchwork coverlet made up of 4,525 pieces of woollen cloth. It depicts scenes from the Bible such as Adam naming the animals, Cain and Abel, Jonah and the whale, and Noah’s ark. It also features motifs symbolising Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland, and features the Menai Bridge and Cefn Viaduct. Such was the workmanship of the quilt, it was displayed at the Art Treasures Exhibition of North Wales in 1876 and the National Eisteddfod in 1933, both held in Wrexham. The quilt is now widely regarded as one of the best surviving examples of Welsh folk art.

Emma Rodgers: ‘Wunderkammer’, The Williamson Art Gallery,

Wirral, until 1st October Wirralbased Rodgers is one of the most celebrated sculptors working in ceramic and bronze. Her work, acclaimed for its vibrancy, strength and flexibility has been exhibited at the V&A, the Royal Academy, SOFA Chicago, and in New York and Miami. The artist has undertaken several significant public commissions, including the Cilla Black statue on Mathew Street in Liverpool, and, most recently, a statue celebrating pioneering Welsh writer and feminist Elaine Morgan in Mountain Ash, South Wales. ‘Wunderkammer’ is a miniretrospective of her practice.

COMPETITION

Well, Fantastic Flowers certainly proved to be a popular topic! We just love these stunning shots you sent in for our last photo competition – so pretty and such a lovely burst of colour for our pages. We’ve been inundated with entries, so we have printed as many as we can here and selected our winners. If you didn’t make it into print this time, please do keep sending your photos to us and perhaps you’ll see your name into the next edition.

We’re hoping the change of season will help you to find artistic inspiration once again, and as we head into autumn and harvest time we’d like you to use the theme of Food and Feasts for the next competition. As always, you can email your photos to us at editorial@shiremagazine.co.uk – and good luck!