Craft in the Bay, Cardiff
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Ann Catrin Evans & Karin Mear
I have really enjoyed this process and have made a lovely new friend in Karin Mear. We had some memorable discussions and I was really inspired by her vivid descriptions of being raised in the valleys. These chats will remain with me and who knows, maybe more work will evolve in time from those chats. I hope you enjoy the exhibition and that they evoke some sense of roots from a certain special place.
Artists Dialogue Exhibition
Craft in the Bay, Cardiff
7 September – 27 October
This exhibition is the second partnership between Makers Guild Wales and Celebration of Welsh Contemporary Painting.
Six craft makers and six contemporary painters currently working in Wales were last year invited to create partnerships/pairings – beginning a dialogue about their professional art practices over the months leading to the exhibition at Craft in the Bay.
This exciting project brings together makers & artists across Wales, some of whom had never met previously. Each has found shared interests, inspiration and enthusiasm for stepping outside their ‘comfort zones’ to explore new approaches to their work, new materials and making techniques. Their creative conversations, studio visits and sharing materials has led to very exciting developments with their artwork as well as many new friendships with fellow creatives!
Artists ‘pairings’ include:
Beate Gegenwart & Catrin Webster
Clare Revera & Flora McLachlan Helen Higgins & James Donovan Pamela Jones & Jacqueline Alkema Ruth Shelley & Eloise Govier
“What links us as artists, is the love of our industrial landscapes and social history where we grew up. It still influences us in various ways. In this collaboration we are depicting aspects of our heritage through familiar mediums that echo our background – coal, iron and brass.
With a hint to the mines in Aberdare where Karin was raised and Ann’s agricultural background on the farm in Tregarth, the two artists have created pieces inspired by each other.”
Karin:
I have childhood memories of sliding down coal tips and of coming across a piece of fools gold. I have also paid homage to canaries, which saved the lives of many coalminers. Their bright yellow plumage would have provided a rare splash of colour in the blackness of the coalface.
Ann Catrin:
The diamonds are set in gold on iron, representing the brightness of the precious within the dakness of the coal.
My candlesticks are inspired by the paintings of coal heaps in Karin’s paintings of the valleys.