Crickhowell Community News

CRiC art trail to showcase glass art

Sun, 06 May 2012 16:47:00 +0000

Talybont on Usk artist, Susan Thorne will be opening her studio during the Jubilee weekend as part of the Open Studio and Gallery event co-ordinated by the Crickhowell Resource and Information Centre. She is inspired by the mountain landscape, in particular by Pen-y-Fan, and strives to capture the mood and atmosphere that she experiences while walking in the mountains in the pieces she produces in glass. She experiments with ways to 'draw' in glass taking her skills from the paper into the glass. Using the heat of the kiln she has found a method to translate her drawings in such a way as to utilise the material’s unique qualities.
A vibrant and exciting array of glass art will be included in the Art Trail. Visitors will once again be able to enjoy Carys Rodwell’s contemporary art glass pieces and pictures with a quirky style which she produces from her home studio in Crickhowell. She uses vibrant colour in an imaginative and humorous way. Developing her skills and techniques has enabled her to achieve her ambition of producing unique bespoke pieces.

Gallery on the Usk in Crickhowell will be showcasing the work of world renowned Helen Millard who is thought to be one of the finest Cameo glass engravers. She has developed her own style of Cameo art glass, using stunning layered glass combinations that are surface engraved to depict her long fascination and love of nature. Helen will be demonstrating the process of cameo engraving at Gallery on the Usk on Saturday the 2nd of June from 11.00am.

The Open Studio and Gallery event has become a wonderful local attraction over the past 3 years and will also offer visitors the opportunity to visit painters, printmakers, sculptors, textile artists, woodturners and ceramicists at 41 studios and group venues across a wide area. Free guides are available at Tourist Information Centres and other local outlets and listings can be found on www.crickhowellinfo.org.uk

Adult Learners Week 2012 events in Crickhowell

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:17:00 +0000

During this year�s Adult Learners Week the Crickhowell Resource and Information Centre and Arts Alive in Crickhowell are encouraging you to have a go and try something new by taking part in workshops being held at CRiC and at Arts Alive during the week of 12th-20th May. On Sat 12th May Arts Alive are running a drop in Art Surgery from 10am � 1pm when you can experiment with a wide range of art materials and get professional advice for all your creative queries. �5.00
Free workshops at CRiC include �A beginners guide to using the internet� on mon 14th May and �An introduction to Powerpoint� on fri 18th May.
On Weds 16th May there will be the chance to try your hand at making your own prints using simple techniques, such as lino and relief at the printmaking workshop which runs from 10am to 3pm at Arts Alive�s centre on Brecon Road, a fee of �8.00 will be charged to cover the cost of tools and materials.

For more details or to book your space contact CRiC on 01873 811970 email:admin@crickhowellinfo.org.uk.

Adult Learners' Week is a campaign which combines national promotion with local action. The campaign offers adults the chance to have a go at learning something new by trying out one of the hundreds of free taster sessions that happen across Wales during the week, and an opportunity for learning providers to showcase their provision.
Crickhowell Resource and Information Centre is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. Adult Learners' Week is the UK's largest festival and celebration of adult learning, co-ordinated by NIACE Dysgu Cymru and core-funded by the Welsh Government, and the European Social Fund.

Hard of Hearing Club will hear about help for those with hearing loss

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:25:00 +0000

The next speaker at the Brecon & District Hard of Hearing Club on 11^th April in the Bishop Bevan Hall in Brecon from 2.00 to 4.00 pm will be Simon Haisman who will be bringing a range of equipment to make life easier for those with hearing problems. Simon, from Action on Hearing Loss Cymru, will be available to give advice on a number of aids which are currently available including personal listeners, TV and phone amplifiers, flashing doorbells and vibrating alarm clocks. Everybody is welcome to attend; you do not have to be a member of the club. The club meets regularly on the 2^nd Wednesday of each month in the Bishop Bevan and arranges speakers, social activities and outings for members. For further information is available from Chris Coventry on 01874 730667or email chriscov@hotmail.co.uk.

Pulling together

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:11:00 +0000

Pulling hard for a jubilee fair comes naturally to a group of Crickhowell citizens who will revive the town's traditional tug-of-war event on Sunday June 3.
It will be supported by a sedan carriage race, street entertainers, stall holders, live bands and fashion/fancy dress competitions. Powys County Council has agreed to the High Street being closed to traffic for the day and all the High Street pubs and restaurants will provide themed street food and drinks.
Eight men's teams will contest the tug-of-war plus two women's teams. A prize of a barrel of beer has been donated by the Rhymney Brewery which is now based in Blaenavon.
The Crickhowell Diamond Jubilee Committee has been constituted with its own legal status to enable members to raise funds for a series of local Jubilee events. It is chaired by Mayor Dave Collier. Grocer Ray Grenfell and Corn Exchange landlady Fiona Williams are co-treasurers and Dragon landlord Ashley Nield is secretary.
Dave Collier said: �The Queen's Diamond Jubilee is a very special event and we wanted to arrange something memorable for the community. It will be a friendly, colourful, fun day and should appeal to all ages. The committee we have formed is getting stronger all the time but we now need to focus on fund-raising to help finance our plans.�
Although the town council is not part of the organising committee it has approved funds to support certain elements of the festivities.
The pupils of Crickhowell Primary School will each receive a special Crickhowell Diamond Jubilee mug which was designed by Ray Grenfell and is being made in South Wales in time for the event.
The committee will also be planting a commemorative tree in Crickhowell Castle grounds with an inscribed slate plaque.
On Monday June 4th there will be a picnic in the park (in the appropriately-named Jubilee Park) for families with youngsters. And on Tuesday June 5th there will be tea and cakes at Crickhowell High School for senior citizens alongside a film of the Queen's coronation sixty years ago.
Any volunteers who would like to help prepare the event or be a marshal on the day please call Ashley at The Dragon on 810362.

Gwent Chamber Orchestra performing at Cwmdu

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:50:00 +0000

This year there are four concerts in our season at St. Michael & All Angels, Cwmdu. Two of these (the Gwent Chamber Orchestra & the Keith Little Band) are to help raise funds for our church itself; we are acting as ‘hosts’ for the other two – the Brecon Singers and the Lady Llanover Society – who are making use of the outstanding acoustics of St. Michael’s. To start with, on 12^th May at 7.30 pm, we are delighted once again to welcome the Gwent Chamber Orchestra to come and play for what will be their eighth annual May concert at St. Michael & All Angels, Cwmdu. Under their Conductor, David Gedge, and Leader, John Roberts, they will be entertaining us with a lively and varied programme of music. Appearing with them will be the clarinet player, Richard Whitehead and the bass, Nicholas Gedge, both of whom are well known to and much loved by many of our audience. Although the precise detail of the programme has not been completely finalised at this stage, it will include Clarinet Concerto in A major, K 622 Mozart, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik Mozart, Symphony No. 24 in D major Haydn,- and Symphony No. 45 , (the “Farewell”) Haydn. As ever, it should be an outstanding evening. Tickets (£9), available early April from: Abergavenny Music; Ardent Gallery (Brecon); Crickhowell Resource & Information Centre; Bowie Gallery (Hay-on-Wye); members of the P.C.C. You can also telephone 01874 730263 or 730286 and reserve tickets (on receipt of a cheque) for collection at the door – or, of course, simply buy them at the door on the evening. We are again most grateful to all the members of the Orchestra, who will be appearing free of charge, so that the maximum proceeds can go to our Church funds: also, to Williams Coaches (Brecon) Ltd, who are again this year sponsoring us. The other three concerts will be on Friday, July 6th Brecon Cathedral Singers (8.00 pm) Saturday, Sept. 8th Keith Little Band (7.30 pm) Saturday, Sept. 22nd Lady Llanover Society,Triple Harp Concert (7.30 pm)

An exhibition of Natural history illustration by Lizzie Harper May 18th - July 18th 2012

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:10:00 +0000

A special exhibition of paintings of mainly British wildlife is to take place at Shepherd�s Ice-cream parlour in May, coinciding with the Hay Literary Festival,and running through the summer.
The incredibly lifelike watercolour paintings of mammals, birds, insects, plants, and fungi have been produced over the last two and a half years by Lizzie Harper.
This eminent natural history artist has llustrations in a wide range of books,including Collins Flower Guide and The Bumper Book of Nature by Square Peg;
and has worked for many environmental charities, both locally and internationally.Superb artistry and detailed style is evident in her beautiful original paintings and drawings,all of which will be for sale, along with a selection of cards.
Open daily 9.30am - 5.30pm (9pm over festival). Free entry to the exhibition.
For more information contact:
Lizzie Harper Illustrator t: (01497) 821 578 . m: 07714 246 447
lizzieharper@tinyworld.

Self Assessment workshop

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:01:00 +0000

CRiC is hosting a Self Assessment Workshop on Weds 28th March from 10am to 12pm. The morning workshop run by a specialist in the field of taxation is for individuals, self employed and small businesses who may be new to self assessment and taxation or who are looking for hints, tips and advice. The workshop also provides an ideal networking opportunity. For more information and to book your place contact CRiC on 01873 811970 or email admin@crickhowellinfo.org.uk

Crickhowell Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:18:00 +0000

Plans for the celebrations to mark this historic occasion within the Crickhowell community are at an advanced stage. A group of business owners and residents from the town have been working over the last couple of months to bring together a set of events that will be attractive to all members of the community.

The celebrations are planned to take place over the Jubilee Weekend of Saturday June 2nd to Tuesday June 5th and are set to include: a street fayre in the High Street featuring a tug-of-war, a sedan chair race and live music; a picnic in the park; a tea party and fireworks. Local businesses are now busy raising funds through raffles and competitions to ensure there will be free admission to the events.

As a lasting memorial to the occasion three projects are planned for the year which will include the planting of memorial Oak trees in the public parks of the town, the painting of a mural on the side of a building in the town centre and the provision of celebration mugs to the young children of Crickhowell. The Crickhowell Diamond Jubilee Action Group gratefully acknowledges the funding it has received from the Town Council towards these projects, but is still looking for further funding from local businesses and residents.

The next meeting of the Action Group takes place at 7pm on Monday March 19th in the Dragon Inn, Crickhowell.

Chris Boulter
Crickhowell Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Action Group
Tel: 0774 806 8271

BEAUTIFUL AND USEFUL � ART FOR THE HOME

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:06:00 +0000

On Saturday 17^th and Sunday 18th March 2012, Arts Alive Wales, the charitable arts organisation based in Crickhowell, is holding an exhibition and Sale of Art and Craft, at Porthmawr Country House, Crickhowell, to raise funds for its community programme and to launch its friends scheme. Entitled Beautiful and Useful – Art for the Home, the event will showcase contemporary artists and makers such as Tom Hallifax, Annika Neumuller, Roy Powell, Kumar Saraff, Mary Zammit and Bettina Reeves. It also features a retrospective to celebrate the work of sculptor Catharine Marr-Johnson, ARBS, SPS, who lives and works in Crickhowell and is a trustee of the charity.Viewing and sales will be from 2-5pm on Saturday 17^th and Sunday 18^th March 2012 (entry £3 adults, accompanied children free). For more information, visit the website www.artsalivewales.org.uk and for tickets to the private view on Friday 16th March contact Justine Wheatley at Arts Alive on 01873 811579, email info@artsalivewales.org.uk.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Catharine Marr Johnson, is an associate member of the Royal Society of British Sculptors and member of The Society of Portrait Sculptors, and has completed public and private commissions that create intimate and sensitive portrayals alive with personality and character. William Gibbs, Chair of Brecknock Art Trust, comments: “If you cross Battersea bridge onto the south bank of the Thames and make your way downstream along the riverside path you will walk below two swans, wings fully spread , about to launch themselves across the water. These are the work of Catharine Marr-Johnson commissioned in 1984. The artist has caught the birds at the moment when weight becomes weightlessness, when the birds lumbering run is about to become powerful elegance. This work is one of the most successful pieces of site specific art in London and demonstrates the artist’s ability to catch a moment in time.”
Other site specific work includes the Peter Pan fountain, a playful and intimate study of a boy with otters, which was commissioned for the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children. Her creative impulse also takes the form of works for the garden; a sundial trapping the sun between the wings of birds in flight to mark the hours, a screen of birds for her garden gate in Crickhowell.

A ceilidh for St Patrick's Night

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:52:00 +0000

Two of our local Primary Schools, Crickhowell and Llangattock, are getting together at a ceilidh on 17^th March with the dual aims of celebrating St Patrick’s Night and raising some much needed funding for the schools. Music for the dancing will be provided by The Skirrid Ceilidh Band and an experienced caller will be on hand to make sure everybody goes in the same direction! An Irish Supper will be provided at the half time break and there will, of course, be a licensed bar all evening to help keep the energy levels up. Doors are open at 7.00pm and tickets are £9 for an adult, £4.50 for children with a family of 4 ticket costing £25. Tickets are available from Cashells and from Roz on 07960 686 445 or on the door on the night. Come along and enjoy a thoroughly entertaining evening.