News

The Spring Bank holiday weekend in May is set to be a true celebration of art in Crickhowell and area. New exhibitions and open studios will offer a taste of the excellent work and creativity stimulated by the beautiful surrounding area.The oriel cric gallery in Crickhowell will be launching a new exhibition titled “From the Waterfront”, which will include work by Pembrokeshire artists who exhibit in the superb quayside Waterfront gallery in Milford Haven. This mixed media exhibition will offer a selection of ceramics, metal sculpture, wood turned bowls, original landscape paintings and hand woven rugs. Exhibitors will include: Joanna Howells (porcelain  ceramics), Sheila Hickey (translucent ceramic lanterns),  Audrey Johns (acrylics, charcoal, graphite and watercolours) and  Riitta Sinkkonen Davies (textile artist who produces hand-woven rugs).  This exhibition will run from 23^rd May 2009 till 9^th July and is open daily between 10am and 5pm. Clarence Hall in Crickhowell will also open its doors on Saturday 23^rd May for its annual community art exhibition which will run until the 26^th May. Both these exhibitions make Crickhowell the ideal destination for a stroll during the Bank Holiday weekend. Llangynidr artist Martin Preece will add local colour to the outdoor space at the Market hall.Crickhowell and area is exceptional in the quality of the art produced. It is therefore the ideal opportunity to explore the local countryside and appreciate the art on offer. A number of galleries and artists are welcoming visitors during this weekend. Whether you visit the Gallery on the Usk in Crickhowell or travel further to Abergavenny to view the art in the King’s Arms or the Court Cupboard Craft Gallery, you are certain to be surprised by the variety and quality on offer. Crickhowell based Tim Rossiter is exhibiting at   Oriel Contemporary Art in  Hay on Wye from 4 – 30^th May 2009. The exhibiton titled “Words in Colour” consists of paintings linked to the poetry of Hillary Llewellyn Williams, Ric Hool & Graham Hartill who will be reading their work on  May 23^rd 2009 at 3.00pm. The trail will however take you off the beaten track at times. The vibrant watercolours  of Anne Bosset will be on view in Llangynidr. Open: Bank Holiday Mon 25 May only 10am - 6pm.  Well known local  artist Pip Woolf  will  welcome visitors over 3 afternoons. Her most recent project has been an artist book entitled ‘Water Power~ Ynni Dŵr’. Visitors will be welcome to see work from a range of projects including Rare Music paintings, drawings from ‘Marking a Point’ and the Water Power book. Her studio is well worth a visit set in a beautiful green haven (Open 12.30 -6.00pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 23^rd-25^th inclusive.)Ashford Garden is a walled garden surrounded by a woodland and water garden. This venue will exhibit the work of weaver Elinor Anderson, landscape artist Jenny Care and sculptor Richard Renshaw. Elinor produces colourful, hand-woven scarves and wraps in silk, cotton and wool. Jenny's paintings capture the spirit of the local landscape and range from the contemplative to the vibrant. She is well known for her animal portraits.  Richard Renshaw is well known for his impressive sculptures. Working on a larger scale in stone and iron as well as wood, he is becoming increasingly interested in the interaction of sculpture and landscape. Ashford House will be the ideal backdrop to exhibit his work (open 11am – 5pm on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, 23^rd-26^th inclusive.) The garden is open to the public every Tuesday afternoon. Christina Scurr has become well known in the area for her bespoke picture framing and contemporary Celtic paintings. She will be opening her newly completed studio to other local artists and crafts people to exhibit alongside her. You can also enjoy tea and cake on the terrace.   Open: Sat, Sun and Mon 23^rd - 25^th inclusive 11:00 am till 5:00 pm. A fl11:00 am till 5:00yer containing a list of galleries and open studios with directions and opening times during the Bank Holiday weekend is available from the Crickhowell Resource & Information Centre, Beaufort Street , Crickhowell. Tel 01873 811970.