Galleries - October 2013

13. GALLERIES OCTOBER 13 Focus on WALES For a culture stereotyped as being essentially verbal rather than visual, Wales has a remarkably well-developed network of excellent art galleries, bothpublic and private. Indeed, in terms of regional spread, it makes many areas of England seem like visual deserts, with often quite small Welshtowns and communities boasting venues witha quality of imaginative programming way above what we have come to accept as the norm in the rest of the UK. This annual survey of the Welshgalleries aims to provide a good snapshot of the wide range of this thriving creative market, from city centre to remote country house, and much else in between. Even the common Welshname for a gallery, ‘oriel’, conjures up romantic associations of ancient windowed spaces flooded with light . . . NU South Wales Clocking up nearly a year at new premises on Windsor Place in Cardiff, gallery/ten is now representing some of the best emerging and established contemporary artists and designers with a Welsh connection. On October 11 the gallery opens a mixed show of 3D work, ‘object’, with exhibitors including Cardiff-born Bethan Gray, award winning furniture and product designer, also head of design at Habitat. At Oriel Canfas a small co-operative of artists operate a gallery that integrates with a studio complex, including an education space. Peter Sainty opens on October 12 with ‘A Cast Iron Shore’, sculptures and drawings from the Brachiura series. Celebrating her 80th birthday and the publication of a lavishly illustrated book, Claudia Williams exhibits at Martin Tinney Gallery until October 19. An eye for colour, draughtsmanship and great integrity give her work broad appeal. The National Museum Wales recently acquired one of her works for the national collection. Artist Gustavius Payne’s exhibition ‘The Cause and Effect Hypothesis’ has moved from Ffin-Y-Parc to Art Central , Barry, expressing the human predicament with myth, folk-lore and religious iconography. Harbour Lights Gallery (Pembrokeshire) have enjoyed great success with The Frame Shop , Pontcanna, Cardiff, since opening a year ago. In addition to a framing business, there are also original works by Ceri Auckland Davies and prints by artists including Kyffin Williams. Ceri Auckland Davies’ works are also to be found at The Albany Gallery until October 5. On October 11 the gallery then opens the Scottish Exhibition with a line up including Chris Bushe, Mhairi Mcgregor page 18 ORIEL CYMRU GALLERY · www.oriel-cymru.com online gallery - artists include: Sir Kyffin Williams · William Selwyn Keith Bowen · Bert Isaac · David Jones amongst others Glanrafon, Pentrefeilin, Criccieth, Gwynedd LL53 0PT t: 01766 522530 bull David Woodford, ‘Down into Nant Gwynant’ (detail) at Royal Cambrian Academy Peter Sainty, sculpture from ‘A Cast Iron Shore’ at Oriel Canfas