Galleries - October 2014

16 GALLERIES OCTOBER 14 Focus on WALES South Wales As far as the Welsh visual arts scene is concerned, there arguably couldn’t be a more excitingtime than right now. While the work of Cardiff-born artist James Richards goes on show at London’s Tate Britain as part of the prestigious Turner Prize exhibition, back in his homeland two other major events are beinglaunched. First, from October 3, Cardiff Contemporary will be placing visual art at the heart of the city with a programme of screenings, exhibitions, performances and talks unfoldingat a host of galleries – including Chapter Arts Centre, g39 and Ffotogallery – as well as in public spaces. The festival’s theme is ‘Reveal/ Conceal’ and, with around 20 new commissions and two artist- in-residence projects, people will be able to immerse themselves in art in the unlikeliest of places. As Cardiff Contemporary is in full swing, the Welsh Capital will open the sixth Artes Mundi Prize exhibition at National Museum Cardiff (from 25 October) when eight contemporary artists from across the globe will compete for the £40,000 award. Artes Mundi is the brainchild of celebrated Welsh artist William Wilkins, who will be markinghis 75th birthday this autumn with a major retrospective at Martin Tinney The show (from 6 November) coincides with the publication of the book ‘The Art Of William Wilkins’, which documents a large part of his work and is a lastingtribute to a painter who is renowned for his pointillist style and can take more than a decade to complete his intricate pieces. Meanwhile a 10ft flyingdragon is amongthe objects greeting visitors at the Futures Gallery, (from 8 October), the mythical creature formingpart of Margaret Berry’s ‘Emblems of Wales’ series, which features a total of seven large suspended sculptures drawingon themes from Welsh history spanningthe last 1500 years for the show. With an autumnal chill in the air, the New Leaf Gallery in Monmouth is supportingthe Campaign for Wool during its latest exhibition, Tactile Textile, (from October 6). Featuring textiles by regular suppliers and new artists, there will be felted pictures by Deborah Poole and a printed fine wool shawl by Taisir Gibreel amongthe items on display. HeadingWest to King Street Gallery in Carmarthen, Pembrokeshire-based artist Susan Sands returns to her roots with Indian Spice (from 3 October) her collection of paintings and prints being inspired by the beauty, colours, smells and culture of India. It will then be followed by ‘30 Years On’ from Welsh artist Dorian Davies (from 24 October) which celebrates the landscapes of his native Carmarthen. Then, even further west – at the Harbour Lights Gallery in Porthgain – visitors can see new work by Alastair Proud, Meirion and Aneurin Jones, and Gillian McDonald and Rachel Fenner as well as outdoor and indoor sculpture by Darren Yeadon, who ORIEL CYMRU GALLERY · www.oriel-cymru.com online gallery - artistsinclude: Sir Kyffin Williams· William Selwyn Keith Bowen · Bert Isaac · David Jones amongst others Glanrafon, Pentrefeilin, Criccieth, Gwynedd LL53 0PT t: 01766 522530 bull rt Wales Gillian McDonald ‘Fishing Village II’ at Harbour Lights Wilf Roberts ‘Tyddynnod ar y gors smallholdings on the marsh’ at Oriel Tegfryn Elfyn Lewis ‘Llanw’ at MOMA Wales