Open Studio - Matthew Macaulay

  

Alison McDonald

Alison McDonald, our Australian international artist who was with us in Aberystwyth almost this time last year, has started making silver jewellery inspired by the Welsh seaweed found on the Cardigan coastline.

It's always great to hear from our past Artists in Residence.

Catrin and Lewis' studios

Last night we had our artist in residence talk. We'd like to thank Aberystwyth Arts Centre for organising the event and to everyone that came. It was nerve racking but was a good opportunity to show some of the new work. Developing the themes of previous works such as 'A Most Strange and True Report' (below), here’s a little taster of what we’ve been doing since we’ve started the residency...

We’ll all open our studios from the 21^st of February until the 23^rd of February.

Night Studio ...Matthew Macaulay

Made the little one in the middle tonight

Rainy Day - Matthew Macaulay

During the residency I have made a series of paintings that have focused on my own experiences in and around Aberystwyth. The abstract paintings are created to appear vague and fragmented in their meaning, by doing this I wish to explore the relationship between with what we see and what we know. In creating this work I have used a variety of source material some of which include; my own personal memories, photographs, postcards, film stills and magazine adverts. I often focus on particular details, such as a recollection or something curious, which trigger an emotional response.

One thing I have found myself doing and enjoying since I have taken up residency is listening to the sound of the rain on the roof of the studio pods. When I have been painting it sometimes starts and it is hard to escape from the noises and its’ influence, so I have made a few paintings about the sound of rain. I have added an image at the bottom of a painting I made called 'Reverie' 

'Reverie'
2013

Images of Ingrid Schildermans' studio. January 2013.

Don’t Bite The Hand That Feeds - Lewis Wright & Catrin Davies

Today was spent at Bwlch Nant yr Arian, a kite feeding station at Ponterwyd. We visited the centre because we hope to create our next piece of work in collaboration with Bwlch Nant yr Arian. Our intention is to produce a short film that continues with the classic still life theme that has been explored within previous works such as A Most Strange And True Report and Feels So Unnatural.  The complex relationship between man and nature within its environment is explored within the still lives that we create.  

 

Whilst at Bwlch Nant yr Arian, we met two members of staff, Gareth and Andre who were extremely informative and helpful and kindly offered to give us a personal insight to how and what the kites eat as well as their behavioural habits. The kites are fed daily and we would highly recommend you pay a visit to watch this spectacle if you haven’t already been. The food was scattered and we watched as the kites feasted. The feeding can also be watched on a live feed in the warm comforts of the café.

(Below: The Red Kite by Walton Ford)

Although the red kite of today is often described as graceful, beautiful and mysterious it’s sighting hasn’t always been so welcomed; man’s relation to this bird of pray has, at times been a turbulent one.  William Turner stated in the 16^th century: “for such is the audacity of our kites that they dare to snatch bread from children, fish from women and handkerchiefs from hedges and out of men’s hands." 
This evolving but continuous relationship is what interests us.

The author, David Jones described the Red Kite as a compelling symbol for Wales. We aim to make work that celebrates this current working relationship. 

Ingrid Schildermans, December 2012

I want this stay in Aberystwyth to be based on what appears to be real out here. On the internet I have seen photographs of animals that I did not encounter here. I did see them taxidermied at the museum of curiosities. For me that will be the reality I allow to intrude into my work.

I have made photographs of the ruin that is supposed to be a castle. I will not look at what it was supposed to be like before. It is the reality of the remains that makes my work. The impression I have by seeing these paraphernalia.

Thus I am painting a plastic horse I have encountered in the museum. I am painting a remembrance garden I have seen near the church. I have painted plastic flowers that were sold in the flower shop.

This way Aberystwyth will be both my reality as it is real to its inhabitants. It will tell both my story and theirs. This combination makes it a surreal and contemplative installation called Imperium Ingrid Schildermans.

Ingrid Schildermans, December 2012

Hi

My names Matthew Macaulay and I am a creative individual from Scotland who currently works and lives in the lovely city of Coventry in England. I have been painting since I got here and I have been enjoying and appreciating my time at the art centre, it is nearly the end of the first month of the residency and I feel I have been productive. 

Today I have been mainly writing and catching up with the emails, although at the moment I am just wrapping some work and making a shelf to take up to Manchester in the morning. Tomorrow I am dropping my work off with a friend who is putting a show together at Mirabel Studios. I used to live in Manchester for about ten years so it is exciting to be going back for the day and maybe looking at what has changed.

 In January I plan on exploring and going on walks in the area, and some of the other artists on the residency seem up for going on some adventures around the Aberystwyth. BUT before that I am looking forward to my Hogmanay celebrations (especially the haggis and neeps), and on that note I wish you all a warm and pleasant start to your New Year! 

http://www.matthewmacaulay.net/

Oriel Myrddin and G39 Day Out - Artist in Residence

This image features a few artists and lots of rain in Cardiff

We would like to thank Tim from the Aberystwyth Art Center for a fantastic day out. Tim drove us from Aberystwyth to Carmarthen where we met the curator Meg Anthony at Oriel Myrddin. Meg was very friendly and agreed to talk to us where she explained the future plans for the gallery space, and let us know about current exhibition and activities that go on in the gallery. 

We then visited G39 in Cardiff and viewed the selection of films in their exhibition 'Chekhov's Gun'. After viewing G39 we got a treat of Tim, this came in the form of a lovely middle eastern meal. After this fantastic and tasty meal we hopped over and explored the the National Museum in Cardiff, looking for a long periods at their natural history collection and the Artes Mundi 5 exhibition. After this stop we headed home, and then to a pub to talk together about what we saw and what we each found interesting. Thanks Tim for being a superstar and taking us out on such a wet day. 

M

To find out more about the artists, on the trip you can visit their websites below!
http://www.catrinandlewis.com/
http://imperiumingridschildermans.com/

http://www.matthewmacaulay.net/