Oriel Q - Queens Hall Gallery, High Street, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, SA67 7AS [t] 01834 869454 Manager: Lynne Crompton
Mike Davies
Catalysts
3 to 31 May
With Catalysts, local sculptor and blacksmith Mike Davies draws the viewer’s attention to the results achievable when a group of like-minded, enthusiastic people work together. The alchemy and excitement of this ancient art is evident in this small exhibition.
Alongside a selection of his own work will be iron objects produced by pupils during the fifth Caerleon Arts Festival last summer. Workshops, led by Mike, took place with pupils and teachers from three schools local to the event. Superstition was the theme, with the iron pour taking place on Friday 13 July 2007.
On the stairs will be images capturing the event, from design to execution, from mould-making to the actual iron pour.
Andy Griffiths, head of sculpture at West Wales School of Arts, is the catalyst for the enthusiasm for this revival of the use of iron in art. The 6th International Conference of Cast Iron Art will be held in 2010 at Kidwelly Industrial Museum: a coup for West Wales, as it will be only the second time the event has been held outside the USA.
Mike will be at the Gallery and available to discuss any aspect of the exhibition between 11.00am and 3.00pm on Thursday 15 May. At 7.30pm on the same day, there will be a talk by the artist and invited speakers (including fellow artists), covering subjects surrounding iron, such as local history, the sculptural object, performance art, and education. The spectacular act of an iron pour has been filmed and made into an exciting work of art in itself. Come, and be mesmerised.
