Le Cheile

Although you might not believe it from the gap since the last posting, the project continues. Some of us have sent work off to Veronica in South Australia for the Celtic Roots exhibition in Port Adelaide. This seems to be a "dispersed gallery" show, a bit like the Ruthin Focal a couple of years back, involving hotels, pubs & shops to show work in informal settings.

I had an awayday in London at half term (travelled by train – just a touch crowded – had to sit on the floor) to meet Deirdre, my working "twin", at the British Museum. We went mainly to look at the Mold Cape, having been impressed with the wonderful Celtic artefacts at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin. The Mold Cape was discovered in the mid 1800s near Mold (there's a surprise…) which is near Wrexham, which is where the Regional Print Centre is… The "cape" is a wearable thingy, covering shoulders and upper arms, and beaten from a single sheet of gold: it's difficult to imagine a culture where something of this value could be buried with its' wearer. It raises all sorts of issues about "value" and ideas of status and afterlife. There's lots more to see of course, and we have lots of ideas and preliminary drawings for our next lot of work.

PART TWO Summary of visit 7^th September

On Saturday over coffee Pamela, Eileen, Veronica and Andrew discussed the project to date and the way forward. It was generally felt that the conclusion of the project might involve making a consolidated set of prints around the themes and from work produced, rather than continuing with the exchange process but that this was by no means proscriptive. Pamela talked of ‘finishing the project’ and both Pamela and Eileen were conscious of the Graphic Studio Dublin exhibition that might require editioned prints. Everyone was positive for the Celtica festival that Veronica outlined. We also discussed the idea of a residency in the west of Ireland following previous discussions with Monica de Bath and suggestions on location by Margaret Becker. This could be a way of furthering the project in a different way, by creating a residency or meeting for a week when members could meet, discuss ideas and make work. Cill Rialaig, Kerry was considered to be very good but there could also be possible venues for this in Wales. Holyhead was discussed as Andrew had already talked with Ucheldre Arts Centre for possibly taking the Le Chéile Cystyllt exhibition. A possible time for this was discussed, either February when the Cill Rialaig would probably be more likely to be available or ideally in spring, April/May when the weather is better.

In addition the exhibition in Rhyl Library for January 2010 was outlined as another confirmed venue for the exchange exhibition. New work could be available for this exhibition.

The Graphic Studio Dublin exhibition is scheduled for November 2009.

We left after a very positive meeting with Pamela and Eileen and headed toward Clane to meet with Monica de Bath. We visited Monica ‘s studio close to the Bog, vibrant colour in the studio and at various points on the industrial site that houses Monica’s studio, painted on metal sheets some from the engines that used to collect peat now defunct, scrapped and superseded by tractors.

Veronica again discussed the outlined proposals and Monica was very positive about the developments in Australia. We discussed new members taking part in the project. Monica felt the Cill Rialaig, Kerry for a residency was a very good location, perhaps the location may be difficult because of the popularity of the venue and that we should consider alternatives as well. We left at 5.30pm to head for Dún Laoghaire for the ferry to Holyhead.

Conclusion

Very positive responses to further manifestations in Celtica, Country Arts SA, Rhyl Library, Graphic Studio Dublin and Cill Rialaig, Kerry with members keen to further collaboration in new forms.

Connections

Country Arts South Australia www.countryarts.org.au Graphic Studio Dublin www.graphicstudiodublin.com

Andrew Smith 6^th October 2008

Report on visit to Dublin 6/7^th September 2008Le Chéile Cystyllt Exchange Project The purpose of the visit was for Veronica Calarco and Andrew Smith to meet with Monica de Bath, Pamela De Bri, Eileen Keane in Ireland. Summary of visit 6^th September 2008

Veronica and I travelled on Friday night and we were able to have a substantial discussion about collaboration and how this project could develop but also wider issues about exchange and residencies. This in turn led to focusing on the group idea, forming a membership for developing projects and new ideas. This was a very useful brainstorming time and Veronica has made substantial links with Celtica, The Port Celtic Festival 2008, Port Adelaide and Country Arts SA.

Celtica, organised by Suzanne Laslett has previously not had a visual art element and participation by Le Chéile Cystyllt would be the first presentation with other artists. It would take place in various centres (up to eight) around/close to the festival site in Port Adelaide during December 2008. Country Arts SA (contact Rob Johnston) is a substantial touring exhibition programme taking visual art to regional and remote areas of South Australia. Exhibitions tour for over 18 months. There would be a requirement for artists to attend this event throughout its duration and there is some funding for this. At the time of writing Le Chéile Cystyllt has been provisionally selected for this programme so this is tremendous news. Thanks to Veronica for making very good progress in developing the project here.

Oh dear – we seem to have been a bit reluctant to take to this blogging business. Are we too old? Surely not. My excuse is my lousy internet connection – I'm too mean to get Broadband.

anyway…… back to the project. We had a meeting last night and talked about where we are (in the pub in Betws y Coed) and where we might go – lots of ideas following on from Andrew & Veronica's recent trip to Ireland. We feel we should open the project up a bit, and not just be twinned rigidly to one individual (sounds a bit bizarre – can you have a rigid twin? Actually, it's more like being a conjoined twin, joined at the waist. )

I've been really lucky and found a good working method with my twin: sending work and a sketchbook backwards & forwards. the sketchbook in particular is full of ideas, drawings & bits and pieces. I'm hoping to get down to making some prints this week…

A.C.

We have been exploring ideas of the land, language, memory, habitation…Le Cheile means “together” in Irish. One of the Welsh-speaking artists suggested “Cyswllt” as a Welsh title – i.e. “connection”. The project started off with Intereg (cross border) backing, and has been a real intercultural affair. We are Irish, Welsh, English and Australian; we have English as a common language (most of the time!) and some have Welsh or Irish as their first language. Our exhibition in the Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, County Kildare showed work in progress and was a chance to reflect on our progress so far and to prepare ourselves for the next stages of the collaboration. We are grateful to n.a.n. for the “go and see” grant which enabled some of us to travel to Ireland to participate in the exhibition, meet up with our twins and join in discussions and networking.

Why don't we go to Ireland more often? Dublin's closer than London (closer than Cardiff too)

AC