Le Cheile

More slightly wonky shots of the le Chéile exhibition in Rhyl.

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Last night’s opening of Le Chéile in Rhyl was perforce a relatively quiet occasion, given the appalling weather affecting most of the country, apart from a few square miles on Anglesey. Jan, Ian, Andrew, Diana, Eirian and Alison managed to get to the show and join the few other hardy souls who had ventured out to support us. We also managed to get home (as far as I know!) despite subzero temperatures: minus five degrees in Rhyl, on the promenade just yards from the sea.

Thanks to all le Chéile artists who put work into the exhibition, several of whom managed to get in to Rhyl to deliver it this week despite the snow. Thanks also to Kim Dewsbury and her team at the Denbighshire Arts Service for their professional skills in hanging the work. Especial thanks to Don for his invaluable help during the week, and for putting together a “slide show” of images for the DVD player.

No photographs of the actual opening I’m afraid, as I forgot to take any (too busy catching up on people’s snow stories), but a few “installation” shots are shown at right. Apologies to our Irish speakers, as the formating won’t allow for the foda.

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I spoke too soon about the weather. A blizzard hit North Wales while we were in Rhyl Arts Centre this afternoon. Over 9 inches of snow fell inland, and even the coast roads were badly affected. Several people struggled to get in to Rhyl and some couldn’t travel at all. Getting home again was even more difficult, and the Denbighshire Arts Officer has had to spend the night in a hotel. However, all the work is in and should be hung tomorrow, provided that the Team can get in to do it.

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This week sees the start of our exhibition at Rhyl Library & Arts Centre. If any blog followers happen to be in the area on Friday 8th. January between 6 and 8p.m., please come along to our opening evening. There will be live music, and talks from members of the project (weather permitting). Work on show includes some pieces from our exhibition at the Graphic Gallery, Dublin; new work from our Nant Gwrtheyrn residential sessions and some work from individual artists as well.

An exhibition of work from artists on the Professional Printmakers course at the Regional Print Centre, Wrexham is on display in the Community Gallery of Rhyl Arts Centre from January 9th – February 6th.

I am assured that, although the weather forecast is poor, there is little snow or ice on the North Wales coast. That’s nice to know, as I’m under several inches of snow & ice, a mere 10 miles inland. For directions to Rhyl Library & Arts Centre, search on the postcode: LL18 3AA

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Report from Australia: Le Chéile at the New Land Gallery, Port Adelaide as part of the South Australia touring exhibition organised by Counrty Arts, South Australia and Visual Art in Celtica Festival Port Adelaide

Le Chéile looks excellent in the New Land Gallery, Port Adelaide. It is the premier art space in Port Adelaide, a short drive from the city. The streets of Port Adelaide are wide and spacious leading to the harbour and waterfront where the New Land Gallery is located.

The gallery has a high ceiling with good lighting, a foyer space with the exhibition title Le Chéile written high up as visitors enter the building and print works leading into the main space. 123 works are showing by 17 participants from the start of the project and includes recent new participants. The selection process by Veronica Calarco, Rob Johnson (Visual Arts Manager, Country Arts SA) and Katinka Gleim (Visual Arts Officer) has really worked in creating a consolidated exhibition out of the many the different collaborations, ideas and processes. Additional work by each artist is presented in a highly visible print browser. At the time of writing there are two sales from the exhibition (Steffan and Veronica). The exhibition’s coherency is helped by the combination of several works in large frames; often, but not always collaborative partners are framed together creating a substantial wall presence. Other works, mostly the larger prints are also in individual frames. The artists books and folios are displayed clearly in cases, with one sketchbook accessible to touch. The private view was well attended. Vicky Reynolds, Head of Printmaking at TAFE School of Arts opened the show talking about process and printmaking with a musical performance by Irish band Blind Mary. Further photos of the show are at

http://picasaweb.google.com/andrewsmithstudio/LeCh…

continued PART 2….