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Showing posts with label Blaenau Ffestiniog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blaenau Ffestiniog. Show all posts

Tuesday, 19 March 2019

INTER⁁VERBA


EXHIBITION OPENS 24 APRIL until 7 JUNE 2019

check HERE for details of private view, workshops, artist's talk,
at Oriel Maenofferen Gallery, Llyfrgell Blaenau Ffestiniog Library
part of
find out more about 

also taking part in this 'artists takeover' in the run-up to the solo exhibition:

click image for more info

at the same time, you can also see my work in the Stable Block Gallery at Plas Tan y Bwlch
and a couple of pieces in the Open Exhibition at Storiel, Bangor Museum 13 April - 15 June 2019

all the above is mentioned in this interview feature for the Cambrian News
which you can read as a PDF by clicking the thumbnail image below


Tuesday, 3 October 2017

DYS PH ASI A


 “In this exhibition I have selected recent works that consider the differences
between intended meanings and interpretations. This is a continuing exploration 
of poetic landscapes, both real and imagined, searching for common-ground for 
writing and visual art to cohabit.” - from Artist's Statement

ARTIST'S TALK on Wednesday 10 January 2018 at 17:30



Remy Dean : Dysphasia : Partial List of Works 


‘Land Poems’ (2017)

Digital prints made with a photographic process using colours sampled from landscape. Compositions are guided by the interaction of lines using poetic rhythm and metre. Although the 'poems' are linear in structure, they may be ‘read’ in multiple directions, beginning from any square. It was my intention to capture the essence of the land through its colours and transient moods. My initial approach to this photography series was informed by the famous ‘lozenge’ paintings of Piet Mondrian.

This set of 'Land Poems' was produced as part of this year’s Creative Residency at Plas Tan y Bwlch, the Snowdonia National Park Authority's Environmental Study Centre, in Maentwrog, Wales.


‘Writing to Escape…’ (2015 – 2017)

Ongoing series of prints resulting from written drawings of visual and narrative stimuli. Expressing emotions whilst avoiding the deliberate formation of words and so, perhaps, circumventing the cultural dogmas often attached to words and languages. One perceptive viewer described this as, "a tiny form of dance, recorded visually". Precedent for this kind of approach can be found in the calligraphic scroll paintings of China and Japan, and in the modern works of Joan Miró, Cy Twombly, Franz Kline, Hans Hartung, and others…


‘The Stars, at Our Feet’ (2016)

iron : leaves its mark upon the slate in nebulae of rust in a starscape of tiny pits and scratches left by the footsteps of quarriers. The slate, once above their heads, now at their feet, reflecting the infinite night above. Ancient mineral memories… of the blood, of the land, of the stars : iron

The poetic image of slate miners returning to their barracks on a rare, clear night, their heavy work-boots splashing in the puddles, mixing the reflection of the stars with their own. This and the recent classification of the Snowdonia National Park as a Dark Skies Reserve were the seeds for this series of photographs, its title suggested by an old poem by an anonymous Cwmorthin miner. Produced as part of my 2016 Residency at Plas Tan y Bwlch.

You can read an article about The Stars, at Our Feet in EGO Magazine HERE


‘Cicorc Conwy’ (2015 – 2017)

Before setting off on longer than usual voyages, sailors would have ‘one’ last drink in their local pub before embarkation onto their ships and boats. They would enjoy a favourite tipple, smoke a pipe and sometimes they would make a small model dog with corks and match-sticks. These tiny cork companions would travel with them to distant ports in exotic far-off lands and upon their safe return would be gifted to their children. A limited edition, hand-made series of these objet-avec-courte-histoire will be available for adoption, each with accompanying information and story booklet.


‘The Questing Beats Back-Catalogue’ (2017)

A selection of re-issue CD covers from obscure, or non-existent, bands signed to the legendary 1980s art-rock/alt-punk label based in Stoke-on-Trent.


‘Sugar Rush’ (2015 - 2017)

A series of objects, photographs and information commenting on the shaping of the local landscape and culture... taken with a spoonful of sugar. From sugar and slaves… to sheep and slate…


'#Moelwyns' (ongoing, since 2007)

Selected prints from the series of photographs documenting my attempt to capture the ever-changing moods of  the Mynyddau Moelwynion mountain range, the transient atmospheric conditions that only people who are lucky enough to live here, in Snowdonia, really get to know. I see the Moelwyns and walk their slopes almost every day of the year... They remain the same, yet continually change. They never get old. To keep up with this series on twitter, click here.


'Illustrations for THIS' (2017)

Illustrations for the forthcoming illustrated edition of This, by Remy Dean with Zel Cariad, Book One of the This, That and the Other trilogy - imaginative fantasy, on an epic scale. The story follows the special friendship between two girls who embark on a magical adventure together, across the three realms. It is a modern fable inspired by Welsh fairy tales and folklore, in the tradition of The Neverending Story, The Box of Delights, The Chronicles of NarniaThis is published by The Red Sparrow Press

Tuesday, 3 January 2017

2016 Looking Back and Looking Forward 2017


ALL the very BEST for the New Year 
...and hoping 2017 is better in every way!

WORKS ON SHOW...

2016 was ushered in by my solo exhibition Entropy/Extropy at Oriel Maenofferen Gallery, with other works simultaneously on show as part of the In-Sight 7 Exhibition, at Oriel Mostyn Gallery, and then Oriel Ynys Môn Museum and Gallery. The work was mainly lens-based, with a peppering of drawings and print-work. A couple of works were included in the 'Send Us A Postcard' open exhibition at Storiel Museum and Gallery, Bangor, including a charming cicorc named 'Charter'.

'Charter', the cicorc on exhibition at Storiel Museum and Gallery, Bangor
I enjoyed a Creative Residency at Plas Tan y Bwlch during September, in which I immersed myself in the locale and its myth-rich past, resulting in three, linked articles on the associated legends and folklore:

Welsh Folklore: Significance of the Maentwrog Standing Stone

Black Arts and Talismans: Huw Llwyd, the Real Welsh Wizard

Folk-Ore: The Magical Power of Blacksmiths and Their Enduring Stories

You can scroll down to read my blog posts from the Residency. I also hosted a few writing workshops and performed several preview readings from my new epic fairy-tale fantasy novel THIS (part one). Visual responses inspired by the research undertaken as part of the Residency are to be exhibited in the Stable Block Gallery this spring.

Bones of the Land (i) from the series, A Poetic Exploration of Cwmorthin
As 2016 drew to a close, some more cicorcs were on show at Galeri Betws y Coed as part of the Helfa Gelf Local Artists Selection, and remain on display in the boutique there. To ‘book-end’ the year, the In-Sight 10 Exhibition, at Oriel Mostyn Gallery, included seven of my drawings and prints (continues until the end of January).

oh, yes... and THIS happened:

Four-years-in-the-making and now we are excited to be sharing THIS journey with y'all... an epic fairy-tale fantasy adventure full of magic and intrigue and action and mystery... Well, you can share the first part of the journey, because my (fledgling) publisher, The Red Sparrow Press, have wisely decided to publish THIS as a part-work, leading up to its planned publication, later in 2017, as an illustrated print edition. Those of you savvy enough to jump on the unicorn from the outset, can ride for free! Part One of THIS came out Halloween 2016, at the very reasonable price of zero pounds and zero pence - yep, it was free! Part Two is to follow for Valentine's Day 2017 and will, no doubt be launched priced at nothing for the first few days, too!

You know, THIS is exactly what you need...


[ Please Note: The taster extract below is not the beginning. It is taken from later on in the book, about a quarter of the way through: a story within the story, told to Rietta and Carla, the two young girls whose story we follow, by Rietta’s Nanna, Ivy… and Scrufty is a dog. The extract appears here courtesy of The Red Sparrow Press. Please read and enjoy - it is ideal for a bedtime story... ]


You can start reading THIS by Remy Dean with Zel Cariad from the beginning at amazon with a free sample...

Saturday, 24 October 2015

Entropy / Extropy - Art and Photography by Remy Dean with Pottery by Jane Williams

Friday 13 November (!) until 11 January 2016

This year's Yuletide Exhibition at Oriel Maenofferen (Blaenau Ffestiniog Library and Community Centre) showcases a selection of works by Remy Dean, including recent pieces produced during his term as Writer in Residence at Haus of Helfa 2015. Alongside these photographs, prints and drawings, there is a display of 3D work by local potter, Jane Williams - who we are all currently 'rooting for' every Tuesday, on BBC2's Great Pottery Throw Down.

Entropy / Extropy exhibition poster
The following is taken from the Artist's Statement of Remy Dean:

"I am an author and artist… I also teach.

"Folklore and hearsay interest me, how the myths and legends of the past affect our world today. I love telling stories that hover somewhere in the hinterland between fact and fantasy, whilst scratching at the surface of a truth.


"This exhibition includes some photography, drawings, objects and the outcomes of two recent projects:


"In my artist’s statement for NIGHT / LIGHT, my 2011 exhibition here, I wrote: “The weather, natural light effects and moods of the mountains can change in a moment and I would like to attempt to capture more of the transient conditions that only people who are lucky enough to live here, in Snowdonia, really get to know.” This on-going quest has resulted in the #Moelwyns series which I regularly add to via twitter @DeanAuthor #Moelwyns and the book of the same title that collects a selection of 52 photographs to create a portrait of the Moelwyns mountain range through the seasons. (To coincide with the exhibition, the images from Project #Moelwyns have also been compiled onto a Pinterest Board HERE)


"During September this year, I was the writer in residence for Haus Of Helfa. This residency of a dozen artists in ‘The Tedder House’, a semi-derelict building in Llandudno, is often referred to as the ‘flagship’ of the Helfa Gelf Art Trail.



Writing to Escape the Words - signed prints by Remy Dean,
framed and waiting, before the exhibition
"As part of the Residency, I experimented with the gesture of writing as a form of drawing, trying to find common ground for writing and visual art to cohabit. Using the same pathways from mind, through brain, to hand - utilising those same conditioned (hand-writing) reflexes to create a unique visual language of mark-making that shares many formal elements with writing, without the encumbrance of literal meaning… Expressing emotions whilst avoiding the deliberate formation of word-language and so, perhaps, circumventing the cultural dogmas often attached to words and languages. One perceptive visitor described this as, "a tiny form of dance, recorded visually". The results are gathered into the book, Scanner - Printer.

"Please come to have a look... and enjoy!"


You can find an on-line archive of past exhibitions by Remy Dean here.

Location and opening hours for Entropy / Extropy can be found here.

Sunday, 4 August 2013

'Processed Memory' - Photographs by Remy Dean

The exhibition is on show this summer, until 7 September 2013, at Oriel Maenofferen Gallery, Llyfrgell Blaenau Ffestiniog Library, Canolfan Maenofferen, Blaenau Ffestiniog, LL41 3DL. Telephone: 01766 830415.

Alongside the photographs, there is also a small exhibition of 3D work by the potter, Jane Williams.

The following is an artist's statement from Remy Dean that accompanies the current exhibition:

'Processed Memory' Exhibition Poster
I am…
…a writer, teacher and visual artist…
…son, brother, husband, father and friend…
…”a dream to some, a nightmare to others”…
…the sum of my memories.

The exhibition you are currently adding to your own memories grew from an accident. An album of family photographs I had taken in the 1980s was forgotten about and left in the bottom of a box in a damp cellar. Over time the action of the elements ate into the surface of some of the photographs and ‘destroyed’ the image. Amongst these pictures was the last portrait I had taken of my grandfather, and also a photograph I had won my first competition with.

Particularly today, the photograph has become synonymous with memory. This connection is overtly used in advertising campaigns. Both the photograph and the memory are parts of a process, and these processes are always ongoing. They both involve the act of seeing: utilising photochemical reactions (on film, photo-sensor, or retina) and an attempt to ‘remember’ using chemicals (print, screen or cortex).
'View from Pompidou', photograph by Remy Dean (C) 2013
I liked how the ‘destroyed’ pictures had not remained passive, they had become organic and recorded the effects of their environment. The patterns were quite beautiful. Likewise, our memories are not passive, they are affected by time, age, emotion and environments. So I experimented with ‘destroying’ other pictures using similar organic, analogue processes. These traditional prints became ‘chemographs’, which, in many ways, is what our memories are.

You will also see a few ‘traditional’ landscape photos, some of the Moelwyn mountains that so majestically define our skyline, and have done so for millennia - well beyond the scope of human memory. I see these old friends nearly every day (though sometimes they are entirely shrouded in clouds), and they always look different. They remain the same, yet continually change. They never get old.
'Moelwyn: Midwinter', photograph by Remy Dean (C) 2013
I am fascinated by these two time scales – the instant of the photograph and the eternal that surrounds us. The moment of an experience, the lasting effects of memory. Memory and identity have been a recurring theme in my fiction stories and my recent non-fiction book, Evolution of Western Art (2012) is my take on some examples of great art, representing moments captured, and now remembered, from a period of more than 40,000 years… One of the photographs you may have seen in my last exhibition here at Oriel Maenofferen appears on its cover and was taken from my series of ‘drawings with light', Ghosts of 1513, a small selection of which are exhibited here (and will not be publicly shown after 2013).

I hope you enjoy seeing and remembering and thanks for sharing.

A selection of photographs shown in this exhibition are now featured in an on-line gallery (Pinterest)

Friday, 5 July 2013

Summer Exhibitions at Oriel Maenofferen Gallery

Exhibition of Work by Creative Arts Students from
Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, now on, until 3 August...

Followed by:

'Processed Memory': Photographs by Remy Dean
from 7 August - 7 September
Alongside the photographs, there will also be 
a small exhibition of 3D work by the potter 
Jane Williams

Opening hours and gallery info here...


Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Two Fine Painters at the Royal Cambrian Academy


...well worth a look...

The current exhibition at Conwy's Royal Cambrian Gallery is a 'two-header' of very different and very accomplished painters who are using painted pigments to emulate the transient beauty of light and life. 

In the ground floor gallery space you have an opportunity to see stunning landscapes by Harry Robertson, including one of the best paintings of a moody Welsh waterfall I have seen. Robertson certainly manages to capture the movement of light across the land and the way the pattern of sunshine and cloud-shadow alters the texture and detail. 'Detail' is a word that comes to mind again and again when looking at his meticulously executed work - his selection of what details to include and which to leave out lends a photographic realism that also manages to hint at a much deeper poetic response.  If you like landscape painting, you would be 'hard-pushed' to find better than these... (Though fellow Royal Cambrian Academy artist Gerald Dewsbury could be a contender.)

John Baum's large colourful canvasses can be viewed in the upstairs gallery - another painter that loves the play of light - and loves to play with light... mainly naturalistic portraits against an artificial setting, these works are then built up with daubs of bright sunny colours that push the photo/graphic representation towards abstract composition, whilst remaining realist and keenly observed. The clean lines and use of spaces in these scenes brings to mind the work of a happy Edward Hopper. It appears that Baum has found a style of work that suits his artist's eye - a departure from much of his earlier portrait works that were simply fiercely lit figures against flattened photo-real backgrounds - and I find the paintings currently on show much more engaging and uplifting (not only because there are also a few nicely observed dogs).

...Harry Robertson and John Baum exhibition until 6 July...

After that, your best bet for top-notch landscape painting (and other work) would be the Rob Piercy Gallery in Porthmadog. The cosy, friendly gallery hosts a permanent exhibition of oils and watercolours by Piercy and a selection of work by other local artists who connect with the land, such as Bill Swann, who works mainly with glass...

Friday, 14 October 2011

Night / Light - On-line Catalog

The slideshow displays some of the images from Night / Light by Remy Dean, exhibited at Oriel Maenofferen Gallery, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Summer 2011. There were 45 images in total, all photographs except for two sketches from the 360 series. This was Dean's first solo show.

1. Postcards From The Ghosts Of 1513 (18 images) [£135 series / £16 per pair]
2. Moelwyn, Night Won’t Fit In My Camera [postcards £1 each]
3. Culture Jam Caerdydd [postcards £1 each]
4. Dim Distance [£450]
5. Soluna, Storm Clears Over Llan Ffestiniog [£40]
6. Penygwndwn Mood [£55]
7. Moelwyn, Impending Snowstorm [£66]
8. Early Morning Rain [£75]
9. From The 360 Series (drawing, 2010) [£108]
10. From The 360 Series (drawing, 2010) [£108]
11. Tanysgringlas [£75]
12. Fire Calligraphs (diptych) [£125]
13. London, Above Below [£75]
14. Welcome Home [£55]
15. Direction Of Light # 1 [£145]
16. Direction Of Light # 2 [£145]
17. I Am, You Are, We Are (triptych - after Malevich) [£450]
18. Creased Composition: Shining Through [£98]
19. Nightscape: Cloud Cross [£40]
20. Emotional Systems [£75] / West-East
21. Nightscape: Sky Portal [£350]
22. Starring Barbara Stanwyck, Mae West and Cary Grant [£350]
23. Elevate Me [£75]
24. Speed Of Life [£75]
25. Without Limits [£75]
26. Self Noir: Women ‘n’ Whisky [£1,600]
27. Moelwyn, In A Misty Morning [£145]
28. Moelwyn, Weather Changes [£145]

I would like to thank all of those who visited Oriel Maenofferen Gallery to take a look at my work, and all those who helped organise and publicise the exhibition.

Selected photographs from this exhibition are now featured in this on-line gallery (Pinterest)

Wednesday, 15 June 2011

NIGHT / LIGHT - recent photography by Remy Dean

Night / Light - an exhibition of recent photography by Remy Dean will be on show this summer until 10 September 2011, at Oriel Maenofferen Gallery, Llyfrgell Blaenau Ffestiniog Library, Canolfan Maenofferen, Blaenau Ffestiniog, LL41 3DL. Telephone: 01766 830415.
Apart from the Ghosts of 1513 series, which spans the Atlantic from Spain to Florida, most of the images have been made in and around the Blaenau Ffestiniog area and deal with light and movement. There are 45 pictures in total. Alongside my photographs, I am pleased to say, there will be an opportunity to see some small-scale sculpture work and a hand-pressed book by Mark Eaglen.

Here, by way of an 'artists statement' relating to the exhibition, is an extract from an interview with Remy Dean conducted by Kim Vertue:

Why did you choose photography as your medium?

Photography attracts me for many reasons. Almost by definition, it is representational because it mimics our own visual interaction with the world we share. I am interested in the relationship of subject, technology, human action and a time constraint of a few seconds. The resulting images range from fairly traditional landscapes to pictures that are closer to abstract expressionism. The aesthetic of light set in darkness also appeals to me. Many Magicians and religious orders wear dark cloths to represent the void, where creative and spiritual powers are born. The light from stars has travelled vast distances through the void of space to inspire both the poet and the scientist. I am interested in images where captured light can give the impression of being a solid construct, or where light can transform a solid structure, such as a building, into an insubstantial ghost-form.

What or who are the main influences and inspiration for your work?

Compositionally, I look at Joan Miro, Kazimir Malevich, Cy Twombly, Franz Marc, Kandinsky and Klee. Conceptually, I look to Marcel Duchamp and Joseph Beuys. Poetically, I think my work is under the influence of many… William Blake, Richard Long, Scott Walker, Andrei Tarkovsky, David Lynch, David McComb, John Foxx… the Gothick Romantics…

How do you see your work developing?

The weather, natural light effects and moods of the mountains can change in a moment and I would like to attempt to capture more of the transient conditions that only people who are lucky enough to live here, in Snowdonia, really get to know. I will also continue exploring technological and human interfaces and possibly become more interventionist, to the point of staging visual fictions…

(An image from the Ghosts of 1513 also appears as the cover image for the book Evolution of Western Art...)

Selected photographs from this exhibition are also featured in this on-line gallery (Pinterest)