Ice Dance: A Performance of Image and Word, Presented by Artist Rona Campbell

Ice Dance:
A Performance of Image and Word – Ice poems inspired by Ice Photography

Presented by Artist Rona Campbell

Oriel Wrecsam, Gallery 3
Wednesday, 17^th October, 2012
6pm to 8pm

free entry

As the skies of Wrexham are greying and winter rapidly approaching one local artist is reaching the culmination of her year’s work, and just in time to greet the seasonal frost. Photographer, musician and poet Rona Campbell launches her first combined exhibition, blending a compelling collection of new poetry with the stunning photography that inspired them. In Ice Dance, which runs to 27^th October at Oriel Wrecsam, she invites her audience to look at winter, and in particular ice, in a new and exciting way.

Rona’s illustrious career has seen her poem, David of the Mines, winning Sotheby’s International Poetry Competition; her musical education and career saw her become the principal soprano with Opera de Caracas in South America; and her award winning photography has adorned the column of Clarissa Dickson-Wright in the Telegraph. It was primarily the experiences of her childhood in the Brecon Beacons, however, which inspired her latest works, and her experience mixed with her passion for creativity really shines through in the words and images of Ice Dance.

Taking her early life as a foundation, and melding this with her experiences as an artist and performer Rona interwove the theme of dance and performance into the life cycle of ice, and illustrated this with her photographs. The poems – some written out in the wilds as she took the pictures – reflect on ideas within the pictures, reminiscences of her own life, and the obsessive nature of art and artists – “Always trying to get one last shot before the light became too dim to photograph”.

The images were all taken between January and April of this year, and while many of us were sheltering from the inclement weather, Rona was climbing the hills and scouting the moors of Wales in search of ice, and as spring approached that search became increasingly difficult.

“This winter has been difficult because of too little ice and snow. The challenge hasn’t been an easy waltz. More a frantic dash to reach places high enough where ice still existed beyond sunrise; in the shade along river banks or dangling from waterfalls before it melted. I was frozen, either to the spot by its beauty, but more often than not soaked by crouching under banks, water seeping in everywhere; wet legs and feet and blue fingers, and a drive home seated on plastic bags to protect the car seat. But what an experience! Quite alone with not a bird or sheep in sight, with the new ice world tucked away in my Canon camera, I could not have been happier”.

The lack of frost, and an enthusiasm for artistic experimentation led Rona to turn to science. She developed a series of photographs to accompany her images from nature. Entitled Ancient Ice, Rona examined how ice related with and reacted to different materials and situations.

Rona has produced a unique body of work, and this exhibition is perfectly timed to usher in the winter months. All are welcome to come down to the Oriel Wrecsam, hear the poems recited by their author, and hear about Rona’s experiences creating the works.