So to back track a little, the project has been ongoing since 11^th September 2015 with its first instalment ‘GIRLS’: Rebecca Gould & Lindsey Mendick at 10 South Arcade, Chester Street this being the first out of the four exhibitions that program coordinator and curator James Harper has set up.

This exhibition came at a controversial time for Oriel Wrecsam and PERICLO as plans for the creative Hub where under fire from all quarters, but in the spirit of cooperation with market traders cosmetics retailer Beauty Box were invited to lend a hand, and were only too pleased to be able to get involved.  The staff at Beauty Box worked with the artists to select a palette of colours that were connected to the exhibition, and then set up a stall to provide nail art for the day. This partnership proved to be a great success, and allowed businesses in the market, and the public to engage with the exhibition in a new and interesting way.

From this more open dialog between the gallery and the traders that later on took part in a private viewing for the second instalment featuring Alfie Strong: ‘Heart Shaped Like A Baseball Bat’ on the 6^th November 2015 and found it was successful with the discussions about the art work.

With Heart Shaped Like A Baseball Bat, Alfie’s installation looks at the distortion of memories by crossing the line within his mind, that he likes to reference as a television set. The exhibition is a living portrait of memories once experienced and moments not yet to obtained.  This is achieved with walls painted in the colour of heather, and a tapestry of the Scottish Highlands on the stairs representing the spot where Alfie’s father wishes his ashes to be scattered  This is a place where Alfie has never been but only seen represented in images. The installation is full of these Easter eggs that reference his everyday memories with a childlike element of masks and make believe attached to them.

In the next couple of days the third instalment of the PERICLO line up will be with us.  On the 8^th January 2016 from 6pm which will be the launch of ‘Super Market Sweep’ (Bonus Round) curated by Owain McGilvary and Yan White, running until the 20^th February. The looks will capture the 90’s nostalgia of the TV program and references the ‘theatrical’ elements that surround supermarkets.

Followed shortly by ‘Harnis Your Hareth’ which translates to longing  for home that you can no longer return to, this will be curated by James Harper and will look at the art of documenting and using Wrexham as the first inspiration towards this exhibition.

Whilst talking to James, as well as us discussing the program at length and how he has found integrating PERICLO and working with the market traders, I also asked what was the different between coordinating a program compared to curating an exhibition. James suggested that with coordinating the program for PERICLO he was simply bring together groups of artists that he believed would push the boundaries of contemporary art within the already bustling scene in Wrexham. This is the aim of PERICLO’s program at Oriel Wrecsam.

James then talked about how for him curating is like being a good referee*, and how if you try to take over and interfering too much you just end up frustrating those around you and not bring out the best performance in those individuals, but if you step back, directing only when needed, then everyone can enjoy the game. Know if you just replace the referee for James and the football players for artists this makes complete sense in trying to make that harmonious balance that a curator has to consider when bring together an exhibition.

With PERICLO as whole the instalments in the program have been interesting addition to the Wrexham art scene, and how it is supporting its community in a unique way by involving the market traders and breaking down barriers that exist, and look at how they and others perceive certain aspects of art.

*If you have ever meet James it is no surprise that he likes using football references to describe his curatorial role as he is a massive Everton fan (just shows even curators don’t get it right all the time).

If you would like to watch Alfie and James in conversation please feel free to on this link or please feel free to follow PERICLO on Twitter or Facebook

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Name:
Tim Humphreys-Jones

Current Location:
Wrexham (On my sofa)

Favourite place, and why?
Coedpoeth, view of town from there in the night, or fog over Wrexham in the morning is wicked.

Favourite Reindeer?
Don’t have one.

Describe your self in 5 words:
ginger. married. writer. honest. optimist.

What is your current practice and what have you been up to?
At present I am trying to broaden my horizons in terms of my poetry and looking at going over music. I am also Artistic Director of Voicebox (Spoken Word night in Wrexham) and I am hoping that it continues to grow as it has done over the past 2 years.

How long have you been a practising Poet for?
Almost ten years.

At what point in your life did you know you wanted to be a Poet?
15/16

If you could buy your 10 year old self anything for Christmas what would it be?
Tickets to the FA cup final to see Liverpool win against Arsenal.

Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to this Christmas?
I always look forward to the family meals and getting to spend time with my relatives. this year, I’m cooking. Should be fun.

Have you got any plans for the New Year? 
2016 Will be one of firsts for Voicebox as we branch out to potentially have; our first slam, hiphop special, beatbox battle and spoken word play. I am definitely looking forward to all of them too. I am hoping to find an a venue for my next book publishing venture too but I don’t know how that will pan out just yet.

If you could get anything for Christmas this year what would it be?
Tickets for an all inclusive holiday trip to Barcelona for Jade and I.

If you would like to find out more about Tim and Voicebox please feel free to to follow on Facebook and Twitter!

Voicebox Facebook

Tim Humphreys-Jones Twitter
Voicebox Twitter 

Latest in Voicebox events! Buy tickets now

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Name:
Mikey Jones

Current Location:
Wrexham

Favourite place, and why?
Bristol – student days were fun with great people and lots of interesting things happening down there in the arts and Music scenes.

Favourite Reindeer?
Dasher

Describe your self in 5 words.
Odd, fun, determined, sensitive and optimistic.

What is your current practice and what have you been up to?
I have been painting and exhibiting my Wales in Colour series and doing some commissions of the local area. Recently I produced the outline for the Reimagine Wrexham boards for Wrexfest which can now be seen in the Old Burtons on the Hight Street. I’ve done a few art give-away’s recently and made some Calendars of the Wales in Colour series and there’s still a few left.

How long have you been a practising Artist for?
4 years

At what point in your life did you know you wanted to be a Artist?
When my University tutor said ‘Mikey I think your more of an artist than a Architect’, this obvious hit me hard at first.

If you could buy your 10 year old self anything for Christmas what would it be?
Oil paints

Is there anything in particular you are looking forward to this Christmas?
Lots of mulled wine

Have you got plans new year?
I’m off to Jerusalem in February for 11 days to commence my new series ‘Jerusalem in Colour’ which I can’t wait to get stuck in to as I’ve been planning it for months now. Also got a couple of Wales in Colour exhibitions lined up in Llandudno in April, a special one in the Norwegian Art Centre in Cardiff Bay in July and not to forget I will be exhibiting Wales in Colour in the Botanical Garden of Wales Gallery. I also have plans for another Bristol Exhibition later in the year but it’s all under wraps at the moment

If you would like to contact Mikey Jones or keep updated with the rest of his work please feel free to follow him on, Facebook, Twitter or  his website www.mikeyjonesart.com

Currently Mikey is selling a limited number of Wales in Colour calendars!

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Designer Maker has been a project to help build the confidence of those who deal with mental health challengers and for them to collaborate with an artist to make a series of products to be sold in Oriel Wrecsam’s shop based on Chester St. The proposal was formed by Oriel’s educational officer Jo Marsh whose role it is to encourage accessibility within the arts and general public with projects such as  ‘Art Vend’ and  ‘Oriel Crafters’  from Caia Park, the Designer Makers project was going to be another immersive project that any artists would want to be apart of.

After asking Jo why she picked Rhi’s proposal she commented that out of all the entries for the project Rhi’s proposal was the right balance of gathering input and quality control of the products, whilst giving the participants the creative freedom to enable them to put their own mark on the project.

Part of the proposal that Rhi submitted to Oriel was to create a blog to follow the journey of her and the participants involved. The blog which you can find on tumblr as The Designer Maker Project, is a charming and whimsical diary of the connections and artwork that has developed though the 6 weeks. Through the entries you can see the relationships forming and the confidence gained from the process of designing and making.

The blog helps break down the events over the 6 weeks:

• Week 1: Brain storming and tea, how the group looked at traditional North Wales tales and folk lore, history and tradition.
• Week 2: Development of ideas and mark making.
• Week 3: Introduction to screen printing and collages for the plates and talking to Sarah Jane Harper and incorporating ceramics in to the project.
• Week 4: Add the screen printed transfers to the ceramics.
• Week 5: The group meet SJH in her studio and see how she created the ceramics.
• Week 6: The group make 20 limited addition prints for the shop out of the drawings and labels.

As a collective the group have had a number of approaches in the construction and design of the objects, with some  having a complex layering system towards there design whilst other products go for a more a simplest approach. Rhi mentions that when the group where together picking the final layout for the screen prints, there wasn’t a moment within the process that any one person thought it was their work but the considered the project as a group effort.

On the 5^th November a private viewing of the products were revealed. The group have designed tote bags, bowls, spoons, plates and limited prints and you can really appreciate the hard work and enjoyment that each of the items clearly shows as no two plates, spoons or bowls are alike. From the 19^th November the products will be available in Oriel Wrecsam’s Siop.

By supporting projects such as Designer Maker you will be helping fund the next series of ventures for March 2016. By being able to sell the products it makes this project sustainable and helps other groups of people able to access art therapy sessions that in the long run develop their confidents. Accessibility towards the arts is an important step to in to developing futures of the lives of some of the most extraordinaire people that might not necessary have the access to or the support, but with projects provided by Advance Brighter Futures, Jo and Rhi at Oriel Wrecsam it surreally is a wonderful step in the right direction for the arts in Wrexham.

To view more pictures please feel free to click the image below.

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Project Timeframe
Sessions with the group will take place with the group between September and October, and finished products must be delivered to SIOP//SHOP by no later than Friday 6th November 2015.
We are looking for an edition of between 10 and 20 pieces, and there is an inclusive budget of £2000 for this project, which needs to cover all fees, travel and material costs.
For information about how to apply, and to download the full brief, please visit www.wrexham.gov.uk/arts, or contactoriel.learning@wrexham.gov.uk

Mae Oriel Wrecsam yn chwilio am ddylunydd neu wneuthurwr cyfoes, i greu cynnyrch newydd ar gyfer ein hardal fanwerthu ‘SIOP// SHOP’, gan gydweithio gyda grŵp o hyd at 10 o oedolion sy’n wynebu amryw o heriau iechyd meddwl.  Gobaith y prosiect yw cynnig manteision iechyd a lles ar gyfer y grŵp, yn ogystal â bod yn ymarfer mewn cynaliadwyedd gan y bydd unrhyw arian a gynhyrchir drwy werthu yn galluogi prosiectau creadigol eraill o’r math hwn.

Amserlen y Prosiect
Cynhelir y sesiynau gyda’r grŵp rhwng mis Medi a mis Hydref, a rhaid cyflwyno cynnyrch gorffenedig i SIOP// SIOP ddim hwyrach na dydd Gwener 6 Tachwedd, 2015.
Rydym yn chwilio am gynhyrchiad gyda rhwng 10 ac 20 o ddarnau, ac mae cyllideb gynhwysol o £2000 ar gyfer y prosiect hwn, a rhaid i hyn dalu’r holl ffioedd, costau teithio a deunyddiau.

Am fwy o wybodaeth am sut i wneud cais, ac i lawrlwytho’r briff prosiect llawn, ewch I www.wrexham.gov.uk/celf, neu cysylltwch âoriel.learning@wrexham.gov.uk

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Artist David McBride has previously documented landscapes through his photography but has recently shifted his interest on to navigational structures such as road markings and paths. All these things link to the infinite possibilities of the journey we have through our lives. For the exhibition McBride has been working on a series that documents the nature of the road markings – manhole covers, traffic cones and so on.

McBride comments; “Since my initial explorations I have increasingly become fascinated with many aspects of the colour that I have sought on my travels. I have further expanded upon these musings to experiment with these findings and to treat and investigate colour through photography as a whole.”

The artwork on display at 1-2 Hope Street was originally exhibited at Galeri 3B on Priory Street. Formerly Laura Ashley this is another property THIS Project have been given the opportunity of using in order to bring back into use empty spaces, and therefore adding something unique, engaging and temporary into our high streets while also furthering the careers of artists by supporting them to try new things, develop new audiences and present new work.

The exhibition, ‘Light Drawing’ was an exhibition of contemporary lens media exploring different techniques and themes offering a wide perspective on photography as an art form and also included collections of photography work by Alan Whitfield and Andrew Sharp.

THIS Project remain active at Undegun on Regent Street which currently exhibits Sivulla/On The Edge, an exhibition of contemporary Finnish artwork as part of a cultural and artistic exchange between artists based in Finland and North Wales.

http://davidmcbride.tumblr.com/

www.thisproject.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/thisproject

twitter: @thishq

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The main exhibition launch at Oriel Sycharth Gallery will be on 23 April, 6-8pm, and will feature a live, multi-actor performance directed by Helen Knowles. A post-event reception with performances will follow at Undegun from 8pm onwards. As part of Focus Wales’s regular programme, the post-event is ticketed, but visitors to the opening at Oriel Sycharth will receive free passes to a special VIP zone.

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