#66: Offline Journal Newsletter : 5 March '24
Miners Strike and much more on photography in Wales
Hello again
Here are several photography events I’m aware of opening in the coming days in south Wales.
I encourage you to try and attend one or two show openings or related events to show support for the photographers and galleries involved.
In the event of your email chopping off some of this (long) issue of the Newsletter, you can view the complete issue in a web browser.
Brian
COAL AND COMMUNITY IN WALES: Richard Williams & Amanda Powell
This evening (6pm 5 March) will see the private view event at Rhondda Heritage Park for photographer Richard William’s new exhibition of unique photographs capturing the 1984-85 Miners strike in Wales.
Alongside the exhibition, a new 144-page book of the work has been published by Y Lolfa titled ‘Coal and Community in Wales - Images of the Miners' Strike: before, during and after’.
A unique perspective on the 1984–85 Miners' Strike from a husband-and-wife team who reported on it in person at the time. Award-winning journalist Powell's revisiting of key events and press photographer Williams' striking images offer an in-depth look at life in the South Wales Coalfield before and after this momentous period, capturing defiance and solidarity against the odds. - Y Lolfa
Information on two exhibitions of the work starting this week can be found in the listings at the end of this Newsletter or via the Exhibitions and events page.
You can see a selection of the images and more of William’s work (a photographer and picture editor at The Western Mail newspaper) on his website: www.richardwilliamsphoto.co.uk
DARK SPRING - John Crerar
Tomorrow evening (6 March) will see the opening of John Crerar’s ‘Dark Spring’ in FOUND gallery in Brecon.
'Dark Spring' is Crerar’s black and white photographic landscape project – shot in the countryside and along the coast near Newport, Gwent during the Spring months of 2020 and 2021.
The dramatic and sparkling spring light many of us witnessed during the first lockdown in March 2020, coupled with the climate of uncertainty, fear and trepidation that characterised the early weeks of the pandemic, have informed both the style and content of John's work. The series is therefore a deeply personal artistic response to the threat that confronted us all at that time while also bearing testimony to the cycle of renewal and hope that nature will always provide with the advent of Spring. - FOUND GALLERY
HEAD/HEART: FRAMING THE FUTURE Photography from the South Wales Valleys
THE WORKERS GALLERY in Ynyshir has an exhibition launch evening this Thursday 6.30pm - 8pm for their latest show HEAD/HEART: FRAMING THE FUTURE.
The exhibition – a collaboration between the Gallery and academia via Aberystwyth University and WISERD – features a selection of photographs from professional and amateur photographers in response to current feelings around independence in the south Wales valleys.
In addition to work on the walls, there will be short presentations by the project co-ordinator and a couple of the participating photographers.
The event is free to attend but the organisers ask attendees to register via the following link:
https://forms.office.com/e/Vw1eVwf47a
Unmasking the Past: Artists in Conversation
As a tie-in with their new ALTERATIONS exhibition opening Friday, Ffotogallery will host a symposium in Cardiff this Saturday 9 March 2024 from 11.30am - 3.00pm.
The format for the day of presentations and discussion is described on the Ffotogallery website as follows:
Artists will discuss their work and then scholars respond to these themes or areas of focus as they interest them. As a result of these discussions, we connect histories in a cross-scholarly exchange that allows ideas and opinions to freely flow.
and
In conjunction with the exhibition Alteration, this symposium Unmasking the Past provides an extended analysis of the archival activation each artist employed in the production of their work by examining the themes of colonialism, identity, citizenship, and non-citizenship in contemporary times. We aim to connect levels of distortion through the exploration of how images and objects have been used throughout history, thus bringing together the various levels of distortion. – Ffotogallery website
The Unmasking the Past symposium is free to attend and Eventbrite tickets can be booked via the event page on the Ffotogallery website:
https://www.ffotogallery.org/programme/unmasking-the-past-artists-in-conversation#
LAST FEW OFFLINE BACK ISSUES
With issue #012 of Offline Journal underway and to be published in late April, there are just two copies of issue #010 ‘THE VALLEYS’; and one copy of #009 ‘COMMUNITY’ remaining. Content details for each are available to view on offline.wales
Similarly, there is just a handful of the Pete Davis ‘Great Little Tin Sheds of Wales: redux’ catalog remaining.
I’ve removed the two Offline Journal back-issues from the Offline online store, but will offer them here to Newsletter subscribers on a first-come-first-served basis at a reduced cost of just £10 each plus £2.60 P&P (UK only).
If you are interested in one or both issues, just email me at offline.journal@gmail.com stating which item you’d like and I’ll respond with a relevant payment link.
Copies of ‘Great Little Tin Sheds of Wales: redux’ are available on the online store at £12 each plus P&P, but can be had (whilst stocks last) for £10 a copy plus £2.60 P&P by using the discount code sheds2off at checkout.
Grab a copy here: offlinejournal.bigcartel.com
(Offline Journal issues are only printed once and content from current and back issues won’t appear online. When copies from the limited print run are gone - they’re gone!)
MEADOWS MOJO IN COLWYN BAY
Taking inspiration from Daniel Meadows’ Free Photographic Omnibus project, photographer Mark McNulty and Oriel Colwyn collaborated in late 2023 to give residents in Colwyn Bay a free portrait.
Oriel Colwyn curator Paul Sampson says:
“We commissioned North Wales based photographer Mark McNulty to work with us to create our new exhibition – A Bay View. During October half-term we set up a free pop-up studio in the Bayview Shopping Centre and photographed passers-by over a period of four days”.
The exhibition - featuring a large selection of prints from over 200 images made during the project - will be situated in the Coed Pella Council Office building and also a pop-up space in a disused store in Colwyn Bay town centre.
A Bay View runs 19 March - 7 June 2024.
www.orielcolwyn.org/a-bay-view
@markmcnulty on Instagram