Offline Journal Newsletter #88: correction
An extra Newsworthy post for January (amended)
Hello again.
Apologies for dropping two emails in your inbox in quick succession.
After posting the latest newsletter #88 last night I received an email from Ieuan Berry, founder of Ffoto Newport, asking if I could amend some wording in the Clwb Ffoto piece to emphasise that Ffoto Newport is still very much in existence and currently planning its own future activities…
“Clwb Ffoto is entirely independent of Ffoto Newport and has no connection to it beyond the involvement of former members. Ffoto Newport remains under my ownership and is moving in its own distinct direction”.
I think the audio interview does state Clwb Ffoto is a new and distinct setup, but for the sake of clarity and to avoid any confusion, I’m happy to amend some wording in the accompanying text below.
Brian
CLWB FFOTO UNVEILED
After three years of staging photography exhibitions, Ffoto Newport has moved on from the Newport Arcade in the city centre whilst Clwb Ffoto, a new initiative by two former team members, has located in the same space.
Marc Lewis and Justin Rossiter have given the downstairs gallery space and upstairs studio a refresh, with ambitious plans to engage with the supportive community of local photographers with new exhibitions, darkroom facilities and workshops – along with a few other new initiatives and collaborations.
We’re a small gallery space showcasing photographers that have made it, the ones on the brink, and the emerging. – Clwb Ffoto
With so few photography-specific galleries in Wales, it’s always encouraging to see, and support, another new grass-roots effort like this, so I visited the freshly decorated space to speak to Marc and Justin last Wednesday 15 January 2025 – when they opened the doors of Clwb Ffoto for the first time.
Have a listen to our conversation.
Independent of and with no connection to Ffoto Newport, Marc and Justin are keen to emphasise Clwb Ffoto is an entirely new setup with its own goals. You can follow the gallery’s new indie adventures on social media whilst they finalise their new website. Or visit them Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 5pm.
@clwb_ffoto on Instagram
(This item has been edited to clarify for readers that Ffoto Newport continues to operate with founder Ieuan Berry and a small team, and is moving in its own distinct direction. I look forward to sharing an interview with Ffoto Newport in a future newsletter).
FFOTON PODCAST FEED UPDATE
In preparation for new conversations being recorded in 2025, the Ffoton Wales podcast – now celebrating it’s 10th year (and one of the first ever podcasts from Wales) – has moved to a new host and a fresh RSS feed with all 78 episodes of Ffoton’s conversations with talented photographers from 2015 to present.
You can listen to all episodes free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or on your mobile device podcast App or computer.
Apple Podcast Player is also available in your web browser.
Ffoton will also be reviving it’s social media activity this year - switching efforts to Instagram and a new account on BlueSky @ffotonwales.bsky.social
More announcements on new activities and collaborations during 2025 will also be shared on Ffoton’s website in coming weeks, including the new podcast series of ‘roundtable’ discussions mentioned at 42:33 in the Clwb Ffoto audio above.
www.ffoton.wales
HURN & MANIC STREET PREACHERS
Set to be released on 7th February 2025, CRITICAL THINKING is the latest album from Wales’ own Manic Street Preachers and the cover artwork for the new music vinyl, CD and cassette, and all other related marketing, will be familiar to some in the photography community, including Offline Journal subscribers.
The band selected one of David Hurn’s Arizona photographs from 1980 for the new album cover – the very same image used by (the sadly no more) Thru The Lens gallery in Hay on Wye to promote Hurn’s exhibition titled ‘PHOTOGRAPHED: Swapped & Bought’ in late 2021. The full, uncropped image was also used on the A2 FOLIO exhibition poster published by Offline Journal to accompany the show.
I sat down with David Hurn recently to find out more about background to the photograph and how it came to be featured on the latest Manics album release. Listen to the story below…
I have a handful of copies (six to be exact) of this A2-folded-to-A4 exhibition poster remaining, each signed by David Hurn, and am making these available for just £4.00 + £2.00 P&P. I also have three of the last full sets of the Offline Journal FOLIO exhibition posters (seven posters in total, including this one - Hurn’s Arizona highway; his YNYSHIR poster with the young ballroom dancers; and his NEWPORT poster) remaining which were previously only available as supplements to Subscriber Plus supporters of the printed Offline Journal. A seven poster set can be had for £25.00 + £3.00 P&P.
FOLIO posters were the forerunner to the current CATALOG series published by Offline Journal.
If you would like to order a single poster or the set of seven, email me at offline.journal@gmail.com and I’ll forward a payment link.
CRITICAL THINKING is available to pre-order now from the Manics’ website with the choice of several formats, some of which include an ‘art card’ featuring Hurn’s image signed by the band members.