Sunday 17 March 2013

N.W.M.A.T - The Goldern Pick Award Jan 2013










The North Wales Miners Association Trust (NWMAT) held its annual meeting earlier this year (2013) and a tradition is that 2 awards are handed out at this meeting. In (2010) its first year, the award of The Golden Pick Axe was awarded to Margaret for her work as Secretary for  a rapidly growing Trust and for organising the recording and archiving of documents. The other award is called The Screw Up Award and was presented to Ted McKay for telling everyone about his rare miners' lamp that turned out to be a cold weather warmer for a car engine.











This year (2013) the Screw Up award was given to Ieuan and to my amazement I was awarded The Golden Pick Axe for my involvement in recording through photography events, artifacts and documents and also making a modern copy of a transcript of a seminar.The other creations have been a slide shows to music etc. etc.
I was proud to receive the award and totally shocked. I did not expect this as I had enjoyed doing the work for them and felt that I was part of a team effort.
For the next meeting it is my choice to nominate the award to someone else.




For info on

North Wales Miners Trust
( NWMAT )







Friday 15 March 2013

Fringe Festival - Llangollen Camera Club 18.7.2012



This was a great day as there was a birthday in the family and we went to one of my favourite places to eat. I try to go here as often as I  can as it is only open every year from Easter until the end of Oct. Its such a lovely place for many reasons; the summer months give the opportunity to sit and eat in the peaceful gardens surrounded by beautiful landscape views. The cherry on the cake so to speak, is the excellent freshly prepared home made food.The service is friendly and I guarantee you will return, however the only down side is the typical British weather. Due to its popularity you may have to get your timing just right to avoid disappointment in getting a seat inside if the weather is a little cold for you to sit out. So if you are anything like me you will have an early lunch and be the first there when they open. 








PROSPECT GARDEN TEA ROOM






The beautiful garden and its views




































To find out more about the PROSPECT GARDEN TEA ROOM see the links below

https://www.facebook.com/ProspectGardenTeaRooms



http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/offasdyke/site.asp?PageId=101&SiteId=1032&c=50



LLangollen Camera Club 


The Club was one of many that was approached to display images in the Festival this year and the theme was THE RIVER DEE. This year the viewing was held in the Royal Hotel. Like the previous years we have taken part in the festival but the viewing of everyone's work was then held in the  Llangollen Pavilion. This was also a great chance for many locals and visitors in the town to see the exhibition that was organised by Ann Murray.




















Apologies in advance if I have missed anyone's work or have names mixed up with photo images. 


All copyright remains that of the photographers.








Ted Broadhurst 






Ted Broadhurst 








Ted Broadhurst 






Colin Jones 






Rowena Jones






Rowena Jones





Jim Macc







Ann Douglas










Ann Douglas

































We then split up for a short while and I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time especially with my camera. The image above is I feel that lucky shot, the skies were dark and moody while the light was strong enough just to light up the top of the roof and draw the colours out. 




Courtyard coffee shop  just off Castle St. was where we had planned to meet up for a drink before we then headed back. This is also a really nice small cafe which as a bonus makes great coffee.The image of the bench above was taken in the court yard.





This last shot I couldn't resist as it is an all too familiar scene which will be lost with a generation I feel. 


Aperture Camera Club 

come and join us 


LLangollen photographic club is attended by a small group of dedicated local photographers.

The group meets every 2nd Thursday in the month
7.30 pm - 9.30 pm
At the Rafa club,
Canalside Gardens,
      LLangollen. 









My work with Bridges ( Ornamental Garden Products ) 2012 - 2013









Bridges is a small business and training facility. It is situated on the Felin Puleston Industrial Estate, opposite the car washing service.

It produces and sells a wide range of quality concrete garden products. The workshop is separated into a ‘Wet & Dry Areas’ where the cement is mixed and other constituents are added as required, depending on the particular item being produced. There is an area for storage and drying, along with an area for painting and finishing the ornaments, pots and slabs.

We teach new skills and offer training in concrete within a safe working environment. We help individuals improve confidence and self-esteem as well as create opportunities to promote independence and job satisfaction.

Each individual has a Service Delivery Plan where strengths and needs are considered with personal choices offered. Each person has a variety of activities and a timetable reflecting this.

Jobs there are within the business:
Helping to mix concrete and pour into moulds;
Taking dried products out of moulds;
Painting and sponging products;
Cleaning work areas and equipment;
Dealing with cash sales;
Computer input.

We are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.00pm.

Contact Details

Bridges (Ornamental Garden Products)
Unit 3, Felin Puleston Industrial Estate
Ruabon Road
Wrexham
LL13 7RF

Tel: 01978 366858


The information is taken from the link below

http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/council/social_services/day_ops/bridges.htm







I was fortunate enough to be at Glyndwr Uni. when there was a a day of events going on in the Catrin Finch center and Gym. I had nipped in to give a friend some support as she was helping out. Before leaving I went and had a look at the stalls. I had spoke to helpers on the stalls and asked if they were looking for a photographer that was willing to join them for experience in working in a  professional practice environment. Then I also left my details  with the other 2 and the 3rd stall I left my details with was Bridges. I enjoyed talking to the members on the stall as they were very passionate about their work. I looked through the portfolio of images that they had brought with them and I really liked the products that I saw  they produced. Especially when they were all individually hand made and painted. I was blown away. 



To my surprise and delight out of the 3 this was the organisation that got back to me. A day was arranged for me to go and  see the place and talk to the team. I was at first a little nervous but soon began to relax because the team were so welcoming and we chatted like we had known each other for a long time. 



I hadn't realized at first that there were also 3 areas within the establishment and the one that I was interested in was under the umbrella of Work Opportunities. We talked about what Skills I could bring to them and in what compacity I would be able to help. It was great to be able to talk and work closely with the team and be able to understand my brief that I set for myself and be able to deliver.



I went to Bridges  once a week over a period of time.  I had worked with the staff to help me be able to have excess to a small area where I could take photos. I also asked for a new list every time I attended of what items would be available for me to photograph, as it was easier for me to work to. I had thought about how I was going to take each image with the product on a green base of carpet which luckily I had acquired from a friend. I used a doule-sided black/white card as a background.

The working members of the team were also very friendly and helpful and this was such a great environment to be a part of. 

The work I produced for them was - 

A selection of images - items taken from different angles - This was then able to be used as advertisement on each product and was to be accompanied by measurements so a prospective buyer could see. 

Mini Portfolio - Once completed, the above and images could then be put into a portfolio and be taken along to events and be shown. Just like the ones that I had seen in my first meeting with them. 

Collages - seen below - that could be printed out into A3 size to be displayed on the walls in the work shop.





DOGS 






Small






Small





















Oriental












Benches and Bird baths







Planters 








Water features

































Mosaics: for more info please phone Bridges























PLEASE NOTE THAT PRICES AND ITEMS ON THE LIST MAYBE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.









Please visit Bridges to view the items, all are  hand made and painted. 



Thank you to Bridges Staff and team for making me feel welcome -  it was great to work with you all - an experience I wont forget.












Wednesday 13 March 2013

North Wales School of Art & Design Exhibition 07/02/13


Work in progress by art students at Glyndŵr University to go on show to the public

 

 5 February 2013




Glyndwr University’s North Wales School of Art and Design is opening its doors to the public this week to offer a glimpse into students’ latest creations and work in progress.

The historic building, on Regent Street, Wrexham, will host an Open Studios event from 4.30pm to 8pm on Thursday 7 February 2013.

Work in progress from artists studying animation and game art, film and photography, graphic design, illustration and fine art will be on show.

Ceramics, glass, jewellery and metalwork, produced by students from the university’s BA (Hons) Applied Arts degree, is also set to feature.

There will be an opportunity to see the work of MA Art and Design students as well.

David Gill, principal lecturer at the North Wales School of Art and Design, said: “This is very much a student-led project and an excellent opportunity for the public to see some of the work which goes on inside the art school building.

“It’s always important to hear what the public have got to say about art. Artists and designers are creating things for an audience so it’s important that they engage with their audience and learn and improve from the feedback which they receive.

“Some of the work will be finished but most will be work in progress. The event very much forms part of students’ development as artists. Final year students work is displayed in our summer show every year but we hold events like this to encourage the students to understand the process which goes into creating and preparing a piece of artwork for a professional exhibition.”




The link below is where I got the article above from.
http://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/AboutGlyndwrUniversity/PressOffice/PressReleases2013/WorkinprogressbyartstudentsatGlyndwrUniversitytogoonshowtothepublic/


PLEASE NOTE 

All copyright belongs to the artists who's work was exhibited in the show 





Below are images of students with their work, examples of work and work that formed part of students' Negotiated Study 1.




















Sue with one of the models used on her photo shoot

























The computer on the left was showing work from The North Wales Film and Photography Collective.







This video projection was showing the school's showreel.




Below are examples of work by the students
 of Animation

























Above and below are photos of some members of The Collective












Refreshments were served on the night!




























Thanks go to tutors Stewart and Marisse  for their help and support both before and during the event.



Within the school there were other areas open and each discipline had provided food and drink. 
It was good to see the variety of work being produced and as always I was blown away by the evidence of all students' talents.