Tro / Turn

Letting you know about an exhibition which I am putting up next week with artist Cathryn Gwynn – at Oriel Q Gallery, Narberth.

13 October – 11 November 2023. Open Weds-Saturday, 10-4pm.

You’re really welcome to come along.

CATHRYN GWYNN:

Cathryn lives in north Pembrokeshire and, following a career in writing, editing and teaching, graduated with a Textiles degree from Carmarthen School of Art in 2020. 

Her work combines different strands of interests; text is often woven into her use of thread, line, paper and colour. The significance and beauty of place and objects; the resonance of words; time passing – these are recurrent themes in her mixed-media work. 

“Words are often where my work begins. The word Tro (Turn), which became the starting point for this exhibition, and all its idiomatic usages – such as tro byd (the world’s turning i.e. a long time), hen dro (old turn i.e. a pity), troad y rhod (the turn of the mill wheel i.e. circle of time), mynd am dro (going for a turn i.e. a walk) – is one which connects many aspects of my work. It’s a word which relates to the passage of time, to movement through places, to the turning of pages.

The book form is a perfect vessel for my way of working. It can be linear or serendipitous, offers a series of small glimpses, a sense of delicacy.’

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Mae Cathryn yn byw yng ngogledd sir Benfro ac, yn dilyn gyrfa ym myd ysgrifennu, golygu ac addysgu, dilynodd gwrs Tecstilau yn Ysgol Gelf Caerfyrddin, gan raddio yn 2020.

Mae ei gwaith yn cyfuno llinynnau gwahanol ei diddordebau; yn aml caiff testun ei gynnwys yn ei defnydd o edafedd, llinell, papur a lliw. Arwyddocad a harddwch llefydd a phethau; rhin geiriau; amser yn pasio – dyma’r themau sy’n brigo i’r wyneb yn ei gwaith cyfrwng-cymysg. 

“Geiriau yw man cychwyn fy ngwaith yn aml. Mae’r gair Tro a’i holl ymadroddion, megis ers tro byd, hen dro, mynd am dro – sef man cychwyn creu yr arddangosfa hon – yn air sy’n cysylltu sawl agwedd o ‘ngwaith. Mae’n air sy’n ymwneud â threigl amser, symudiad trwy lefydd, a throi dalennau.

Me’r llyfr yn ffurf delfrydol ar gyfer fy ffordd i o ddehongli. Gall fod yn llinol neu gynnig

AND FOR MYSELF:

A book is an object which creates its own space and rhythm, and it is also an object which can create a change. I think, for example, of mediaeval books of hours, which worked to draw attention to a rhythm of prayer, offering the reader a way to unfold their day with care.

There is a David Attenborough film which shows a little monkey in a fig tree. She is handling all the figs on the branches, picking and eating the ripe figs, leaving the unripe figs on the tree. This work, making books, is mysterious to me. It may be something like the work of ripening figs. 

The books in this exhibition were made one-a-day, every day over several months, a small grounding ritual. Perhaps what they hold in common is a sense of repetition, the balance of sameness and change, a page turning, the story of the small moments of the day unfolding. There are resonances, in the turning of the pages of a book, with the turning of the days and of the seasons; of a year, of a life.

There is a surprise, a gift, that appears in the moment of making. I took that, for myself. And now I am offering the books to you. I hope they will create a small space, an opening.

DATES/DYDDIADAU

Golwg breifat/ Private view – Hydref 14 October, 4pm – 7pm

Sgwrs taro mewn yn y oriel i ddysgwyr Cymraeg/ Drop in gallery talk for Welsh learners gyda Cathryn – Hydref 19 October 10.30 ish. (Menter Iaith Sir Benfro)

Meet the artist/ make a tiny book with Sian – Hydref 20 October, 1pm-4pm & Tachwedd 4 November, 1pm – 4pm

Sgwrs a chrwydro’r oriel Criw Dysgwyr Arberth/ Narberth Welsh Learners gallery talk gyda Cathryn – Tachwedd 10 November (Menter Iaith Sir benfro)