The Art foundation course in Bangor is celebrating its 40th year this academic year, and we were due to have an exhibition of alumni in January 2021 in Storiel, Bangor. Due to the ongoing covid situation this has now been postponed. We were keen to mark the anniversary during the actual academic year, so decided to ask ex-students to send us a paragraph about their time on foundation, and beyond, along with an image. The intention was to trickle these out on social media throughout the year.
The foundation course in Bangor has taught many hundreds of students over the years, many of whom have gone on to do significant things, not only in the visual arts. The response has been fantastic, and the feedback from people who’ve read them has been so positive. The main platform for sharing them has been our Facebook group, but realising not everyone uses it, it was decided to put them together in blog form, to hopefully reach more people. Stories are continuing to come in and will be posted as they arrive. All stories will also be translated from English to Welsh and from Welsh to English, this takes time so please be patient if the latest stories to arrive aren’t translated immediately.
If you are reading this and were a student on the course in Bangor at any point during the last 40 years, please get in touch with your story. We’re interested in All our ex-students, and what they do, be it art related, or not. If the course influenced you in some way we’d love to hear from you.
Mae'r cwrs Sylfaen Celf ym Mangor yn dathlu 40 mlynedd yn ystod y flwyddyn academaidd hon ac roedd arddangosfa o waith cyn-fyfyrwyr wedi'i threfnu ar gyfer Ionawr 2021 yn Storiel, Bangor. Oherwydd y sefyllfa covid cyfredol, mae'r arddangosfa wedi cael ei gohirio. Roedden ni'n awyddus i nodi'r pen-blwydd yn ystod y flwyddyn academaidd hon, felly penderfynon ni ofyn i gyn-fyfyrwyr anfon paragraff atom ni yn sôn am eu cyfnod ar y cwrs sylfaen a thu hwnt i hynny, ynghyd â delwedd. Y bwriad oedd cyhoeddi'r rhain fesul tipyn ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn ystod y flwyddyn.
Mae cannoedd o fyfyrwyr wedi dilyn y cwrs sylfaen ym Mangor dros y blynyddoedd, nifer ohonynt wedi mynd ymlaen i gyflawni pethau nodedig ym myd celf, ac mewn meysydd y tu hwnt i'r celfyddydau gweledol. Mae'r ymateb wedi bod yn wych a'r adborth gan bobl sydd wedi'u darllen wedi bod yn gadarnhaol iawn. Facebook oedd y prif blatfform i rannu'r hanesion, ond wedi i ni sylweddoli nad pawb sydd ar y cyfrwng hwnnw, penderfynon ni eu cyflwyno ar ffurf blog, a chyrraedd rhagor o bobl gobeithio. Mae straeon yn dal i ddod i mewn, a bydd y rhain yn cael eu cyhoeddi wrth iddynt gyrraedd. Mae pob stori yn cael ei chyfieithu o'r Saesneg i'r Gymraeg ac o'r Gymraeg i Saesneg ac mae hyn yn cymryd amser, felly mae angen ystyried hynny os gwelwch chi nad ydy'r straeon diweddaraf wedi cael eu cyfieithu'n syth.
Os ydych chi'n darllen hwn a chithau wedi bod yn fyfyriwr ar y cwrs ym Mangor yn ystod y 40 mlynedd diwethaf, cysylltwch â ni i rannu eich stori. Rydym eisiau clywed hanes POB UN o'n cyn-fyfyrwyr a'r hyn maen nhw'n ei wneud, ym myd celf neu y tu hwnt i hynny. Mi fydden ni wrth ein boddau i glywed gennych os cafodd y cwrs ddylanwad arnoch chi mewn unrhyw ffordd. Diolch
BETHAN HUWS
I attended the first-ever year of the Art Foundation Course, in 1980, when it was still at the Coleg Normal site in Upper Bangor. Although initially I was not too pleased to be there, having been accepted to a London art school – and then, lo and behold, a new Foundation Course opened in Bangor! – but I soon settled in.
The most memorable class was the life class with Peter Prendergast, which I both loved and dreaded at the same time. He took us all to task, just as he took himself to task – and nobody got out alive! It was wonderful, and instilled in me a lifelong passion for drawing.
ABI SHAPIRO
I started the foundation diploma at Coleg Menai in 2009 with no intention of becoming an artist. I was preparing to start a PhD in Art History and thought it would be helpful to know more about the practical side of making. Little did I know, I would not only learn to how to select and wield artistic materials, but I would learn specifically what it meant to use those materials in North Wales. These rooted forms of embodied knowledge were formative to me then and they continue to shape how I think and write about art now.
When I emigrated from Canada to North Wales as an older child, learning Welsh was not just an essential means of communicating but it was a way to navigate my cultural otherness. The language helped me to understand how the landscape shaped expressions of what it meant to be Welsh, and to feel connected to, and protective of, its heritage. After undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in England, I found myself back on Anglesey living at home with an offer to start a PhD a year later. What to do with twelve months off? An old friend Sevan Nigogosian, now a successful jewellery maker, told me about his positive experience of studying art at Coleg Menai, so I timidly went along to the open day, older than everyone else, wondering if my old A-level art would stand up in interview. I explained to the bemused tutors I simply wanted to explore the process of making sculpture.
Fast forward to a decade later in 2019 when, by chance, I bump into Coleg Menai tutor Jane Parry MacFarlan at Tate Liverpool, showing her foundation students around a Keith Haring retrospective. The show is really good but I can't focus on it because I am bursting with memories of the foundation year and how it both led and informed the work I do today as a curator at The Hepworth Wakefield - a gallery that shows some of the most exciting modern and contemporary sculpture. The foundation diploma gave me the gift of time, space, and encouragement to explore the formal, social and political meaning of materials. I learned an enormous amount about what it meant to make artistic decisions that could be guided as much by intuition as intellectual ideas. Poor Owein had to constantly say "get out of your head Abi, and just make art instead of thinking about it". I was lucky to be surrounded by students who, although much younger than me in age, wisely understood the necessity to be led by a creative compass rather than fixating on how be 'original'. I'm grateful for the time and support that year to think about how artists' life circumstances relate to their production, particularly from a feminist and queer perspective. Articulating one's personal experience in the world in a tangible way that is relatable to others is a special thing; I was honoured to have been given a degree-show prize for my installation that used found objects to represent conversations with people I met over a three-month period. That project catalysed my fascination with the relationality between materials and bodies. As arts education faces increasing threats to its livelihood, I hope people continue to appreciate the quiet but lasting legacies these courses can have on the way we develop our material worlds and our place within it.
LUNED RHYS PARRI
Roedd cael y cyfle i fynd i Goleg Menai yn 1988 i astudio Celf a Chrefft a Dylunio yn gwireddu breuddwyd i mi. Roedd yn brofiad ffres a chyffrous, ac yn gyfle arbennig i gychwyn arbrofi gyda deunyddiau a oedd yn gwbl newydd i mi - clai, inc Indiaidd, inc printio a phaent olew, yn ogystal â chyfle i arbrofi gyda thechnegau gwahanol megis creu gwrthrychau tri dimensiwn trwy ailgylchu papur a chardfwrdd, a thiwtoriaid fel Phil Mumford ac Alan Brunston yn ein hannog ni fyfyrwyr i greu pob math o wrthrychau allan o ‘ddim byd’.
Ac roedd darlithoedd Hanes Celf Paul Davies yn agor byd newydd i mi. Dysgais lawer am artistiaid Ewropeaidd megis Kurt Schwitters a Max Beckmann. Dysgwr y Gymraeg oedd Paul Davies, a chanddo ddiddordeb mawr yn yr iaith a’r diwylliant Cymraeg. Ond, rhaid cydnabod mai’r peintiwr adnabyddus, Peter Prendergast a gafodd y dylanwad mwyaf arnaf. Roedd yn gymeriad diddorol ac egnïol, a’i frwdfrydedd tuag at gelf ac at waith myfyrwyr yn amlwg. Wedi imi adael Coleg Menai i ddilyn Cwrs Gradd yng Nghaerdydd parhaodd fy nghysylltiad â Peter, a chofiaf iddo ymweld â’m harddangosfa raddio, a hyd yn oed brynu darn o’m gwaith. Oedd, roedd yn berson clên a thriw iawn. Parhaodd i’m cefnogi ac i ddilyn y datblygiadau yn fy ngyrfa - hyd at ei farwolaeth ddisyfyd yn 2007. Bu hynny’n golled enfawr i’r byd celf ac i addysg celf yng Nghymru.
Heb os, rhoddodd fy nghyfnod yng Ngholeg Menai gyfle i mi ddod i adnabod criw o fyfyrwyr a staff unigryw a gweithgar - staff a lwyddodd i’n cael i weithio’n galed, ac i fwynhau pob eiliad.
Union 30 mlynedd ers i mi gwblhau’r Cwrs Sylfaen, cychwynnodd fy merch, Lleucu Non ar yr un cwrs y llynedd, a’r un oedd ei hymateb hithau – mwynhad a gwerthfawrogiad o’r holl gyfleoedd a ddaeth i’w rhan - cwrs a roddodd sylfaen ardderchog iddi ym maes celfyddyd. Gobeithio y caiff hithau brofiadau diddorol wrth astudio a gweithio yn y maes hwn, yma yng Nghymru a thu hwnt. Cefais i gyfleoedd i i weithio yn Rwsia a Phatagonia a chael arddangosfeydd a phreswyliadau yma yng Nghymru a thramor – yng Ngwlad y Basg a Galisia yn arbennig. Er gwaethaf y cyfyngiadau presennol oherwydd Covid-19, gallwn edrych ymlaen at brofiadau a chyfleoedd tebyg eto yn y dyfodol. Felly, hir oes i Gwrs Sylfaen Celf Coleg Menai!
******
Going to Coleg Menai to study Art, Craft and Design was, for me in 1988, the fulfilment of a dream. It was a new and exciting experience, and an opportunity to experiment with hitherto unfamiliar materials such as clay, indian ink and oil paint; and also to explore new fields and innovative techniques, which included creating three-dimensional objects from recycled paper and cardboard. Tutors like Phil Mumford and Alan Brunston were forever urging their students to create all manner of objects ‘out of nothing’.
Paul Davies’ lectures on the History of Art were an introduction to a vast new world. I learnt a great deal from him about Kurt Schwitters, Max Beckmann and many other European artists. At that time, Paul was learning Welsh and greatly interested in the language and the distinctive culture embodied in it. However, the member of staff who exerted the greatest influence on me was probably the late Peter Prendergast, a now famous artist whose untimely death in January 2007 was a great loss to art and to art education in Wales. I continued to benefit from his support and encouragement long after leaving Coleg Menai.
As well as among such gifted and energetic members of staff, I made many friends among hard-working and ambitious fellow students in Coleg Menai. We inspired one another to work hard and enjoyed every minute of the course.
Exactly 30 years after I completed the Foundation Course, my daughter, Lleucu Non, joined the 2019 course in Coleg Menai. Her response to the course was similar to mine – enjoyment and appreciation of all the opportunities and the solid foundation provided. My hope is that Lleucu will continue to study art and to find working as an artist as fulfilling as I have, here in Wales and further afield. On different occasions, I have worked as resident artist and haave exhibited in Russia and Patagonia as well as in the Basque country and Galicia (before Covid-19 intervened!). Such opportunities will become available again for future students, provided the Foundation Course at Coleg Menai continues to flourish.
DONNA BARRY
I’m a jewellery designer and maker living on the east coast of Scotland, just outside Edinburgh.
Working in silver and gold and precious stones, I handcraft pieces of jewellery which resemble symmetry and elegant forms found in flora and fauna.
As well as making sculptural art jewellery pieces for special exhibitions, I also design and make smaller more wearable collections. My work is sold at national & international galleries and craft fairs as well as online.
In addition to this, I run wedding ring workshops at my studio in Edinburgh, which I have been doing for the last ten years.
1996 was the year I enrolled on the Art Foundation course at Parc Menai. I was apprehensive at first, but it soon became clear to me, it was where I was meant to be. It was so much fun and such hard work all at the same time.
I remember travelling by bus everyday along the back roads to and from my home town of Holyhead. We’d have homework set pretty much every night. Sometimes, if I was working at the pub in the evening, I’d go home afterwards and stay up until the early hours to complete the work we were set. It was tough going, but it set the pace for the following years at Art College and for my future, running a jewellery business.
Towards the end of the course, I was creating big wearable wire sculptures for the body. I enjoyed playing with different materials and manipulating them in various ways. I had no idea where it was leading, but I just knew I loved doing what I was doing!
I remember my tutors Owein and Peter Prendergast suggested I apply for Jewellery and Silversmithing courses. I had no idea that there was even such a thing, but as soon as it was proposed, I knew it was for me. Thanks to them, I went on to complete my degree and postgraduate diploma at Edinburgh College of Art.
BEDWYR WILLIAMS
I’m an artist who exhibits nationally and internationally and I live and work in North Wales. I represented Wales at the Venice Biennale in 2013 and in 2016 exhibited at the Barbican Centre in London.
The art foundation in Bangor was important for me because unlike secondary school, where art is often considered a kind of nonsense subject, I was in a place for the first time where art was taken deadly seriously. It was like a boot camp, a boot camp that taught me resilience and tenacity and the importance of thinking visually in a country (Wales) where music and poetry are the big guys hogging the cultural jacuzzi.
I think everyone in North Wales should do the foundation course in Coleg Menai. (Especially planning officers)
Rwy’n artist sydd yn arddangos yn genedlaethol ac yn rhyngwladol ac rwy'n byw ac yn gweithio yng Ngogledd Cymru. Cynrychiolais Gymru yn y Venice Biennale yn 2013 ac yn 2016 arddangosais yn y Ganolfan Barbican yn Llundain.
Roedd y cwrs sylfaen Celf ym Mangor yn bwysig i mi oherwydd yn annhebyg i'r ysgol uwchradd, lle'r ystyrir celf yn aml fel math o bwnc nonsens, roeddwn mewn man am y tro cyntaf lle cymerwyd celf o ddifri. Roedd yn debyg i bŵt camp, bŵt camp a ddysgodd ddycnwch i mi a'r pwysigrwydd o feddwl yn weledol mewn gwlad (Cymru) lle mai cerddoriaeth a barddoniaeth yw'r hogia mawr sy'n llenwi'r jacuzzi diwylliannol.
Rwy'n credu y dylai pawb yng Ngogledd Cymru wneud y cwrs sylfaen yng Ngholeg Menai. (Yn enwedig swyddogion cynllunio)
ANNIE ATKINS
I design and make graphic props for the film industry. Fake love letters, forged telegrams, prison escape maps... all the graphic props and set pieces that the actors have to work with on a film set. The greatest lesson I took from my foundation year in Bangor was to study and think about the world and the life around me: whether that was in a life drawing class or in my graphic art modules. Whenever I'm stuck on a design today I often hear my tutor Peter Predergast's voice in my head telling me to think outside of the piece of paper I'm drawing on, to remember to keep looking at the life in front of me, and not just at my hand and pencil. The foundation course spring-boarded me on to a good degree course at Ravensbourne in London, and I've been employed in graphic design ever since. Very fond memories of my time at Coleg Menai!
Rwy'n cynllunio ac yn gwneud props graffig ar gyfer y diwydiant ffilmiau. Llythyrau caru ffug, telegrams wedi eu ffugio, mapiau i ddianc o'r carchar... yr holl brops a'r darnau gosod y mae'n rhaid i actorion weithio gyda nhw ar set ffilm. Y wers fwyaf a ddysgais yn fy mlwyddyn sylfaen ym Mangor oedd i astudio a meddwl am y byd a'r bywyd o'm cwmpas: boed hynny mewn dosbarth bywluniad neu yn fy modylau celf graffig. Pan fyddaf yn mynd i'r wal gyda dyluniad heddiw mi fyddai'n clywed llais fy nhiwtor Peter Prendergast yn fy mhen yn dweud wrthyf am feddwl y tu allan i'r darn o bapur rwy'n lluniadu arno, i gofio i edrych ar y bywyd o mlaen, ac nid dim ond ar fy llaw a'm pensel.
Mi fu fy nghwrs sylfaen yn sbardun i mi ennill lle ar gwrs gradd da yn Ravensbourne yn Llundain, ac rwyf wedi fy nghyflogi mewn dylunio graffig ers hynny. Mae gen i atgofion braf iawn o nghyfnod yng Ngholeg Menai!
RUSSELL OWEN
My main role today is writer/director of feature films, currently working on my 4th, 'Shepherd' due in cinemas in 2021.
I own and run a digital creative agency in London, Kindred Communications, making commercials, music videos, producing photography/advertising campaigns and creating short form films for the BBC, American Express, Armani, Diageo and several more clients.
My time on the Art Foundation course:
Looking back on all my formative years, the Art Foundation course in Bangor was without doubt the most important. It came at a time in my life when it seemed dreams of making movies were way out of reach of any young folk from North Wales. My school even discouraged pursuing that level of ambition during our careers advice as 'pretty hopeless'. The Art Foundation course, in less than a year, taught me the complete opposite. It compressed so much possibility, enthusiasm and hope into such a short time span. It gave me that much needed confidence to push forward and do what I wanted to do in life. It was far more educational and constructive to who I am now than my university years. They understand the vital importance of encouraging, nurturing and guiding talent.
Fy mhrif rôl heddiw yw ysgrifennu/cyfarwyddo ffilmiau nodwedd, ac rwyf ar hyn o bryd yn gweithio ar fy 4ydd, sef "Shepherd" sydd i fod i ymddangos mewn sinemâu yn 2021.
Rwy'n berchen ar ac yn rhedeg asiantaeth greadigol ddigidol, Kindred Communications, gan wneud hysbysebion, fideos cerdd, cynhyrchu ymgyrchoedd ffotograffiaeth/hysbysebu a chreu ffilmiau byr ar gyfer y BBC, American Express, Armani, Diageo a sawl cleient arall.
Fy nghyfnod ar y cwrs Sylfaen Celf:
Gan edrych nôl ar fy holl flynyddoedd ffurfiannol, y cwrs Sylfaen Celf ym Mangor heb amheuaeth oedd y pwysicaf. Daeth ar adeg yn fy mywyd pan yr ymddangosai fod breuddwydion o wneud ffilmiau allan o gyrraedd unrhyw bobl ifanc o Ogledd Cymru. Roedd fy ysgol hyd yn oed yn ceisio ein perswadio yn ystod ein cyngor gyrfaol fod y lefel hwnnw o uchelgais " fwy neu lai yn anobeithiol". Mi wnaeth y cwrs Sylfaen Celf, mewn llai na blwyddyn, ddysgu'r gwrthwyneb yn llwyr i mi. Cywasgodd cymaint o bosibilrwydd, brwdfrydedd a gobaith i gyfnod amser mor fyr. Rhoddodd i mi'r hyder angenrheidiol hwnnw i fwrw ymlaen a gwneud yr hyn a ddymunwn mewn bywyd. Roedd lawer yn fwy addysgiadol ac adeiladol i'r hyn rwyf nawr na fy mlynyddoedd prifysgol. Maent yn deall y pwysigrwydd hanfodol o annog, magu ac arwain talent.
MANON AWST
I’m an artist based in Caernarfon, working on a range of projects involving sculptures, writing, performance and film. After Foundation I studied Architecture at Cambridge University and lived in Berlin for many years, focusing on site-specific sculptures and installations. Last year, a catalogue documenting 10 years of my collaborative practice ‘Awst & Walther’ was published by Distanz. I currently coordinate the public spaces at Pontio, and have curated many projects bringing together makers and thinkers from different fields to encourage interdisciplinary processes.
The Foundation course was a crucial step towards an interdisciplinary, open way of working since we were encouraged to move between different media in order to find the best way of communicating our ideas, and to always think outside the box. This has stayed with me, as has working everyday in a sketchbook as a way of developing ideas. The tutors made me feel anything was possible. It's the best creative grounding you could ask for!
Artist ydw i sy’n byw yng Nghaernarfon ac yn gweithio ar brosiectau sy’n cyfuno cerfluniau, sgwennu, perfformio a ffilm. Ar ôl y cwrs Sylfaen, astudiais Bensaerniaeth ym Mhrifysgol Caergrawnt ac wedyn byw yn Berlin am flynyddoedd lle bues i’n creu cerfluniau a gosodiadau safle-benodol. Cafodd catalog ei gyhoeddi llynedd gan Distanz, yn dogfennu 10 mlynedd o ymarfer creadigol ‘Awst & Walther’. Rydw i hefyd yn cydlynu gofodau cyhoeddus Pontio, ac wedi curadu sawl prosiect sy’n dod ag arbenigwyr o feysydd gwahanol at ei gilydd i hybu cydweithio rhyng-ddisgyblaethol.
Roedd y cwrs Sylfaen yn gam allweddol tuag at y ffordd agored, rhyng-ddisgyblaethol yma o weithio, oherwydd bod ni’n cael ein hannog i symud rhwng cyfryngau gwahanol er mwyn ffendio’r ffordd orau i gyfleu ein syniadau. Ac roedd rhaid meddwl tu allan i’r bocs o hyd! Mae hyn wedi aros efo fi, yn ogystal â gweithio bob dydd mewn llyfr braslunio fel ffordd o ddatblygu syniadau. Roedd y tiwtoriaid yn gwneud i mi deimlo bod unrhyw beth yn bosib! Dyma’r sylfaen greadigol orau y gallai rhywun gael.
CATRIN WILLIAMS
Doedd gen i ddim syniad be o’n i isho’i wneud, dim ond mod i isho gwneud rhywbeth ym myd y celfyddydau. Yn 1985, ar ôl blwyddyn yn astudio drama ar gwrs dysgu BA yn y Coleg Normal penderfynais newid trywydd a mynd i Goleg Technegol Bangor, bellach yn ran o Goleg Menai, i ddilyn cwrs sylfaen celf - a dyna un o benderfyniadau gorau fy mywyd.
Peter Prendergast oedd yr arlunydd gafodd y dylanwad mwyaf arnaf ar y cwrs, yr oedd wrth ei fodd fy mod yn ferch fferm o ardal y Bala, ac fe anogodd fi i ddarlunio ac edrych ar fy nghynefin. Rwyf yn dal i edrych ac yn darlunio fy nghynefin 35 mlynedd yn ddiweddarach - ac rwy’n sicr mai Peter roddodd yr hunan hyder i mi fedru bod yn arlunydd proffesiynol.
Wedi imi adael Bangor i ddilyn cwrs gradd yng Nghaerdydd parhaodd fy nghysylltiad â Peter, parhaodd i’m cefnogi ac i ddilyn y datblygiadau yn fy ngyrfa. Bu ei farwolaeth sydyn yn 2007 yn golled amlwg i’r byd celf, yn arbennig i ni yng Nghymru, ac yn bersonol i minnau.
Rwyf bellach yn byw yn Mhwllheli ac yn byw fel artist proffesiynol ers gadael coleg yn 1989, ac rwy’n byw ar werthu fy ngwaith gwreiddiol yn Oriel Gelf Martin Tinney, Caerdydd. Mae’n rhoi gwefr i mi gael arddangos fy ngwaith yn yr un oriel â Peter, fy athro mwyaf dylanwadol. Rwy’n falch o fedru dweud bod fy ngwaith celf mewn casgliadau preifat drwy Gymru ac dros y byd i gyd.
Rwyf hefyd yn cynnal amrywiaeth o brosiectau mewn ysgolion ac yn cynnal prosiectau cymunedol - mae’r rhain yn rhoi gwefr i mi wrth weld artistiaid ifanc yn datblygu sgiliau a dychymyg.
Bu’r cwrs sylfaen ym Mangor yn addysg ardderchog i mi fedru creu gyrfa ym myd y celfyddydau.
I had no idea what I wanted to do, I just wanted to do something in the arts. In 1985, after a year studying drama on a BA teaching course at the Normal College I decided to change direction and go to Bangor Technical College, now part of Coleg Menai, to pursue an art foundation course - and that's one of the best decisions of my life.
Peter Prendergast was the artist who influenced me most on the course, he loved that I was a farm girl from Bala, and he encouraged me to draw and look at my world and habitat. I'm still looking and drawing 35 years later - and I'm sure it was Peter who gave me the self-confidence to be a professional artist.
After leaving Bangor to study a fine art degree in Cardiff my relationship with Peter continued, he continued to support and follow my career developments. His sudden death in 2007 was a great loss to the art world, especially to us in Wales, and personally to me.
I now live in Pwllheli and have lived as a professional artist since leaving college in 1989, and I live on selling my original work at Martin Tinney Art Gallery, Cardiff. It gives me a thrill to have my work displayed in the same gallery as Peter, my most influential teacher. I'm proud to say that my artwork is in private collections throughout Wales and around the world.
I also run a variety of projects in schools and run community projects - these give me a thrill at seeing young artists develop skills and imagination.
The foundation course at Bangor was an excellent education for me to create a career in the arts.
GLYN PRICE
Youth Engagement Advisor for Gwynedd Council
Artist, tutor and facilitator
‘Many moments have stayed with me since my Foundation days. In particular the first day we were staying in the old school in Rhyd Ddu, during a landscape field trip. We had been out sketching all day, and at the end of that day we were all asked to place our sketchbooks on the floor in the middle of the room, and up stepped Peter Prendergast, and he looked at the sketchbooks and picked up mine. What he said to me that day is for me to cherish and remember, but it was that exact moment that I started to believe that I could make something with my art. I remember how he made me feel as an 18 year old, full of hope. I have been very lucky to continue with my painting practice, selling work over the years and collaborating with inspirational individuals. I have also been fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with many young people on many creative projects over the years, realising the importance of giving others the opportunity to express themselves and to flourish as individuals. The foundation course environment, tutors and fellow students gave me the confidence to pursue my goals and passions in life. Quite simply the most important and inspirational period of my educational life. Diolch x‘
Ymgynghorydd Ymgysylltu Ieuenctid ar gyfer Cyngor Gwynedd
Artist, tiwtor a hyrwyddwr
"Mae llawer o atgofion wedi aros gyda mi ers fy nyddiau Sylfaen. Yn enwedig y diwrnod cyntaf pryd roeddem yn aros yn yr hen ysgol, yn Rhyd Ddu, yn ystod trip maes tirwedd. Roeddem wedi bod allan yn braslunio drwy'r dydd, ac ar ddiwedd y diwrnod hwnnw gofynnwyd i ni gyd osod ein llyfrau brasluniau ar y llawr ynghanol y llawr, a chamodd Peter Prendergast ymlaen, gan edrych ar y llyfrau brasluniau a chododd fy un i i fyny. Mae'r hyn a ddywedodd wrthyf ar y dydd hwnnw yn rhywbeth i mi i'w drysori a'i gofio, ond ar yr union funud honno y dechreuais gredu y medrwn wneud rhywbeth ohoni gyda fy nghelfyddyd. Rwy'n cofio sut y gwnaeth i mi deimlo fel person 18 oed, llawn gobaith. Rwyf wedi bod yn lwcus iawn i barhau gyda fy ymarfer paentio, gan werthu gwaith dros y blynyddoedd a chydweithio gydag unigolion ysbrydoledig. Dw i wedi bod mor ffodus i gael y cyfle i weithio gyda chynifer o bobl ifanc ar nifer o brosiectau creadigol dros y blynyddoedd, gan sylweddoli'r pwysigrwydd o roi i eraill y cyfle i fynegi eu hunain ac i lewyrchu fel unigolion. Rhoddodd amgylchedd y cwrs sylfaen, y tiwtoriaid a chyd fyfyrwyr yr hyder i mi ddilyn fy nodau a fy mreuddwydion mewn bywyd. Yn blwmp ac yn blaen y cyfnod pwysicaf a mwyaf ysbrydoledig of mywyd addysgol. Diolch x‘
PETE TELFER
I am the founder and managing director of Culture Colony, a video production company for the creative sector providing a platform for the arts through the web site www.culturecolony.com
The art foundation course in Bangor and meeting Paul Davies is key to everything I've done ever since. I might never have got on the course and if I hadn't I wouldn't have done the stuff I've done. During my interview Selwyn went through my portfolio without saying a word and sighed as he turned each picture over, one after another, it seemed to take forever. He finally got to the last one and closed the portfolio with the words now etched into my brain "I have to accept you onto this course because not enough have applied - but don't ever paint like this again!"
And so, I got onto the course - it was its second year. It was brilliant. I didn't really know what art was or what art could be until Pete and Paul opened my eyes. I got into my first choice Maidstone College of Art and it was a let down after Bangor. Once I'd done my three year stint there I returned home to Wales and looked Paul up and we became close friends. Its Pauls passion for art, what art can do for society and what great things artists can do together if they collaborate is the motivation behind what I still do now and I hope Culture Colony, in a small way, does its bit to represent that massive and noble vision that Paul had.
The photo is Paul writing a list of things he wants me to do. He wrote lots of lists of things for me to do.
Rwyf yn sylfaenydd ac yn rheolwr gyfarwyddwr Culture Colony, cwmni cynhyrchu fideo ar gyfer y sector creadigol sy'n darparu llwyfan ar gyfer y celfyddydau drwy'r wefan www.culturecolony.com
Bu'r cwrs sylfaen celf ym Mangor a chyfarfod Paul Davies yn allweddol i bob dim rwyf wedi ei wneud ers hynny. Mae'n bosib na faswn wedi mynd ar y cwrs a pe na faswn fyddwn i heb wneud hanner yr hyn rwyf wedi ei wneud. Yn ystod fy nghyfweliad aeth Selwyn drwy fy mhortffolio heb yngan gair gan ochneidio wrth iddo droi pob llun drosodd, un ar ôl y llall, gan gymryd hydoedd neu felly yr ymddangosai pethau. Yn y diwedd daeth i'r olaf a chaeodd y portffolio gyda'r geiriau nawr yn atseinio yn fy ymennydd "Mae’n rhaid i mi eich derbyn ar y cwrs hwn oherwydd does dim digon wedi gwneud cais - ond peidiwch byth a phaentio fel hyn eto!"
Ac wrth gwrs, es ar y cwrs - ei ail flwyddyn oedd. "Roedd yn wych. Doeddwn i ddim wir yn gwybod beth oedd celf neu beth allai celf fod hyd nes i Pete a Paul agor fy llygaid. Llwyddais i gael lle yn fy newis cyntaf sef Coleg Celf Maidstone ond roedd yn siom ar ôl Bangor. Unwaith i mi wneud fy nghyfnod o dair blynedd yno dychwelais adre i Gymru ac es i chwilio am Paul a daethom yn ffrindiau agos. Brwdfrydedd Paul dros gelf, yr hyn y gall celf ei wneud dros gymdeithas a pha bethau mawr y gall artistiaid eu gwneud gyda'i gilydd os byddant yn cydweithredu yw'r symbyliad dros yr hyn a wnaf nawr a gobeithio bod Culture Colony, mewn ffordd fach, yn gwneud ei ran i gynrychioli'r weledigaeth anferthol ac ardderchog oedd gan Paul.
Mae'r llun o Paul yn ysgrifennu rhestr o bethau mae am i mi eu gwneud. Ysgrifennodd nifer o restrau o bethau mae am i mi eu gwneud.
GWENLLIAN PARK
On being accepted on Bangor Foundation Course in 1984, I was unsure where it would lead. I had done my A Levels, but Art wasn’t one of them. I had been offered a place at the University of East Anglia to study English and Comparative Literature, and I thought taking a year out to do the Foundation Course at Bangor would help me decide which route to take. However, by the end, I was definitely on the Fine Art train. I think these days, there are more options to do combined programmes at university, so it’s less ‘either/or’, but there I was in 1985, off to Norwich School of Art and about to start the rollercoaster of art college life and beyond.
I have often questioned the wisdom of going to do a Fine Art degree at the age of 19, but I have never regretted Bangor Foundation Course. I was mainly taught by Peter Prendergast, and his rigorous drawing instruction and uncompromising pursuit of the best that we could do hardwired something within me. However, all the tutors on the Course contributed to my development as an artist. I especially remember Dylan Jones (printmaking) saying things like: “It’s not a sketchbook, it’s a drawing book” and “Running away from problems in your drawing is like running away from problems in life”. So yes, all about commitment and facing one’s demons! I could go on at length about the care and 100% dedication shown to us by staff on the Course. I also remember Paula and Bill the life models who were so patient and hardworking as we struggled to develop our drawing and painting skills in the life room.
Since graduating with a BA in Fine Art in 1988, I have done many different types of jobs, but art has always been in my life in some way, waiting in the wings, whether doing commissions, teaching art, selling products, or running art and craft groups. I went back to university (Bangor) in my mid-30s and did another BA, this time in modern languages, so I fulfilled my other ambition. I found myself studying in the same rooms where I had painted and made prints on the Foundation Course 17 years previously, only this time I was studying French, German and Italian. I went on to do a PGCE in Cardiff and art followed me again, with some teaching in schools. I even met another member of staff who had been taught by Peter Prendergast as a student in Liverpool. Small world.
I went completely freelance as a translator and academic editor in 2013 and have mainly lived in France since then. A few years ago, I felt the need to get back to my artistic roots, and eventually did an MA in Illustration with the University of Hertfordshire, graduating last year. The pictures above show the graduation ceremony and images from my Major Project, which was a picture book. It was a steep learning curve for me, as a Fine Artist, but it helped bring the various threads of my life together in some way: the image and the written word.
I now make work constantly, posting it on social media platforms, and I’m planning a new book project. I have a real sense of finally embarking on an artistic career. There have been so many ducks to line up before this point, but that’s life. It’s our life experience that turns the wheels of our creativity. However, I think we also need to stay grounded in integrity, and I would say that Bangor Foundation Course was that bedrock for me.
HELEN WALKER
I attended the Art Foundation course from 1986 until 1987. It was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I almost didn’t make it, as the school Careers Officer hadn’t bothered to send in my application form. She claimed it had been lost down the back of a filing cabinet. Perhaps that goes some way to exemplifying how pursuing Art as a career was perceived by many at that time. Thanks to our Art Teacher, Wil Jones, my form was retrieved, along with two others for the Foundation Course. They were sent just in time. Had it not been for Wil, we would not have even known that the course existed.
Apart from the hard work and the challenges, which certainly built character alongside developing your skills, this was the first time I felt taken seriously as an adult, let alone as a potential artist. Both Peter and Paul were incredibly generous individuals, always happy to help and always patient. Paul encouraged you to experiment and to question. I was one of the students who helped him build the map of Wales on Anglesey, where I cut my leg on a lump of granite and ended up having to get a tetanus jab in my backside. I still have a 2 inch scar.
Peter really understood how to get the best work from students. How he managed to get me to accomplish what I did I will never know. I don’t think I have ever drawn anything that well since.
I believe I also learned what it is to be a good teacher during my time on the Foundation course, and how influential, inspirational and important a role that is.
After completing the Art Foundation Course, I went on to pursue a degree in Photography and Film at Derby, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I graduated in 1990 and returned to North Wales.
After a short spell as a co-ordinator for a Community Arts Workshop, running an Arts Council funded video project and a brief spell as an Assistant VT Editor for the BBC, I trained as a primary school teacher and spent over 20 years teaching a range of subjects, including Art. I studied education in more depth and went on to gain a Masters Degree in Education from Bangor University but continued to paint, make silver clay jewellery and dabbled in various other creative pursuits including music recording and singing. It wasn’t until 2018 that I felt I had finally got 'back on track’ artistically when I started working for Storiel as their Learning Officer.
I have particularly enjoyed running art workshops and community based projects at Storiel - democratising access to the Arts being something of a mini-mission of mine. Even during the pandemic, we have still reached out into the local community by means of free Craft Packs and Distanced Creative Engagement projects when we have sent out masks and wooden eggs for people to decorate at home and send back to be exhibited online.
I’m now 53, a mother and even have two small grandchildren! I'm older now than my tutors were then. I still enjoy passing on my love of art and encouraging others to get stuck in. It’s 35 years since I enrolled on the Art Foundation Course at Bangor. I never hesitate to recommend it, and I’m always really excited to see what this year’s students have produced.
ANGHARAD OWEN
There was a riot in Upper Bangor; Bryn Fôn had been arrested under suspicion of burning down holiday cottages. That was the year I did the Art Foundation.
Before starting the course we were given a lengthy reading list and set homework to do over the summer, I can remember spending days drawing a cabbage, it was a sign of things to come. Peter, Ed, and Paul were hard task masters, ‘Drawing is 90% looking’ was their mantra, as we laboured with pen and paper for hours, drawing from life and copying from the old masters, Rembrandt’s face was etched on my retinas.
For the first time in my life I was surrounded by people who were passionate about art, it was a great feeling, as a bunch of students we had a lot of fun but also took the work seriously. I have a huge respect and admiration for all the tutors, especially Peter Prendergast whose teaching has had a profound influence on my life. We were taught different ways of seeing the world, I learnt more in one year than I did during my Fine Art degree course. After graduating I started working as a film editor; I am fortunate to be working in a creative industry and have been lucky enough to work on some wonderful productions among them films made at Aardman animation studios.
Roedd yna derfysg ym Mangor Uchaf; Roedd Bryn Fôn wedi ei arestio o dan amheuaeth o losgi tai haf. Dyma'r flwyddyn wnes i'r cwrs Sylfaen Celf.
Cyn darllen y cwrs rhoddwyd rhestr ddarllen hir i ni a gosodwyd gwaith cartref i'w wneud dros yr haf, medraf gofio dreulio dyddiau yn tynnu llun bresychen, roedd yn arwydd o bethau i ddod. Roedd Peter, Ed a Paul yn dasg feistri caled, "Mae 90% o luniadu yn ymwneud ag edrych" oedd eu mantra, wrth i ni lafurio gyda phen a phapur am oriau, gan luniadu o fywyd a chopïo o waith yr hen feistri, roedd wyneb Rembrandt wedi ei ysgythru ar fy meddwl.
Am y tro cyntaf yn fy mywyd roeddwn wedi fy amgylchynu gan bobl oedd wrth eu bodd gyda chelf, roedd yn deimlad gwych, fel criw o fyfyrwyr roeddem yn cael llawer o hwyl ac eto yn cymryd y gwaith o ddifri. Mae gennyf barch ac edmygedd anferthol tuag at yr holl diwtoriaid, yn enwedig Peter Prendergast y mae ei ddysgu wedi cael dylanwad dwfn ar fy mywyd. Dysgwyd i ni wahanol ffyrdd o weld y byd, dysgais fy mewn un flwyddyn nag a wnes yn ystod fy nghwrs gradd Celf Gain. Wedi graddio dechreuais weithio fel golygydd ffilm; Rwyf yn ffodus i fod yn gweithio mewn diwydiant creadigol a bum yn ddigon lwcus i weithio ar rai cynyrchiadau ardderchog ac yn eu plith rhai ffilmiau a wnaed yn stiwdios animeiddio Aardman.
ELFYN LEWIS
Since leaving Bangor(1998) to do my degree have carried on with my studies and work as a full time painter/artist.
Completed an MA in Fine Art (Cardiff) in 1998. Since then have been a full time practicing artist. Currently working on several shows for 2021. Solo show in North Wales (Oriel Ffin y Parc Art Gallery) plus work for solo show at &Gallery Edinburgh, Scotland late 2012 or early 2022, depending on Covid etc. I paint at least 5 to 6 times a week which is a good week a bad week can turn into a bad couple of weeks. Being a painter is not just about time in studio sometimes life and all its complications make it very difficult to find the time and space to do your work. As I’ve got older I try not to worry about it.
Y gwir ydi heb Leslie Jones fuaswn ddim ar y cwrs yn Fangor. Nath o rheid cymorth ofnadwy i fi i cael ar y cwrs oherwydd oedd o yn dod o ardal Mhorthmadog, dwi’n credu fod o yn gweld rhyw fath o dyfodol yn y byd celf i fi.
Oeddwn yn lwcus iawn cael athro celf yn Ysgol Eifionydd Porthmadog o enw Rob Piercy, oedd o wedi rheid gymaint i fi fel unigolyn. Pan nesh i cyrraedd Fangor yn Medi 1987, oedd y cwrs sylfaen yn un gwych i neud. Oedd na wir teimlad o teulu yna a phawb yn gweithio hefo ei gilydd. Oedd y misoedd gyntaf yn ofnadwy o anodd ag hwylus (oeddwn ddim yn teimlo hyna ar y pryd). Yn enwedig cerdded ogwmpas strydoedd Fangor da cerflyniau od o cardbord, wedi ei creu i cael cael wŷ i lawr o ben gola!! Teimlo fel mod i wedi glanio o planed arall. Ar ol y tri mis gyntaf nath pethe yn well ag dyma Peter Prendergast yn newid popeth i fi. Oedd ag dal i fod yn arwr i fi a lawer i un wedyn oedd yn lwcus i cael ei addysgu gan o. Oedd y gwaith yn caled ar oriau yn hir ond oedd yr athrawon/tiwtoriaid angen neud hyn i cael ni ar cwrs gradd. Oeddant yn gwybod faint oedd colegau eraill yn edrych lawr ar y cwrs a ni fel Cymru. Hyn oedd y ‘work ethic ar teimlad o ni yn erbyn y byd. Felly oedd rhaid bod y gwaith o saffon uchel iawn. Lwc dda di rhan fwyaf o pethe yn bywyd a bod yn y lle iawn ar yr amser iawn. O ni yn lwcus bod ar y cwrs yma ag yn enwedig cael yn addysgu gan athrawon/tiwtoriaid oedd yn wir credu yn chi ach celf. Gen i lot fawr i fod yn ddiolchgar ir cwrs sylfaen yn Fangor. Gen i dal ffrindiau oedd gyda fi ar y cwrs a dan ni dal o bryd i bryd yn son am dan yr amseroedd yna yn Fangor ar amser cawsom. Yn enwedig be oedd yr athrawon/tiwtoriaid fel ag be sa nhw yn ddweud. Un o rhei hoff Peter Predergast oedd ‘ you're not looking hard enough ‘,
Dwi’n dal i edrych.
Diolch o galon
elfyn lewis
The truth is without Leslie Jones I wouldn't be on the course in Bangor. It gave me a great deal of help to be on the course because he came from the Porthmadog area, I believe he saw some kind of future in the art world for me.
I was lucky to have an art teacher at Ysgol Eifionydd Porthmadog named Rob Piercy, who gave me so much as an individual. When I reached Bangor in September 1987, the foundation course was an excellent one to do. There was a true family feeling there and everyone working together. The first months were very difficult and full of fun (I didn't feel so at the time). Especially walking around Bangor with odd statues of cardboard, created to get an egg down from the top of a light!! I felt I had landed from another planet. After the first three months things improved and Peter Prendergast changed everything for me. He still was a hero to me and many a person to follow so I was lucky to be taught by him. The work was hard and the hours long but the teacher/tutors needed to do this to get us on a degree course. They knew how other colleges looked down on the course and us as Welsh people. This was the "work ethic" and the feeling of us against the world. Therefore the work must be of a very high standard. Most things in life are due to good luck and being in the right place at the right time. I was lucky to be on this course especially to be taught by teachers/tutors who really believed in you and your art. I have a lot to be grateful for regarding the foundation course in Bangor. I still have friends who were with me on the course and we still from time to time talk about the good times we had in Bangor. Especially how the teachers/tutors were and what they would say. One of Peter Prendergast's favourite lines was "you're not looking hard enough",
I'm still looking.
A heartfelt thanks
elfyn lewis
ANN MATTHEWS
I wasn’t supposed to go on the Art Foundation course in 1981; I was supposed to go to 6th form and study Geography, Art and English Lit. - but a single day back at school was enough. My parents were on holiday, so my art teacher helped me put a portfolio together and set up an interview with Graham. I dragged my work to Bangor on the bus, including a model of a room in a cardboard box all painted in matt white, as they had stipulated I should do. He seemed impressed enough but um-ed and ah-ed about my age, I was still sixteen. Thirty-whatever years on, I thank him wholeheartedly for bending the rules a little. My parents were not at all pleased when they returned and I had dumped my school uniform for some arty scarves and boots with bells (don’t ask).
Paul and I had some really good battles, but he, Graham, Peter and Ed taught me so much. They opened my eyes, taught me to look ‘properly’, and instilled a work ethic in me that has never waned. We were really pushed and we were not allowed to be precious about our work – a hard lesson, but looking back, a vital one. Peter was supportive and understanding about my idiosyncratic style and capacity to flake out on the spot (I was recovering from glandular fever). I still haven’t lost my passion for life drawing, even if I’m not too hot in that area. My fellow students were inspirational and it was exciting to meet like-minded people. I met people who I would then play music with over the coming decades, Dewi Evans and Alan Holmes. And the darkroom-hogger Pete Telfer, who a few years later would turn up to take our photos. In my year waiting to be old enough to go to St Martin’s to study textiles and fashion, I got wholly absorbed in the Bangor music scene and went on to play and promote music instead. Coincidently, I sold my clarinet to Hilary (our ever suffering life model) to buy myself a guitar. My visual art continued in poster and LP cover design – otherwise I continued with the same ethic and attention to the whole and the detail and put that into my song writing.
A decade ago, I got to Uni., combining my love for geography, art and Literature. I have used what I have been taught on Bangor Art Foundation throughout my creative and academic journey where I ended up with doctorate in Creative Writing in 2015. My work is based on fieldwork and photography (thanks Paul; thanks Ed) and I incorporate drawings and photographs into my work.
I lecture in Aberystwyth University, and now and again I take students into the woods across the road from the campus and pass on Paul’s wisdom about observing, breathing in the air and noticing things. I tell them that writers need to learn from the artists to hone their sensory skills, to experience what is around them fully and to work hard and with passion. I may never got round to completing a painting or a novel (short attention span), but I have produced thirteen albums, three poetry collections and a collection of short stories and continue to fill notebooks with sketches.
I owe Bangor Art Foundation a great deal, not only what I learned in that short year, but by supplying me with lifelong friends and colleagues. The photo is of me playing with Alan Holmes in Norway.
Doeddwn i ddim fod i fynd ar y cwrs Sylfaen Celf yn 1981. Roeddwn i fod i fynd o'r 6ed dosbarth ac astudio Daearyddiaeth, Celf a Llenyddiaeth Saesneg. - ond roedd un diwrnod nol yn yr ysgol yn ddigon. Roedd fy rhieni ar wyliau, felly helpwyd fi gan fy athro celf i roi portffolio at ei gilydd a sefydlu cyfweliad gyda Graham. Llusgais fy ngwaith i Fangor ar y bws, gan gynnwys model o ystafell mewn bocs cardfwrdd wedi ei baetio mewn gwyn matt i gyd, fel y nodwyd ganddynt y dylwn wneud. Cafodd argraff ddigon da ond roedd yn petruso ynglŷn â fy oedran, roeddwn dal yn un ar bymtheg. Drideg rhywbeth o flynyddoedd yn ddiweddarach, diolchais iddo o waelod calon am blygu'r rheolau ychydig. Doedd fy rhieni ddim yn hapus o gwbl pan ddychwelasant ac roeddwn wedi ffeirio fy ngwisg ysgol am sgarffiau artistig ac esgidiau mawr gyda chlychau (peidiwch holi).
Cafodd Paul a finnau frwydrau go iawn, ond dysgodd ef, Graham, Peter ac Ed gymaint i mi. Mi wnaethon nhw agor fy llygaid, fy nysgu i edrych yn "iawn", gan roi moeseg gwaith ynof am byth. Mi wnaethon nhw wir ein gwthio ac ni chaniatwyd i ni fod yn organmoliaethus am ein gwaith - gwers galed, ond wrth edrych nôl, gwers hanfodol. Roedd Peter yn gefnogol ac yn llawn dealltwriaeth am fy null idiosyncratig Dwi o hyd heb golli fy mrwdfrydedd am luniadu bywyd, er nad wyf yn rhy wych yn y maes hwnnw. Roedd fy nghyd fyfyrwyr yn ysbrydoliaeth ac roedd yn gyffrous i gyfarfod pobl oedd ar yr un donfedd. Wnes i gyfarfod pobl y byddwn yn chwarae cerddoriaeth gyda nhw dros y cenedlaethau i ddod, Dewi Evans ac Alan Holmes. A mynychwr cyson yr ystafell dywyll Peter Telfer, a fyddai ychydig flynyddoedd yn ddiweddarach yn troi i fyny i gymryd ein lluniau. Yn ystod fy mlwyddyn yn aros i fod yn ddigon hen i fynd i St Martin's i astudio tecstilau a ffasiwn, ces fy llyncu gan sîn gerddorol Bangor ac es ymlaen i chwarae a hybu cerddoriaeth yn lle. Drwy gyd-ddigwyddiad, gwerthais fy nghlarinet i Hilary (ein model bywyd amyneddgar) i brynu gitar i mi fy hun. Ar y cyfan, bydd safon y gwaith yn gywir a bydd y myfyriwr wedi cynnwys gwybodaeth gefndirol a chyfeirnodau priodol i fodloni'r deilliannau y gofynnir amdanynt. Drwy gyd-ddigwyddiad, gwerthais fy nghlarinet i Hilary (ein model bywyd amyneddgar) i brynu gitar i mi fy hun. Parhaodd fy nghelf gweledol mewn dylunio posteri a chloriau LP - fel arall parheais gyda'r un foeseg gwaith a rhoi'r sylw i'r cyfanwaith a'r manylion gan gofio hynny wrth ysgrifennu caneuon. Ddegawd yn ôl, es i'r Brifysgol, gan gyfuno fy nghariad at ddaearyddiaeth, celf a Llenyddiaeth. Defnyddiais yr hyn a ddysgwyd i mi ar gwrs Sylfaen Celf Bangor drwy gydol fy nhaith creadigol ac academaidd lle y gorffennais gyda doethuriaeth mewn Ysgrifennu Creadigol yn 2015. Mae fy ngwaith yn seiliedig ar waith maes a ffotograffiaeth (diolch Paul; diolch Ed) ac rwy'n ymgorffori lluniadau a ffotograffau i ngwaith. Rwy'n darlithio ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth, a phob hyn a hyn rwy'n cymryd myfyrwyr i'r coed ar draws y ffordd o'r campws ac yn pasio ymlaen ddoethineb Paul ynglŷn ag arsylwi, anadlu'r awyr i mewn a sylwi ar bethau. Rwy'n dweud wrthynt fod ysgrifenwyr angen dysgu gan yr artistiaid i hogi eu sgiliau synhwyraidd, i brofi'r hyn sydd o'u cwmpas yn llawn ac i weithio’n galed a gyda brwdfrydedd. Mae'n bosib na fyddaf byth yn llwyddo i gwblhau paentiad neu nofel (diffyg gallu i ganolbwyntio'n hir), ond rwyf wedi cynhyrchu tri albwm ar ddeg, tri chasgliad o farddoniaeth a chasgliad o straeon byr a pharhau i lenwi llyfrau nodiadau gyda brasluniau. Rwy'n ddyledus iawn i Gwrs Sylfaen Bangor, ac nid yn unig am yr hyn a ddysgais yn y flwyddyn fer honno, ond drwy roi ffrindiau am oes a chydweithwyr i mi. Mae'r lluniadau o Hilary ac wedi eu gwneud yn 1982, mae'r llun ohonof yn chwarae gydag Alan Holmes yn Norwy, a'r diwethaf (fy llun) o fy nghasgliad barddoniaeth olaf.
SEAN WORRALL
I was lucky enough to do the Art Foundation course at Bangor back in the early 80s, I was lucky enough to be there for the short sharp shock of Peter Prendergast, Paul Davies, Ed, Lynne, Graham and the excellent team of tutors who were there back then. I loved it, I hated it, it was challenging, they scared the hell out of teenage me at times, it was difficult, tough, brutal, wonderful, it was occasionally funny, it was a life-affirming set of brilliant experiences that set me up for many adventures, the only problem was that everything else afterwards in terms of art education was a complete and utter let-down after the intensity and commitment of Bangor. The course was like an art bootcamp at times, it instilled a way of thinking about art and indeed life beyond art (if there is such a thing?), it fed me a work-ethic that fuelled the things I did way beyond art. I went on to do a degree in Textile Design and pretty quickly found myself embroiled in the London music scene rather than the loom or the printing table that I never really got on with, I ended up spending many days, weeks and months in the back of tour vans and on the road with mostly (punk) rock bands, I ran a record label that became rather successful for a time, put on hundreds of gigs in London, probably thousands, I did the artwork and album covers for quite a few bands, I wrote for various music publications, I ran a music magazine that two of us started during my student days when I should have been weaving, it remained in print and sold all over the world for nearly 30 years until one day I decided I had had enough of bands and taking my portfolio of art to marketing meetings at major labels and seeing it compromised on album covers and that it was time to go and be that painter that Peter said I'd never be - he was right at the time of course, he probably still is and part of it is still a determination to, in the most positive of respectful ways, show him and them. These days I just about make a living here in East London as a full-time artist, a painter, I curate shows and run a gallery, I write about art, I regularly exhibit both nationally and internationally, my art hangs both in galleries and on the London streets, I manage to sell work all over the world and there isn't ever an opening night of a show just before the doors open where I don't quietly thank the commitment of the Foundation course team from Bangor and especially Peter Prendergast - there probably isn't a day when I don't tell myself I'm "not looking properly", I find myself telling myself in that booming Welsh voice to "rub it out, start again", there aren't many days when I don't hear the words of Peter or Paul. Paul certainly fuelled the bloody-mindedness of the record label days, there's more than a few bands out there you might of heard of who don't know they owe the Bangor Art Foundation course a small thank you. Peter would still probably not think that much of my work, Paul probably would love some of the chaotic art shows in old warehouses and the "yes-we-can-do-that" of it all. I've repeated Peter's words so so many times to other artists, to musicians, to bands, I owe that course and that small group of dedicated people so so much. 40 years on, I'm so pleased to see the Foundation course still going strong and to see the ethic still very clearly there, I'm pleased to see exciting new artists coming out of it all. My one big regret is that I never ever got back to thank Peter or Paul in person, Thank you Bangor Art Foundation Course, happy 40th birthday, I loved my time there, I owe that course so much, I was indeed lucky, thank you. (Sean Worrall)
"Roeddwn i'n ddigon lwcus i gael gwneud y cwrs Sylfaen Celf ym Mangor nôl yn yr 80au, roeddwn yn ddigon lwcus i fod yno ar gyfer cael fy ngwefreiddio gan Peter Prendergast, Paul Davies, Ed, Lynne, Graham a'r tîm ardderchog o diwtoriaid oedd yno bryd hynny. Roeddwn yn ei garu, roeddwn yn ei gasau, roedd yn heriol, mi wnaethon nhw fy nychryn i allan o nghroen fel person yn ei arddegau ar adegau, roedd yn anodd, galed, yn greulon, wych, roedd yn achlysurol yn ddigri, roedd yn set o brofiadau oedd yn batrwm i fywyd a arweiniodd at lawer o anturiaethau, yr unig broblem oedd fod pob dim yn dilyn hynny yn nhermau addysg gelf yn siomedigaeth lwyr wedi dwyster ac ymrwymiad Bangor. Roedd y cwrs fel bwt camp celf ar adegau, roedd yn rhoi ffordd o feddwl am gelf ac yn wir bywyd y tu hwnt i gelf (os oes y fath beth yn bod?), creodd foeseg gwaith ynof a ysbrydolodd y pethau roeddwn yn eu gwneud ymhell y tu hwnt i gelf. Es ymlaen i wneud gradd mewn Dylunio Tecstiliau ac yn fuan iawn ymgollais yn y sîn gerddorol yn Llundain yn hytrach na'r gwŷdd neu bwrdd printio nad oeddwn erioed wir wedi ei hoffi, gan dreulio dyddiau, wythnosau a misoedd diddiwedd yng nghefn faniau oedd yn mynd ar daith ar ac y ffordd gyda bandiau roc (pync yn bennnaf), rhedais label recordiau oedd yn eithaf llwyddiannus am gyfnod, trefnais gannoedd o gigs yn Lundain, gwnes y gwaith celf a'r cloriau albwm ar gyfer nifer o fandiau, ysgrifennais ar gyfer cyhoeddiadau cerddorol amrywiol, rhedais gylchgrawn cerddorol y dechreuodd dau ohonom yn ystod fy nyddiau fel myfyriwr pan y ddylwn fod wedi bod yn gwehyddu, parhaodd mewn print a gwerthodd dros y byd am bron i 30 mlynedd hyd nes un diwrnod y penderfynais fy mod wedi cael digon o fandiau a chymryd fy mhortffolio o gelf i gyfarfodydd marchnata mewn labeli mawr gan ei weld wedi ei gyfaddawdu ar gloriau albym, a'i bod yn bryd i fod y peintiwr hwnnw y dywedodd Peter na fyddwn byth - roedd yn iawn ar y pryd wrth gwrs, mae fwy na thebyg dal yn iawn ac ma hyn yn rhannol yn benderfyniad i, yn y ffordd fwyaf cadarnhaol a gyda pharch, i brofi fy hun iddo fo a nhw. Y dyddiau hyn rwyf yn llwyddo fwy neu lai i wneud bywoliaeth yma yn Nwyrain Llundain fel artist llawn-amser, paentiwr, rwy’n curadu sioeau, ac yn rhedeg oriel, rwy’n ysgrifennu am gelf, rwy’n arddangos fy ngwaith yn rheolaidd yn genedlaethol a rhyngwladol, mae fy ngwaith celf yn hongian mewn orielau ac ar strydoedd Llundain, rwy’n llwyddo i werthu fy ngwaith dros y byd, a does yna ddim noson agoriadol sioe yn mynd heibio pryd nad wyf yn diolch yn ddistaw bach i ymrwymiad y tîm cwrs Sylfaen o Fangor yn enwedig Peter Prendergast - does yna ddim diwrnod yn mynd heibio pryd nad wyf yn dweud wrth fy hun “nad wyf yn edrych yn y ffordd iawn”, rwyf yn cael fy hun yn dweud yn y llais soniarus hwnnw “rhwbiwch ef allan, dechreuwch eto”, does yna ddim llawer o ddyddiau yn mynd heibio pan nad ydwyf yn clywed geiriau Peter neu Paul. Yn sicr ysbrydolodd Paul ysbryd y cythrel y dyddiau label record, mae yna nag ychydig fandiau allan yno y gallech fod wedi clywed amdanynt nad sy’n gwybod eu bod yn ddyledus i gwrs Sylfaen Celf Bangor. Fwy na thebyg na fyddai Peter o hyd yn meddwl llawer o ngwaith. Byddai Paul fwy na thebyg wrth ei fodd gyda rhai o’r sioeau celf didrefn mewn hen warysau a’r ysbryd o fenter. Rwyf wedi ailadrodd geiriau Peter gymaint o weithiau i artistiaid eraill, i gerddorion, bandiau, rwyf mor ddyledus i’r cwrs yna a’r grwp bychan yna o bobl ymroddedig. 40 mlynedd ymlaen, rwyf mor falch o weld y cwrs Sylfaen yn parhau yn gryf a gweld yr etheg dal yn glir yno, rwyf mor falch i weld artistiaid newydd cyffrous yn dod allan ohono’i gyd. Yr unig beth rwy’n ei ddifaru yw na wnes i erioed fynd nol i ddiolch i Peter neu Paul yn bersonol. Diolch i Gwrs Sylfaen Celf Bangor, penblwydd hapus yn 40, roeddwn wrth fy modd gyda fy amser yno, rwyf mor ddyledus i’r cwrs, roeddwn wir yn lwcus, diolch. (Sean Worrall)
Organ – Art, Music, Underculture - www.organthing.com
Cultivate - www.cultivategallery.com
GLENDA THOMPSON
My year on the Bangor foundation course was intense. I finally chose Fine Art.
I graduated way back when in 1988 from Loughborough College of Art(Now part of the University)
I specialised in Printmaking, but I was more of a mixed media artist so my work at the time included paper making, print and relief work.
The choice of trying stuff out on a foundation course was a brilliant way to realise I needn't be restricted when being creative. This way of working still appeals. Collage and more recently using photographs of my work and manipulating them using photographic apps.
I have exhibited a few times over the years. Most recently three of my friends and I took over a small Old Rectory Museum in town and made an exhibition called "Connections" themed around our individual reactions to the building, we placed our works around the objects so visitors not only saw our work but looked at the building in a new way.. I still find stone and it's textures appealing....
You can take the girl away from the North Wales rocky coast for 35 years but she just can't forget its wonderful textures.....even in the middle of England.
Thanks to Peter Prendergast for his encouragement and sharing his passion and pushing me to be the best artist I could be.
I work with 16-25year olds who have learning and physical disabilities at a local specialist college, part of which includes helping them to create their own art.
The image is of the work I created for the Connections exhibition 2019
2nd photo of me now dabbling with 21st century techie app world.
Roedd fy mlwyddyn ar gwrs sylfaen Bangor yn ddwys. Dewisais yn y diwedd Celfyddyd Gain
Graddiais ymhell yn ôl yn 1988 o Goleg Celf Loughborough (nawr yn rhan o'r Brifysgol)
Arbenigais mewn gwneud printiadau, ond roedd yn fwy o artist cyfryngau cymysg felly roedd fy ngwaith ar y pryd yn cynnwys gwneud papur, print a gwaith cerfwedd.
Roedd y dewis o roi cynnig ar bethau ar gwrs sylfaen yn ffordd wych o sylweddoli nad oeddwn angen bod wedi fy nghyfyngu wrth fod yn greadigol. Mae'r ffordd hon o weithio o hyd yn apelio. Collage ac yn fwy diweddar defnyddio lluniau o fy ngwaith a'u trin gan ddefnyddio apiau ffotograffig.
Rwyf wedi arddangos nifer o weithiau dros y blynyddoedd ond nid yn broffesiynol. Yn ddiweddar cymerodd tri o fy ffrindiau a finnau Amgueddfa fechan Old Rectory yn y dref drosodd gan wneud arddangosfa o'r enw "Connections" o gwmpas y thema o'n hadweithiau unigol i'r adeilad. Rhoddasom ein gwaith o gwmpas y gwrthrychau fel bod ymwelwyr nid yn unig yn gweld ein gwaith ond yn edrych ar yr adeilad mewn ffordd newydd...Rwyf o hyd yn cael carreg a'i weadau yn apelio.
Medrwch fy nghymryd i ffwrdd o arfordir creigiog Gogledd Cymru am 35 mlynedd ond fedrai fyth anghofio ei weadau gwych... hyd yn oed o berfeddion Lloegr.
Diolch i Peter Prendergast am ei anogaeth ac am rannu ei frwdfrydedd a ngwthio i fod yr artist gorau a fedrwn.
Rwyf yn gweithio gyda phobl ifanc 16- 25 oed sydd ag anabledd dysgu a chorfforol mewn coleg arbenigol lleol, ac mae rhan ohono yn golygu eu helpu i greu eu celfyddyd eu hunain.
Mae'r llun o'r gwaith a greais ar gyfer arddangosfa Connections 2019
Mae'r 2il lun ohonof fi yn awr yn chwarae gyda'r byd apiau fel teci o'r 21ain ganrif.
RICHARD ROBERTS
I have the fondest memories of doing the art foundation course at Parc Menai, it was such an exciting and vibrant place to be. The fine balance between freedom and guidance exhibited by all the tutors there was such a stark difference to my experience with A level art. The chance to try your hand and explore different mediums and practises made the entire experience a memorable and life changing few months. I’ve been working in the arts on and off since university, but have only recently been solely focused on my own art.
I work commercially for various outdoor brands and associations, whilst also working on private commissions. Focusing on winter landscapes, I’ve been creating the graphics for snowboard company Jones Snowboards the last few years, and have recently started working on some clothing lines and various fabric designs. So working across the board really.
As an independent artist, I find so many aspects of the foundation come in to play, from how to present my work professionally, photographing and documenting various stages of development, whilst also working on marketing and the graphic design side of what is a business.
I really did love my time at Parc Menai, and found the approach to teaching so impactful. A fantastic mix of being brutally honest about your work yet encouraging and supportive.
I’m loving seeing the work that’s being created there now, it really has brought back great memories.
Mae gennyf atgofion braf iawn o wneud y cwrs sylfaen celf ym Mharc Menai, roedd yn lle mor gyffrous a llawn bywyd. Roedd y cydbwysedd gofalus rhwng y rhyddid a'r arweiniad a ddangosir gan yr holl diwtoriaid yno mor drawiadol wahanol i fy mhrofiad wrth astudio lefel A celf. Gwnaeth y cyfle i droi fy llaw ac archwilio gwahanol gyfryngau ac arferion i'r profiad cyfan fod yn fisoedd cofiadwy a newidiodd fy mywyd. Rwyf wedi bod yn gweithio yn y byd celfyddyd yn ysbeidiol ers dyddiau prifysgol, ond dim ond yn ddiweddar bûm yn canolbwyntio ar fy nghelfyddyd fy hun. Rwyf yn gweithio'n fasnachol ar gyfer amrywiol frandiau a chymdeithasau awyr agored, gan weithio hefyd ar gomisiynau preifat. Gan ganolbwyntio ar dirweddau gaeaf, rwyf wedi bod yn creu'r gwaith dylunio ar gyfer y cwmni byrddau eira Jones yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, ac rwyf yn ddiweddar wedi dechrau gweithio ar rai llinellau dillad a gwahanol ddyluniadau ffabrigau. Felly gweithio mewn meysydd amrywiol iawn mewn gwirionedd.
Fel artist annibynnol, fy mhrofiad i yw fod cymaint o agweddau o'r cwrs sylfaen yn dod yn ddefnyddiol, o sut i gyflwyno fy ngwaith yn broffesiynol, tynnu lluniau a dogfennu gwahanol gyfnodau o ddatblygiad, tra hefyd yn gweithio ar farchnata ac ochr ddylunio'r byd busnes.
Wnes i wir hoffi fy amser ym Mharc Menai, a chafodd yr agwedd at addysgu gymaint o effaith arnaf. Cymysgedd wych o fod yn ddeifiol o onest am eich gwaith eto yn galonogol a chefnogol. Dwi wrth fy modd yn gweld y gwaith sy'n cael ei greu yno nawr, mae wir wedi dod ag atgofion braf i mi.
LISA EURGAIN
Mi wnaeth astudio’r Cwrs Sylfaen roi hwb anferth i mi fel artist. Roedd y tiwtoriaid yn ein hannog i arbrofi, i edrych ar bethau mewn ffyrdd newydd, ac i osod sialensau newydd sbon i ni ein hunain. Doeddwn i ddim yn credu gymaint oedd fy sgiliau peintio wedi datgblygu ar ôl ond ‘chydig fisoedd o fod ar y cwrs yn dilyn anogaeth a chyngor gan Iwan Gwyn Parry. Roedd ‘na awyrgylch braf, prysur a chreadigol yn y stiwdio bob amser a dwi mor falch o fod wedi gwneud ffrindiau oes yno yn ogystal â thyfu fel artist a pherson. Rhoddodd y cwrs yr hyder i mi fynd ymlaen i astudio cwrs Celf Gain:Peintio yng Ngholeg Celf Wimbledon. Ers graddio. dwi wedi cael amryw o sioeau grwp, 7 sioe unigol ac enillais y ‘Clyde & Co Art Award’ (Dewis y Bobl) yn 2013. Dwi bellach yn artist llawn amser ac ar y funud yn gwneud comisiynau ac yn gweithio tuag at ardddangosfa unigol ym Mhlas Glyn Y Weddw ym mis Mawrth. Mi oedd y profiad o fod yn fyfyriwr ar y Cwrs Sylfaen yn werthfawr iawn ac rwyf wir yn argymell y cwrs yn fawr i unrhywun!
Studying the Art Foundation course gave me a huge boost as an artist. The tutors encouraged us to experiment, to look at things in different ways, and to set ourselves new challenges. I could not believe how much my painting skills had developed after only a few months of being on the course, following Iwan Gwyn Parry’s guidance and advice. There was always a nice, busy and creative atmosphere in the studio, and I am so glad to have made lifelong friends there, as well as growing as an artist and person. This course gave me the confidence to go on to study a Fine Art:Painting degree at Wimbledon College of Art. Since graduating, I've had several group shows, 7 solo shows and won the Clyde & Co Art Award (People's Choice) in 2013. I'm now a full time artist and currently doing commissions and working towards a solo exhibition at Plas Glyn The Weddw in March, 2021. Being a student on the Art Foundation Course was invaluable and I highly recommend the course to anyone!
DAISY WILSON
It was impossible to avoid the art world in our house. The ‘keep looking’ started young. Gathered with my siblings around the kitchen table one school holidays, a very serious dad reminded 7 year old me to ‘keep looking!’ at the jam jar filled with daffodils! I resisted the natural pull until I’d spent a Summer working as a nanny to three lively boys. It just happened that I joined the Art Foundation course at a time when my brother Owein had just become leader of the course and therefore my father’s (Peter’s) boss; an interesting time for all three of us. I promptly left home. My first homework was a self portrait, set by Ed Davies. That first crit felt brutal and I left determined to prove myself. I still don’t know if he really felt I hadn’t invested time in the work or whether it was a psychological trick to spur me on. I think the portrait below says it all! At the end of the year I applied to Edinburgh College of Art to study Drawing and Painting. My Dad drove me there with rolls of canvases and drawings to submit my portfolio. He then proceeded to get me to phone them constantly to see if I’d been granted an interview. There were three places for students outside of Scotland for direct entry into the second year. I think in the end they got sick of me phoning and therefore invited me for interview! I always knew I didn't want to be an ‘artist’, I’d seen first hand what that entails. It comes from within, an obsession and a necessity. I’ve never described myself as an artist. In my opinion, that title belongs to a special kind of person. My need came from the need to communicate. To de-mystify art, make it accessible and support those with that inner need to communicate visually. I became an Art teacher. I think my foundation course provided that core understanding of how inspirational tutors can change your life.
Roedd yn amhosib osgoi'r byd celf yn ein cartref. Dechreuodd yr arfer o "ddal i edrych" yn ifanc. Wedi ymgasglu gyda'r plant eraill yn y teulu o gwmpas bwrdd y gegin un gwyliau ysgol, atgoffodd fy nhad fi yn ddifrifol iawn yn 7 oed i "ddal i edrych!" ar y botel jam wedi ei llenwi gyda daffodils! Wnes i ymwrthod y dynfa naturiol hyd nes i mi dreulio Haf yn gweithio fel nani i dri bachgen bywiog. Fel mae'n digwydd mi ymunais i a'r cwrs Sylfaen Celf ar adeg pan oedd fy mrawd Owein newydd ddod yn arweinydd y cwrs ac felly yn fos ar fy nhad (Peter); amser diddorol i'r tri ohonom! Gadewais y cartref yn fuan. Fy ngwaith cartref cyntaf oedd hunan bortread, wedi ei osod gan Ed Davies.
Roedd y feirniadaeth gyntaf yn teimlo yn ddeifiol a gadewais yn benderfynol o brofi fy hun. Dwi dal ddim yn gwybod a oedd wir yn teimlo nad oeddwn wedi buddsoddi amser yn y gwaith neu prun ai oedd yn dric seicolegol i'm sbarduno ymlaen. Dwi'n credu fod y portread isod yn dweud y cyfan! Ar ddiwedd y flwyddyn gwnes gais i Ysgol Gelf Caeredin i astudio Lluniadu a Pheintio Gyrrodd fy nhad fi yno gyda rholiau o ganfasau a lluniadau i gyflwyno fy mhortffolio. Gwnaeth i mi wedyn eu ffonio yn gyson i weld a ganiatawyd cyfweliad i mi. Mae yna dri lle ar gyfer myfyrwyr y tu allan i'r Alban ar gyfer mynediad uniongyrchol i'r ail flwyddyn. Yn y diwedd cawsant lond bol ohonof yn ffonio gan fy ngwahodd felly am gyfweliad! Roeddwn bob amser yn gwybod nad oeddwn am fod yn 'artist'. Rwyf wedi gweld yn uniongyrchol beth mae hynny'n ei olygu. Mae'n dod oddi mewn, yn obsesiwn ac anghenraid. Dwyf i erioed wedi disgrifio fy hun fel artist. Yn fy marn i, mae'r teitl hwnnw yn perthyn i fath arbennig o berson.
Daeth fy angen o'r angen am gyfathrebu. I ddatgyfrinio celf, i'w wneud yn hygyrch a chefnogi'r rhai sydd a'r angen mewnol hwnnw i gyfathrebu yn weledol. Mi ddes i yn athrawes Gelf. Dwi'n meddwl y darparodd fy nghwrs sylfaen y ddealltwriaeth graidd honno o sut y gall tiwtoriaid ysbrydoledig newid eich bywyd.
ANGELA EVANS
I am a full time jewellery designer and maker, I create contemporary jewellery by hand with traditional techniques in silver and gold with a colourful palette of exquisite stones and fine details to further enhance each piece. My jewellery is vibrant and intricate giving a bold overall aesthetic which is still delicately pretty. I sell my work internationally and was recently commissioned to create the 2019 National Eisteddfod Crown.
The Bangor foundation course was one of the best years of my life. It’s where I discovered what I was truly meant to be doing creatively and has led to a successful career in Jewellery Design. I went into the course with many preconceptions about what my artistic direction would be but, by being given the opportunity to experience many different mediums alongside expert advice and guidance I found that I was able to develop and realise my true potential of working as a small scale 3D designer. My core skills and understanding of art and design stem from the good grounding I received on the Foundation course, perhaps most importantly the ability to draw well and being able to translate my idea into reality for a client or commission. I feel very privileged to be part of such a prestigious course and talented alumni.
Rwy'n ddylunydd a gwneuthurwr gemwaith llawn amser, rwy'n creu gemwaith cyfoes â llaw gyda thechnegau traddodiadol mewn arian ac aur gyda phalet lliwgar o gerrig coeth a manylion cain i wella pob darn ymhellach. Mae fy gemwaith yn fywiog ac yn gywrain gan roi esthetig beiddgar sy'n dal i fod yn hynod o bert. Rwy'n gwerthu fy ngwaith yn rhyngwladol ac yn ddiweddar comisiynwyd fi i greu Coron Eisteddfod Genedlaethol 2019.
Roedd cwrs sylfaen Bangor yn un o flynyddoedd gorau fy mywyd. Dyma lle darganfyddais yr hyn yr oeddwn yn wirioneddol i fod yn ei wneud yn greadigol ac mae wedi arwain at yrfa lwyddiannus mewn dylunio Gemwaith. Es i ar y cwrs gyda llawer o ragdybiaethau ynghylch beth fyddai fy nghyfeiriad artistig ond, trwy gael cyfle i brofi llawer o wahanol gyfryngau ochr yn ochr â chyngor ac arweiniad arbenigol, darganfyddais fy mod yn gallu datblygu a gwireddu fy ngwir botensial o weithio fel dylunydd 3D. Mae fy sgiliau craidd a fy nealltwriaeth o gelf a dylunio yn deillio o'r sylfaen dda a gefais ar y cwrs Sylfaen, yn bwysicaf oll efallai'r gallu i dynnu llun yn dda a gallu trosi fy syniad yn realiti i gleient neu gomisiwn. Rwy'n teimlo'n freintiedig iawn i fod yn rhan o gwrs mor fawreddog a chyn-fyfyrwyr mor talentog.
ALYCIA BLACKWELL
After completing the Art foundation course at Bangor, I went on to study Fine Art at the University of Cumbria, graduating with a 2:1. I am now studying my PGCE with St Patrick's school alliance in partnership with Liverpool Hope, training to be a Secondary Art and Design Teacher. Without attending the Art Foundation course, I do not think I would be where I am now. The course gave me the confidence to push myself and my abilities, unlocking new talents that I had not yet known of. I would recommend to everyone that they apply the course as it allowed me to see the potential within myself and the possibilities within the art world!
Wedi cwblhau'r cwrs sylfaen Celf ym Mangor, es ymlaen i astudio Celf Gain ym Mhrifysgol Cumbria, gan raddio gyda 2:1. Erbyn hyn, dwi'n astudio fy TGAU gyda'r St Patrick school alliance mewn partneriaeth gyda Liverpool Hope, yn hyfforddi i fod yn athrawes Celf a Dylunio Uwchradd. Heb fynychu'r cwrs Sylfaen Celf, dwi ddim yn meddwl y byddwn i lle'r ydw i rwan. Rhoddodd y cwrs yr hyder i mi wthio fy hun a fy ngalluoedd, gan ddatgloi talentau newydd nad oeddwn yn ymwybodol ohonynt eto. Byddwn yn argymell i bawb eu bod yn gwneud cais am y cwrs gan y galluogodd i mi weld y potensial o fewn fy hun a'r posibiliadau o fewn y byd celf!
REBECCA GOULD
I'm an artist, my work ranges from assemblage, video and textiles, dealing with concepts of labour, capital and daily rituals. I received my MA in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins College and after living in London for a long time, I now live on an island off an island in North Wales. The art foundation in Bangor was the first time I had a dedicated studio space, time to work and it gave me the permission to take art seriously - it enabled me to take all my interests and combine them within a world of exploration and questioning. At first I didn’t understand what I was doing - it was when Owein took me to the library and showed me Sarah Lucas’s work that I saw another world opening up in front of me.
Although it has been difficult financially existing as an artist (rock&roll dole) and precarious p/t work, I can't imagine not seeing the world in the way I do and that has only been possible by studying art. My thinking has been enriched from my education in college to the countless discussions and debates I’ve had with artists and thinkers, socialists and feminists. Art college has opened my eyes allowing me to truly see what's in front of me. Although it has tethered me to poverty it has offered me enlightenment and a supportive community, living in our current world without art is a bleak notion.
I was awarded The Freelands Foundation Award this year in conjunction with g39, supporting a two-year development programme. I exhibit widely in the UK, was nominated for The Paul Hamlyn Award for Visual Artists, and granted funding from The Arts Council of Wales, Wales Arts International, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and The Eaton Fund. I've been commissioned by bodies such Wales Arts International and LOCWS international 3. I’m also one half of STUDIO CYBI, with Iwan Lewis, a collective that puts on occasional exhibitions, events and commissions, most recently in collaboration with MOSTYN, doing a broadcast for Montez Press Radio, New York.
Rwyf yn artist, mae fy ngwaith yn ymestyn o assemblage, fideo a thecstiliau, delio gyda chysyniadau llafur, cyfalaf a defodau dyddiol. Derbyniais fy MA mewn Celf Gain o Central Saint Martins College ac wedi byw yn Llundain am amser hir, rwyf nawr yn byw ar ynys oddi ar ynys yng Ngogledd Cymru. Y cwrs sylfaen Celf ym Mangor oedd y tro cyntaf roedd gen i gwagle stiwdio i mi fy hun, amser i weithio a rhoddodd ganiatad i gymryd celf o ddifri - galluogodd fi i gymryd fy holl ddiddordebau a'u cyfuno o fewn byd o archwilio a chwestiynu. Ar y dechrau doeddwn i ddim yn deall yr hyn roeddwn yn ei wneud - ond pan gymerodd Owein fi i'r llyfrgell a dangos gwaith Sarah Lucas i mi gwelais fyd arall yn agor i fyny o mlaen. Er y bu yn anodd yn ariannol i fyw fel artist (dol roc a rol) a gwaith rhan-amser anwadal, fedrai ddim dychmygu gweld y byd yn y ffordd a wnaf a bu hynny ond yn bosib drwy astudio celf. Cyfoethogwyd fy ffordd o feddwl gan fy addysg yn y coleg i'r trafodaethau a'r dadleuon dirif a gefais gydag artistiaid a meddylwyr, sosialwyr a ffeminyddion. Mae coleg Celf wedi agor fy llygaid i adael i mi wir i weld yr hyn sydd o mlaen. Er ei fod wedi fy nghlymu i dlodi mae wedi cynnig goleuedigaeth i mi a chymuned gefnogol, mae byw yn ein byd cyfredol heb gelf yn syniad digysur. Dyfarnwyd Gwobr y Freeland Foundation i mi eleni ar y cyd gyda g39, gan gefnogi rhaglen ddatblygu dwy flynedd. Rwyf yn arddangos yn eang yn y DU, fe'm henwebwyd ar gyfer y Wobr Paul Hamlyn ar gyfer Artistiaid Gwledol, a rhoddwyd cyllid i mi gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, yr Esmee Fairbairn Foundation a'r Eaton Fund. Fe'm comisiynwyd gan gyrff megis y Welsh Arts International a LOCS international 3. Rwyf hefyd yn un hanner o STUDIO CYBI, gyda Iwan Lewis, cydweithfa sydd yn cyflwyno arddangosfeydd achlysurol, digwyddiadau a chomisiynau, yn fwyaf diweddar mewn cydweithrediad gyda MOSTYN, gan wneud darllediad ar gyfer Montez Press Radio, Efrog Newydd.
BEE HUGHES
Following the Foundation course, I went on to study Graphic Arts at Liverpool John Moores University, followed by an MRes in Art & Design. Straight out of the MRes I started my first lecturing job, as a contextual studies and printmaking tutor in Graphic Arts / Graphic Design & Illustration at LJMU, until 2015. Since 2012 I’ve taught at LJMU and UCLan (briefly) in fine art, history of art, sociology, contemporary a theory, and most recently I have joined the Media, Culture & Communication department at LJMU on a permanent basis. This year I also completed a practice-led PhD<https://hes32-ctp.trendmicro.com:443/wis/clicktime/v1/query?url=http%3a%2f%2fresearchonline.ljmu.ac.uk%2fid%2feprint%2f13709%2f&umid=246294fe-e22e-41c2-ae2a-bbf30f8875a1&auth=768f192bba830b801fed4f40fb360f4d1374fa7c-307f1a0837287171ff533c267d6b912bd65872fb> in contemporary art practice and cultural studies, where I researched the visual cultures of menstruation from 1970 – present. As part of my PhD I developed a multidisciplinary practice which combines elements of creative writing, printmaking, performance, and curation. I also used creative workshops to engage people of all ages in discussions about menstrual stigma as part of events like Being Human festival of the humanities, and the British Academy Summer Showcase, and exhibited my work in the USA and the UK. I am currently Artist in Residence at the Centre for Contemporary Art<https://hes32-ctp.trendmicro.com:443/wis/clicktime/v1/query?url=https%3a%2f%2fcentreforcontemporaryart.wp.st%2dandrews.ac.uk%2f2019%2f11%2f22%2fartist%2din%2dresidence%2d2020%2dblood%2dlines%2f&umid=246294fe-e22e-41c2-ae2a-bbf30f8875a1&auth=768f192bba830b801fed4f40fb360f4d1374fa7c-6dc960f2ffcf3352810f31560b37cb91ee73e84f> & Institute for Gender Studies at the University of St Andrews (which has been quite disrupted by the pandemic), where I will be producing artworks in response to collaborative research into the history of menstruation in Scotland.
More information on my career, projects, writing, and practice can be found at https://hes32-ctp.trendmicro.com:443/wis/clicktime/v1/query?url=www.beehughes.co.uk&umid=246294fe-e22e-41c2-ae2a-bbf30f8875a1&auth=768f192bba830b801fed4f40fb360f4d1374fa7c-963ea924f2fcb5f392cd015ade67f4a5cc506f71<https://hes32-ctp.trendmicro.com:443/wis/clicktime/v1/query?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.beehughes.co.uk&umid=246294fe-e22e-41c2-ae2a-bbf30f8875a1&auth=768f192bba830b801fed4f40fb360f4d1374fa7c-54ba565c18ac84134bbe49ccb15bc8594dfac535>
It’s been really nice seeing the updates from different alumni. When I’ve worked in the Fine Art / Graphics departments here it’s always been nice to meet new students coming through from Coleg Menai. Here’s to 40 more years of creative education.
Yn dilyn y cwrs Sylfaen, es i astudio Celfyddyd Graffig ym Mhrifysgol Liverpool John Moores, wedi ei ddilyn gan MRes mewn Celf a Dylunio. Yn syth allan o'r MRes dechreuais fy swydd darlithio cyntaf, fel tiwtor astudiaethau cyd-destunol a gwneud printiadau mewn Celfyddydau Graffig / Dylunio a Darlunio Graffig yn LJMU, hyd 2015. Ers 2012 rwyf wedi dysgu yn LJMU ac UCUan (am gyfnod byr) mewn celf gain, hanes celf, cymdeithaseg, cyfoes a theori, ac yn fwyaf diweddar rwyf wedi ymuno a'r adran Cyfryngau, Diwylliant a Chyfathrebu yn LJMU ar sail barhaol. Eleni rwyf hefyd wedi cwblhau PhD wedi ei arwain gan ymarfer. <https://hes32-ctp.trendmicro.com:443/wis/clicktime/v1/query?url=http%3a%2f%2fresearchonline.ljmu.ac.uk%2fid%2feprint%2f13709%2f&umid=246294fe-e22e-41c2-ae2a-bbf30f8875a1&auth=768f192bba830b801fed4f40fb360f4d1374fa7c-307f1a0837287171ff533c267d6b912bd65872fb > mewn ymarfer celf gyfoes ac astudiaethau diwylliannol, lle ymchwiliais i ddiwylliannau gweledol ynghylch mislif o 1970 - presennol. Fel rhan o'r PhD datblygais ymarfer amlddisgyblaethol sy'n cyfuno elfennau o ysgrifennu creadigol, gwneud printiadau, perfformiad a churadu. Defnyddiais hefyd weithdai creadigol i ddenu pobl o bob oedran mewn trafodaethau ynghylch stigma mislifol fel rhan o ddigwyddiadau megis yr ŵyl dyniaethau Being Human, a'r British Academy Summer Showcase, gan arddangos fy ngwaith yn yr UD a'r DU. Rwyf ar hyn o bryd yn Artist Preswyl y Ganolfan ar gyfer Celf Gyfoeshttps://hes32-ctp.trendmicro.com:443/wis/clicktime/v1/query?url=https%3a%2f%2fcentreforcontemporaryart.wp.st%2dandrews.ac.uk%2f2019%2f11%2f22%2fartist%2din%2dresidence%2d2020%2dblood%2dlines%2f&umid=246294fe-e22e-41c2-ae2a-bbf30f8875a1&auth=768f192bba830b801fed4f40fb360f4d1374fa7c-6dc960f2ffcf3352810f31560b37cb91ee73e84f& Sefydliad ar gyfer Astudiaethau Rhywedd ym Mhrifysgol St Andrews (a darfuwyd dipyn gan y pandemig), lle byddaf yn cynhyrchu gweithiau celf mewn ymateb i hanes y mislif yn yr Alban.
Gellir cael rhagor o wybodaeth ynghylch fy ngyrfa, prosiectau ac ymarfer ar <https://hes32-ctp.trendmicro.com:443/wis/clicktime/v1/query?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.beehughes.co.uk&umid=246294fe-e22e-41c2-ae2a-bbf30f8875a1&auth=768f192bba830b801fed4f40fb360f4d1374fa7c-54ba565c18ac84134bbe49ccb15bc8594dfac535>
Bu yn braf iawn i weld y diweddariadau o wahanol alumni. Pan rwyf wedi gweithio yn yr adrannau Celf Gain / Graffeg yma bu bob amser yn braf i gyfarfod myfyrwyr newydd sy'n dod trwodd o Goleg Menai. Dyma 40 mwy o flynyddoedd o addysg greadigol.
JIM EDWARDS
What an impact the foundation made on my life. The intensity of the year long course, and the amount of work expected was exhausting, yet so fulfilling. I was there in 1996, just before I went to do a degree at NSAD (now called Norwich University of the Arts). When I started the foundation I thought I knew enough, but I knew sod all. I can still hear Peter telling us ‘Don’t be precious’. I’m reminded of life drawing classes, having to rub out entire drawings, then drawing with the lights out, ripping it up, starting again. Brutal but necessary. I would love to do it all over again. After graduating, I was fortunate enough, or persistent enough, to continue painting. I’ve been a professional artist for 20 years, painting cityscapes and landscapes, predominantly of the North East of England. In particular, my hometown of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Big thanks, Jim
https://m.facebook.com/jimedwardsartist/
Am effaith gafodd y cwrs sylfaen ar fy mywyd. Roedd dwyster y cwrs blwyddyn o hyd, a'r gwaith roedd angen i ni ei gyflwyno yn llethol, ond yn fuddiol iawn. Roeddwn i yno yn 1996, cyn mynd ymlaen i ddilyn cwrs gradd yn NSAD (Norwich University of the Arts). Pan ddechreuais i ar y cwrs sylfaen roeddwn i'n credu fy mod i'n gwybod digon, ond doedd gen i ddim clem. Dw i dal yn gallu clywed Peter yn dweud wrthon ni 'Peidiwch â bod yn ymhongar'. Rydw i'n cofio am ddosbarthiadau bywluniad, gorfod dileu lluniadau cyfan, yna darlunio heb oleuadau, rhwygo'r cyfan a dechrau eto. Brwnt ond angenrheidiol. Hoffwn wneud y cwbl eto. Wedi i mi raddio roeddwn i'n ddigon ffodus, neu'n ddigon penderfynol, i barhau i beintio. Rydw i wedi bod yn artist proffesiynol am 20 mlynedd, yn peintio dinasoedd a thirwedd, yng Ngogledd Ddwyrain Lloegr gan amlaf. Yn benodol fy ninas enedigol, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Diolch o galon, Jim.
HELEN STIFF
Brilliant to hear the stories from past Bangor Art Foundation students. I remember the cabbage drawing task, working in the life room, etching, photography and Sculpting. I’m sure I spent 2 weeks drawing part of a leaf and stem for Ed. Such a varied course for everyone. We had lectures in Capel Twr-Gwyn on a Wednesday and amazing food that was prepared on site.
I will never forget Peter Prendergast discussing with me my work before the Christmas break and saying “I have a hunch that you can paint, so paint. Fill your sketchbook with paintings”.
Which I did. He gave me the confidence to explore and experiment.
Fond memories of an amazing course. I learnt a lot about Art and myself during that year and was truly inspired by the tutors and students. Loved working upstairs in the rooftops of Coleg Normal, sharing the Fine Art studio space with Angharad, Branwen, Rachel, Fiona, Darren and Owein.
Following the Foundation year I went on to study Fine Art at Cheltenham, then completed a PGCE secondary course to teach Art. Since 1994 I have been based in Cardiff as an Art teacher and Head of Department. Although my role has changed within education, I still love teaching youngsters and inspiring young Aritists. Who doesn’t love washing a paint brush and palette at the end of the day and scrubbing inking ink off their hands!
It is an essential part for any student who is thinking of a creative pathway. Every year I recommend my students to apply for the Art Foundation Course in order to find their Artistic pathway and direction.
Diolch am yr ysbrydoliaeth.
Gwych i glywed y straeon gan gyn fyfyrwyr Celf Bangor. Cofiaf y dasg lluniadu bresychen, gweithio yn yr ystafell fywyd, ysgythru, ffotograffiaeth a Cherflunio. Rwy’n siŵr i mi dreulio 2 wythnos yn tynnu llun rhan o ddeilen a choesyn ar gyfer Ed. Y fath gwrs amrywiol ar gyfer pawb. Roeddem yn cael darlithoedd yng Nghapel Twr Gwyn ar Ddydd Mercher ac roedd bwyd anhygoel yn cael ei baratoi ar y safle.
Fyddai byth yn anghofio Peter Prendergast yn trafod fy ngwaith gyda fi cyn gwyliau'r Nadolig gan ddweud "Mae gen i syniad eich bod yn medru paentio, felly paentiwch. Llenwch eich llyfr brasluniau gyda phaentiadau".
Felly dyna be wnes i. Rhoddodd i mi'r hyder i archwilio ac arbrofi.
Atgofion braf iawn o gwrs anhygoel. Dysgais lawer am Gelf a fy hun yn ystod y flwyddyn honno ac roeddwn wir wedi fy ysbrydoli gan y tiwtoriaid a'r myfyrwyr. Roeddwn wrth fy modd yn gweithio i fyny'r grisiau ar doeon y Coleg Normal, gan rannu'r gwagle Stiwdio Celf Gain gydag Angharad, Branwen, Rachel, Fiona, Darren ac Owein.
Yn dilyn y cwrs Sylfaen, es i astudio Celf Gain yn Cheltenham, yna cwblheais gwrs uwchradd TAR i ddysgu Celf. Ers 1994 rwyf wedi fy lleoli yng Nghaerdydd fel athro Celf a Phennaeth Adran. Er bod fy rôl wedi newid o fewn addysg, rwyf o hyd wrth fy modd yn addysgu pobl ifanc ac yn ysbrydoli Artistiaid ifanc. Pwy sydd ddim yn mwynhau golchi brwsh paent a palette ar ddiwedd y dydd a sgrwbio inc incio oddi ar eu dwylo!
Mae'n rhan hanfodol ar gyfer unrhyw fyfyriwr sy'n meddwl am lwybr creadigol. Pob blwyddyn rwy'n argymell fy myfyrwyr i wneud cais am y Cwrs Sylfaen Celf er mwyn darganfod eu llwybr a'u cyfeiriad Artistig.
Diolch am yr ysbrydoliaeth.
Diolch am yr ysbrydoliaeth.
CHRIS ROBERTS
I'm Christopher T Roberts a North Wales based artist. I attended the Foundation Course the academic year of 1996-97. I have many fond memories of that year and that course, such a special time. I remember it being an intense learning experience, so much crammed into a relatively short period of time. Certain things have stayed with me, the emphasis of a strong work ethic, the importance on drawing and a drive to create something ambitious being just a few.
The tutors I remember learning from the most are Peter, Owein, Iwan and Bill the life model.
I was allowed to do what I wanted that year. I made a suit out of meat (long before Lady Gaga did it) that I wore as part of a performance piece. Such a sense of freedom but always grounded in learning and quality. "Okay, so you want to do that, but why and how can you make it as good as possible?" I think that was important - constructive challenge.
I went on to study for my Fine Art Degree at the university in Cardiff, graduating the year 2000. I'm not as successful in the traditional sense of the word as some of the artists who have shared on here. I'm a semi- professional artist (meaning I haven't quite managed to quit the day job just yet) and have shown across North and South Wales, Liverpool and Chester, I have sold my works both Nationally and Internationally. My painting Anthropocene (2019) was featured as part of the Octopus Energy - Portraits From The Precipice campaign for renewable energy. I continue to paint and to draw whenever and as much as I can.
I am so grateful for the groundwork that year gave me. I would urge anybody creative to apply for the Bangor Arts Foundation Course, you wont regret it.
Fy enw yw Christopher T Roberts ac rydw i'n artist yng Ngogledd Cymru. Mi ddilynais i'r cwrs Sylfaen yn ystod blwyddyn academaidd 1996-97. Mae gen i nifer o atgofion melys o'r flwyddyn honno ar y cwrs, cyfnod arbennig iawn. Rydw i'n cofio ei fod yn gyfnod o ddysgu dwys, cymaint wedi’i wasgu i gyfnod cymharol fyr. Mae rhai pethau wedi aros gyda ni, pwysigrwydd gweithio, pwysigrwydd darlunio a'r anogaeth i greu rhywbeth uchelgeisiol i enwi dim ond rhai.
Y tiwtoriaid ddysgodd y mwyaf i mi oedd Peter, Owein, Iwan a Bill, y model bywluniadau.
Mi ges i ryddid i wneud yr hyn roeddwn i eisiau ei wneud yn ystod y flwyddyn honno. Mi wnes i greu gwisg o gig (ymhell cyn i Lady Gaga wneud hynny) a'i wisgo fel rhan o berfformiad gelf. Teimlo'n gwbl rydd ond â sylfaen gadarn mewn dysgu ac ansawdd. "Iawn, ti eisiau gwneud hynny, ond pam a sut galli di greu'r darn gorau posib?" Dw i'n credu bod hynny'n bwysig - herio adeiladol.
Es i ymlaen i ddilyn cwrs Celf Gain ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, a graddio yn 2000. Dydw i ddim mor llwyddiannus yn yr ystyr draddodiadol â rhai o'r artistiaid sydd wedi rhannu eu hanes yma. Rydw i'n artist rhannol broffesiynol (sy'n golygu nad ydw i'n gallu gadael y swydd arferol ar hyn o bryd) ac rydw i wedi arddangos fy ngwaith yng Ngogledd a De Cymru, yn Lerpwl a Chaer, ac wedi gwerthu fy ngwaith yn Genedlaethol ac yn Rhyngwladol. Defnyddiwyd fy mhaentiad Anthropocene (2019) yn ymgyrch ynni adnewyddadwy Octopue Energy - Portraits From The Precipice. Rydw i'n dal i beintio ac yn darlunio cymaint ag y gallaf.
Rydw i mor ddiolchgar am y sylfaen gefais i yn ystod y flwyddyn honno. Baswn i'n annog unrhyw un creadigol i wneud cais i ddilyn Cwrs Sylfaen Celf Bangor, wnewch chi ddim difaru gwneud.
JENNIE HOLLOWAY
In 2006 I was in my mid-twenties. I had been to university in Sheffield to study a BA Hons Music and German and subsequently spent time travelling and working in Romania, Germany and the USA before returning back to Wales.
It took me a while to realise that what I really wanted to do was to study art.
In September of that year my journey started at Coleg Menai on the Foundation Course, learning from Owein Prendergast and Iwan Gwyn Parry. It was the most liberating, buzzing and inquisitive environment I'd ever learnt in. Everything seemed possible, nothing seemed too ambitious. The intensity of learning to look, question and contextualise our mark making, 3D building and sketchbook studies was all consuming. I loved it and thank those teachers on the course that opened up that chapter in my life.
I went on to study a BA Hons Sculpture at Camberwell College of Art in London, where I graduated in 2010 and then lived in Berlin for a while. Since then I've exhibited in various locations around the UK and have had a commission to work on a large scale outdoor piece in Trinity Buoy Wharf at London Docklands.
I primarily work on surfaces of found working objects or functioning industrial pieces of machinery. My latest piece is a site specific exterior installation on a drainpipe at Plas Bodfa on Anglesey.
I will always think back to my time on the Foundation Course at Coleg Menai as the catalyst for opening up a way of working and thinking inquisitively and believing in the importance of communication through any creative means.
Roeddwn i yn fy ugeiniau yn 2006. Roeddwn i wedi bod yn y brifysgol yn Sheffield yn astudio ar gwrs BA Anrh mewn Cerddoriaeth ac Almaeneg ac ar ôl hynny wedi treulio amser yn teithio ac yn gweithio yn Romania, Yr Almaen ac UDA cyn dychwelyd i Gymru.
Mi gymrodd peth amser i mi sylweddol mai'r hyn roeddwn i wir eisiau ei wneud oedd astudio celf.
Fis Medi'r flwyddyn honno dechreuodd fy nhaith yng Ngholeg Menai ar y Cwrs Sylfaen gan ddysgu gyda Owein Prendergast ac Iwan Gwyn Parry. Dyma'r amgylchedd dysgu mwyaf rhyddhaol, bywiog a dyfeisgar welais i erioed. Roedd popeth yn bosib, dim byd yn rhy uchelgeisiol. Roedd y broses o ddysgu i edrych, holi a gosod cyd-destun i'r marciau roedden ni yn eu gwneud, yr astudiaethau ar ddatblygu 3D a llyfrau braslunio yn llenwi ein dyddiau i'r ymylon. Roeddwn i wrth fy modd a diolch i'r athrawon a agorodd y bennod honno yn fy mywyd.
Es i ymlaen i ddilyn cwrs BA Anrh mewn Cerflunio yn Camberwell College of Art yn Llundain a graddio yn 2010, cyn mynd i fyw ym Merlin am gyfnod. Ers hynny, rydw i wedi arddangos fy ngwaith mewn lleoliadau gwahanol ar draws y DU ac wedi cael comisiwn i weithio ar ddarn o waith mawr yn yr awyr agored yn Trinity Buoy Warf, Dociau Llundain.
Rydw i'n canolbwyntio ar weithio ar arwynebau gwrthrychau sy'n gweithio neu beiriannau diwydiannol sydd ar waith. Gosodwaith yn yr awyr agored yw fy narn diweddaraf o waith, ar beipen law ym Mhlas Bodfa, Ynys Môn.
Byddaf yn edrych yn ôl ar fy nghyfnod ar y cwrs Sylfaen yng Ngholeg Menai fel yr hyn sbardunodd fi i ddatblygu dull mwy agored o weithio, i feddwl yn dreiddgar a chredu ym mhwysigrwydd defnyddio celf i gyfathrebu.
LIZZIE HUGHES
I’m a fine artist working across many different media including sculpture, video and text. A recurring theme in my work has been an approach to collecting and structuring data in a way that has allowed me to explore distant landscapes and briefly enter the private worlds of others. I’ve made an audio portrait of The Empire State building by telephoning and speaking to office workers on each of its eighty floors; an electronic map that shows the graphic outlines of over thirty nine thousand swimming pools located in the city of Las Vegas and 4,007 Horizons a video work that transforms generic seaside snapshots into a dazzling journey around the globe.
I was on the Foundation Course at Coleg Menai in 1991 and it was a really special energised time for me. I made lifelong friends and learnt a huge amount very quickly. Everyday we were introduced to new methods of making and ways of thinking. One day could be a deeply focused life room session where you’d spend an entire day making a measured drawing of a single arm and the next you could be making pots, designing costumes or learning etching. I’ve fond memories of being given a recurring homework exercise to draw tomatoes that eventually culminated with real tomatoes being torn open and thrown around the studio “all this time and still not one of you has shown that they’re wet inside!” There were maverick tutors at Coleg Menai who cared about what they did and truly wanted the students to succeed.
After the Foundation Course, I went on to study at The Slade School of Fine Art in London. It was a big leap moving from my home in rural Anglesey, but the tutors at Coleg Menai had provided the perfect proving ground that gave me the confidence, knowledge and discipline to be able to hold my own and make work in a challenging and sometimes competitive environment. The importance of taking risks and of interrogating every mark you make were the key lessons I learnt on Foundation and now when I’m teaching that’s what I pass on and try to instil in my students.
Rwyf yn artist cain sy’n gweithio ar draws nifer o gyfryngau gan gynnwys cerflunio, fideo a thestun. Thema a ailadroddwyd yn fy ngwaith fu dull o gasglu a strwythuro data mewn ffordd sydd wedi caniatáu i mi archwilio tirluniau yn y pellter ac am gyfnod byr mynd i fewn i fywydau preifat eraill. Rwyf wedi gwneud portread awdio o’r Empire State Building drwy ffonio a siarad gyda gweithwyr swyddfa ar bob un o’i bedwar ugain llawr; map electronig sy’n dangos amlinelliadau graffig o dros tri deg naw mil o byllau nofio wedi eu lleoli yn ninas Las Vegas a 4,007 Horizons, gwaith fideo sy’n trawsnewid lluniau glan y môr generig yn daith wefreiddiol o gwmpas y byd.
Roeddwn ar y Cwrs Sylfaen yng Ngholeg Menai yn 1991 ac roedd yn amser egnïol ac arbennig i mi. Gwnes ffrindiau am oes a dysgais lawer yn gyflym iawn. Pob dydd fe'n cyflwynwyd i ffyrdd newydd o wneud a ffyrdd o feddwl. Gallai un dydd fod yn sesiwn ystafell bywyd llawn canolbwyntio lle byddech yn treulio diwrnod cyfan yn gwneud llun wedi ei fesur o un fraich a'r nesaf gallech fod yn gwneud potiau, cynllunio gwisgoedd neu ddysgu i ysgythru. Mae gen i atgofion braf iawn o dderbyn ymarfer gwaith cartref ailadroddus o dynnu lluniau tomatos a arweiniodd yn y pen draw gyda thomatos iawn yn cael eu rhwygo ar agor a'u taflu o gwmpas y stiwdio "does neb ohonoch drwy'r cyfnod hwn wedi dangos eu bod yn wlyb y tu mewn!" Roeddent yn dipyn o rebels fel tiwtoriaid yng Ngholeg Menai oedd yn malio am yr hyn a wnaent ac wir eisiau i'r myfyrwyr lwyddo. Yn dilyn y cwrs Sylfaen, es i astudio yn y Slade School of Fine Art Yn Llundain. Roedd yn naid fawr o nghartref ar Ynys Môn wledig, ond roedd y tiwtoriaid yng Ngholeg Menai wedi fy mharatoi yn berffaith gan roi imi'r hyder, y wybodaeth a'r ddisgyblaeth i fedru dal fy nhir a gwneud gwaith mewn amgylchedd heriol ac weithiau cystadleuol. Pwysigrwydd cymryd risgiau ac o holi cwestiynau am bob marc a wnaech yn wersi allweddol a ddysgais ar y cwrs Sylfaen a nawr pan rwyf yn dysgu dyma'r hyn rwy'n ei basio mlaen ac yn ceisio ei ennyn yn fy myfyrwyr.
Yn dilyn y cwrs Sylfaen, es i astudio yn y Slade School of Fine Art Yn Llundain. Roedd yn naid fawr o nghartref ar Ynys Môn wledig, ond roedd y tiwtoriaid yng Ngholeg Menai wedi fy mharatoi yn berffaith gan roi imi'r hyder, y wybodaeth a'r ddisgyblaeth i fedru dal fy nhir a gwneud gwaith mewn amgylchedd heriol ac weithiau cystadleuol. Pwysigrwydd cymryd risgiau ac o holi cwestiynau am bob marc a wnaech yn wersi allweddol a ddysgais ar y cwrs Sylfaen a nawr pan rwyf yn dysgu dyma'r hyn rwy'n ei basio mlaen ac yn ceisio ei ennyn yn fy myfyrwyr.
ANDY BLACK
I was a student on the foundation at Bangor in 1994-95 - maybe only the second year at Parc Menai. I think I found the jump from a-level to foundation bewildering to begin with. Something like I imagine the experience of going from kicking a football up against the garage door to training with the professionals. Art was something people did with an unapologetic seriousness not a leisure time hobby. And it felt like there were a lot of us - a whole industrial unit of artists and designers being schooled in looking and thinking harder about making stuff. Once I got going I loved it- life drawing, crits (watching Peter’s bullshit radar go off the scale at times), tutorials with young bucks Iwan and Owein and the encouragement to make big, ambitious things. I made a truckload of work but I remember once bringing in a not quite finished big drawing we were asked to do over the weekend. Before I’d even begun to explain how I’d run out of conte crayon Peter launched into a lecture about complacency, Thatcher’s children and how proper artists find a way. It was hard to hear but I think it set me up for a life of making work no matter what circumstances you’re in. No excuses, not for applause but, in a very matter of fact way, because it’s what you want to do. After foundation I went to Cardiff, studied in Italy and then the Royal College of Art. I’ve exhibited my work steadily throughout my career. I make drawings - sometimes small things, sometimes large scale wall drawings. I’m part of collective of artists who have set up a studio complex where I live in North Yorkshire and teach at Leeds Arts University. I like to think my teaching comes from the same values that I had instilled in me on the Foundation in Bangor. I definitely use some of the same exercises and probably repeat some of Peter’s best lines.
Roeddwn i'n fyfyriwr ar y cwrs sylfaen ym Mangor 1994-95, yr ail flwyddyn efallai ym Mharc Menai. Ar y dechrau dw i'n credu roeddwn i'n gweld y bwlch rhwng Lefela a'r Cwrs Sylfaen yn ddryslyd. Roedd yn debyg efallai i symud o gicio pêl-droed yn erbyn drws garej i hyfforddi gyda chwaraewyr proffesiynol. Roedd celf yn rhywbeth roedd pobl yn ei ystyried o ddifri, yn hytrach na thrin y pwnc fel gweithgaredd amser hamdden. Roedd hi'n teimlo fel bod criw mawr ohonom - uned gyfan o artistiaid a dylunwyr yn cael eu hyfforddi i edrych yn fanylach ar bethau a meddwl yn ddifrifol am greu darnau. Unwaith i mi ddechrau arni roeddwn i wrth fy modd - bywluniadau, barnu (gwylio radar sothach Peter yn ffrwydro weithiau), tiwtorialau gyda'r hogiau ifanc Iwan ac Owein a'r anogaeth i greu darnau mawr, uchelgeisiol. Mi wnes i greu llond trol o waith ond dw i'n cofio unwaith i mi ddod a darlun mawr i mewn nad oedd wedi cael ei orffen yn iawn dros y penwythnos. Cyn i mi gael cyfle i esbonio sut roeddwn i wedi rhedeg allan o greon conte mi ges i ddarlith gan Peter am hunanfoddhad, plant Thatcher a sut mae gwir artistiaid yn dod o hyd i ffordd o wneud pethau bob amser. Roedd hi'n anodd clywed y llith ond dw i'n credu iddo fy mharatoi ar gyfer bywyd o greu gwaith beth bynnag yw dy amgylchiadau. Dim esgusodion, dim er mwyn derbyn canmoliaeth ond gwneud hynny mewn modd ymarferol, oherwydd dyma yw'r hyn rydych chi am ei wneud. Yn dilyn y cwrs Sylfaen es i ymlaen i Gaerdydd, i astudio yn yr Eidal ac yna Royal Collage of Art. Rydw i wedi arddangos fy ngwaith yn gyson yn ystod fy ngyrfa. Rydw i'n creu lluniadau - rhai bach weithiau, ac weithiau darluniau mawr ar wal. Rydw i'n rhan o grŵp o artistiaid sydd wedi sefydlu stiwdio cyfadeilad yng Ngogledd Swydd Efrog ac rydw i'n dysgu yn Leeds Arts University. Hoffwn feddwl fy mod addysgu gan gadw at yr un gwerthoedd ddysgais i yn ystod y cwrs Sylfaen ym Mangor. Yn bendant rydw i'n defnyddio rhai o’r un ymarferion ac yn ailadrodd rhai o linellau gorau Peter.
OWAIN MCGILVARY
I very frequently ponder over the past, normally through photographs. I think this is an important process for me to reflect on where I am now. Who are the people in the photo, where are we in this photo, who was I then? Looking at photographs is an affirming force for the memory which can also mean the experience can be… haunting?
Needless to say my time on the Foundation course gave me positive affirmation about my path towards art. An intense period for creating, debating, practicing resilience. What contributions do you want to make to the world? The Foundation course was a totally dynamic space, disciplines crossed over often, whether you made art, design, craft, fashion, whatever, a big messy blob of creativity where it didn’t matter about what paths we took. We are all in it together.
I make video, collage and drawing and have exhibited widely in the UK. I just completed my MFA at The Glasgow School of Art. Looking at this photograph I am happy to say I see the person, whose thing they love the most is art and that person is still the same now.
Photos by Gwion Christmas 2011-2012
Rwyf yn aml yn myfyrio ar y gorffennol, fel arfer drwy luniau. Rwy'n credu fod hon yn broses bwysig i mi fyfyrio ar lle'r wyf i nawr. Pwy yw'r bobl yn y llun, lle'r ydyn ni yn y llun hwn, pwy oeddwn i bryd hynny? Mae edrych ar y lluniau yn rym cadarnhaol ar gyfer y cof a all olygu hefyd y gall y profiad fod yn ....un hiraethlon?
Does dim angen dweud i fy amser ar y cwrs sylfaen roi cadarnhad i mi ynglŷn â fy llwybr tuag at gelf. Cyfnod dwys ar gyfer creu, dadlau, ymarfer gwytnwch. Beth hoffech chi ei gyfrannu i'r byd? Roedd y cwrs Sylfaen yn wagle cwbl ddeinamig, roedd disgyblaethau yn croesi drosodd yn aml, prun ai eich bod gwneud celf, dylunio, crefft, ffasiwn, beth bynnag, talp mawr o greadigrwydd lle nad oedd ots pa lwybrau roeddem yn eu cymryd. Roeddem i gyd yn cyd-greu.
Gwnes fideo, collage a lluniadu ac rwyf wedi arddangos fy ngwaith ar hyd a lled y Deyrnas Unedig. Rydw i newydd gwblhau fy MFA yn Ysgol Gelf Glasgow. Gan edrych ar y llun hwn rwyf yn hapus i ddweud mod i'n gweld person sydd wrth ei fodd gyda chelf ac mae'r person hwnnw yn teimlo'r un fath rwan.
