It's been a while since I've added anything on here so apologies for that.
I had two lovely weeks off and then came back to work to find Gareth working in London (thanks Gareth!). It's a great opportunity for him but I can't wait for him to return. On Monday we have Steven Williams joining us until Christmas. Steve has been at the Centre for quite a few years and is currently a team leader in the visitor services team. He's really into his music so I'm looking forward to seeing what he brings to the Dan y Pared series.
Since my holiday I have been busy planning for the Open Weekend which takes place this Saturday and Sunday. There is so much going on it's hard to put it all down here. Loads of Glanfa and Angorfa Stage performances, walkabouts, workshops, tours, trails, exhibitions and displays. We have 14 costumes coming from Coleg Morgannwg. The students have made some fantastic reproductions of costumes from My Fair Lady, The King and I and Alice in Wonderland (to name a few). We will also have a make up artist doing theatrical make up - cuts, bruises etc - which should be fun. Hopefully the weather will hold out and it will be a fantastic weekend.
I shall be missing the Sunday as I'm off to London to see the 25th Anniversary performance of Les Miserables at the O2. I can't wait. I saw the original production in London and have seen is nine times since, including once at the Centre last Christmas. This version stars Matt Lucas, Nick Jonas, Alfie Boe and Lea Salonga plus members of the original cast. I will let you know what it's like next week.
Louise
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Let's make some work
I used to make work. Theatre, dance, film, photo docs. I found it hard not to. My bedroom became the canvas and when i went to uni so did the kitchen and the corridors. I know i found it hard to find the 'right' place/space to do it in but what i did find was that wherever i ended up i would make it work for me. And i know that i am not the only one out there like this.
Wales Millennium Centre is running another year of the Incubator Project where artists with a strong welsh connection can take over our spaces and make them work for them.
Interested?
Wales Millennium Centre is running another year of the Incubator Project where artists with a strong welsh connection can take over our spaces and make them work for them.
Interested?
Friday, 24 September 2010
Wonderfully wading in the water...
Two blogs in two days? There must be something in the water. But I just had to tell you about Alvin Ailey which I saw at Sadler's Wells last night. OMG! They were outstanding... breathtaking even.
When I watch dance, waves of jealously begin to lap around me. I'm usually completely envious of the dancers' fit bodies (plus their technique and grace obviously). I feel like a proper fatty-boy-who-can't-breath-if-I-run-up-stairs, you get me? But with these, I was fixated by this amazing company. I was agog and aghast and utterly astonished at the brilliance of the dancers and the choreography - particularly the company's signature piece Revelations.
The most exciting thing about this company is that they're coming to Cardiff on the 12th and 13th October. Go and see them. I've been at quieter rock concerts - truthfully... and it's so accessible. Now I don't really like that word... so people who perhaps wouldn't consider going to see dance will really enjoy this, I'm sure of it.
On a very different note: Things the young and funky wear in London...
Skinny jeans (not with these thighs).
Non prescription glasses, any style.
The occasional non-season-specific hat.
I've got my wet-look leggings out ready. Hwyl.
When I watch dance, waves of jealously begin to lap around me. I'm usually completely envious of the dancers' fit bodies (plus their technique and grace obviously). I feel like a proper fatty-boy-who-can't-breath-if-I-run-up-stairs, you get me? But with these, I was fixated by this amazing company. I was agog and aghast and utterly astonished at the brilliance of the dancers and the choreography - particularly the company's signature piece Revelations.
The most exciting thing about this company is that they're coming to Cardiff on the 12th and 13th October. Go and see them. I've been at quieter rock concerts - truthfully... and it's so accessible. Now I don't really like that word... so people who perhaps wouldn't consider going to see dance will really enjoy this, I'm sure of it.
On a very different note: Things the young and funky wear in London...
Skinny jeans (not with these thighs).
Non prescription glasses, any style.
The occasional non-season-specific hat.
I've got my wet-look leggings out ready. Hwyl.
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Gareth don't live here any more...
OK, I think I've already established that I'm not very good at this blogging thing... Gareth, there's just no consistency. So sorry for not posting sooner, and it's a shame as once again there's a lot to get through.
Edinburgh happened and I really enjoyed this year 's experience, particularly working as an assessor for the Total Theatre Awards. Here are my top 3 shows...
Keepers {The Plasticine Men}
Bound (Bear Trap Theatre}
Sex Idiot {Bryony Kimmings}
The latter was an interesting one, it's not often an audience is asked to cut off their pubic hair in front each other and place it in a tea cup. One kind bloke's cup overfloweth with his generous gift. I wonder if Cardiff is ready for Bryony Kimmings?
So what else has happened? Oh yes, I'm no longer working at the Centre {ish}. I'm currently on secondment at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London... "London?" I hear you say... Yes, London. I'm currently writing this while on my lunch break overlooking the high-rises of Islington. This all came about rather quickly, really quickly actually. I've been at the Centre for over 6 years now so it's nice to be able to side-step over the Severn to see first hand how things are done elsewhere. Sadler's Wells' dance programme is exceptional, so of course I'm very eager to see the breadth of their offer, starting with Alvin Ailey tomorrow night. My time here will be spent as Artistic Contracts Manager and working on their in house productions, gaining as much producing experience as possible.
For the first three weeks I'll be living in Victoria Park Village {which is very nice}. During this time I'll need to find somewhere else to live until December 31st, which is when I return to Wales. So if you know anyone with an empty penthouse overlooking the Thames at a reasonable weekly rate, let me know.
This whole process has involved and will continue to involve much travel. Yey! My favourite thing! I love travelling as much as I love queuing. Queuing is lush! A particular favourite of mine is the Paddington posturing and jostling as everyone waits for the train to Swansea to be allocated it's departure gate. A huddle of suits and backpackers, young and old, with everyone preparing to fight for their seat; a Paddington Bare Knuckle fight if you will... While Swansea continues to 'Prepare', Twyford, Oxford and Maidenhead are allocated slots twice over. Then the screen flicks, the gate is allocated and the human tsunami rushes west. I nearly take-out an old lady, back off Grandma, yes I've booked my seat but I still need to ensure that it's me sat in it.
Other things I hate about travel...
The quiet carriage: So quiet you can hear people breathe, I hate it when they breathe. By the time I'm at Didcott Parkway I want to scream.
The tube: Sweaty poles, touched by sweaty people. i-pods and i-pads; things i-don't have.
Train Coach D: These days they promise 'TV Entertainment', although there was no screen to be seen when I whizzed passed last {ok I didn't exactly whizz, meandered maybe}.
Oh yes, and I've also been to my first Leadership Unleashed meeting, which was a peculiar affair, although I'm still really up for it. As far as I can tell we're a cohort of 82 from both cultural and commercial backgrounds and we will learn much from each other over the next 9 months. Some of the initial comments frustrated me slightly, with many of my cultural peers ripping the commercial sector apart. Commercial - Bad. Culture - Good, which obviously isn't the case. I hope the exercise is designed to shake that kind of thinking apart. We'll see...
Hwyl am y tro, or as they say in London... Um... Bye.
Edinburgh happened and I really enjoyed this year 's experience, particularly working as an assessor for the Total Theatre Awards. Here are my top 3 shows...
Keepers {The Plasticine Men}
Bound (Bear Trap Theatre}
Sex Idiot {Bryony Kimmings}
The latter was an interesting one, it's not often an audience is asked to cut off their pubic hair in front each other and place it in a tea cup. One kind bloke's cup overfloweth with his generous gift. I wonder if Cardiff is ready for Bryony Kimmings?
So what else has happened? Oh yes, I'm no longer working at the Centre {ish}. I'm currently on secondment at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London... "London?" I hear you say... Yes, London. I'm currently writing this while on my lunch break overlooking the high-rises of Islington. This all came about rather quickly, really quickly actually. I've been at the Centre for over 6 years now so it's nice to be able to side-step over the Severn to see first hand how things are done elsewhere. Sadler's Wells' dance programme is exceptional, so of course I'm very eager to see the breadth of their offer, starting with Alvin Ailey tomorrow night. My time here will be spent as Artistic Contracts Manager and working on their in house productions, gaining as much producing experience as possible.
For the first three weeks I'll be living in Victoria Park Village {which is very nice}. During this time I'll need to find somewhere else to live until December 31st, which is when I return to Wales. So if you know anyone with an empty penthouse overlooking the Thames at a reasonable weekly rate, let me know.
This whole process has involved and will continue to involve much travel. Yey! My favourite thing! I love travelling as much as I love queuing. Queuing is lush! A particular favourite of mine is the Paddington posturing and jostling as everyone waits for the train to Swansea to be allocated it's departure gate. A huddle of suits and backpackers, young and old, with everyone preparing to fight for their seat; a Paddington Bare Knuckle fight if you will... While Swansea continues to 'Prepare', Twyford, Oxford and Maidenhead are allocated slots twice over. Then the screen flicks, the gate is allocated and the human tsunami rushes west. I nearly take-out an old lady, back off Grandma, yes I've booked my seat but I still need to ensure that it's me sat in it.
Other things I hate about travel...
The quiet carriage: So quiet you can hear people breathe, I hate it when they breathe. By the time I'm at Didcott Parkway I want to scream.
The tube: Sweaty poles, touched by sweaty people. i-pods and i-pads; things i-don't have.
Train Coach D: These days they promise 'TV Entertainment', although there was no screen to be seen when I whizzed passed last {ok I didn't exactly whizz, meandered maybe}.
Oh yes, and I've also been to my first Leadership Unleashed meeting, which was a peculiar affair, although I'm still really up for it. As far as I can tell we're a cohort of 82 from both cultural and commercial backgrounds and we will learn much from each other over the next 9 months. Some of the initial comments frustrated me slightly, with many of my cultural peers ripping the commercial sector apart. Commercial - Bad. Culture - Good, which obviously isn't the case. I hope the exercise is designed to shake that kind of thinking apart. We'll see...
Hwyl am y tro, or as they say in London... Um... Bye.
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Digital Arts - Other people frustrate me with their brilliance...
Is anyone else getting excited about Onedotzero's Adventures in Motion Festival in November? I am.
Because I get to work with so many highly skilled practitioners, I often get more than a little jealous of what they can achieve, especially when it comes to producing drawings, sketches, films, animations and photography. It's something that I've tried to get involved with time and again, but am slowly starting to realise that it's just one of those things I'm never going to be good at.
Watching the content Onedotzero post on their website reignites those feelings; I just want to go home, grab a sketch pad and start scribbling away, or fire up my laptop, purchase Flash and start tweening. I also know deep down that 5 minutes later I'll give up, frustrated that my drawing skills are no better than a 5 year old's.
The show reel for this year's festival screenings just got me properly fired up, for all the right reasons - the content looks superb and I can't wait to see each of the pieces in all their glory, with people who know how to create work of this calibre and in these mediums. Take a look and let me know what you think...
onedotzero_adventures in motion 2010 preview from onedotzero on Vimeo.
Maybe see you there?
Rob
Because I get to work with so many highly skilled practitioners, I often get more than a little jealous of what they can achieve, especially when it comes to producing drawings, sketches, films, animations and photography. It's something that I've tried to get involved with time and again, but am slowly starting to realise that it's just one of those things I'm never going to be good at.
Watching the content Onedotzero post on their website reignites those feelings; I just want to go home, grab a sketch pad and start scribbling away, or fire up my laptop, purchase Flash and start tweening. I also know deep down that 5 minutes later I'll give up, frustrated that my drawing skills are no better than a 5 year old's.
The show reel for this year's festival screenings just got me properly fired up, for all the right reasons - the content looks superb and I can't wait to see each of the pieces in all their glory, with people who know how to create work of this calibre and in these mediums. Take a look and let me know what you think...
onedotzero_adventures in motion 2010 preview from onedotzero on Vimeo.
Maybe see you there?
Rob
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Visual Arts at the Centre
Talking Pictures
Last night we officially opened photographer Cambridge Jones' new exhibition Talking Pictures. It's a collection of 31 images of Welsh celebrities, accompanied by an audio guide which allows you to hear each of the subjects talking about what inspired them to do what they do.
It's been a real pleasure to work with Cambridge. When I first met him to talk about the project he'd stopped at the Centre to photograph Bryn Terfel for the exhibition; we started talking about the logistics of hanging and curating the collection and he asked me if I'd be happy to hang it myself as it's part of the process that he doesn't really enjoy. I jumped at the chance.
I wanted to share the process I went through in hanging his work. The collection includes actors, comedians and musicians, all with Welsh DNA, so two options presented themselves straight away - I could hang the work in groups, depending on the subjects profession, or geographically, based on the area of Wales that they are most closely associated with.
Eventually, however, I chose a third option. Geography was quickly dismissed - there was no supporting information that would alert the viewer to this choice and adding something in would distract from the real subject, the person. When you hear Cambridge talk about his work he's quick to emphasise that fact that each of his subjects is just that, a person, and what interests him is capturing the person not the celebrity. Drawing attention back to the celebrity, achieved through their occupation, would also detract from Cambridge’s objective, so we ruled out hanging by profession.
When we started to unwrap the pieces, it soon became clear that there were a number of tonal and aesthetic themes within the collection that we could use to take people on a journey through the exhibition without detracting from each of the individuals involved. We used colour and space to group images together and were lucky to find images that provided transitions between the lighter and darker works, and those where the subject filled the frame and others where space around the person opened up.
The only time we struggled was with Anthony Hopkins; his is the only image where there is almost no space within the frame. We got around this by tracing a line through this section of the exhibition based on the subjects eye-line within the frame – I’d be interested to know if you see what I see when you look at the exhibition.
The inclusion of two landscape images provided a complimentary way to top and tail the collection (and resulted in a happy accident with the audio tracks that I’ll let you discover).
The visual arts form a major part of my role here at the Centre and recently we've been doing some really exciting things in this area. I wanted to share one other in particular with you.
project/ten
I met Cat, the pop-up gallery's founder and curator, when she was just starting out with the idea and it was great to talk to someone who not only had a genuine enthusiasm for supporting the up and coming talent that Wales has to offer, but also incorporated design ideals and aesthetics into her collection. Cat's eye for aesthetically interesting work is really evident in the work that she's chosen to exhibit in the Lounge for the first three months of our partnership.
For me, Carwyn Evans new installation that runs around the windows in the Lounge sums this up - I got to see his working drawing while he was installing the piece and he'd been in and worked out his angles and measurements as a designer would, to ensure that his piece both followed and echoed the undulations of Amber Hiscox line that traces it's way around the building.
The partnership between the Centre and project/ten seemed a really obvious thing to do - we live in a building that's recognised for its design worldwide and our remit includes supporting and promoting both established and emerging Welsh artists.
Let's hope that it's one that continues for some time. You can hear Cat talking about the exhibition yn Gymraeg here...http://www.ydydd.co.uk/clip/1509.
There’s plenty more exhibitions coming up at the Centre over the rest of the year. Keep an eye on our website for more information.
Rob
Last night we officially opened photographer Cambridge Jones' new exhibition Talking Pictures. It's a collection of 31 images of Welsh celebrities, accompanied by an audio guide which allows you to hear each of the subjects talking about what inspired them to do what they do.
It's been a real pleasure to work with Cambridge. When I first met him to talk about the project he'd stopped at the Centre to photograph Bryn Terfel for the exhibition; we started talking about the logistics of hanging and curating the collection and he asked me if I'd be happy to hang it myself as it's part of the process that he doesn't really enjoy. I jumped at the chance.
I wanted to share the process I went through in hanging his work. The collection includes actors, comedians and musicians, all with Welsh DNA, so two options presented themselves straight away - I could hang the work in groups, depending on the subjects profession, or geographically, based on the area of Wales that they are most closely associated with.
Eventually, however, I chose a third option. Geography was quickly dismissed - there was no supporting information that would alert the viewer to this choice and adding something in would distract from the real subject, the person. When you hear Cambridge talk about his work he's quick to emphasise that fact that each of his subjects is just that, a person, and what interests him is capturing the person not the celebrity. Drawing attention back to the celebrity, achieved through their occupation, would also detract from Cambridge’s objective, so we ruled out hanging by profession.
When we started to unwrap the pieces, it soon became clear that there were a number of tonal and aesthetic themes within the collection that we could use to take people on a journey through the exhibition without detracting from each of the individuals involved. We used colour and space to group images together and were lucky to find images that provided transitions between the lighter and darker works, and those where the subject filled the frame and others where space around the person opened up.
The only time we struggled was with Anthony Hopkins; his is the only image where there is almost no space within the frame. We got around this by tracing a line through this section of the exhibition based on the subjects eye-line within the frame – I’d be interested to know if you see what I see when you look at the exhibition.
The inclusion of two landscape images provided a complimentary way to top and tail the collection (and resulted in a happy accident with the audio tracks that I’ll let you discover).
The visual arts form a major part of my role here at the Centre and recently we've been doing some really exciting things in this area. I wanted to share one other in particular with you.
project/ten
 |
| Carwyn Evans installing his new piece in Ffresh Lounge |
For me, Carwyn Evans new installation that runs around the windows in the Lounge sums this up - I got to see his working drawing while he was installing the piece and he'd been in and worked out his angles and measurements as a designer would, to ensure that his piece both followed and echoed the undulations of Amber Hiscox line that traces it's way around the building.
The partnership between the Centre and project/ten seemed a really obvious thing to do - we live in a building that's recognised for its design worldwide and our remit includes supporting and promoting both established and emerging Welsh artists.
Let's hope that it's one that continues for some time. You can hear Cat talking about the exhibition yn Gymraeg here...http://www.ydydd.co.uk/clip/1509.
There’s plenty more exhibitions coming up at the Centre over the rest of the year. Keep an eye on our website for more information.
Rob
Friday, 3 September 2010
Pethau Bychain
Bore da!
I think Carl Morris’s idea of a day that celebrates Welsh language content on the web is a great one. Want to know more? Check this out if you can speak welsh http://pethaubychain.com/ and this if you can’t .
My Welsh is still fairly rudimentary. I know everything that I need to describe the weather in Wales (it’s either raining or it’s not), can ask for tea or coffee, beer or invite people to the airport. I can also tell you that your wife is hot (thanks Carwyn). I’m starting lessons later this month and I’m really excited about that; I’ve never learnt a language in its native country before, so the opportunity to practice on a daily basis will hopefully allow me to progress at a far greater speed than if I learnt it back at home.
Working at the Centre i’m exposed to the Welsh language on a daily basis which is fantastic – I’d love to be able to programme more Welsh language work but until I’m confident with the language, I’m going to need to rely on my colleagues expertise for just a little bit longer. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to engage now though. If there are any Welsh language musicians, or, particularly, digital artists, that you think I should know about leave me a comment. I’m a big fan of Colorama and Huw M right now!
Mwynhau!
I think Carl Morris’s idea of a day that celebrates Welsh language content on the web is a great one. Want to know more? Check this out if you can speak welsh http://pethaubychain.com/ and this if you can’t .
My Welsh is still fairly rudimentary. I know everything that I need to describe the weather in Wales (it’s either raining or it’s not), can ask for tea or coffee, beer or invite people to the airport. I can also tell you that your wife is hot (thanks Carwyn). I’m starting lessons later this month and I’m really excited about that; I’ve never learnt a language in its native country before, so the opportunity to practice on a daily basis will hopefully allow me to progress at a far greater speed than if I learnt it back at home.
Working at the Centre i’m exposed to the Welsh language on a daily basis which is fantastic – I’d love to be able to programme more Welsh language work but until I’m confident with the language, I’m going to need to rely on my colleagues expertise for just a little bit longer. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to engage now though. If there are any Welsh language musicians, or, particularly, digital artists, that you think I should know about leave me a comment. I’m a big fan of Colorama and Huw M right now!
Mwynhau!
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