Artists in residence at Llawn05, Culture Action Llandudno
Art residencies which included a Nail Bar, print workshop and photography installation popped up in bathing machines on the Promenade in Llandudno as part of the successful Llawn05 arts festival recently.
Sabine Cockrill, Director at CALL says:
“This year we worked very closely with the Llawn05 team which enabled three of our ‘Shape My Town’ artists to take part in the festival this year. We have commissioned a series of artists to develop residencies over the next nine months. They are investigating the town and talking to our communities. We want to work collaboratively to develop a picture of the past, the ‘here and now’ and what the future could hold for Llandudno.”
Artist Jenny Cashmore developed a palette of nail varnish colours which reflect the town’s natural and built environment. During Llawn05 Jenny sat discussing the ‘Colours of Llandudno’ with the nail bar ‘customers’.
Jenny says:
“I am interested in the relationship between people and the places they inhabit. The ‘Colours of Llandudno’ follow three main themes inspired by architecture, nature and the town’s icons. During Llawn05 it was great to talk to people while there nails were being painted. This opened new and interesting discussions about how and what people feel about Llandudno.”
Artists Becca Thomas and Clare Charles have worked with the Ty Llywelyn Youth Club to create a postcard design to reflect the town. During the festival they screen-printing postcard of Llandudno offering people the chance to answer the question ‘who are we here now?’ or ‘who are you here?’
Photographer Lauren Maccabee has been taking images at Glascoed Guest House, Adcote House, The Oasis B&B, Bryn Derwen B&B and Mulberry House. She reveals the hidden stories behind the people who welcome visitors to Llandudno. The photographs were exhibited in a bathing machine accompanied with audio recordings of their tales by Alan Whitfield, a North Wales based photographer, video artist and poet.
An exhibition was held in the Llawn05 hub, at 10 Vaughan Street, which contained every image entered into Photomarathon, Llandudno. This photography competition was held on 17 June 2017 when entrants were challenged to enter 8 images based on 8 topics in an 8 hour period. The photos reflect the sunny day in June and the many colours and vibrancy of Llandudno. The winning images can be viewed online at http://www.cultureactionllandudno.co.uk/photomarathon-gallery-2017/.
These projects have been made possible by the collaborative initiative and financial support of the Arts Council Wales Ideas:People:Places grant and Mostyn Estates Ltd.
The next artist to be working in Llandudno is Lindsey Colbourne who will be creating a ‘People’s Map of Llandudno’. During September to mid-October Lindsey is asking people to take her on a journey, this might be a drive, walk, route to school, dog walk, scooter or a pushchair push. More information about the ‘People’s Map of Llandudno’ can be found online at https://mapllandudno.org/.
More information on the ‘Shape My Town’ project and the artists who will be working on residencies in the town, can be found at www.cultureactionllandudno.co.uk.
