artcymru - John Uzzell Edwards 1

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"Contemporary practice with paint is re-assessing the emotional immediacy of the painted image that stands outside category or type of painting activity.
There is a fusion of cultures in Wales where marginalisation has been a significant factor in its past added to the existing Welsh musical and poetic spirit.
An equally potent visual awareness is emerging as we approach a new century. This new spirit is exemplified in the work of these painters. "
Taken from introduction to "PAINTING Ysbryd - Spirit Wales"

Artists Statement:
From 1985 when I was awarded a Welsh Arts Council Travel Grant to study 'Standing Staones' throughout Europe, I have worked on a series of paintings and drawings which are totally connected. The first standing stone I painted was the 'Llywel Stone' which is now in the British Museum. This was followed by a series of paintings based on the imagery from the 'Standing Stones' throughout Wales. The imagery and the feelings expressed in these paintings seemed to relate to the poetry of RS Thomas, and particularly the poem 'Welsh landscape' and the lines -

To live in Wales is to be conscious
At dusk of the spilled blood
That went to the making of the wild sky
RS Thomas

Early in 1996 I was commissioned by the Shakespeare Institute, Stratford upon Avon, to paint any Shakespearean charcter. I chose Owain Glyndwr and the statement by Glyndwr from 'King Henry IV' -
When I was born the earth did shake

The two quotations above are often written directly on the paintings.
In August 1997 I visited Neath Abbey and there in the large hall I found a most wonderful medieval tiled floor from the 12th Century; the subject matter was hunting and jousting. The 'jousting' imagery seemed to relate to a previous 'Warrior' series, and has inspired a whole new series of works. They appear to be all about 'Painting' and not 'Picture Making'. They seem to relate to manuscripts I have studied in Ireland and Wales. They seem to weave and meander like a story from the 'Mabinogion', a Welsh knot, or a piece of penllion music.
Statement taken from the catalogue of The Millennium Exhibition at the Tenby Museum.

John Uzzell Edwards
Curriculum Vitae

1937 Born Deri , Rhymney Valley, South Wales.
1965-66 Awarded Granada Arts Fellowship at York University .
1966 Exhibition at York Festival and three London shows.
1968-69 Awarded Prix de Rome at British School, Rome.
Awarded Leverhulme European
Research Fellowship.
Three exhibitions in Germany.
Two London one-man shows.
1970-80 Exhibitions in Wales, Germany and France (UNESCO Travelling Show)
Twice First Prize Winner of Main Painting Competition at National Eisteddfod of Wales.
Featured H.T.V. and B.B.C. Television arts programmes.
Artist in Residence, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea.
1980-90 Artist in Residence, The Cross, Pontardawe.
Made Honorary Member of York University.
1993-4 Exhibitions in London, York, France.
1995 TV Film BBC2 'Conflicting Images' - 40 minutes, Three Welsh Artists, Terry Setch, Peter Prendergast and John Uzzell Edwards.
1996 Awarded Commission from Shakespeare Institute, Stratford upon Avon to paint a series of paintings for new library on Owain Glyndwr (Henry IV).
Organised one-man show at Humphries Gallery, Nob Hill, San Francisco and helped organise Welsh Festival, March 1st.
1997 Featured on H.T.V. arts programme 'A Word in your Eye'.
Commission from Robert McKee, Los Angeles.
Commission from Beti George and David Parry Jones.
1998 London Contemporary Arts Exhibition, Riverside Studios.
Invited to Arts Reception by H.M. The Queen at Windsor Castle.
With Brendan Stuart Burns, formed new group of Contemporary painters - 'Ysbryd/Spirit Wales'.
Oct 1998 First exhibition of ' 'Ysbrid/Spirit Wales' at Howard Gardens Gallery, Cardiff.
Further commissions from Shakespeare Institute.
1999 'Welsh Contemporaries' London, Riverside Studios.
Feb 1999 Work featured on S4C television arts programme.
Oct 1999 B.B.C. Film on recent work called 'Painted Dragons' Exhibition at Theatre Clwyd, Wales.
2000 15 January to Oct 2000 - one-man show of recent paintings - The Millennium Exhibition at Tenby Museum.
May 2000 Exhibition at National Museum and Gallery of Wales, cardiff called 'Painted Dragons'.
Feb 2001Exhibiton at 1The Mall, London.
May 2001 Exhibition of Ysbryd Group at the National Museum and Gallery of Wales, Cardiff.
June 2001 Exhibition at Winchester Cathedral.