Award for Welsh Artist
The winner of the 2003 Richard and Rosemary Wakelin Purchase Award is announced today at a ceremony in Swansea. The annual award is given to a Welsh artist or craftsperson, and results in the purchase of a piece of work for the permanent collection of Swansea's Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. In its first three years, winners have been the sculptor Robert Harding, the painter David Tress and the photographer Pete Davis.
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The winner for 2003 is Craig Wood.
Craig Wood is a conceptual artist based in Laugharne, Carmarthenshire. Born in Edinburgh in 1960, he attended art school in Carmarthen before graduating from Goldsmiths' College in 1988, where he studied alongside Damien Hirst and Sarah Lucas among others. He has lived in Laugharne since 1995 and has exhibited widely in Wales and elsewhere.
The selector for the award this year was Martin Barlow, Director of Oriel Mostyn in Llandudno, and a well-known commentator on contemporary art in Wales. He said, 'I found it very difficult to select one artist from all those whose work! considered, but the work by Craig Wood which I eventually chose was the one! came back to each time. Its connections with Swansea through Locws International and the feather paintings in Swansea Museum made it a particularly appropriate choice, as did the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery's tradition of collecting paintings and the work's importance in terms of Wood's practice as an artist. Craig Wood is one of the most interesting and important artists working in Wales today, and/am very pleased to have been able to choose him for this prestigious award'.
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The chosen work was created in Swansea and was inspired by feathers painted by mariners as mementos for their families during long sea voyages, examples of which are held by Swansea Museum. Wood's work is a feather painted with the image of a train ticket, reflecting his own separation from his family while working in the north of England.
Craig Wood comments,'
I am delighted that Carmarthen-Leeds Return will be joining a major public collection in Swansea, especially as it is the city in which the work originates. The Wakelin Award is both recognition and enabling to artists such as myself based in Wales, and I am very grateful to Dr Peter Wakelin and the organisers. I am sure there are many other artists who will be supported by the Award in time to come.
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The Award is administered by the Friends of the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and is funded by a donation in memory of Richard and Rosemary Wakelin, who were themselves artists and active supporters of the arts in Swansea.
Their youngest son, Dr Peter Wakelin, said,
It is important for both artists and museums that current works are added to the collections of the future. We are pleased to be able to support the Friends of the Glynn Vivian in doing this, and maintain the gallery's reputation as one of the best places to see Welsh art?
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Jenni Spencer-Davies, Curator of the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery said,
'The Richard and Rosemary Wake/in Award has enabled the Gallery to acquire many significant new works by artists in Wales for the collection. We are pleased this year to acquire this remarkable painting by Craig Wood. The Award is truly supportive of artists working today, and the Gal/erg is deeply appreciative of the continuing generosity of the Wakelin family and the Friends of the Glynn Vivian, organisers of the Award. Our warmest thanks also to Craig Wood and to Martin Barlow for making such an inspired choice.'
The purchased work will be exhibited with some supporting pieces. The display continues at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery until 13 April 2003. Entrance is free.
For press interviews or photographs contact Jenni Spencer-Davies, Curator, or Ellie Dawkins, Curatorial Assistant on T. 01792 655006, F
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Martin Barlow, Craig Wood, Jenni Spencer-Davies and Dr Peter Wakelin at the award ceremony in The Glynn Vivian Gallery
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Richard and Rosemary Wakelin
Richard Wakelin (1921-1987) and Rosemary Culley (1919-1998) were both artists, based in Swansea from the late 1950s. They were born in Cardiff and met as students at the Welsh School of Architecture in 1939 before entering the services for the duration of the war. They married in 1947. Richard worked as an architect in private practice in Swansea and later with the City Council (where his role included care and alterations at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery). The family lived in Sketty, and Rosemary moved to Oystermouth in 1990. As artists they both worked in abstract styles, but they appreciated all forms of art and craft. They worked through several organisations to further the visual arts, notably the Swansea Art Society, the Association of Artists and Designers in Wales, the 74 Guild of Artist Craftsmen, the Welsh Group, and the Friends of the Glynn Vivian. They were co-founders of the Swansea Arts Workshop in Swansea's Maritime Quarter, now the Mission Gallery. They were always particularly keen to help and encourage talented artists and craftspeople, especially those struggling for recognition, and to broaden the enjoyment of the arts in Swansea and Wales generally.
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