Ceramics Gallery Talk 07/11/2017

Exploring the School of Art Collection – 2016

 

As part of the first year art history module Exploring the School of Art Collections, students have the opportunity to write a small piece for this blog. This year the group focused on our photography collection. Each student had the opportunity to choose from a selection of prints from British, American and Italian photographers active in the mid 20^th century. They only had one week to undertake some research before presenting their drafts. They all worked very hard on these projects so please take the time to view their efforts.

Karen’s Cabinet of Curiosities September 2017

Curiosity: Noh mask

Country of origin: Japan

Created: 19th century or early 20th century (?)

Measurements: 405mm x 382mm

Material: Wood, gesso, horsehair, glass, paint, papier mâché

 

 

 

Noh is the name of the classical Japanese form of theatre. It developed from the earlier performance styles Dengaku no Noh (field music performance) and Sarugaku (“monkey music”) during the 14^th century. During Dengaku, there would be acrobatics and juggling; Sarugaku had comical components and had developed from Shinto rituals. Whereas Dengaku performers would alternate the singing and the more physical parts of their show, Sarugaku actors sung and danced/mimed simultaneously; after 1420, they would also be supported by a choir. Sarugaku also became more serious over the decades and began to supplant Dengaku in the second half of the 14^th century. Father and son Kan’ami Kiyosugu (1333-84) and Zeami Motokiyo (1363-1443) were famous actors of their time and are chiefly responsible for outlining the rules and conventions of the austere, dramatic art of Noh, which are still being adhered to today. Zeami explains, for example, that “the writing of No consists of three stages: choice of “seed” (subject), construction and composition. The “seed” is the story on which the play is based. This story must be well considered and divided into Introduction, Development and Climax. …Then the words must be put together and the music joined to them.” (The No Plays of Japan, Arthur Waley)

Lifelong Learning Course “Looking at Art” starting 18th October 2017

Weird Sisters, James Gillray, 1847-51

Phil Garratt, Senior Technician and Assistant Curator at the School of Art, teaches this class, which is a great chance to explore some of the School of Art’s excellent collection of fine and decorative art. For more information click here or have a look at the attached flyer.

 

“What’s New?” – exhibition at the Ceramic Gallery, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, 9 September – 5 November 2017

Karen’s Cabinet of Curiosities August 2017

Curiosity: Opium pipe

Country of origin: China

Maker: Unknown

Created: 19th century (?)

Measurements: 558mm

Material: Bamboo and metal (possibly tin or brass)

 

 

Music and Art: Alternative Facts with Chris Grooms at the School of Art Gallery, Thursday 27 July 11am

For more information, please click here:

http://musicfestaberystwyth.org/events/music-and-art-legends/

Karen’s Cabinet of Curiosities July 2017

 

Curiosity: Panel pipe

Creator: Haida people

Origin: Haida Gwaii

(formerly Queen Charlotte Islands), British Columbia, Canada

Date of creation: ca. 1820-1900

Material: Argillite

Measurements: 330 x 117mm

Alternative Facts: Interpreting Works from the School of Art Collection: 22 May to 29 September 2017 at the School of Art Gallery, Aberystwyth University

The phrase ‘alternative facts’ is a recent addition to our vocabulary.  It has come to prominence in a political climate in which views and actions are shaped more by emotions than by reliable intelligence.  Reflecting this shift, Oxford Dictionaries declared ‘post-truth’ to be Word of the Year 2016.  And yet, alternative facts are as old as language itself.

Matter of Life and Death: An Exhibition of Photographs from the University Collection 16 May – 9 September 2016 at the School of Art Gallery, Aberystwyth University

Matter of Life and Death was an exhibition of black-and-white photographs from the School of Art collection at Aberystwyth University. About sixty photographs were selected for display by a group of School of Art undergraduates who were enrolled on the module Curating an Exhibition.