WREXHAM GLYNDWR UNIVERSITY LECTURERS’ WORK AT HEART OF NEW TOWN CENTRE EXHIBITION
An art exhibition has launched featuring the work of a range of Wrexham Glyndwr University lecturers demonstrating their artistic skills.
Heterotopic Encounters opened with a private viewing on Friday, March 6 where guests – including current Glyndwr students – were given a first chance to see the artwork on display as well as a chance to speak to some of the artists involved.
Among the lecturers from the university displaying work at the exhibition at UnDegUn, Wrexham, were the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology Professor Alec Shepley, the leader of the Faculty’s Masters in Art Practice and Design Practice Dr Karen Heald, and the Faculty’s Associate Dean for Research, Dr Sue Liggett.
Professor Shepley explained that – for all Glyndwr’s lecturers working on the university’s art courses – maintaining a professional practice is also key to their academic work.
He said: “The show involves artists who are lecturers at Glyndwr working alongside artists who are from the North East Wales Region. The idea for a show like this has been in my head for a few years, and it’s great to finally see it taking place – and I’d like to see it in other galleries too after this!
“It began with an essay I wrote, which the artists then responded to – and from there, it all happened very quickly.”
Other Glyndwr lecturers who are displaying their work at the show include Fine Art lecturers Paul Jones and Ali Roscoe, and Tracey Simpson – who is also a Director for the Arts Consultancy ADDO and studying for a PhD in Art Practice at Glyndwr.
Glyndwr students have also been involved in the production of a number of the artworks, including Professor Shepley’s piece. The piece, ‘Untitled (Cabinet of Ecotones)’ 2020, features a film featuring ‘Duet/Deuawd’ made by a group of third year arts undergraduates who journeyed across Wrexham to participate in an art action using tools from the installation, which was filmed and then became part of the installation itself. The film is an homage to Belgian artist Francis Alys’ film ‘Duet’.
Other pieces examine some of the often-missed features of Wrexham’s streetscape, a piece where graphics are generated using the temperature, humidity and pressure in UnDegUn – and ten stepping stones cast using a paving slab mould but using jelly so the ‘stones’ work against their usual function.
Between them, the artists on display at Heterotopic Encounters have shown work internationally and closer to home across the UK, in galleries in towns and cities as diverse as Edinburgh to Wolverhampton and Llandudno to London.
Professor Shepley added: “Each one of the artists who are taking part from Glyndwr is a practicing artist, and their pieces relate directly back to their ongoing research interests. It was important, too, that students were also involved in the project, and are producers of knowledge and work just as much as they are receivers. We are also going to be using the space to teach in by bringing foundation year students here next week.
“Indeed, the show is all about engaging with students to get them where they need to be as artists – and if we, as lecturers, are not practicing artists ourselves, how can we ‘speak the language’ and teach students?”
Heterotopic Encounters runs at UnDegUn on Regent Street in Wrexham until March 23 and is the final show in UnDegUn’s current location before the project moves to new premises. The gallery is open between 11am and 4pm every Tuesday to Saturday.
To find out more about studying arts courses at Wrexham Glyndwr University click here for undergraduate options: https://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/Undergraduatecourses/ and here for postgraduate options: https://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/Postgraduatecourses/