It’s May Day, Beltane, and in some parts of Britain the Hobby Horse, or ‘Obby ‘Oss, is part of the festivities marking the beginning of Springtime fertility. There is a long tradition, predating Christianity, of celebrations involving horses, possibly linked to the ancient Celtic horse goddess, Epona. Here in Wales we have the Mari Lwyd, or Grey Mare, although this is a New Year tradition. Here’s a monotype from sketches of the Ystrad Mari I did earlier this year.
There’s a lovely exhibition of contemporary printmaking at Swansea Print Workshop this week (until September 29th) and if you fancy popping in to see it tomorrow afternoon (Sunday 22nd), I’ll be show sitting (which is a much nicer way of saying invigilation IMHO) from 1.30 – 4.30. If you haven’t been to the print […]
Such a lot happening over the next week or so in Swansea and it all kicks off this Friday with the opening of the exhibition, “Now The Printmakers” at 5.30 pm at Swansea Print Workshop. Inspired by the work of Frank Brangwyn and Kathe Kollwitz, the show focusses on the work of three […]
Opening Friday 21st September from 17.30 to 20.00 and continuing 10.30 – 4.30 September 22nd to 30th EXCEPT Monday 24th. Swansea Print Workshop, a hidden gem, is exhibiting original prints as part of “Nawr Yr Arwr / Now The Hero“, inspired by World War 1 artists Frank Brangwyn and Käthe Kollwitz with work by artist […]
Deadline: September 30th 2018 – The Evening Standard Art Prize. No entry fee. UK residents. Digital entry. Competitions for creatives can be controversial. Some have extortionate entry fees, some have the odds stacked against those who are not members of a particular arts organisation. But I’m happy to give the heads up to competitions that […]
Swansea, September 21st to 30th 2018. I’ve been involved in the expansive art project Nawr Yr Arwr / Now The Hero for some time and it’s all coming to a head in Swansea at the end of September. It’s part of a whole load of specially commissioned art projects from “14-18 NOW WW1 Centenary Art Commissions“, a […]
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Horses were clearly very important to ancient societies. I love the variety of May Day festivities that the Church may not have approved of but did not stamp out.
There’ such a revival going on as well. Lovely to see.
It’s all good fun and a chance for people to get out and be with other people, instead of staring at dull old screens!.
Do you know much about “Ceffyl Dwr” or water horses? I have come across a reference to one being seen at Oxwich in the early 19th century.
No I haven’t, but I know a man who might ….