L S Lowry came to Wales !

Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life

Tate Britain Exhibition

26th June - 20th October 2013

At the Seaside 1946 
copyright Private Collection c/o Crane Kalman Gallery

I have always enjoyed the Lowry painting displayed in Cardiff National Museum and Art Gallery.  Its size is enormous and depicts in fine detail the Abertillery valley with its railways and smoke.  Unfortunately, due to copyright, only postcards of this work are available for sale there.
A slightly larger version is on display at the Bistro at Tŷ Ebbw Fach, Six Bells near Abertillery.

Hillside in Wales
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/search/painted_by/laurence-stephen-lowry_artists?&page=2

People generally think of Lowry painting the industrial landscape of the north with its smoke stacks and his famous matchstick men (and cats and dogs).

Now in the first public exhibition since his death in 1976, Tate Britain are holding an exhibition which includes little known work which he did whilst staying in the South Wales Valleys in the 1960s.  He was brought to Wales by a friend who knew he would enjoy painting the industrial landscape.

During his life Laurence Stephen Lowry made about 1,000 paintings and over 8,000 drawings. 

 

BARGAIN HUNTing in Newport, South Wales

 

 

Tredegar House, Newport, South Wales was recently passed to the National Trust by the local council and has had a fantastic makeover.  Well worth a visit.

 

The BBC felt it worth a venue for filming part of their Bargain Hunt programmes, daytime series 35.

 

Transmission is planned as follows:

BBC1 at 12:15pm on:

Monday 1st July 2013

Wednesday 17th July

Friday 2nd August

Friday 16th August

(Please check the Radio Times beforehand as times can vary slightly depending on last minute scheduling alterations)

 

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tredegar-house/

 

Newport, South Wales NP10 8YW
01633 815880

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Tredegar+House,+Newport&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=PVvDUe3LAYrH0QXU6oGQBQ&ved=0CFYQsAQ&biw=1360&bih=685#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=MPbYAx7_Zh-RFM%3A%3BGpnC4Tb_nfZycM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fnttreasurehunt.files.wordpress.com%252F2012%252F01%252Fntpl_780240.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fnttreasurehunt.wordpress.com%252Fcategory%252Ftredegar-house%252F%3B1000%3B666

 

 

 

 

It'll never replace Barry !

In the newspaper this week is the announcement that Blackwood, Gwent (Caerphilly), on
29th and 30th July is to hold a beach party !!

This may come as a surprise to anyone who knows Blackwood as it is situated well away from the coast, deep in the welsh valleys.

Blackwood High Street will be tansformed into a bustling Beach Party for the annual

Blackwood Summer Festival

Families are invited to pull up a deckchair while the children make sandcastles and enjoy a donkey ride. Favourite TV Characters, fantastic food and craft stalls and a  funfair add to the party atmosphere. 

Contact the Event Hotline on 02520 880011
or e-mail events@caerphilly.gov.uk

 

I like to ride my bicycle

With all its hills and mountains, Wales may not seem the place to own a bicycle.  But more and more people are looking for the thrills and spills of mountain biking and rough terrain.

Caerphilly has a world renowned venue at the foot of Twm Barlwm (well on the side, actually). Cwmcarn Forest Mountain Bike Trails, near Crosskeys.

The 'Twrch Trail' route is on a purpose built singletrack.  In places the trail hugs the sides of some very steep wooded side slopes, demanding concentration, whilst in others it sweeps along open groung giving you the change of dramatic views of the Bristol Channel.

Leaning tower of Caerphilly Castle

The 'y Mynydd Downhill' is one of the best downhill venues in the UK and not for the faint-hearted.

Motorists can also enjoy Cwmcarn Forest Drive. The roadway zigzags amongst the forest giving spectacular views and tempting picnic areas.

Cwmcarn Forest is part of Cognation, mtb trails South Wales. 

For mountain biking info:  www.cognation.co.uk

www.cwmcarnforest.co.uk

 www.mbwales.com

For Cwmdown MTB Uplift Service:  www.cwmdown.co.uk

For more leisurely pursuits:  www.visitcaerphilly.com

Newport, Gwent, South Wales

For those of you who enjoy visiting cities, why not try Newport, Gwent?  Comments made recently by Simon Gibson are quoted below.  Newport has an historic Transporter Bridge across the river Usk.  Vehicles and people are carried high above the high-tide water level to allow shipping to pass unhindered. 

Bellevue and Beechwood Parks are amazing city parks, and Newport Castle, although it can only be viewed from a distance, has a river gateway comparable to that in the Tower of London.  The river mud required manoeuvring by medieval boats at high tide to gain access.

Timbers from a medieval ship could prove a huge attraction for tourists, if the money can be found to complete its restoration.  Found in the river mud whilst digging the foundations of the Riverfront Theatre, a few years ago, this treasure could equal the Mary Rose.  Lets hope the remains are not just sold off for firewood!

Simon Gibson is the head of a Welsh Government business development project for Newport.

He explained recently, "...the location of Newport is unique, being the first stop into Wales from London."

"I don't know a city in Wales where you can get from the major motorway to the city centre within two minutes."

"Newport also enjoys one of the most beautiful hinterlands of any city in Britain, in Monmouthshire, and we don't play that up enough."

"We are the undisputed technology capital of Wales.  We don't play that up anywhere near enough.  The city has key strengths in its capabilities in technology, particularly in things like homeland and cyber-security."

Newport was once a great port moving coal and iron to Cardiff, Bristol and overseas, and importing goods in exchange.  Remains of the old quayside can be seen at low tide close to the Kingsway Centre.

http://www.newportgwent.co.uk/

http://www.newportpast.com/

 

Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon, South Wales

30 years as a mining museum, April 2013

A virtual miner talks you through the galleries



Waiting to descend in the cage

Situated on the mountain above Blaenavon, Big Pit celebrated its 30th anniversary in April.  After this coal mine ceased production, it re-opened in 1983 as a private museum.  Now part of the National Museum of Wales, members of the public can experience descending in the original pit cage to a depth of 90 feet beneath the Welsh countryside.  Former miners work as Tour Guides to ensure a full appreciation of the hard dangerous work of the coal miner, complete with jokes, wisecracks and humour along the way.  The underground tour, wearing safety helmet and light with lighting pack, includes the stables where pit ponies were housed until replaced by machinery.



Pithead Baths with towels

Opened in 1880, over its productive lifetime this pit produced around a quarter of a million tons of saleable coal a year.

Above ground, to add to the visitor's experience, the pithead baths, and lamp room still remain, complete with canaries, alongside the canteen, which now serves as a child friendly cafe.

For those who may not wish to descend underground, there are walk-in galleries, providing an illustration, complete with commentary and visual effects of the work underground.

The mist came down as we were leaving.

The shop stocks excellent quality products, including jewellery, china and soft toys.  Ideal to find a reminder of your visit, or an unusual gift.