Coleg Menai’s Art Foundation course was established in 1981 but the forty-year celebrations are only taking place this year, due to last year’s public health situation. That’s what prompted course leader Owein Prendergast to call the exhibition ’40 +1. ‘

 

The Foundation course was founded by artist Peter Prendergast, Owein’s father, and peers in 1981. Works of art celebrating forty years of the course are on display at the Storiel art gallery and Pontio Arts Center in Bangor. Owein curated pieces of art by alumni, lecturers, and course founders, and the work is testament to the tremendous contribution of the course over the decades.

But the course’s 40-year milestone recently reached the floor of the Welsh Parliament, with the local Member taking the opportunity to congratulate all those involved in the course’s history and present.

90 Second Statements are a distinctive part of the proceedings of the Welsh Parliament. Following questions on the Senedd floor on Wednesday, Members are allowed to make a short personal statement. They must be brief, factual, and are not subject to debate.

Recently Arfon’s MS Siân Gwenllian chose to speak of Coleg Menai’s Art Foundation Course in reaching its 40th year. She said: “Special artworks have been created to celebrate the anniversary, and they are currently being exhibited at Storiel art gallery and Pontio.

 “Owein curated artworks, one for each year being celebrated in the anniversary, and work by former students, lecturers and the course’s founders.

“The work is testament to the major contribution made by the course over the decades.

“Some of the most prominent names in the Welsh arts scene launched their fledgling careers here, but I won’t start naming them in case I forget someone and cause offence by omission.

“But everyone pays tribute to a creative, experimental, formative period that gave them the opportunity to blossom as individuals as well as artists.

“So, happy anniversary to Coleg Menai’s art course, and huge congratulations for reaching such an important milestone.

“Long may the course make such a profound contribution to our nation’s visual arts.”

The exhibition is being held at both Storiel and Pontio in Bangor and includes the work of over 40 past students from the Art Foundation course who are currently practising artists and designers.

The exhibition opened to the public on Saturday, January 22nd, and will run until the 2nd of April, 2022.

At STORIEL, 11am – 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

At PONTIO, an open weekend 12 – 7pm, Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 January, and daily thereafter.

Entry is free of charge.