Press Release

Exhibition

Wilf Roberts – John Meirion Morris

Visions

An unique exhibition of contrasting styles and subjects combining the works of

two of Wales’ most renowned artists will open at Oriel Ynys Môn, Llangefni on

September 11 until November 7, 2010.

The exhibition titled ‘Visions’ will showcase the works of two of Wales’ most

prominent artists - landscape painter Wilf Roberts and that of the sculptor

John Meirion Morris.

Wilf Roberts was born and raised in Llanfaelog on Anglesey. He was a pupil

at Llangefni Secondary School where he was inspired by his art teachers

Harri Hughes Williams, Ernest Zobole and Gwilym Prichard.

Wilf Roberts later studied at Bangor Normal College and from there went on

to teach art for 13 years in London whilst also studying part time at Croydon

Art College.

He returned to live in Mynydd Bodafon on Anglesey in 1974 and since 1996

has devoted all his time to painting.

Mynydd Bodafon where he still lives forms the backdrop and the inspiration of

many of his paintings as well as the island’s coastal beauty and rich

countryside.

Working mainly with oils and acrylics in earthy tones his paintings of farm

buildings , old cottages, chapels and churches and the natural landscape of

Anglesey demonstrate the simplicity of his subject resulting in work which is

both powerful and strong.

Throughout his career he has had a series of highly successful mixed and

solo exhibitions in many galleries in London as well as Wales. His work is also

held in public and private collections in The Hague, Paris, New York Australia

and the UK.

John Meirion Morris, one of Wales’ foremost sculptors was born in

Llanuwchllyn near Bala.

He studied at the Liverpool College of Art and received training in the classics

where the emphasis was on ‘life drawing’. Whilst at Liverpool he completed

his Certificate in Education.

For the 3 years following he embarked on a career as an art teacher in

Llanidloes. In 1964 he went on to lecture at Leamington Spa Art School and

then in 1966 took up a post as a lecturer in Kumasi University in Ghana.

It was during his time in Ghana that he derived inspiration from seeing

symbolic sculptures which expressed the feelings of the local people and

which reminded him of the importance of Welsh poetry and cerdd dant.

Returning to Wales in 1968, he lectured at the University of Wales

Aberystwyth. This was to be a turning point in his career – a time where the

nature of his work changed dramatically and one where he started to explore

the spirituality in Welsh life.

In 1985 he became head of art at Bangor Normal College before retiring in

1990 and devoting all his time to sculpting and writing.

“This exhibition shows two different ways of seeing and of thinking –

on the one hand we can lose ourselves in the beauty of the familiar

earthy tones and patterns that we all recognise in the buildings and the

landscape around us through the work of Wilf Roberts while on the

other we are inspired to think and feel whatever we wish by the

symbolic and metaphorical images of the work of John Meirion Morris”,

said Pat West, Principal Officer – Museums, Culture and Archives, Isle of

Anglesey County Council.

Economic Development, Tourism and Leisure Portfolio Holder, Cllr Bob Parry

OBE said, “This exhibition is certain to be a success and one which I’m

sure will trigger many debates”.

Oriel Ynys Môn is open daily 10.30 – 5.00

Admission Free

Oriel Ynys Môn

Llangefni

Anglesey

LL77 7TQ

Tel : 01248 724444

www.visitanglesey.co.uk

Datganiad i’r Wasg

Arddangosfa

Wilf Roberts – Jonh Meirion Morris

Gweledigaethau

Cynhelir arddangosfa unigryw o arddulliau a thestunau cyferbyniol gan ddau o

artistiaid mwyaf blaenllaw Cymru yn Oriel Ynys Môn, Llangefni rhwng Medi 11

hyd at Dachwedd 7, 2010.

Bydd yr arddangosfa ‘Gweledigaethau’ yn cwmpasu gwaith un o artistiaid

tirluniau mwyaf blaengar Cymru, Wilf Roberts â gwaith un o gerflunwyr mwyaf

adnabyddus y wlad, John Meirion Morris.

Ganwyd Wilf Roberts yn Llanfaelog ar Ynys Môn. Roedd yn ddisgybl yn Ysgol

Gyfun Llangefni ble cafodd ei ddylanwadu a’i ysbrydoli gan ei athrawon celf,

Harri Hughes Williams, Ernest Zobole a Gwilym Prichard.

Aeth ymlaen i astudio yng Ngholeg Normal Bangor ac yna ymlaen i weithio fel

athro celf yn Llundain am 13 mlynedd. Yn ystod y cyfnod yma yr oedd hefyd

yn astudio rhan amser yng Ngholeg Celf Croydon.

Dychwelodd i fyw i Mynydd Bodafon ar Ynys Môn yn 1974 ac ers 1996 mae

wedi dynodi ei holl amser i baentio.

Mae Mynydd Bodafon, ble mae’n dal i fyw yn llunio’r cefndir a’r dylanwad yn

nifer o’i waith ynghyd â harddwch arfordir yr ynys a’i chefn gwlad gyfoethog.

Drwy weithio rhan amlaf mewn olew ac acrylig mewn lliwiau naturiol y ddaear,

mae ei baentiadau o adeiladau fferm, hen fythynnod, capeli ac eglwysi a

thirlun naturiol yr ynys yn portreadu symlrwydd ei bwnc gyda gwaith

gorffenedig pwerus a chryf.

Drwy gydol ei yrfa mae wedi cael nifer o arddangosfeydd unigol a chymysg

hynod lwyddiannus mewn orielau yn Llundain a Chymru. Mae ei waith hefyd

mewn casgliadau preifat a chyhoeddus yn yr Hague, Paris, Efrog Newydd,

Awstralia a’r Deyrnas Unedig.

Ganed John Meirion Morris yn Llanuwchllyn ger Y Bala.

Astudiodd yng Ngholeg Celf Lerpwl gan dderbyn hyfforddiant yn y traddodiad

clasurol ble roedd pwyslais ar ‘ddarlunio byw’. Yn ystod ei amser yn Lerpwl

cyflawnodd gwrs tystysgrif athro.

Yn ystod y 3 mlynedd ddilynol, cychwynnodd ar ei yrfa fel athro celf yn

Llanidloes. Yn 1964 aeth i ddarlithio i Ysgol Gelf yn Lemington Spa ac yna yn

1966 cafodd swydd fel darlithydd ym Mhrifysgol Kumasi yn Ghana.

Yn ystod ei amser yn Ghana bu gweld cerfluniau symbolaidd byw oedd yn

mynegi teimladau’r werin bobl yn ddylanwad mawr arno, ac yn ei atgoffa o

ddylanwad caneuon cerdd dant a barddoniaeth yng Nghymru.

Dychwelodd i Gymru yn 1968 a chafodd swydd fel darlithydd ym Mhrifysgol

Cymru Aberystwyth. Roedd y cyfnod yma yn adeg pan newidiodd natur ei

gerflunio yn syfrdanol ac yn un ble ddechreuodd archwilio'r ysbrydolrwydd

oddi fewn i’r bywyd Cymreig.

Yn 1985 daeth yn bennaeth celf yng Ngholeg Normal Bangor cyn ymddeol yn

1990 a dynodi ei holl amser i gerflunio ac ysgrifennu.

“Mae’r arddangosfa hon yn dangos dwy ffordd wahanol o weld ac o

feddwl – ar y nail llaw cawn ymgolli ym mhrydferthwch cyfarwydd y

lliwiau daearol a phatrymau a welir yn yr adeiladau a’r tirlun o’n cwmpas

drwy waith Wilf Roberts ac ar y llall cawn ein hysbrydoli i feddwl a

theimlo beth bynnag y mynnwn gan ddelweddau symbolaidd a

throsiadol yng ngwaith John Meirion Morris “, meddai Pat West, Prif

Swyddog – Amgueddfeydd, Diwylliant ac Archifau, Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn.

Dywedodd Deilydd Portffolio Datblygu Economaidd, Twristiaeth a Hamdden, y

Cyng Bob Parry OBE “ Bydd yr arddangosfa hon yn sicr o fod yn

llwyddiant mawr ac un fydd yn ysgogi sawl testun trafod”.

Oriel Ynys Môn ar agor yn ddyddiol 10.30 – 5.00

Mynediad am ddim

Oriel Ynys Môn

Llangefni

Ynys Môn

LL77 7TQ

Fôn :01248 724444

www.croesomon.co.uk

Diwedd

Gwybodaeth ychwanegol :

Llinos Jones Parry

Swyddog Gweithgareddau a Marchnata

Oriel Ynys Môn

Llangefni

Ynys Môn

LL77 7TQ

Ffôn : 01248 752027 / 01248 724444