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Lifelong Learning at Bangor University

Lifelong Learning Graduate’s Painting Purchased for University’s Collection.

dawnthompsonEleven graduates of the Lifelong Learning BA Fine Art degree programme exhibited selected highlights from their work at Gwynedd Museum & Art Gallery, Bangor recently. Officially opened by Alun Ffred Jones AM and attended by Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Hughes, the exhibition marked the end of six years’ of study for the students who hail from various parts of north Wales.

Following the opening speeches, Andrew Smith, Fine Art Academic Co-ordinator, announced that one of the graduates, David Byrne from Betws Garmon, Caernarfon, is the first recipient of the new Bangor University Annual Purchase Award for Fine Art. The Art Collection Committee is committed to purchasing/collecting work by local artists. This has been made possible via the University’s T Rowland Hughes Fund, managed by the Cultural Affairs Task Group.

The painting, titled “An Alpine Journey 1960”, is one of a series based on found and personal photographs. The concept of collecting and retaining memories fascinates David. As a painter his main interest is focused upon the visual reminders and clues to memory relating to place and time.

“A snapshot photograph or postcard image often brings back memories of past times and events. Other people’s photographs can assist us to recall forgotten memories: in effect using someone else’s image to recall memories of our own whether real, imagined or distorted.” said David

The main aim of David’s work is to preserve and record moments in time creating imagery which will trigger personal memories, perhaps forgotten or remembered, mundane or treasured.

The painting will be hung at a teaching room at the Main Arts building.