CBAT Project News Spring - Summer 2006

Image: Felice Varini

CBAT The Arts & Regeneration Agency is launching a number of projects this spring and summer kicking off with the production of a new public art work at Cardiff Bay Barrage. CBAT has commissioned the Swiss born artists Felice Varini to create a new work at the barrage, which is part of an ongoing series of works produced with Cardiff's Harbor Authority. Varini works with space to create 'optical paintings'. Made as a response to specific locations, the artist designates a vantage point for viewing from which his interventions takes shape. Varini who is currently based in Paris has created interventions across Europe and this is his first UK commission. Varini takes painting beyond the parameters of the 2D surface into the public realm using space to create his complex works. As the artists has stated "I start from an actual situation to construct my painting. Reality is never altered, erased or modified, it interests and seduces me in all its complexity. I work "here and now"." For further information see www.varini.org

Artist Howard Bowcott is currently completing a new work for Wimpey Homes Water Quarter development in Cardiff Bay. This new work using the artist's signature slate will be installed in late June and comprises a 2 metre sculpture integrated within a large water feature. A new integrated artwork by artists Parnell, Mackie and Rowe also features in the newly created Court Mead Gardens / Gerddi Courtmead which shall be launched on Sunday 11th June as part of a community lead lottery funded regeneration project in North Grangetown. A new work commissioned by Carmarthenshire County Council will also be installed in late August. The work Tree was designed by Andrew Rowe to act as a gateway feature, accenting the history of the ancient market town.

Caerphilly County Borough Council and CBAT has commissioned artist Laura Johnston and Hiscott & Pearl to create 2 new glass works for Penalta House with architects Kennedy James Griffiths, and in Cardiff CBAT has been selected to produce the public art strategy and commissioned works within the new £535M St David's II shopping development (www.stdavids2.com), as well as a series of works within Bellway's Prospect Place housing development in the Bay.

Working with Watermark Development, CBAT has commissioned writer Peter Finch and artists Bruce Williams to develop a series of sculptural works and text within Watermark, a new residential apartment building to be built on the site of the old Red House as well as a forthcoming public artwork in Jacks Pill, the Old Town Dock, Newport. Further a field in Ireland, CBAT have recently been appointed to work with master planners and landscape architects EDAW to develop a framework for the integration of public art within the redevelopment of public spaces within Belfast City Centre.

From the Edge is a new exhibition of work at CBAT gallery from 2nd May - 26th May produced by the Print Market Workshop. The show features the work of four artists from Kansas City, Missouri whose work is included in the forthcoming book 'Printmaking at the Edge' (A&C Black, April 2006) including Cecilia Bakker, Laura Berman, Hammerpress and Hugh Merill.

Finally, on 5th & 6th October CBAT will be holding its second Urban Legacies conference in Cardiff in collaboration with Landor Conferences. Urban Legacies II, will take as a starting point Constant Nieuwenhuys' Situationist theory, which will be used as a pretext for exploring transitional, temporary, informal and unplanned urban development as well as artistic and creative practice in the regeneration of contemporary, post industrial cities.

For further information on all CBAT projects call 029 2048 8772 / info@cbat.co.uk. / www.cbat.co.uk