Summer/Autumn 2006

Image: Marjectica Potrč, Urgent Architecture, PBICA, Lakje Worth, 2004

On 5th & 6th October CBAT will be holding its second Urban Legacies conference in Cardiff in collaboration with Landor Conferences. Urban Legacies: Another New Babylon, 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. As part of the conference CBAT has commissioned 4 new temporary public works by artist Marjetica Potrč (Slovenia); Veronika Valk, Architect and Artist, (Estonia); Anthony Shapland, Artist, (Wales) and Morgan Hayes, Composer, England (in partnership with Music Theatre Wales). For further info see http://www.urbanlegacies.co.uk/ and http://www.anothernewbabylon.co.uk/

Swiss born artist Felice Varini is currently working on designs for a new work at Cardiff Bay Barrage, which is part of an ongoing series of works produced with Cardiff 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 the world including new commissions in Seoul, France, Switzerland and Tampa Florida. The project will be the artists’ first UK commission, for further information see http://www.varini.org/

Artist Howard Bowcott’s artwork for the Water Quarter in Cardiff Bay was installed in late July. The work which comprises a 3 metre tall slate sculpture was formed from thousands of individual slates, stacked within a giant mold. July also saw the completion of a new integrated public artwork at Gerddi Courtmead Gardens in Grangetown, Cardiff, created by artist’s Parnell, Mackie and Rowe. The work comprises of 500 bronzes set into the grounds of the gardens, based upon local stories, anecdotes and references to the life cycles of sea life in the near by river and sea.

CBAT is currently working with Land Securities on the development of a series of new temporary and permanent commissions in the £535M St David’s II retail, shopping, and residential development, for further info visit: http://www.stdavids2.com/. Further West in Cardigan, CBAT is working with Channel 4 on the ‘Big Art Project’, a new televised series covering the commissioning of 6 new public works across the UK. CBAT is producing the Welsh commission in the form of an artist/architect collaboration situated in Cardigan. For further info see: http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/B/bigart/index.html.

Westmark Developments and CBAT have commissioned writer Peter Finch and artist Bruce Williams to produce a series of texts and integrated sculptural works for Watermark, a new residential development on the site of the old Red House, Cardiff. Further afield in Northern Ireland, master planners and landscape architects EDAW have commissioned CBAT to develop a framework for the integration of public art in the redevelopment of public spaces within the First Phase of the Belfast City Centre Public Realm Masterplan. This scheme will involve the creation of a series of new public artworks for the City Centre. Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and CBAT have commissioned artist Marianne Forrest to produce designs for a new work in Ebbw Vale town centre as part of the Northern Gateway development.
CBAT has recently been engaged by Solihull MBC to work alongside urban design Consultants Lovejoy to develop a strategy for the integration of public art along the A34, Stratford Road. This report is due for completion November 2006.

Finally, in September CBAT Gallery will hold a new exhibition of work by Danish photographer Betina Skovbro. The exhibition ‘Here Comes the Son!’ is a photographic documentary of the life of a father of 20 children. Taken over a one year period (2004-2005) the work captures the day to day life of a unique South Wales family, as the father seeks to trace children he has lost contact with over the years. Skovbro’s images have featured in National Geographic and she is the founder of Photomarathon (Cardiff).

For further information on all CBAT projects or commissions call Aldo Rinaldi 029 2048 8772 / info@cbat.co.uk. / http://www.cbat.co.uk/