New Bob Guy Gallery celebrates launch in Llanfyllin

The gallery is named after the distinguished artist, wood engraver and musician, who made his home at Llanfyllin and earned an international reputation. 

Bob Guy curated many exhibitions in the ground floor Oriel Y Dolydd, which he launched in 2013. 

More than a hundred people attended the ceremony, which was performed by Bob’s partner, Iris Gordijn. 

It coincided with the launch of Cydweithio – Collaborate: a new exhibition that demonstrates how art can be inspired by poetry, or poetry by art. 

Poets read their poems, standing beside the artists who had created works in photography, paintings, sculpture and collage while both described how the collaborative process had enriched their work. 

Some outstanding Welsh folk music rounded off the evening.

Iris said: ‘Bob saw the beauty and poetry in daily life and found ingenious ways to show them in his images.

"His collaborations with poets George Miller, Childe Roland, Robin Hughes, and Jen Hawkins for the first Cydweithio exhibition, were a further form of inspiration. 

"He exhibited his own work together with Cordelia Weedon, and some years later with Robin Hughes, showing the print collection Cofleidio’r Bryniau (Embrace the Hills), which he made after Robin had written a poem for him about familiar places in the area; the text all hand carved."

Iris described Bob’s long association with the Workhouse, including a series of exhibitions by local artists, like John Lavrin and Aylwyn Lloyd, that showed how much talent there was in a small area.

The Bob Guy Gallery is housed in a former Men’s Ward on the first floor of the historic building. 

It provides an attractive and characterful space with ample natural and artificial light; display panels that fold back to provide a flexible space and an impressive open roof. 

A lift is projected in the next phase of development to improve access. 

The gallery was equipped through a grant from the Powys Welsh Church Act Fund, provided by Community Foundation Wales. 

Workhouse trustees expect to attract regular solo and collective exhibitions throughout the year and would be happy to hear from individuals or groups who are looking for a suitable space.

The Cydweithio exhibition is curated by local artist Tilly Weston and will be open until April 6. 

Tilly said: ‘I had the joy of collaborating with Jean Atkin, a talented poet, to whom we bonded over the local hills and folklore.

"She wrote a lovely poem called ‘Giants Bed’ exploring the relation between folklore and our landscape. From these words and my surroundings, I painted and bound a small book, which you can see and read at the exhibition.’

An event is planned for World Poetry Day on March 21, with a free workshop and a poetry talk by Jan Westwood. 

A major retrospective by Welsh-Slovenian artist John Lavrin opens in the gallery on April 14.