WORDS AND MUSIC PROJECT

The works displayed in Words and Music are personal responses of two Artists, Shirley Anne Owen and Geraldus John to man's creative outlets of literature and Music.

Whilst in much of her work, Shirley Anne Owen has explored the world of literature Geraldus John has, with a few exceptions, restricted himself to music.

After reading works by R.S.Thomas, Gillian Clarke and Dylan Thomas; Shirley Anne Owen has revisited familiar subjects, taking another, different look at them. The paintings and drawings are not intended to be illustrations of specific examples of poetry or prose but rather follow a theme suggested by them. People, places and animals all have their place.

Geraldus John has examined the fascinating relationship between fine Art and Music and endeavoured to capture the essence of each composer and set it down in paint–nothing less than transference from one medium to another. Many of the paintings contain well-known images relating to specific works, which can be a key to composer identity. Others make liberal use of abstraction, perhaps, in deference to Music, which is often regarded as an abstract form.

Links have been forged between musical colours and the colours used in related works-for instance, the strong contrast between the strident browns and reds of Appassionato with the cold colours and sophistication of Mahagonny represent the contrasting colour essences of the two very different composers Beethoven and Kurt Weill.

Of all composers Schubert should be given special mention. He, above all, possessed a unique and delicate perception of musical colour. He was able to apply hues transparent enough to allow light to illuminate and to filter through his music- truly an artist's painter.

Also exhibited are a series of poems by Geraldus John, which are complementary to the paintings. These relate to the subject matter and create word pictures in their own right.

The exhibition is presented as an interweave of literature, music and fine art.