Artwork by printmaking tutor in US exhibition

Artists Benjy Davies, Andrew Baldwin and Kevin Lyles in Trefeglwys

A tutor in printmaking and photography at Aberystwyth University’s School of Art is travelling to Ohio in the United States in March 2017 for the opening of an exhibition which includes his work.

Andrew Baldwin’s prints will form part of the ‘Paired Landscapes’ exhibition which will showcase twelve pieces of artwork about Wales and the United States.

Wales-based artists Andrew Baldwin and Bryan Thomas and Ohio-based artists Benjy Davies and Kevin Lyles from the University of Rio Grande have each submitted three pieces of work.

Andrew Baldwin explains: “I first met Benjy Davies (printmaker) and Kevin Lyles (sculptor) when I was fortunate enough to be asked to help forge a closer relationship between our two universities.

“Rio Grande (Ohio) has strong connections with Wales. Many of the local population are decedents of a group of Welsh immigrants who, so the story goes, travelled up a river east until they reached a landscape that reminded them of home - that was Rio Grande.

“As part of my trip I was asked to run workshops demonstrating the non-toxic printmaking etching ground I developed called ‘Baldwin’s Ink Ground’ (BIG), which the School of Fine Arts at the University of Rio Grande has subsequently adopted.”

In summer 2016, Benjy Davies and Kevin Lyles were awarded fellowships from the Madog Center for Welsh Studies to travel to Wales, where they collaborated with Andrew and south-Wales artist Bryan Thomas in a project to paint, draw and sculpt the Welsh landscape.

Andrew explains: “The Paired Landscapes project involved creating works of art which contrast the Rio Grande surroundings with the Welsh landscape. Benjy and Kevin were hugely complimentary of mid-Wales, telling me that we were so lucky to live in such a picturesque part of the world - a statement I also remember making of their beautiful countryside.”

The ‘Paired Landscapes’ exhibition will be held in the Esther Allen Greer Museum at the University of Rio Grande from 25 March to 7 April 2017.

Andrew has received funding from the Arts Council of Wales to attend the opening of the exhibition, as well as support from the Aberystwyth University International Office.

Whilst in Ohio, he has also been invited to visit Ohio State University to speak to art students there who use BIG and want to discuss techniques and processes Andrew has developed using his safer etching ground.

Another exhibition of Andrew Baldwin’s work, ‘Breaking New Grounds’, which was displayed at the School of Art Gallery at Aberystwyth University in autumn 2016, opens at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire on 1 May 2017. 

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