Torch Theatre Launches Striking New Gallery Facility

... with colourful exhibition.

The Joanna Field Gallery is just one of the amazing new facilities at the newly refurbished and rebuilt Torch Theatre.

 

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by ORR

March 22, 2008

This week, the newly refurbished and rebuilt Torch Theatre, funded by the Arts Council of Wales, opened its brand new, dedicated art gallery.

Its first exhibition, A Living, Working Landscape, by local artist Jean Thomas opened its doors on Monday 17th March to a full house of the Torch Theatre Company’s sell-out production of The Hired Man.

The Joanna Field Gallery is just one of the amazing new facilities to have been unveiled in the weeks running up to the Theatre’s re-launch. For over twenty years visitors, theatregoers and art lovers have enjoyed seeing art exhibitions on their way into the Theatre’s auditorium. With the launch of this new facility visitors can now enjoy a considerably more varied programme of paintings, photographs, ceramics, crafts and installations by local and national artists every day of the week.

Adjacent to Café Torch on the lower ground floor of the new building and opening onto a balcony with splendid views over Milford’s docks and marina, the beautifully lit gallery is an adaptable space, with state of the art fittings, offering exhibitors the best opportunity to display their work to maximum effect.

A celebration of the 186 miles of Pembrokeshire’s Coast Path A Living, Working Landscape is the result of Jean’s lifelong love of walking and painting sections of our coastline and is the first stage of an ongoing project.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail is Britain’s only coastal National Park - a very special route featuring some of the finest scenery in Europe. Struck by the colours of the changing vegetation and the contrast between the north and south of the county, this colourful and dramatic exhibition reflects the moods of our glorious coastline, its textures and the diversity of its wildlife.

A painting of Porthgain, by Jean Thomas.

 

Jean studied fine art in Newport and Bristol and became a freelance designer for stage and costume, woollen fabrics and jewelry - in fact one of her first jobs was designing the set for James and the Giant Peach at the Torch! Since that time, exhibitions of her work include many one-man shows in galleries throughout the UK - she has also exhibited at Neuer Galerie, Vienna and Galerie D’or in Oldenberg. Amongst many interesting commissions and community projects, Jean has focused on portrait work for many years - one commission of which was for the Duke and Duchess of York.

A Living, Working Landscape has a Private Viewing and official opening on 4th April and is open to the public until 11th May after which it tours Wales and Ireland.

The Joanna Field Gallery at the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven is open daily and entry is free of charge.