Exhibitions @St_Elvans
St Elvan's continually hosts rotating guest exhibitions in our beautiful new mezzanine gallery area
All exhibitions are FREE to view and are available to browse Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00
Each month we also present our monthly WAM (Words - Art - Music) Night in the Gallery, which frequently ties in with our visiting exhibitions. For further information on the WAM Nights, visit www.stelvans.com/wam-words-art-music
Further information on our current, forthcoming and recent exhibitions are available below
All exhibitions are FREE to view and are available to browse Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00
Each month we also present our monthly WAM (Words - Art - Music) Night in the Gallery, which frequently ties in with our visiting exhibitions. For further information on the WAM Nights, visit www.stelvans.com/wam-words-art-music
Further information on our current, forthcoming and recent exhibitions are available below
Next Exhibition
November
"Lest We Forget"
War Art by Dan Peterson
plus digital photography by Sgt Chris Morgan, 1st Batallion Welsh Guards
and "Aberdare Cenotaph 100"
by St Elvan's Community Heritage Project Research Group
www.stelvans.com/aberdare-cenotaph
Meet Dan Peterson live at our November WAM (Words Art Music) Night on Thurs Nov 21st at 7:00pm
For full information, visit www.stelvans.com/wam-words-art-music
For full information, visit www.stelvans.com/wam-words-art-music
Forthcoming Exhibitions
December
Santa's Grotto
www.stelvans.com/christmas-events
Exhibitions 2024
January 2024
Aberdare Camera Club
February 2024
Llwyau Garu | Welsh Love Spoons
Mike O'Sullivan
March 2024
Women's History Month
to include a screening of
"Amelia Earhart - The First Grand Adventure"
by Ceri John
April 2024
"The Human One"
Life, Death, Resurrection
Jeremy Thomas
Thirty paintings that tell the story of the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ with poems by Father Thomas Bates-Bourne
Opening Good Friday, March 29th
www.jeremythomasart.co.uk/the-human-one
May 2024
The Miner's Strikes - 40th anniversary
June 2024
Churches Unlocked - The Seven Sacraments
July 2024
Caradogfest
August 2024
"In These Stones"
Deanne Mangold | Philip Chatfield
Eisteddfodau Rhondda Cynon Taf
September 2024
The Consecration of St Elvan's - 1854
October 2024
William Haggar - Our Greatest Showman
November 2024
"Warriors of the Night"
Linda Agostini
December 2024
Santa's Grotto
www.stelvans.com/christmas-events
Previous Exhibitions
October
William Haggar, Aberdare
Join us this October for our latest exhibition and a series of events around all things cinema, as St Elvan's hosts both the FREE Cynon Valley Film Festival, and visitors can also learn more about Aberdare's role in pioneering the art of film making, with the amazing early work of Welsh film pioneer William Haggar
Visit the digital display to learn more about Haggar, his history and works, and view a unique portrait of his "Kosy Kinema" plus early 20th century camera, on temporary loan from Cynon Valley Museum and Rhondda Cynon Taf Heritage Services
Cynon Valley Film Festival runs on October 13th and 14th and features a host of cutting edge film submissions from across the globe. For further information and FREE tickets, visit www.stelvans.com/film-festival
Visit the digital display to learn more about Haggar, his history and works, and view a unique portrait of his "Kosy Kinema" plus early 20th century camera, on temporary loan from Cynon Valley Museum and Rhondda Cynon Taf Heritage Services
Cynon Valley Film Festival runs on October 13th and 14th and features a host of cutting edge film submissions from across the globe. For further information and FREE tickets, visit www.stelvans.com/film-festival
August 2nd to September 25th
Prismatic Art - Retrospective Exhibition
Deanne Mangold
An Architectural Glass and Textile exploration by Deanne Mangold
August 2nd to 25th September | Monday to Saturday
10:00 to 16:00
St Elvan’s Church, Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, CF44 7AB
Tel: 01685 673 126
plus
FREE Meet the Artist Drop In Sessions
including demonstrations of how stained glass is created
Saturday August 12th & 19th | Saturday September 2nd, 9th & 23rd
10:00 to 16:00
A Closing Celebration of the Prismatic Art exhibition was held on Monday September 25th, which featured two open informal chat sessions with Deanne, and included a prize draw featuring the opportunity to win a piece of Deanne Mangold fused glass, with all proceeds in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association
*Please note, St Elvan’s frequently hosts events, workshops and services – please check ahead before travelling. The church is located in the heart of Aberdare town centre with the public High Street car park adjacent
Nearby Hirwaun Library also features a new stained glass window by Deanne, and is possible to visit during their regular opening hours
For additional information, locations of Deanne’s work throughout the valley, please contact the artist direct:
deannemangold@gmail.com
Tel: 07951 536 372
Class Glass Wales, 4 Aber Court, Ferry Boat close, Llansamlet, SWANSEA SA6 8PL
August 2nd to 25th September | Monday to Saturday
10:00 to 16:00
St Elvan’s Church, Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, CF44 7AB
Tel: 01685 673 126
plus
FREE Meet the Artist Drop In Sessions
including demonstrations of how stained glass is created
Saturday August 12th & 19th | Saturday September 2nd, 9th & 23rd
10:00 to 16:00
A Closing Celebration of the Prismatic Art exhibition was held on Monday September 25th, which featured two open informal chat sessions with Deanne, and included a prize draw featuring the opportunity to win a piece of Deanne Mangold fused glass, with all proceeds in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association
*Please note, St Elvan’s frequently hosts events, workshops and services – please check ahead before travelling. The church is located in the heart of Aberdare town centre with the public High Street car park adjacent
Nearby Hirwaun Library also features a new stained glass window by Deanne, and is possible to visit during their regular opening hours
For additional information, locations of Deanne’s work throughout the valley, please contact the artist direct:
deannemangold@gmail.com
Tel: 07951 536 372
Class Glass Wales, 4 Aber Court, Ferry Boat close, Llansamlet, SWANSEA SA6 8PL
July 2023
"Underground In Aberdare"
The mining safety lamps of E. Thomas & Williams
Mining Paintings by Nick Evans, Mags Keane & Karin Mear
plus "Y Côr Mouth" Caradogfest public recycled art piece
July's exhibition here at St Elvan's celebrated all things Aberdare!
The popular Caradogfest returned to Aberdare, with a second now annual celebration of the Côr Mawr and Aberdare - "Town of Song", plus we also celebrated one of Aberdare's truly inspiring success stories - the world leading mining safety lamp manufacturer, E Thomas & Williams
E Thomas & Williams is celebrated through a digital display chronicling the incredible story of the company's growth and contribution to saving countless lives in the mining industry across the globe, plus an exhibition of miners' lamps from the private collection of the renowned mining historian Brian Davies
The company's story was also accompanied by a series of mining inspired paintings by Mags Keane, Karin Mear and a unique opportunity to view a work by the famous Aberdare mining artist Nick Evans, which was placed on public display for the first time ever, here at St Elvan's
In addition to the live recreation of the Côr Mawr in the Caradogfest Gala Concert, the choir was also recreated in public art, with our "Côr Mouth" display, where members of the public were invited to contribute to recreating the 400 strong choir of 1872 | 73 in a large scale piece of recycled art
To learn more, and to view all of the above FREE, pop in to visit us Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00
Accompanying FREE Heritage Talks are also available as follows:
Friday July 21st
FREE Heritage Talk - The Artwork of Nicholas Evans
An illustrated talk on the life and work of Nicholas Evans by Elizabeth Blinkhorn
14:00 to 15:00
www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans/free-heritage-talk-the-mining-artwork-of-nicholas-evans/e-qppmkd
Thursday July 27th
FREE Heritage Talk - Brian Davies
E. Thomas & Williams, Aberdare
A FREE heritage talk on world leading mining safety lamp manufacturer E Thomas & Williams, Aberdare
14:00 to 15:00
www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans/free-heritage-talk-by-brian-davies-e-thomas-williams-aberdare/e-xrroky
The popular Caradogfest returned to Aberdare, with a second now annual celebration of the Côr Mawr and Aberdare - "Town of Song", plus we also celebrated one of Aberdare's truly inspiring success stories - the world leading mining safety lamp manufacturer, E Thomas & Williams
E Thomas & Williams is celebrated through a digital display chronicling the incredible story of the company's growth and contribution to saving countless lives in the mining industry across the globe, plus an exhibition of miners' lamps from the private collection of the renowned mining historian Brian Davies
The company's story was also accompanied by a series of mining inspired paintings by Mags Keane, Karin Mear and a unique opportunity to view a work by the famous Aberdare mining artist Nick Evans, which was placed on public display for the first time ever, here at St Elvan's
In addition to the live recreation of the Côr Mawr in the Caradogfest Gala Concert, the choir was also recreated in public art, with our "Côr Mouth" display, where members of the public were invited to contribute to recreating the 400 strong choir of 1872 | 73 in a large scale piece of recycled art
To learn more, and to view all of the above FREE, pop in to visit us Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00
Accompanying FREE Heritage Talks are also available as follows:
Friday July 21st
FREE Heritage Talk - The Artwork of Nicholas Evans
An illustrated talk on the life and work of Nicholas Evans by Elizabeth Blinkhorn
14:00 to 15:00
www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans/free-heritage-talk-the-mining-artwork-of-nicholas-evans/e-qppmkd
Thursday July 27th
FREE Heritage Talk - Brian Davies
E. Thomas & Williams, Aberdare
A FREE heritage talk on world leading mining safety lamp manufacturer E Thomas & Williams, Aberdare
14:00 to 15:00
www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans/free-heritage-talk-by-brian-davies-e-thomas-williams-aberdare/e-xrroky
Nick Evans (1907–2004)
Nick Evans is a painter, sculptor and teacher, born and lived in Aberdare, Mid Glamorgan, and sometimes exhibited as Nicholas Evans. Evans was self-taught as an artist and began painting at the age of 70, using his fingers and rags. His father was a miner and mining was a leading feature of his work, along with the Jewish Holocaust, of which he produced a record. Evans’ grim, large monochrome pictures of mining life in the 1920s and 1930s were featured in a solo show at St David’s Hall, Cardiff, in 1993. Evans was a Christian and Pentecostal lay preacher. He was aware of the link between scripture and the colliery, “the horrible pit”, as in his work included in Miner-Artists: The Art of Welsh Coal Workers at National Museum and Art Gallery, Cardiff, 2000
Nick Evans is a painter, sculptor and teacher, born and lived in Aberdare, Mid Glamorgan, and sometimes exhibited as Nicholas Evans. Evans was self-taught as an artist and began painting at the age of 70, using his fingers and rags. His father was a miner and mining was a leading feature of his work, along with the Jewish Holocaust, of which he produced a record. Evans’ grim, large monochrome pictures of mining life in the 1920s and 1930s were featured in a solo show at St David’s Hall, Cardiff, in 1993. Evans was a Christian and Pentecostal lay preacher. He was aware of the link between scripture and the colliery, “the horrible pit”, as in his work included in Miner-Artists: The Art of Welsh Coal Workers at National Museum and Art Gallery, Cardiff, 2000
Mags Keane
Mags Keane is a self-taught artist who has recently resumed painting again after more than 43 years
Mining in Mags' family goes back generations, and the vast majority of her artworks are her memories as a child, and the stories both her grandfather and father told her of their time working in the mines
Mags was born and grew up in Hirwaun, where she lived in Wind Street, a row of miners' cottages which consisted of two bedrooms and two rooms downstairs
Her artworks are a tribute to her hardworking parents and grandparents, and to all miners and their families everywhere
Karin Mear
Raised in Aberdare in the South Wales Valleys, Karin completed a foundation course in art & design in 1985 then, having raised two children, returned to full time education in 1994 to pursue an art degree course
Upon graduating Karin lived in London for a few years, followed by seventeen years in Brecon, before returning to Aberdare in 2018. While in Brecon, Karin was a founder of Brecon Women's Festival and is an organiser of its annual art exhibition
Working in paint, mixed media and found objects Karin's work draws upon the real histories of life in the Valleys and the personal narratives built from these along with current observations on life in general
June 2023
Aberdare Cenotaph 100
An exhibition marking the centenary of the Aberdare Cenotaph, in conjunction with Armed Forces Day month and the Rhondda Cynon Taf commemoration of the Cenotaph centenary in Aberdare on Sunday June 25th
Additional information on the Aberdare Cenotaph is available in the Heritage section of our website here
A concert by the Tacoma Concert Band of Seattle, Washington, USA, together with Lewis Merthyr Band and the massed male choirs of Cwmdare Voices & Pelenna Valley, was also held at the close of the month on Wednesday June 28th
Additional information on the Aberdare Cenotaph is available in the Heritage section of our website here
A concert by the Tacoma Concert Band of Seattle, Washington, USA, together with Lewis Merthyr Band and the massed male choirs of Cwmdare Voices & Pelenna Valley, was also held at the close of the month on Wednesday June 28th
May 2023
Not Necessarily Sew
Textiles Exhibition
Not Necessarily Sew, is a Welsh Textile group based at Fleur de Lys in the Rhymney valley. The group was formed in 2010 after collectively completing a City and Guilds course in creative embroidery.
Creatively, the group are all multi-disciplined and their work often combines drawing with fibres, wire, paper, plastics, alongside fabric decoration such as dyeing and printing
Their skill is to create original pieces with machined stitches and traditional hand embroidery methods which challenge the old view of needlecraft as a ‘repetitive exercise to fill in time’ and transforms it into new exciting Textile Art
Creatively, the group are all multi-disciplined and their work often combines drawing with fibres, wire, paper, plastics, alongside fabric decoration such as dyeing and printing
Their skill is to create original pieces with machined stitches and traditional hand embroidery methods which challenge the old view of needlecraft as a ‘repetitive exercise to fill in time’ and transforms it into new exciting Textile Art
April 11th to 27th 2023
Responses to The Blue Wedding Dress
Coleg Y Cymoedd
An exhibition of work by students studying on the Coleg Y Cymoedd Level 3 Extended Diploma Fashion and Costume course and also Foundation in Art & Design Fashion/Textile students
The exhibits include corsetry and construction techniques inspired by Renoir’s Blue Dress painting and the blue Victorian wedding dress that was recently on loan to St Elvan’s from St Fagan’s National Museum of History
Please note that the mezzanine gallery is a multi purpose space - please check that it’s accessible before making a special journey
The exhibits include corsetry and construction techniques inspired by Renoir’s Blue Dress painting and the blue Victorian wedding dress that was recently on loan to St Elvan’s from St Fagan’s National Museum of History
Please note that the mezzanine gallery is a multi purpose space - please check that it’s accessible before making a special journey
March 1st to 31st 2023
"Welsh Icons" - Barry Lewis
The architect of our resident quarter ton metal Welsh dragon “Gareth”, renowned Rhondda Cynon Taf sculptor Barry Lewis featured in an exhibition of his paintings featuring famous Welsh Icons
St David's Day was of course apt timing for a celebration of people who have helped make Wales great. This portrait exhibition featured not just the most recognisable Welsh stars of stage and screen, but also paid tribute to historical figures like Jemima Nicholas, who captured a dozen invading French troops with her pitchfork! Also featured was a portrait of the great Paul Robeson, an honorary Welshman due to the help and friendship he showed the people of South Wales
Quite a few of the portraits also depicted Welsh celebrities that Barry has met or worked with in his time as a television and film extra. These portraits give a more personal dimension to those individuals, more than the image normally just seen through a camera lens
Alongside the portraits are sculptural pieces Barry is better known for, including the giant dragon that once adorned the wall of Caerphilly Castle and smaller pieces which remain on display and available for sale here at St Elvan's
St David's Day was of course apt timing for a celebration of people who have helped make Wales great. This portrait exhibition featured not just the most recognisable Welsh stars of stage and screen, but also paid tribute to historical figures like Jemima Nicholas, who captured a dozen invading French troops with her pitchfork! Also featured was a portrait of the great Paul Robeson, an honorary Welshman due to the help and friendship he showed the people of South Wales
Quite a few of the portraits also depicted Welsh celebrities that Barry has met or worked with in his time as a television and film extra. These portraits give a more personal dimension to those individuals, more than the image normally just seen through a camera lens
Alongside the portraits are sculptural pieces Barry is better known for, including the giant dragon that once adorned the wall of Caerphilly Castle and smaller pieces which remain on display and available for sale here at St Elvan's
January 25th to March 2nd 2023
The Blue Wedding Dress
St Fagans National Museum of History
To open our 2023 season, St Elvan's was fortunate to host - for the first time ever on public display - a beautiful blue Victorian wedding dress, which was made in 1875 for a wedding at St Elvan's itself
The dress was loaned from St Fagan's National Museum of History. Inspired by Renoir's famous "La Parisienne", the dress was on public display at St Elvan's from Monday January 30th to Thursday March 2nd 2023
From February 4th to 24th, an additional selection of beautiful wedding dresses and photographs of weddings at St Elvan’s through the decades, from 1875 through to present day, was also on display, on temporary loan from members of the local community
The dress was loaned from St Fagan's National Museum of History. Inspired by Renoir's famous "La Parisienne", the dress was on public display at St Elvan's from Monday January 30th to Thursday March 2nd 2023
From February 4th to 24th, an additional selection of beautiful wedding dresses and photographs of weddings at St Elvan’s through the decades, from 1875 through to present day, was also on display, on temporary loan from members of the local community
November | December 2022
Remembrance | Christmas
Throughout November | December each year, St Elvan's plays host to a series of Remembrance and Christmas events, for which the exhibition series on our Mezzanine level is temporarily suspended. Exhibitions resumed from January onwards
October 2022
Cynon Valley Film Festival
An exhibition of period film posters, connected to the inaugural Cynon Valley Film Festival
The festival is now being hosted at St Elvan's each October
The festival is now being hosted at St Elvan's each October
September 2022
Cynon Valley Community Showcase
A community exhibition of award-winning and most highly commended exhibits from the Cynon Valley Community Show
Exhibits included high level pieces from talented community artists of all ages from both within the locality and beyond and were exhibited here at St Elvan's throughout September
Exhibits included high level pieces from talented community artists of all ages from both within the locality and beyond and were exhibited here at St Elvan's throughout September
July | August 2022
Caradogfest - "Here Be Dragons"
Marking the 150th anniversary of the achievements of Griffith Rhys "Caradog" Jones and the Aberdare centred Côr Mawr, St Elvan's proudly presented our summer 2022 collaborative exhibition, which featured the large scale dragon images of Linda Agostini, the community dragon art of Artsy Community, Kevin Broome and Christina Davies; plus the largest metal sculpture of the incredible Barry Lewis - a giant 4.5 x 3m Welsh dragon! Further information on Griffith Rhys "Caradog" Jones, the Côr Mawr and the wider Caradogfest, is available at www.caradogfest.com
May | June 2022
"Platinum" Jubilee
Royalty in RCT & The Metalwork Sculptures of Barry Lewis
Our Platinum Jubilee exhibition ran from May 9th to June 10th and was multifaceted in content. The first element featured digital historical images of Royal visits to Rhondda Cynon Taf, scrolling beneath aural recollections of those visits by local residents. The exhibition also featured models of the Crowns of the Commonwealth, created by Town Church Primary School, and finally, reflecting the "platinum" aspect of the Jubilee, the exhibition also featured the truly incredible metalwork sculptures of Rhondda sculptor Barry Lewis. Such was the popularity of Barry's works that many of these pieces remain with us and are available to view and purchase exclusively at St Elvan's
April 2022
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