Currently exhibiting at Art Matters gallery, Tenby, is sculptor Mike Davies. As Tenby's blacksmith, he provided a service in the community for many years, continuing in his father and grandfather's tradition. Starting as a lad working during his school holidays, Mike later attended Neyland and Llanelli Technical Colleges to learn welding and fabrication, and was apprenticed to his father for three years. Work at the forge was varied; a mixture of repairing and making, sometimes to customer specifications, sometimes to age old formats with little opportunity for artistic licence. "We carried out welding maintenance to cars, repaired farm machinery and a huge range of domestic items," recalls Mike. "Among the regular contracts that utilised traditional skills were ornamental gates, railings, fire escapes and spiral staircases. During the 1980s, we diversified and added a car exhaust fitting service to our repertoire." By 1994, Mike's father had retired and Mike, after another five years or so, 'felt a decision coming on'. A chance conversation with Manorbier ceramicist James Campbell led Mike to consider adding design experience to his range of skills, and he enrolled on a part time HND sculpture course at West Wales School of the Arts in Carmarthen. Keeping the business ticking over proved unviable when the course changed to BA status, so Mike decided to let the business go and become a full-time student, a decision helped largely by the successful completion of a large restoration project in Greenwich. Prestigious Ironwork restoration contracts leading up to the work in London included St. Mary's Church railings and gates, external ironwork at several properties in Lexden Terrace and Gunfort Mansions balcony railings. "I decided to give college six weeks, but was hooked in six hours. The atmosphere of the creative environment, the college facilities, and working alongside students of all ages was exciting," he added. New experiences have included life drawing, clay modelling, mould making, bronze and iron casting, wood and stone carving and digital image manipulation. These were taught alongside contextual studies, examining and evaluating historic and contemporary art works, in the BA (Hons) fine art sculpture course. The inspiration for Mike's exhibition is based both on his personal journey and circumstances, and response to chance. Using steel, bronze, iron, film, digital images and text, his mixed media sculptures create minimal abstract images in 2D and 3D. By engaging with the 'chance' element during the development of the creative process has in one instance lead to Mike working with random numbers and types of triangle. Some readers may have observed strange activity on Tenby's North Beach recently, when a selection of die were rolled in the tide. After several abandoned attempts, conditions were eventually ideal for recording the 'event'. With text recorded on the die, the environment proved ideal for providing the viewer with a thought provoking images and sound. Mike's intention was to be true to random selection, even to the extent of accepting intended documentation as a finished piece. The 3D work, through the intense process of making and building relationships between components, has resulted in a series of sensitive compositions to engage the viewer. As a successful BA student and to launch his new career, Mike Davies is showing his collection of recent work, 'interpretation, reinterpretation' alongside previous and subsequent work at Art Matters gallery from mid-June to the end of July. Mike will welcome friends, neighbours and his previous customers on Sunday to meet him between the hours of 2 and 4 pm. Art Matters gallery is in South Parade, next to Tenby's Fire Station, and is open every day except Wednesday, between 10 am and 5 pm. For further information telephone (01834) 843375.
