Artist's family present journals and art

22/11/2011 @ 12:53

A collectors’ presentation set, including a new book based on the journals of late Welsh artist Jonah Jones during his year as Gregynog Arts Fellow, has been presented to Gregynog Hall, near Newtown by his family.

The year - 1981-’82 - Jonah spent at Gregynog Hall, the historic conference and event venue at Tregynon, is described by his children as hugely important in his life, allowing him to reconnect with all the things he loved most.

The presentation set - ‘An Artist’s Life in Wales’ - also includes three limited edition prints off watercolours by Jonah, his walking guide, ‘The Lakes of North Wales’ and a CD-ROM of photographs of his works in all media, interviews with his friends and colleagues and other features.

The book ‘Jonah Jones: The Gregynog Journals’, designed and co-produced by Gwasg Gregynog Press, gives revealing and personal insights into the artist’s working and private life, with colour reproductions of sketches.

A noted artist, writer and educationalist, Jonah (1919-2004) gained a reputation as a master craftsman in stone and as an artist devoted to the word in all its visual forms.

He worked in many media, cutting letters in slate, carving in stone, creating bronze busts, making windows in stained and concrete glass, painting in watercolour and writing novels, essays and an acclaimed biography of Clough Williams-Ellis.

He was also a radical and influential educationalist, who took up the Gregynog fellowship after a challenging four years as director of the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, which his family said was the most stressful period of his life.

“Gaining the Gregynog Fellowship was like a chance for him to reconnect with everything he wanted to do,” explained his son, David. “It was a hugely important year in his life.”

Jonah’s daughter, Naomi added: “He valued very much being part of a crew but without any of the stresses of running an institution. He enjoyed the turnover of visitors from all over the world that came to Gregynog to study.”

Whilst based at Gregynog Hall, he accepted several professional commissions, including the Dylan Thomas memorial stone in Westminster Abbey and worked with Gwasg Gregynog Press on the design of a book about Llywelyn ein Llyw Olaf.

Naomi thanked David Vickers, former Gwasg Gregynog Press controller, for his expert help with ‘Jonah Jones: The Gregynog Journals’ and said it was fitting that the presentation set should be donated to Gregynog Hall.

Karen Armstrong, Gregynog Hall’s director, said she was delighted to accept the presentation set and revealed that the limited edition prints would take pride of place in the refurbished Music Room.

“It was wonderful to meet Jonah Jones’ family and hopefully we can raise his profile within Gregynog to visitors, academics and guests,” she added.

Other copies of the limited edition prints and presentation set will be on sale at Gregynog Hall.