Details of Newport Theatre and Art Centre – Glass from the Cywaith Cymru

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	Newport Theatre and Art Centre – Glass
	artist(s):	Catrin Jones
	location	Newport [south Wales]
	completed	September 2004
		Newport Theatre and Arts Centre is situated on the west bank of the River Usk. It is a landmark, contemporary building of architectural significance and is representative of Newport’s future – as a new city. It is one of the first buildings that can be seen from the main railway bridge across the River Usk into Newport. The glass artist Catrin Jones was appointed to produce three commissioned artworks for the Theatre and Arts Centre. She worked in close collaboration with the architects, Austin Smith Lord, to explore how her artwork would be integrated with the fabric of the building.
		Catrin designed and created work for the lift shaft, a screen for the dance studio and blocks set into the floor at the front and back entrance of the centre. She clad the lift shaft with slumped glasswork, which is textured to evoke the wavelike patterns of the mud lining the banks of the River Usk. Incorporated into the texture are impressions of rope and feathers such as one might find in the local landscape.
		The dance studio screen was made with coloured enamelled glass using a cold enamelling technique. The screen has a watery feel and the artist has used shades of light and dark blue to emphasise this feel. The colour has been applied to both the front and back of the glass adding depth within which etched figures float. Blocks set into the ground at the entrances of the Theatre and Art Centre are also coloured, enamelled glass, which Catrin has designed to have an abstracted watery, elemental quality. They are under-lit so that they glow in the night. More information and other documentation Word document: No Word document is available PDF File: No PDF file is available Video clip: No video clip is available

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