Arts and Health Exhibition

The Ponthafren Association, which promotes positive mental health and wellbeing in Montgomeryshire, is holding an exhibition at Newtown Library, (Park Street, Newtown, Powys, Mid Wales) throughout December, showcasing the work that has been produced by the members of the Association and also members of the general public, who have taken part in a series of Drypoint Print making workshops throughout 2011, funded by The Arts Council of Wales and The Wakeham Trust . There will also be an exhibition held in January 2012, in The Oriel Davies Gallery in Newtown, which will display some of the prints in the education room.

The workshops were facilitated by Amy Sterly, a local artist who has exhibited widely throughout Britain, Europe and the US and teaches printing with her mobile etching press. Amy Sterly lives in Wales, but is originally from Chicago. She received a degree in Fine Art from Rockford College, Illinois in 1986. She moved to the UK in 1989, where she has exhibited as a printmaker and sculptor.  In 2006, Amy received an Arts Council Projects Grant to research printmakers in Wales and in 2009, a ‘Chance to Create’ Grant  to set up Mobile Printing Workshops.  Since then she has taught printmaking workshops at various schools and institutions in Wales and borders, Oriel Mostyn, Project Group, Ponthafren, and others.  "I am really excited to have had the chance to deliver workshops at Ponthafren, which is a great place to work. The people are interesting and inspiring to work with.  You never know what images will appear through the print process and people really enjoy getting their hands dirty, as well as socializing with each other and generally having a good time learning a new skill."

This award-winning organisation is based in Newtown, with an Outreach Centre in Welshpool and an Outreach Group in Llanidloes. The Association provides an essential service to support local people with mental health issues of any kind, such as depression and anxiety, and those affected by social isolation. They offer a wide range of courses/training from confidence building to IT skills and provide a very welcoming environment to drop in for a chat or relax in their lovely gardens. 
Nicky Morris, Co-ordinator at Ponthafren said, "The pieces of work that have been produced during the Drypoint print making workshops are of a very high standard. Drypoint printmaking consists of scratching or drawing an image on card, inking the card and putting it through the press with prepared etching paper, it is very accessible to every ability and age. I would like to encourage everyone to go along a view the exhibition. We are also in the process of producing a booklet for publication, which contains all the exhibition pieces; this will be available in the New Year.

For further details please contact Nicky Morris: telephone: 01686 621586; email: nicky.morris@virgin.net