Gold Medal (National Eisteddfod of Wales)
The Gold Medal (Welsh: Medal Aur) of the National Eisteddfod of Wales is awarded annually in three categories for excellence in either Fine Art, Architecture or Craft and Design.[1]
Background
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is Wales' most important national cultural event, taking place annually. Its open exhibition of art and craft, Y Lle Celf (meaning 'The Art Space') is one of the highlights of the Welsh arts calendar.[2] Gold medals are awarded in the Visual Arts section for outstanding contributions in different media: a Gold Medal for Fine Art has been awarded since 1951;[3] a medal for Architecture has been offered since 1954 (though withheld and not awarded between 1954 and 1959)[4] and a Gold Medal for Craft and Design has been awarded since 1985.[5]
Other awards handed out are the Tony Goble Award, given to a first time exhibitor, and the Josef Herman Award, chosen by the public[6] (Josef Herman, a Polish emigree, won the Fine Art medal in 1962).[7]
The Architecture award is given in conjunction with the Design Commission for Wales and the Royal Society of Architects in Wales, who advise the Eisteddfod judges.[1]
The award is given to practitioners working in Wales and a language rule has been in force since 1950 that any original words in art works must be in the Welsh language.[8] In 2013 there was controversy when a video entirely in English by England-born University of Wales Newport student Josephine Sowden was awarded the Fine Art medal.[9][10]
In January 2014 the Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) and Craft in the Bay, Cardiff held an exhibition showcasing the work of previous winners of the Fine Art and the Craft awards.[2]
The 2014 Open Exhibition exhibited the work of 44 artists, selected from 300 entries.[6]
Winners
Fine Art
Source: The National Eisteddfod of Wales
- 2014 - Sean Edwards, for his video Maelfa of a shopping centre in Llanedeyrn, Cardiff [6]
- 2013 - Josephine Sowden, for her video The Lilies of the Field [9]
- 2012 - Carwyn Evans, for his installations based on agricultural machinery [1]
- 2011 - Bedwyr Williams, for his mixed media work including carved wellington boots stuffed with straw [11]
- 2010 - Simon Fenoulhet
- 2009 - Elfyn Lewis
- 2008 - David Hastie
- 2007 - Emrys Williams, for his paintings of imaginary landscapes.[12]
- 2006 - Aled Rhys Hughes
- 2005 - Peter Finnemore
- 2004 - Stuart Lee
- 2003 - Tim Davies
- 2002 - Ifor Davies
- 2001 - Phil Nicol
- 2000 - Sue Williams
- 1999 - Lois Williams
- 1998 - Brendan Burns
- 1997 - Iwan Bala
- 1996 - No winner
- 1995 - Paul Brewer
- 1994 - Mary Griffiths
- 1993 - Brendan Burns
- 1992 - Shani Rhys James
- 1991 - No winner
- 1990 - Gareth Hugh Davies
- 1989 - No winner
- 1988 - Keith Roberts
- 1987 - Keith Bowen
- 1986 - Simon Callery
- 1985 - Alistair Crawford
- 1968–1984 - Medal not offered
- 1967 - No winner
- 1966 - Merlyn Evans
- 1965 - No winner
- 1964 - David Jones
- 1963 - Medal not offered
- 1962 - Josef Herman [7]
- 1961 - Ceri Richards
- 1959–1960 - Medal not offered
- 1958 - Denys Short
- 1957 - George Chapman
- 1956 - John Elwyn
- 1955 - D. C. Roberts
- 1954 - Charles Burton
- 1953 - Brenda Chamberlain
- 1952 - Medal not offered
- 1951 - Brenda Chamberlain
Architecture
- 2014 – Loyn & Co for 'Stormy Castle', a sustainable home on the Gower Peninsula [13]
- 2013 – John Pardey Architects for 'Trewarren', a house in Pembrokeshire [13]
- 2012 – HLM Architects for Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School, Bridgend [13]
- 2011 – Ellis Williams Architects for Oriel Mostyn, Llandudno [13]
- 2010 – Medal not awarded [13]
- 2009 – Ray Hole Architects, for Hafod Eryri visitor centre, Snowdon [13]
- 2008 – Purcell Miller Tritton, for Blaenavon World Heritage Centre, Blaenavon [13]
- 2007 – Loyn & Co, for the Water Tower, Cyncoed, Cardiff, breaking the normal tradition of making the award for a public building.[12]
- 2006 – Richard Rogers, for the Senedd, Cardiff [13]
- 2005 – Capita Percy Thomas, Cardiff for the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff [14]
Craft and design
Source: The National Eisteddfod of Wales
- 2014 - Susan Phillips for her ceramic sculptures [15]
- 2013 - Josephine Sowden for her video The Lilies of the Field.[16]
- 2012 - Anne Gibbs, for her ceramic and found media assemblages [1]
- 2011 - Peter Bodenham (Head of Ceramics at Coleg Sir Gâr) [11]
- 2010 - Natalia Dias
- 2009 - Lowri Davies
- 2008 - Suzie Horan
- 2007 - Medal not awarded, "although the submission included work of quality, there was not enough of it."[12]
- 2006 - Carol Gwizdak
- 2005 - Pamela Rawnsley
- 2004 - Walter Keeler
- 2003 - Mari Thomas
- 2002 - No winner
- 2001 - Claire Curneen
- 2000 - Christine Jones
- 1999 - David Binns
- 1998 - Catrin Howell
- 1997 - Marcelle Davies
- 1996 - Steve Howlett
- 1995 - Gavin Fraser Williams
- 1994 - Marcus Thomas
- 1993 - Ann Catrin Evans
- 1992 - Cefyn Burgess
- 1991 - Linda Roberts
- 1990 - Morgen Hall
- 1989 - No winner
- 1988 - Jaqueline Jones
- 1987 - Eleri Mills
- 1986 - Gina Raby
- 1985 - Martin Fraser (first winner)
References
- 1 2 3 4 Chamberlain, Laura (7 August 2012). "2012 Eisteddfod: Gold medal round-up". BBC Blogs. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- 1 2 "Going for gold". Western Mail. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ↑ "Gold Medal for Fine Art". The National Eisteddfod of Wales. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ↑ "Gold Medal for Architecture". The National Eisteddfod of Wales. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ↑ "Gold Medal for Craft and Design". The National Eisteddfod of Wales. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- 1 2 3 Morais, Joao (2014). "Eisteddfod 2014: National Open Exhibition". Wales Arts Review. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- 1 2 Chamberlain, Laura (26 July 2011). "Archbishop of Canterbury to present Eisteddfod art award" (blog). BBC Wales. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ↑ Thomas, Huw (7 January 2014). "Eisteddfod's Welsh language rule could deter artist Josephine Sowden". BBC News. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- 1 2 Morgan, Sion (7 January 2014). "Eisteddfod winner deterred by festival's language policy". Wales Online. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ↑ "Language row breaks out over Eisteddfod gold medal". ITV News. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- 1 2 "Bedwyr’s tribute to the farmer wins the Gold Medal for Art at the Eisteddfod". Wales Online. 1 August 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- 1 2 3 Clark, Rhodri (6 August 2007). "Judges decide not to award crafts gold medal". Wales Online. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hopkirk, Elizabeth (4 August 2014). "Loyn & Co wins Welsh Gold Medal". Building Design. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ↑ Price, Karen (30 July 2005). "The awards pile up for Wales' delightful 'armadillo'". Western Mail. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ↑ "National Eisteddfod: Gold Medal awards in visual arts announced". a.n. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ "2013 News". The National Eisteddfod of Wales. Retrieved 29 January 2015.