I was born in the area and did my undergraduate degree in History and Theory of Art at UWIC, Cardiff before leaving Wales for further studies in England, followed by university teaching positions in the United States and now, Canada. I am currently on ‘half sabbatical’, which in the North American context, means I have six months off from regular teaching and administration to focus on research. My research revolves around the curation of contemporary art and I have produced over 15, largely thematic, group shows internationally.

I’m predominantly engaged with two major projects: putting together an edited anthology called The Artist as Curator to be published with Intellect and the development of my next curatorial project. Definitions and possibilities of curating thus abound. At a time when the concept of curating has become popularly applied to ‘organizing’ one’s personal spaces – from the abundance of ‘curate your wardrobe’ articles in lifestyle magazines to the recent New York Times article entitled ‘Curate Your Own Adventure’! (Nov. 14^th, 2012), it is clear that both the definition and even validity of curatorial practice is wide open to interpretation. Curating cheese plates aside, I consider curating to be a form research praxis that creates a line of inquiry between history and theory of art and cultural production, and which seeks to form a nexus of discussion within a variety of institutions and social assemblages.

Mission Gallery were hugely supportive in helping be connect with artists and set up a tour-de-force of contemporary Welsh art for me in Swansea and Cardiff. When I left in 1998, I was not well engaged with contemporary art practice in South Wales: in part, because it seemed to lack presence and support through institutions and critical writing. In the era of local-global dynamics and the significance of the regional however, it’s perhaps no wonder that my visit has left me feeling amazed by the amount of activity occurring.

In so many ways, however, this presence is not simply due to the return of the regional, but the dedication and innovation of venues likes Mission Gallery, The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and G39 as well as individuals like Amanda Roderick and Ruth Cayford, who have created cultures of community as well as new venues, opportunities and possibilities for experiencing contemporary art as part of the daily fabric of Welsh culture.

Celina Jeffery
Currently in New South Wales, Australia

Deirdre Finnerty | 'Vanity Table' 2011

Name: Deirdre Finnerty, or just Dee!

Position at Mission Gallery: Front of House Volunteer

How long have you been at Mission Gallery: About six months

Why did you decide to volunteer? I decided to volunteer to experience how the contemporary applied art and craft scene works. I wanted to understand the role of the gallery, how it operates and what it offers to contemporary artists as it could also be a venue for my work. I also wanted to learn about other artists and what inspires them to make.

I was attracted to the job description too – to be able to learn and develop myself as an artist in a professional working environment no matter what my experience or medium, it seemed like such a great offer!

What do you think of your experience here – what kind of things do you get involved with? I try to get involved with everything! I’d be here all the time if they paid me! But really, I’ve done a lot of things here in my short time. From maintaining the appearance of the craft space, talking to visitors about art and making copious amounts of tea, to setting up exhibitions, writing artist profiles, and drinking copious amounts of tea! Plus, I’ve met a lot of great artists whilst working here such as Becky Adams and Claire Curneen!

What do you do when you’re not at MG? Glass! I’m studying an MA in Glass at the Swansea Metropolitan University. I finished my BA in Architectural Glass last summer so it was an easy way for me to continue my practice. I love traditional stained glass and contemporary glass; Swansea is a great place for that. I also teach stained glass to teenagers at the Saturday Art School. I spend a lot of time in the glass department!

Deirdre Finnerty | 'Transient'

Other than that – cwtching with my cats, making curries from scratch, playing computer games and shopping!

Has being at Mission Gallery helped with your career development? Definitely. All the staff are so supportive and encouraging! It is great to get the opinions of people who know what is good and what is great. It really has helped me to put my work in to context through seeing what and how other artists make.

Everything I do here is something that I can add to my CV! I’ve recently helped Rhian Haf, the current Maker in Focus, to install her glass work. I helped to prepare the space and installed the work with her – my experience with handling glass helped too! De-installing Reggie’s Roller Palace was a feat in itself in January! But now I know how to pack ceramics for transport; another one for the CV!

Deirdre and fellow volunteer Emma packing up the exhibition, Reggie's Roller Palace

Being able to put my skills into practice in a gallery has also shown me that I have a lot to offer in a professional working environment, I’d never really considered working in a gallery before but now I definitely would! It’s just so exciting!

What’s been your favourite experience/s at MG so far? Becky Adam’s pocket book workshop was amazing! She is just wonderful though! What else? Annie’s sausage and egg sandwiches! Emma as a backpack! “And stuff”.

Becky Adams | Pocket Book Workshop

Didn’t we see you in the Evening Post recently? Yeah, thanks…I got tricked into that one!

What’s next for you? Well, I am quite busy at the moment preparing applications for competitions in Ireland and the UK, such as the Welsh Artist of the Year, the Eisteddfod and the Glaziers Awards to name but a few. So some of them would be nice please!

I am also writing a proposal for a curatorial opportunity through Mission Gallery (one of the many perks of the job!) in partnership with Jamie Hill for an exhibition in the near future – so watch this space!

Do you love MG? I love, Love, LOVE it!

Becky Adams | Lamp and Moth

Name: Becky Adams

Relationship with Mission Gallery?: Exhibited Artist, Workshop Leader, Inspiration, Dear friend

Do you love Mission Gallery?:
I love the Mission Gallery, it is a gem within the Welsh Arts that must be cherished. The applied arts on display in the shop are always well chosen, beautiful, inspiring. Often things glitter and catch  the light – a magical place for those with a magpie soul such as mine. Yet behind the glittering is a quiet and compelling space that resonates with history and contemplation. It is a wonderful space that seems to bless each exhibition with an unusual light and grace.

The Curious World of Becky Adams | Mission Gallery | May 2011

How did you feel when asked to exhibit, ‘The Curious World of Becky Adams’ at Mission Gallery?:
I was absolutely delighted to be asked to exhibit there, and every visit since has felt a little like coming home. There is something very special about the place, a strange sort of magic.

Becky Adams Workshop | Nov 2011

We’re glad you feel that way Becky as we like having you come to visit!:
Each and every workshop that I have run there has resulted in meeting such lovely and gentle folk. I wish there were more places like Mission Gallery, but recognise both the gallery itself and the wonderful staff who run it are one of a kind.

http://www.beckyadams.co.uk/

Nicolas William Hughes

Name: Nicolas William Hughes

Relationship with Mission Gallery?: Ex volunteer, Exhibited Artist, Friend

What are your favourite memories of Mission Gallery?: Oh there are so many; helping out with so many good exhibitions, meeting lots of Artists I admire and thanks to the gallery I can now call my friends, working with the artist Anton Goldenstein setting up his fantastic exhibition in 2009, having long chats with Jane and Amanda. Working at the mission helped me to meet some of the best people I have ever met and has given me so many opportunities. 

What have you been up to since you left Mission Gallery?: I started my MA in 2009, I have been focusing on my practice, and I have exhibited in Swansea,Bristol and as far as Berlin. But to be honest I don’t think you can ever leave the Mission Gallery if you have been part of it. So many people I know who have been a volunteer over the years are in some way still connected to the gallery. The Mission Gallery is a place that stays with you; I will always feel part of the Mission Gallery.

What are you up to now?: I finished my MA this year, since then I have gone on to a good post with another Welsh gallery in Cardiff. I have been also focusing on my career as an artist and have a group show coming up, as well as a residency in April 2012. I am aiming on gaining some other residencies in Europe.

How did your time at Mission Gallery help you with your professional development?: Greatly, as I mentioned earlier I have met so many people through the gallery at private views etc, some of these people have become good friends. Having both Jane Phillips and Amanda [Amanda Roderick - appointed Director of Mission Gallery 2011] giving me their advice and help since I finished my degree has been a godsend and I am so grateful to them both. Jane gave me some of the best advice I have ever had. I was given great opportunities whilst volunteering at the gallery, which gave me insight to how a contemporary art space is run. I had the great opportunity of exhibiting in the gallery in September this year, which was a great honour.

I can’t count how much being a part of mission gallery has helped me, but I can say without question that I would not be where I am in my career without the aid of Mission Gallery, and especially Amanda and Jane both are/have been great assets to the Welsh art scene as a whole. The whole Welsh art scene and I sorely miss Jane.

What’s the funniest thing that happened to you as a volunteer at Mission Gallery?: There were so many funny moments, there was never a dull moment when you were working with Jane Phillips. I think one thing that should be remembered would be when I was sent to the shop to buy a bunch of daffodils for Saint David’s day, with stupidity I bought a big bunch of tulips by mistake, I remember Jane and Amanda taking the mick out of me for weeks after that.

Sausage sandwich or bacon sandwich?: I will have a mixture of sausage and bacon.

[a little bird tells us you're a great cook Nicolas, so we'll have ours with egg too!]

Do you love Mission Gallery?: Yes very much!

Looking slightly worn | Zebra is on the mend

We were happy to see Zebra on the mend today thanks to the lovely Lauren. He even left us a lovely note:

So today has been good all round! Zebra is better and we went to the Reading Room on Alexandra Road to clean clean clean in preparation for the Art Auction. We had some help from the lovely front of house staff; Emma Rylance, Thomas Smith and Rhian Stone. Between us it’s now all looking GREAT!
As if that wasn’t enough to put a smile on our faces, the wonderful Emma is on Wedi 7 (S4C) tonight to promote the auction. Definitely a good day for Mission  Gallery!

Tom Smith | Working on Live Out Loud at Mission Gallery

Name: Tom Smith [aka Thomas Smitha]

Position at Mission Gallery: Gallery Assistant

How long have you been at Mission Gallery: 2 years 3 months 3 days 3 hours

[should have asked him how old he was too!]

When did you decide to work at Mission Gallery?: During the first year at University after meeting Jane and Amanda during the Ainsley Hillard exhibition

 Do you enjoy being at Mission Gallery? Any highlights?: Yes, Dark Star by Jonathan Anderson and Offerings by Rozanne Hawksley

 Got any secrets / stories you can share about Amanda, Hannah or Emma?: They secretly look forward to taking down an exhibitions vinyl lettering so they can construct words around the office walls!
Currently;

Roderick aManda ->, hannah! hannah, eMMa eMma :)  

You’ve been pretty involved in setting up the Jane Phillips Award & Auction, what was your role?: I’m involved with photographing auction work and updating the website. As well as photographing the work exhibited in the Jane Phillips Live Out Loud exhibition.

 How’s it going?: It’s going really well, the website looks fantastic and highlights the work of Jane Phillips and the donated works

What is your favourite thing to do outside of Mission Gallery?: Work on my art practice as a photographer  

Thomas Smith | ' #21 ' mounted photo, framed (size 39 x 31cm) | Jane Phillips Auction starting bid £20

What’s your style?: The style of my work is small models photographed on my iPhone

If you had an unlimited pot of money what would you buy from Mission Gallery? Hmmm… I think it would have to have been programme/user from Ben Rowe’s exhibition.

What’s your favourite biscuit? (why): A rich tea; because 9 times out of 10 there’s one lurking in the biscuit tin at home!

Do you love Mission  Gallery?: Yes, with all my heart ♥

Aeyshea Jones | Craft Space

Name: Aeyshea Jones

Position at Mission Gallery: Front of House Volunteer

How long have you been at Mission Gallery?: Around a month

What do you think of the Mission Gallery full timers (be honest!)?: Really fun to chat with; always smiling and they sure do like tea!

Have you over heard any funny conversations they’ve had? Yes, I think it was Emma saying;

‘Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Just Sausage!’

(possibly what she was having for dinner?)

What’s been the highlight of being at Mission Gallery so far? My highlight is to have such a great opportunity to work with and help like- minded people and be involved with Art as I love it sooo much!

What is your favourite thing to do outside of Mission Gallery? Outside of Mission Gallery my favourite things are making my art and crafts, listening to loud music and dog walking when it doesn’t induce injury…

What’s your style? Quirky Chameleon Froglett!

If you had an unlimited pot of money what would you buy from Mission Gallery? ANNA LEWIS  HARE NECKLACE…And everything Becky Adams!

What’s your favourite biscuit? The chocolate Hobnob because of the fantastic contrast of texture!

Do you love Mission Gallery? I don’t just like it, I  LOVE IT!

Please buy Aeyshea something by Becky Adams | Exhibition in background - Ben Rowe: Second Star to the Right and Straight on Until Morning