Catrin Saran James

I’m absolutely thrilled to say I have a book published by The Modernist Society coming out on St David’s Day March 1st 2023.

Documenting the post war architecture of Swansea has been a passion of mine for a over 20 years, whether that be through my art practice of collage, painting, photography or ‘Guerilla Restoration’.

To have it documented and published by the marvelous Modernist Society is a dream come true as they are top of their game when it comes to their publishing, and through purchasing The Modernist magazine for over 10 years and following them and their projects and joining them as a Chapter through my Swansea Modernist Instagram page, I jumped at the chance to be able to put a small publication together for them about Swansea. I thank Eddy and Jack at The Modernist Society for supporting and making it happen.
My friend Lisa who is Lisa_in_Leeds & LeedsModernist on Instagram designed the book for me, and I couldn’t have done it without her help and support.

In an era when redevelopment is rife in any town and city, our recent built heritage whether, that be 1950s municipal or Brutalist civic centres are at risk of demolition to make way for more progress. Swansea is experiencing this now and I hope I have captured some of the detail and buildings at risk and those that we have recently lost.

Pre-orders are live now >>https://the-modernist.org/collections/our-own-products-publications/products/swansea-modernist

There is also a launch on Thursday 2nd March at GS Artists High Street, Swansea from 6pm. I look forward to seeing you all then.

I was asked by Jude Rogers to create an image for the BBC Radio 4 website to mirror her radio programme exploring T.S. Eliot’s poem The Waste Land. The programme looks at the women depicted in the poem.

You can listen here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001dnmh

Haul am tro fach i fod yn gynnes. At last some proper sun to take us away

Proud as punch with my LP design for the debut album ‘Live at the Rum Puncheon’ by Swansea Sound.
I wanted to give it a look of records I used to pick up in charity shops years ago, where the sleeve was obscure and the artists weren’t familiar.

The music is pure class indie pop for now. To buy see link below:

https://swanseasound.bandcamp.com/

I’d been sitting on the immaculate photos of Swansea bar refurbs from Swansea Museum’s collection from the late 1960s for a while and I think I’ve put them to great use here.

Thank you to Karl Morgan as always, for working on the lay out with me and for making my vision a product. He never wants a credit but I couldn’t have done it without his skills.

Very happy with my first ever 7inch design and for Swansea Sound!

Indies of the World / Je Ne Sais Quoi – Released across the world on 45 & Cassette Tape & Download from https://swanseasound.bandcamp.com/

Thanks to my right hand man Karl for the layout help. Working together at my dining table making my vision a product.

I’m delighted that I was able to create artwork for some exciting new cassette releases this Autumn.

First up Ian Wade’s Blood Everywhere album is called Perseverance and is released in October as a limited cassette with The Dark Outside
Hear some tasty tasters here https://soundcloud.com/bloodeverywheregroop

Ian is also a music journalist and makes the best compilations!
https://www.mixcloud.com/BloodEverywhere/

Secondly we have the most indie pop of super groups ever in Swansea Sound.
Amelia Fletcher & Rob Pursey (Tallulah Gosh, Marine Research, Heavenly, Tender Trap, Catenary Wires) and Hue Williams of The Pooh Sticks have come together and are releasing new music with Swansea label
Lavender Sweep Records who specialise in niche formats.
You will be able to own Swansea Sound’s first single called ‘Angry Girl’ ON TAPE! on 17th October 2020.
Swansea Sound will not be available on Spotify and the like.

Hooray!

A Brightfield newsletter for the the Summer Equinox 2020

https://tinyletter.com/brightfield/letters/a-bright-field-for-midsummer-5

I created some new collage work inspired by the Solstice.