A photography portfolio of the City and County of Swansea by the author/photographer Chris Elphick
Can Sound Heal?
I went to an interesting free lecture, organised by DACE and presented in Swansea's Grand Theatre this evening - The Healing Potential of Sound.
I arrived slightly early, after leaving Baskin Robbins, and so had time to enjoy a cup of coffee in the theatre's Footlights bar:
The talk, by Steve Balsamo, was held in the Depot Studio of the theatre, which is located at the top of the building and the climb up the metal spiral staircase affords some cool uncommon views over the city:
The presentation was still be setting up and filling up when I arrived at the studio.
The talk concerned how the vibrations and patterns in sound and music have the power to heal the human body. It was an interesting subject and his video clip of him singing 'Gethsemane' from Jesus Christ Superstar sent tingles through my scalp. Steve Balsamo seemed a really lovely, with a leaning to the mystical, and gave a good presentation of his thoughts and beliefs on the subject at hand.
The talk only lasted a little over an hour and I managed to catch the last embers of the sunset over the roof bar of the theatre as I left for home.
A thought night's entertainment, I thought.
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| Swansea's Grand Theatre |
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| Having a coffee in the Footlights Bar |
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| Swansea Grand Theatres' Footlights bar |
The presentation was still be setting up and filling up when I arrived at the studio.
The talk concerned how the vibrations and patterns in sound and music have the power to heal the human body. It was an interesting subject and his video clip of him singing 'Gethsemane' from Jesus Christ Superstar sent tingles through my scalp. Steve Balsamo seemed a really lovely, with a leaning to the mystical, and gave a good presentation of his thoughts and beliefs on the subject at hand.
The talk only lasted a little over an hour and I managed to catch the last embers of the sunset over the roof bar of the theatre as I left for home.
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| Sunset over the Grand Theatre's roof bar. |
A thought night's entertainment, I thought.
Baskin Robbins
Looking for an ice-cream? Want a mega- range of flavours? Then Baskin Robbins, may well be for you. The only down side to the place is that space in the ice-cream parlour is limited and only provides enough room for a couple of tables if you wanted to eat inside. Still, the ice-cream is tasty and the staff in there are very friendly. The shop is located in the old Quadrant Gate pub on Nelson Street if you fancy giving the place a try.
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| Baskin Robbins provided an eclectic choice of ice-cream flavours and is part of the world's largest chain of speciality ice-cream shops |
Tumblin' Cherubs a.k.a. The Fanfares
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| Fanfare I |
The climbing and tumbling cherubs on the tower of the building opposite the Grand Theatre are the work of Robin Campbell and follow the idea that some of the cherubs found decorating the dress circle balcony in the theatre have run away from there to explore the outside city. The artwork dates from 1984.
The plaque, featured above, is known as Fanfare I and was added to the tower in 1987.
Off Nelson Street
Since starting this Swansea blog, I have become quite intrigued by some of the less noticed avenues down the sides and behind the city centre shops. This one, off Nelson Street is particularly picturesque, in an urban bauhaus kind of way:
The Mond Building
This large Portland Stone building is known as The Mond and was designed by the architeckt C. T. Ruthen. Ruthen also designed a few other buildings of note in Swansea, including the old Carlton Cinerma (currently Waterstones) and the old Exchange building near Swansea Marina. . The building is Edwardian baroque in style and dominates Union and Park Street in the city centre.
The Mond was built in 1911 by Sir Alfred Mond and designed to be the Swansea headquarters of the National Legue of Young Liberals. It is now a Listed building.
The Mond was built in 1911 by Sir Alfred Mond and designed to be the Swansea headquarters of the National Legue of Young Liberals. It is now a Listed building.
Dylan Thomas Needs a Nosejob
Titled 'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Octupus', Peter Fowler's large 9 x 6 metre artwork fronts the old nightclub The Venue and was commissioned as part of the city's 2014 celebrations of the Dylan Thomas Centenary in 2014.
The artwork features the poet along with with an eclectic and rather curious mix of images the painter, and local children he worked with on the project, identified as being iconic to Swansea and to Dylan's writing.
Sadly, the piece, only 2 years old, is starting to appear a little worse for wear. Hopefully it can be fixed up as it would be sad to loose this public art from the city.
The artwork features the poet along with with an eclectic and rather curious mix of images the painter, and local children he worked with on the project, identified as being iconic to Swansea and to Dylan's writing.
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| Peter Fowler's 'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Octupus' |
Sadly, the piece, only 2 years old, is starting to appear a little worse for wear. Hopefully it can be fixed up as it would be sad to loose this public art from the city.
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| Dylan Thomas' nose in need of a little cosmetic work |
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