Latest news with #RachelJones
Times
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Rachel Jones: Gated Canyons review — from a Flemish dog to a riot of colour
The soft, slack, moist corner of a hound's drooping mouth is the slightly unexpected starting point for this dynamic exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery in London of work by the young British contemporary artist Rachel Jones. Invited to respond to the permanent collection, Jones chose the 17th-century Flemish painter Pieter Boel's close-up study of a hunting dog, the head lifted as if in anticipation of … what? A treat? A directive? A reprimand? Next to Jones's riotously colourful new body of work — 14 mostly huge paintings titled Gated Canyons (shown alongside a selection of earlier, smaller works chosen by the artist to place them in the context of her developing practice) — the throughline from this naturalistic little painting, near monochromatic in blacks, browns, whites and greys, is not immediately obvious. But the tension and ambiguity in Boel's intimate picture is reflected in Jones's vast canvases, while the motif of the mouth has haunted her work for years. She finds it fascinating, literally and symbolically, regarding it as an entry point to the interior self, an aperture through which what is inside can come out, for better or worse. It's a stand-in for the body, and it serves as a way to explore emotion and how it doesn't always translate on the outside. • Read more art reviews, guides and interviews It probably helps to have a bit of this context but it's not essential. These paintings occupy a hinterland between abstraction and figuration, and Jones, who at 34 has already developed a unique visual language, has attempted to create an environment that allows the viewer an instinctive, rather than intellectual, response to their vivid reds, spearmint greens, rich purples and emphatic yellows. The exhibition spaces use natural light where possible to avoid leading visitors to any sort of response by spotlighting the works. The installation, with plentiful seating, encourages you to spend time with them — you're not meant to whizz through but to sit and allow her shifting, vibrating abstractions to envelop you. You should pay attention to how they make you feel, rather than trying to work out what they represent or mean. • The best exhibitions in London and the UK to book Yes, you can pick out mouths and teeth, as well as the odd brick wall (a new thing). Is that a grin or a grimace? Could it, Joker-like, be both? And is that a landscape? A rippling expanse of water? And of course there are layers of meaning — the unspeaking mouth is remarkably eloquent, evoking the oversexualisation of women or racial caricature. But these are expressive works that are meant to be felt — and, given time, they leave you tingling.★★★★☆ Dulwich Picture Gallery, London, to Oct 19, Follow @timesculture to read the latest reviews
Powys County Times
6 days ago
- Powys County Times
Meifod Mercedes driver 'crashed in ditch to avoid sheep'
A driver who claims to have crashed his car into a ditch to avoid a sheep on the road has denied that he was under the influence of alcohol. Anthony Braben, 69, pleaded not guilty to being over the drink drive limit in his silver Mercedes Class A on the Bwlch-y-Cibau road near Llanfyllin on July 6. Welshpool Magistrates' Court heard that the Meifod man was taken to Newtown Police Station for a breath test which gave a reading of 47 microgrammes. The legal limit is 35mcgms. The case was adjourned until August 11 when a judge at Llandudno Magistrates' Court will hear the facts ahead of fixing a trial. Dr Rachel Jones, chair of the magistrates' bench, granted Braben, of Brook Cottages, Meifod, unconditional bail and permission to attend the court hearing in Llandudno on a videolink.
North Wales Live
19-07-2025
- North Wales Live
'Are the National Park gates locked at night' - holiday boss on amusing tourist mishaps
The boss of a holiday park in North Wales has spoken about the amusing tourism mishaps as she urged visitors to "ask a local". Rachel Jones runs Cadair View Lodge in Trawsfynydd and is a huge advocate for tourism in the region. While she values the benefits visitors bring to the region she is sometimes left surprised and amused by some of the questions. These often stem from poor online advice, booking sites and sat-navs. The questions have included someone asking what time Eryri National Park closes it gates and another who booked one of her rural retreats and then complained there was nothing around. The park even printed hoodies with "Everything was miles away and there weren't many shops" emblazoned on the front to remember the review. . One common one that started a few summers ago was people turning up at Trawsfynydd asking questions about the train up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) or other things related to Wales's highest peak. Rachel said: "I couldn't understand why so many cars were stopping in our tiny village and asking where they could catch the mountain train. Turned out they'd been putting ' Snowdonia (Eryri)' into their SatNav rather than Snowdon(Yr Wyddfa). "Eryri (Snowdonia) covers some 823 square miles and is the second largest National Park in England and Wales, just a tiny bit smaller than the Lake District. Our little village of Trawsfynydd is in the dead centre, hence all those bewildered drivers. "We tend to measure distance here in hours and minutes rather than miles, and that can change a bit depending on the time of year. On average we're about an hour's drive from Llanberis, where you can catch that mountain train up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox "But only if you've booked, and only if it's running. And you've sorted your car parking. And the road's not closed for Ras Yr Wyddfa. Or because of roadworks. Or a police emergency. "Your SatNav's not going to give you all that local knowledge, but I can. As well as plenty of alternative suggestions when your plans don't work out. "And to the confused young couple who wanted to know if the gates to the National Park were locked at night, the answer is no, you're welcome here 24/7. So if there's anything else you need to know, just ask a local." She added that it was good to get that advice before even coming with a phone call or email. She said: "We had a guest a few years ago who booked one of our quiet rural cabins then complained that 'everything was miles away and there weren't any shops'. We had it printed on hoodies for the team." If she's not about to help, there are hundreds of others who will offer that helping hand. Rachel said: "I'm so proud of the folk in our village and the local shop in particular, Siop Glyndwr - they go out of their way to help everyone who comes in looking for directions. So patient and welcoming - we give all our guests a shopping voucher to get them in there and support a local business.
BBC News
11-07-2025
- BBC News
PC who resigned would have been sacked for child sex offences
A former West Mercia Police officer, who admitted making indecent images of children, would have been sacked had he not resigned, an misconduct hearing has found. Jamie Bunting, aged 27, of Westminster Close in Bromsgrove, resigned from the force and pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children in August November, he received a 10-month sentence suspended for two years at Shrewsbury Crown Court for a category A image, the most serious also got six months for a category B image and four months for a category C image to run concurrently and suspended. Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Jones said: "We will continue to rid West Mercia Police of individuals who have no place in our force and hold them to account to ensure they can never work in policing again."Bunting seriously breached not only the standards of professional behaviour, but he broke the law. He has rightly faced the repercussions of his actions."Bunting was an officer based at Kidderminster Police Station and worked as a Cadet Leader for North Worcestershire Volunteer Police Cadets.A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: "Bunting seriously breached the professional standards of behaviour by discreditable conduct, by bringing the force in disrepute through his actions while off duty."An accelerated misconduct hearing found that he would have been dismissed from the force had he not already resigned."The former officer has also been added to the College of Policing Barred List preventing him from ever working for a UK police service in the future. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- BBC News
West Mercia Police officer sacked after drunk Worcester crash
A West Mercia Police officer has been sacked after he was convicted of drink driving. In February, Liam Williams was driving to work when he crashed into a wall on Deansway, Worcester, while he was over the legal alcohol limit. The 21-year-old student officer, who was based at Worcester's police station, appeared at Birmingham Magistrates' Court in April where he was banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a £250 accelerated misconduct hearing was held on Monday by the force, found Williams had seriously breached their standards of professional behaviour and he was also banned from working for any UK police force in the future. Williams' crash caused substantial damage which took three months to repair but no-one was hurt, a spokesperson the crash, he was suspended from after the hearing, Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Jones said: "Our communities expect our officers to adhere to the law and to keep others safe. "Williams fell far below the standards that the public expect. Williams committed a criminal offence and put himself and other road users at risk. "This is inexcusable and he will no longer serve in our force."He was added to the College of Policing's barred list, preventing him from future work for a police force in the hearing was subject to the usual appeals process, the spokesperson for the force added. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
