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=News Articles=
Cool Cymru is back,
and you could own a piece
Nov 23 2006
Western Mail
Personal items from the
cupboards of Welsh celebs are going under the hammer in a bid to
raise thousands of pounds for the Noah's Ark Appeal.
Exclusive portraits are also being sold off, signed by the 12 'Cool
Cymru' celebrities.
The pictures is unveiled at a star-studded event at the Wales
Millennium Centre today, but members of the public who are keen to
take part in a one-off opportunity to own a piece of history in the
making can view and bid for the items at www.coolcymru.co.uk
Featuring Welsh notables Dame Shirley Bassey, Stuart Cable, Joe
Calzaghe, Charlotte Church, Ryan Giggs, Ioan Gruffudd, Gavin Henson,
Rhys Ifans, Katherine Jenkins, Kelly Jones, Sir Tom Jones and Bryn
Terfel, the collection epitomises the origins of Cool Cymru and what
it continues to be today - representing all that is confident,
passionate, proud and inspiring about being Welsh.
The event will also see the auction of various personal items
donated by the stars including Ryan Giggs's football boots, a dress
from Katherine Jenkins, a pair of Dame Shirley's designer evening
shoes, signed props from Ioan Gruffudd and Kelly Jones's photo
shoots and a signed photo and shirt from Bryn Terfel.
Charlotte Church will attend tonight's premiere along with other
celebrities from the collection to help launch the auction and
unveil her picture.
The Cool Cymru Collection is the culmination of two years' work for
photographer Terry Morris who set about creating the Hall of Fame
with the intention of capturing the essence of the original Cool
Cymru phenomenon in a series of one-off portraits of the country's
best-known faces.
Mr Morris said, 'We wanted to give everyone a chance to bid for
these amazing items. We're really hoping the Welsh public will get
behind the project and seize the opportunity to bid for one of these
unique items and support one of Wales' most special charities.
'It will be fantastic to finally see the collection unveiled to the
public and in place at the Wales Millennium Centre as its first
photographic exhibition. My ambition was to capture Wales' most
famous faces as they have never been seen before in one collection
and bring the traditional art of portrait photography back to life.
'It's been quite a challenge and a very interesting journey for me
and those supporting me. We have experienced fun and frustration at
the same time.
'Today will be an emotional day for me, to see it all finally come
to fruition.
'We hope our guests at the launch will give generously to the
charity and support this important arts project.'
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The
Noah's Ark Appeal
Celebrities, Camera, Action!
Wales’ first ever photographic Hall of Fame, the Cool Cymru
Photographic Collection, will launch in November 2006 linking some
of Wales’ most high profile celebrities including Bryn Terfel;
Charlotte Church; Dame Shirley Bassey; Ryan Giggs; Rhys Ifans; Gavin
Henson; Stuart Cable, with a talented Welsh photographer, Terry
Morris.
The Cool Cymru Photographic Collection will launch in November 2006
linking some of Wales’ most high profile celebrities including Bryn
Terfel; Charlotte Church; Dame Shirley Bassey; Ryan Giggs; Rhys
Ifans; Gavin Henson; Stuart Cable, with a talented Welsh
photographer, Terry Morris.
Set to be Wales’ first ever Hall of Fame and featuring stunning new
pictures of our most recognised faces, the aim of the Collection
when it officially opens at Wales Millennium Centre in November of
this year, is to raise funds for one of the country’s best loved
charities, The Noah’s Ark Appeal.
The brainchild of Terry Morris, a press and documentary photographer
from Llanelli, The Cool Cymru Collection pays tribute to celebrities
who have brought recognition to Wales through their dedicated field,
who are proud to be Welsh, and who communicate their passion for
their nation on the World stage.
A total of seven portraits have already been created, the latest
being Dame Shirley Bassey. Each one depicts the individual’s
personality in a way which has never been seen before. Another five
celebrity portraits will be created by November, among them Joe
Calzaghe and Katherine Jenkins, creating a totally unique collection
of 12 of Wales' most famous faces. Sharing his views on the
Collection, Terry Morris said:
“Each portrait tells the story behind the individual, illustrating
their personality through the art of photography. I began my career
as a photographer working for the press and public relations firms,
but challenging myself with creating the Hall of Fame, it has given
me scope for greater creativity, personal interpretation, freedom
and expression. I want to create pictures which will be debated and
show Wales’ most recognised faces in a new light.
"We have had a great reception from all the celebrities involved who
are very interested in being part of the Collection and the spirit
behind it and we are grateful for the time they have committed in
aid of The Noah's Ark Appeal.”
Charlotte Church, a patron for the Welsh charity, was the first to
be photographed for the Collection and was amazed by the outcome of
the shoot, which took four days to prepare:
“I am really pleased to be a part of this inspiring new art
collection,” said Charlotte Church. “As well as being associated
with some of the biggest names in Wales, it also gives me a great
opportunity to show how proud I am to be Welsh. I love the idea
behind it, there is nothing like this in Wales already, and the fact
that it is going to benefit sick children in Wales makes it all the
more important.
“Credit has to go to Terry for his interpretation and creative ideas
behind each image. His time and effort is reflected in the final
picture, which is totally different to any photographs I have had
taken previously. It is certainly worth waiting for and I was
stunned when I saw it, but you will all have to wait to see it on
the launch night!”
The closely guarded portraits will remain under wraps until the
actual launch night which will take place at the iconic Wales
Millennium Centre in November 2006, when the original signed Cool
Cymru Collection will be auctioned to raise substantial funds for
The Noah’s Ark Appeal. Suzanne Mainwaring, Director of the charity
commented on what the photographic Collection means to The Noah’s
Ark Appeal, which has recently launched its current campaign:
“We hope to raise a substantial amount of money as a result of the
Cool Cymru Collection, which will boost our efforts in raising
£200,000 for brand new equipment for the Children’s Eye Unit in
Cardiff. This will revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of many
retinal diseases and ensure children needing eye treatment no longer
have to share eye equipment with the adult department. We are very
pleased to be working with Terry and look forward to the launch
night when we will hopefully be able to raise a five or even a six
figure sum for The Noah's Ark Appeal."
In addition to raising substantial funds for charity, Terry Morris
wants people in Wales to be given the opportunity to appreciate the
artistic concepts behind each image. ITV will be documenting the
creation of the portraits, ultimately producing a television
programme to be aired in autumn 2006. The exhibition will also
travel across Wales for all to enjoy following an initial four month
exhibition at Wales Millennium Centre which has never before hosted
a photographic show.
A cross section of businesses from Wales are already involved in
this ground breaking new arts project, but there are further
opportunities to back the Collection, its tour around Wales, and to
help deliver a high profile launch night. To find out more, please
contact Antonia Lamont or Catrin Mears, 029 2030 4050 or email:
coolcymru@merlin.me.uk |
