Visitors to a North Wales art gallery will have a chance to immerse themselves in the mystical and ethereal world of photographic artist and nature writer, Brad Carr, from Welshpool, in his upcoming exhibition, ‘Finding Light: A Journey into Nature to Find My Soul’.
The seven-week exhibition opens on May 11 and runs until July 6 at the prestigious Welsh gallery, Plas Glyn y Weddw, in Llanbedrog.
The exhibition, a rare display of contemporary photography in such a gallery, features a collection of Brad’s finest photographs and accompanying pieces of writing that will communicate his wider mission for peace and unity that is driving his creativity.
He says ‘Finding Light’ is a testament to the great powers of the spirit of Mother Nature as Mid Wales-based Brad openly shares his deeply personal story of healing and transformation through the portal of nature.
From a fearful childhood marred with episodes of domestic abuse and violence, to a life of creativity and finding the light of purpose and meaning amidst his early experiences in the darkness, Brad say he now lives a life of service to nature.
He hopes to inspire people to go out in search of their own place of sanctuary within the natural world.
From wide-angled vistas of beautiful, untamed wilderness to intimate portraits of ancient trees and mystical Welsh woodland scenes, each photograph tells a unique story of the sacred landscape of our beautiful world.
The mystical photographs, often described by the artist as ‘self-portraits’, represent his internal emotional state at the time of creating and, therefore, introduce viewers to two worlds.
In his essay, ‘A bridge between two worlds’, he writes: ‘‘The camera is the bridge that connects these two worlds. Not only does it capture what it sees in the external world that is so familiar to us all, but it reflects, at the same time, the inner world of the artist, one that is completely unique and so often unknown and unseen, even by the artist’s eyes at times.”
Brad often records his thoughts in his journal whilst immersed in the landscape and during his reflections that follow his adventures into the natural world.
These musings and contemplations often form the origins of his widely acclaimed creative essays that have reached international audiences in recent magazine publications.
Brad runs private photography tuition, group workshops, creative retreats, and has recently been invited to join the ranks of the prestigious Light & Land as a tutor. His images have featured as MyWelshpool’s social media banner pictures.
He is a member of MWT Cymru, the independent organisation representing 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Eryri (Snowdonia).
PICTURE: ‘A New Dawn’, one of Brad Carr’s exhibiting photographs.
Exhibition Details: