Students from Coleg Menai’s Art Foundation course have created installation pieces based on psychedelic stage musical ‘Operation Julie’.

Their artwork is on show at Pontio in Bangor.

Gweithred Greadigol/A Creative Operation is an exhibition of installation art inspired by psychedelic rock musical ‘Operation Julie’, which comes to Pontio in Bangor from 15-18 May.

‘Operation Julie’, by Theatr na nÓg and Aberystwyth Arts Centre, tells the tale of when rural West Wales was at the centre of one of the biggest drugs busts in history.

The 1970s police investigation of the same name uncovered LSD worth £100million - making up 60 per cent of the world’s market at the time.

Ahead of the show’s visit to Pontio, the Art Foundation course students were invited to create artwork which will be on display at the venue until 19 May.

Work by learners Moli Prendergast and Amy Evans was also chosen for the front cover of Pontio’s summer ‘What’s On’ programme.

The front cover of Pontio’s summer 2024 ‘What’s On’ programme, featuring artwork by Coleg Menai students Moli Prendergast and Amy Evans
The front cover of Pontio’s summer 2024 ‘What’s On’ programme, featuring artwork by Coleg Menai students Moli Prendergast and Amy Evans (Picture supplied)

Owein Prendergast, Art Foundation course leader, said: “We’ve worked with Pontio quite a few times in the past making site-specific artwork for parts of the building.

“On the Foundation course you have students doing lots of different disciplines, so we did this as a group project, with each group having a fine artist, a graphic artist, an applied designer.

“The students’ work includes three-metre high banners suspended from the ceiling, two site-specific installations, as well as video projections which will be projected onto the massive white wall.”

A free gig by highly-acclaimed Pen Llŷn band Pys Melyn launched the exhibition at the launch, there was also a welcome from radio presenter and musician Rhys Mwyn.

Owein said Pys Melyn are “a favourite of quite a few of our foundation students and have been getting a lot of airplay on BBC 6 Music”.

As a thankyou for their artistic endeavours, the Art Foundation students have also been invited to the soundcheck of the opening night of Operation Julie in May.

For information about the Art Foundation course at Coleg Menai visit their website.