Cathedral Concert

I am so pleased. My concert went really well and after ten years of working on the music it was like a dream come true. We recorded and filmed it too so I have the memory fresh before me every day if I want it. Many of our friends came and it felt great to be able to say how much living in Pembrokeshire means to me and how happy I have been here. The accousitcs in the Cathedral were amazing - the trumpet and saxophone sounded wonderful as their music drifted up towards the high vaulted ceiling. This is a picture from the rehearsal where you can see Jon Turner my music mentor without whom all this would never have grown to fruition. He arranged the filming too and did the editing of that afterwards.

Concert at St Davids Cathedral

My Pembrokeshire Weather Report Concert is getting very close now - St David's Cathedral on the 19th September. All the musicians have been working through the pieces and Kathry Ashton - mezzo-sporano - is making beautiful sounds. It is so exciting to feel my music coming to life and gaining in depth and tonal ranges as we go along. Making me very busy though - every spare minute is taken up practising.

Child of the Revolution

I am giving a talk about growing up in Cuba and how I became an artist during the years of Castro's revolution. Come along to the Old Chapel at 7pm on 19th August 2009. We are hoping to show the BBC film of my journey back to Cuba in 1997 too.

Workshops for the Disadvantaged

Got very excited today as our MP Stephen Crabb came to see me. I am trying to get him interested in helping me set up workshops for those who are not easily able to get art experience. Specially those in prisons - I do believe that if they get a chance to try something new it helps them feel less hopeless about their future. Young people too who might not have the money or the encouragment to create art can make big changes in their lives just by knowing something new is open for them.

Everything seems to be happening at once. Have had to repaint the angel in the garden again. Also practising like crazy for my concert at St Davids Cathedral on 19th September - a once in a lifetime chance for me to play a piece of piano music I have been workign on for ten years. At the same time my new strand of work (art) is taking off and there is just a chance we might be able to go to Cuba in November. Haven't seen my family for 5 years so that would be wonderful. Not sleeping much in the excitement though and so driving Heather crazy.

Talk on Indian and Asian Architecture

Setting this talk up today and trying to get the sound stuff working right so that we can record what Ian Mc Donald says. Could do with more room at the Gallery really as have to take eveything to pieces every time we do a talk or anything audio-visual. Lot coming up to as you can see from below

5th August 2009 Ian McDonald Circling the Square – How Japan Broke the Grid. Audio visual evening on Japanese Architecture being held at Raul Speek Gallery, Solva. 7 for 7.30 Including glass of wine and light refreshments. £3 entrance fee. Tel 01437 721907 for details

19th August 2009 Raul Speek A Child of the Revolution. Audio visual evening at Raul Speek Gallery, Solva including showing of video made by The Slate ‘A Long Journey Home’. Entrance fee £3. 7 for 7.30 includes glass of wine and light refreshments. Tel 01437 721907 for details.

ARTists Pembrokeshire – Summer Exhibition featuring 3 Solva artists in the Tower and Café at Oriel y Parc. Heather Bennett Photographer, Ian McDonald Print maker and Raul Speek Artist. 14th July to 28th August 2009 9.30am to 5.30pm. Contact Oriel y Parc on 720392 for details.

September 19th 2009 at 7.30pm. at St David’s Cathedral, Pembrokeshire. ‘Pembrokeshire Weather Report’ Concert for Piano and other Voices composed and performed by Raul Speek (A Cuban in Wales). Contact 01437 721907 or email raul@raulspeek.co.uk for bookings and details.

Of course the one I am looking forward to is playing my semi-calssical piano piece in the Cathedral. Dream of a lifetime.

Cuba

Cuba seems to be in the news all the time at the moment. Did you see the programme on Monday evening it was a bit over saturated but it still managed to make me feel homesick. I am amazed how many people come to the gallery and have either just been to Cuba or have just come back. They nearly always ask me how I got here and if I am wanting to tease them I say 'In a green MG'. It is true but not what they mean at all. They see Pembrokeshire as a very sterange place for me to be. But I loved Solva straight away - I came here with my wife on holiday and we never went away really. That was 16 years ago.

For me here has a magic all of its own. The light is fabulous for painting and there is a strongly spiritual feeling to the place. I know we live in an old Chapel which helps but it is all around. People come on one of our courses and they dont want to go home afterwards - they nearly always come back to explore more of the county or walk the coast path. You should come to the area and breath the freshness of the air - it will make you feel better.