The Literature Wales project that was commissioned over fifteen months ago, finally went ahead in Newport today. It was very exciting to be able to meet in person at last, and lovely to be back in The Share Centre. Francesca Kay is a poet and letterpress printer. You can see her website here. She brought … Continue reading Sharing Words and Art
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Dance and Film: Cynefin – Week Five
This week, dancer, actor and teacher, June Campbell-Davies came in to work with the children on our Cynefin Project along with Marcus and Nick from Redbrck Production Company. Following introductions, June told the class about her parents' experience of coming from Grenada in the West Indies to the UK post-war, part of a Dance Troupe … Continue reading Dance and Film: Cynefin – Week Five
Dragon Bloom and Other Magical Tales
The after-school Creative Writing and Art course at Llanover Hall finally started again on Thursday after months of lockdown with three new participants and three returning, aged between 8 and 11. A while ago, a friend (see her blog here), showed me how to make an eight page mini book, and it was great to … Continue reading Dragon Bloom and Other Magical Tales
Murals and Sculptures: Cynefin – Week Four
A lovely day for a walk to Penllwyn Manor in Blackwood accompanied by three of the children's fathers. Unfortunately, my attempts to gain access to the house proved unfruitful, though Douglas, the kind man at the council did his best to persuade the present owners of the building to let us have a look around. We … Continue reading Murals and Sculptures: Cynefin – Week Four
Mapping our Journey: Cynefin – Week One
I have been paired with a primary school in the Caerphilly County Borough to work with Year 4 and 5 children and their teacher on the Arts Council of Wales Cynefin project. After an exciting online planning session, the teacher and I formulated a question to encompass the school's priorities and the requirements of the … Continue reading Mapping our Journey: Cynefin – Week One
Voices From the Future
In January, the company Loud Voices Silent Streets issued a call-out for short monologues (less than 6 minutes) based on the theme of Illusion. My piece originated from a consideration of themes in the ultimate play about illusion, The Tempest. I found the witch, Sycorax fascinating as she is a powerful presence in the play … Continue reading Voices From the Future
Celebrating Poly Styrene
Poly Styrene was an icon and visionary. Of Anglo-Somali heritage, she was the first woman of colour to front a successful rock band, and was a key inspiration for the riot grrrl and Afropunk movements in Britain. Her sparse, potent lyrics still resound today. The documentary Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché,features unseen archive material … Continue reading Celebrating Poly Styrene
Celebrating Breathing Space
Online launch of the wonderful work produced over lockdown by participants of Breathing Space, a group that Katja Stiller and I have been facilitating for the past two years. Transferring onto Zoom during the pandemic, the weekly sessions consist of mindfulness, creative writing and art for people with mild to medium mental health issues. Taking … Continue reading Celebrating Breathing Space
Cynefin
"This is the place where we feel we belong, where the people and landscape around us are familiar, and the sights and sounds are reassuringly recognisable. Though often translated as 'habitat', cynefin is not just a place in a physical or geographical sense: it is the historic, cultural and social place which has shaped and … Continue reading Cynefin
New Work
Photo collages, 2021. Selena and the All Seeing EyeHare Women Thoughts of HomeThe ApothecaryFlowerheadsThe Sky has Many Scars - After Sagawa Chika
Sarah J Featherstone 