Film Exhibition at Oriel Y Parc

 

 

 

So blown away to have a packed out audience for my Dragon Tree Film Exhibition in Oriel Y Parc.

 

I should say here, that Oriel Y Parc is a truly beautiful space owned by The National Park. Stunning!

 

And it was absolutely awesome to exhibit my work alongside the fabulous gallery of other artists ... Diolch!

 

I sat next to Miranda who features not only in the film, but in the book and as she squeezed my hand, I had to hold back the tears!!

Such an emotional day!

 

 

 

So many people have emailed me today to thank me for the opportunity of sharing this journey with me ... genuinely now folks, THANK YOU because for me, my road would be a lonely place without you in it. You know, it is only today that I can feel anything. Yesterday, my friend Bríd asked me if I enjoyed it and I said that I can't say yet ... well, today I can say ...

 

It was a very special experience and one that I could never have dreamt. Enjoy would not be the right word, more: moved by the wholeness of the experience.

When I put the plan together for The Arts Council of Wales over a year ago now, I had no idea that there would be a film in its own right in addition to the performances, I thought I would be making backing film images.

 

I had no idea I would perform in The Cathedral and bring all these guests who had consulted throughout the process, with me to share the space ... the original plan, was for a small gathering in The Court House.

 

Instead over 250 beautiful people came to this small village like City and left humming my tunes and telling my stories. Now then, that is totally WOW!!

Personal invite to come for a cuppa round the log fire & a post performance chat

I would like to invite anyone who is coming to St.David's for my Dragon Tree tomorrow, to join me after the live performance and film showings in THE COURT HOUSE on THE SQUARE for tea/coffee, scones & bara brith, whilst the lovely Sam Collins stokes the log fire to keep us cwtsh'd in.

We'll be there from @ 4pm for a chat in the lounge with my Arts Installation and I'll have copies of my new book The Dragon Tree which you can buy if you like, and help me to raise the funds to go back to Zhondina Orphanage this July with Leaves of Hope. Would be lovely to see you for quiet time before we pack up and head home ♥

Preparing for The Court House

 

 

 

Packing up Dai Collage and the whole Arts Installation today to take down to The Court House for Exhibition tomorrow as part of The Dragon Tree in St.David's Experience

 

I keep forgetting he's in the kitchen waiting for a lift down to St.David's so everytime I go in the kitchen, I almost jump out of my skin!

We've packed the van and the car ... then tonight we'll re-pack the van and the car for the equipment needed in The Cathedral tomorrow ... honestly, it take more time to pack up and unpack than it does to perform! But t'will all be worth it ... can't actually believe that at 12pm tomorrow I'll be singing The Dragon tree songs in such a beautiful space ...

See YOU there folks!

 

Where are The Dragon Tree venues in St.David's, Pembrokeshire?

For those of you who haven't been to St.David's before, here's what you're looking for!

This is the Cathedral. Do you see those little people in the distance on the left? They are outside the front door .. that's where you need to head for 12.00pm on Saturday 16th February to see my Live Performance of The Dragon Tree where I will be joined by special guests from Artscare Gofal Celf LegaC Contemporary Dance Troop, Bigyn Primary School with Sam Collins, Johnstown Primary Eco Council, Swansea Ukuele Group, Jeff Beer & Amanda Painting.

BELOW
This is The Court House. It is on The Square at the end of the High Street. It's both buildings and the entrance is the door on the right side, a bit back from the road. I will be in here from @ 3.30pm to meet and greet people after the performance and film showings, and to showcase my Dragon Tree book. My Arts Installation will be in the lounge so that all weekend, while people are walking down the High Street, they will see it through this lovely big window.

 

This is the front door  ...

 

OH LOOK!

Someone has put up little Dragon Tree fliers all over St.David's ... wonder who?

Who do you think!

 

 

 BELOW
This is the front of Oriel Y Parc owned by The National Park. They do have thier own car park which they ask you to pay for by machine.

The Dragon Tree Film showings are in this building, also on 16th February at 2pm and 3pm.

The front door is to the right of that blue screen.

When you get in, you'll see reception desk. The Studio and Conference Room, which is where we'll be, is to your left, but they are very kind and helpful staff and will show you where to go.

Special Note: They do a great cappacino for £2 in the lovely Cafe.

=

 
This is The Round Tower at Oriel Y Parc.
On Sunday 17th February The Dragon Tree film will be showing all day in this Gallery for those who missed it on the Saturday, or who want to see it again. 

 

It's beautiful, isn't it!

I feel so utterly blessed and a tad overwhelmed to be bringing my creativity to these amazing spaces.

 

Thank you so much to The Arts Council of Wales for my Individual Mainline Grant, making it so.

 

 

 

Whizzing over to St.David's

 

So excited that tomorrow we'll be whizzing over to St.David's Cathedral to check out the technicals for next week's performance and then up to Oriel Y Parc to check the sound and what gadgets we'll need for the film exhibition also on 16th Feb.

Just had to show you how incredible St.David's Cathedral is and help you to imagine how intensely moving it will be to perform in this space ..

 This is one of the ceilings ...

 Me & Jeff Beer who will be the sound engineer

 Lighting a candle for my Nan and Grandad

See you there folks!

 

Saturday 16th Feb starts at 12pm

Film starts at Oriel Y Parc at 2pm and 3pm

Arts Installation all day at The Cwrt House and I'll be joining the installation @ 4pm

The Dragon Tree FREE Ukulele & Song Writing Workshops

FEBRUARY 13TH AT ORIEL Y PARC GALLERY IN ST.DAVID'S

When I was looking for somewhere in St.Davids to exhibit my films for

The Dragon Tree

I could not have found anywhere more perfect than Oriel Y Parc Gallery and as thankyou to them for kindly hosting the exhibition  ... I am doing some Ukuele and Songwirting Workshops at the Gallery in the run up  ...

THE WORKSHOPS WILL BE ONE HOUR AND FOR ONE AFTERNOON ONLY

WEDNESDAY 13TH FEBRUARY

Come along with your children and write songs about how YOU feel when you are walking along our wonderful coastline.

 

A chance to write YOUR OWN songs about the West Wales Coastline on a fun &

 quirky little instrument.

ADMISSION IS FREE

BUT PLACES ARE LIMITED!!

 

SO YOU NEED TO BOOK IN ADVANCE TO BE SURE YOU CAN COME.

FIRST TO CONTACT, FIRST BOOKED!

Contact Emma Bowen at Oriel Y Parc:
Here's the link

http://www.pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk/default.asp?PID=92


As an example, here's a little film of other people who ahve been to my workshops ... some had never played uke or sang before ...



Tai Chi Catch Up

How fabulous to see the wonderful Teena Gould today before she moves away to Scotland!

 

We had a catch up to see if Teena can come back to lead the children in Tai Chi adaptation for the performance of Fusion Inspire: the dragon tree in St.David's Cathedral as part of the Tour in February 2013.

 

AND SHE CAN!! HOORAH!

 

Imagine the children in the aisles of the Cathedral dressed in black doing Tai Chi to my song 600 castles ... led by Teena.

 

JOYOUS!

Contemporary Dance Film Shoot at Bishop's Palace, St.David's Cathedral, Cultural Olympiad

As part of the Cultural Olympiad,

LegaC Contemporary Dancers with

Arts Care Gofal Celf

had a site rehearsal on the day of the Event.

They had already invited me to film them and use some of the footage for my production as a film scape, but the weather kept filming at bay.

You can read in my earlier blog telling how we ended up in Whitland Town Hall!

 But on the day of the Cultural Olympiad Launch the sunshine kissed St.David's beautifully.

Bishop's Palace came alive.

However, it was very hard for me to get any film footage that I could use for my production because ...

People were wearing plain clothes, or walking across me .. it was their reheasrsal and so I decided to stay in the background.

Even so, I haven't been through all my film footage yet ... but I'm sure I will be able to get some amazing shots on slow motion.

This piece on the stairs was absolutely stunning  on film. Everyone had gargoyle masks on.

The section where the dancers caught the wind and danced with their wings looked amazing on film .. bit harder to catch with stills though!

Look how dance fills everyone with joy!

Afterwards, back stage, I did manage to get some AWESOME film footage asking dancers to do specific things, but they were exhausted and resting for their performance, so I only filmed them if they felt able.

Arts Care Gofal Celf Dance Co-ordinator,

Laura Hackett, asked me to take a few informal shots back stage.

'Cauldrons and Furnaces'

And then LUNCH!

Or filming for Chez, ME ...

This little lad will represent our character

Dafydd as a child.

The hat and scarf travel through films with the walking stick.

 

Others did what dancers do when they are relaxing! Head Stands off course! lol!

The girls sat chatting ...

... or snoozing

It was very touching to watch some of the dancers supporting each other with extra rehearsals.

And then onto the business of making oneself blend into the stone  ...

  

The Bishop's Palace.

These are the 39 Steps ...

I need to film my character Dafydd crawling up these steps! This is where I want to bring actor,  Simon Morgan Thomas

when we have good weather. 

Oh and I must show you these Bell Ringers who were absolutely wonderful.

I'm thinking they could record a piece with me to signify the bells ringing at the bottom of Cardigan Bay as part of the opening piece: The Legend of the Lost Lowlands. I spoke to the leader and hopefully she will email me.

Meanwhile in town, the streets were absolutely packed with procession and pilgrimage.

On my way home I stopped off at the beach to watch a kite fly across the blue ...

And to sneak one of nature's trinkets into my pocket to remind me of my wonderfully creative day ...

 Thank you Arts Care Gofal Celf

LegaC Contemporary Dancers

& all the wonderful team!

What Fun!

THIS COULD BE YOU! 

If you want to join a dance class,

or you want to get involved in ANY community arts in Carmarthenshire or Pembrokeshire,

why not contact Arts Care Gofal Celf.

www.artscare.co.uk