Blogs
David Western's Lovespoon Eisteddfod Blog, 6 July 2009 - "Home Again, Home Again, at last!"
By gaabi, 2009-07-07
I've just got back from a couple of weeks in Europe. My wife loves to go there for the art, the scenery, the markets, the food, the vino and the history. Me, I like to go there to crawl around under church pews, to crick my neck trying to spot carvings on timber framed houses, to be the guy laying on the floor taking pictures of an ornamented chair leg while everyone else is drooling over Rembrandts and to be the fellow who barely notices the magnificent stained glass of Chartres Cathedral because I'm mesmerized by the tiny roses carved into the stone columns. I confess, I absolutely love the wood and stone carving of the medieval and renaissance period! Whenever I start to think I am getting pretty good at what I do, a quick look at some carvings done by the artists of medieval Europe puts me well and truly back in my place and vividly illustrates the distance I have yet to travel!
But it isn't just the masterworks of the medieval church carver which inspire. The 'folk' carvings of the Barvarian and Tirolean Alps never fail to dazzle me with their exhuberance and virtuosity. Scarcely any wooden object was left unadorned and the result is an exciting legacy of chip carving which is still practiced by adherents around the globe today.
What I really like about wandering around Europe though, is that wood carving seems to show up everywhere. This picture was taken of a shop door in a Parisien fashion arcade. Although the picture doesn't do it justice, the work was exquisite. If there was some of this kind of stuff at the fashion stores here in Canada, my wife would have a fighting chance of getting me to go shopping with her once in a while!
I know that many carvers out there struggle with finding designs to inspire them and they especially find imagining their own patterns very difficult. I'm not too much different in that respect but I have found that by continually keeping my eye peeled for little gems like this, I have managed to vastly expand the repertoire of ideas I have to draw on during the design process. This simple little detail from a confessional is absolutely captivating and will definitely find its way into one of my designs some day soon. It may get altered a bit, but it is such an elegant form that I can't wait to find a way to carve it! To have this kind of inspiration available almost everywhere one looks really does make a trip to Europe more than worthwhile for a carver. And did I mention the beer? Ahhhh, the beer!
I'll conclude my little travelogue with this last picture from Chartres Cathedral (I was exaggerating for effect earlier, I did notice the stained glass!). This, for me, was the absolute highlight of my European trip! Although hard to see in this pic (as it is in real life) there is a tiny frog carved onto the stone column. His head has been broken off at some point, but his torso and limbs remain. Representing a staggering amount of extra work for the carver, this little frog was likely carved here for the sole purpose of supplying some whimsical beauty for the observant viewer. What a delight he must have been for eagle eyed children (and adults) over the years. And what a modest, quiet and yet powerful illustration of the beauty of carving!
Americymru member Beryl Richards has kindly consented to make her work "Nantybar - A Vanished Village in the Afan Valley" available for download. The book is available in PDF format and can be obtained here or by clicking the link below.
Beryl Richards, a historian and poet from Port Talbot in South Wales will also be giving a presentation at the left coast eisteddfod "Unlocking The Madoc Enigma". Here is an excerpt from the preface to the book:-"
"The Upper Afan Valley runs in a northerly direction, from the steel town of Port Talbot, for some 22 miles. The 1850s saw an unprecedented era of growth and development in the locality due to the enormous deposits of coal to be found there. The demand for it caused by advances in industrial technology on a national level, which needed fuel to power the newly invented steam engines and steam-powered ships.Alongside these advances in technology, commerce and trade were rapidly expanding to what would become a globally significant level."
 | Nantybar: A Vanished Village in the Afan Valley |
| nantybar.pdf, 2.4MB ∞ |
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod: 6th - 12th July 2009 ( Schedule)
By Ceri Shaw, 2009-07-05
For one week, in one town, over fifty countries gather for one of Wales most unique experiences. This July over 50,000 performers and festival goers from all over the world will visit Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in the picturesque Dee Valley, North Wales. This cool and cultural event, considered as 'Wales gift to the World' was established in 1947 to promote peace and goodwill between nations through music and dance. Still thriving today Llangollen Eisteddfod has become one of the worlds most colourful festivals. During each themed day the festival field is a hive of activity with main stage competitions, outside stage performances, workshops, and impromptu singing and dancing from every corner of the world, in national and regional costume. The evening Gala concerts over the years have attracted some of show-business biggest names such as Pavarotti, Michael Ball, Elaine Page, Domingo, Katherine Jenkins and Dame Shirley Bassey. This year is no exception with concerts by Faryl Smith, Barbara Dickson, Sir Willard White, Blake, Natasha Marsh, and even The Music of James Bond, with guest stars including Honor Blackman, aka Pussy Galore! What a cocktail...Prepare to be shaken and stirred! Join the rest of the world, join the party. For more information, telephone 01978 862001 or visit the website at www.llangollen2009.com
Llangollen Festival Schedule 1_7_09.pdfAm un wythnos, mewn un dref, daw pobl o dros 50 gwlad ynghyd ar gyfer un o ddigwyddiadau mwyaf unigryw Cymru. Ym mis Gorffennaf, daw 50,000 o berfformwyr ac ymwelwyr o bedwar ban byd i Eisteddfod Gerddorol Ryngwladol Llangollen yn Nyffryn Dyfrdwy, Gogledd Cymru. Maer digwyddiad cl a diwylliannol hwn, a gaiff ei ystyried fel anrheg Cymru ir Byd, ei sefydlu ym 1947 i hybu heddwch ac ewyllys da rhwng cenhedloedd trwy gerddoriaeth a dawns. Mae Eisteddfod Llangollen yn mynd o nerth i nerth ac erbyn hyn yn un o wyliau mwyaf lliwgar y byd. Ceir thema benodol i bob diwrnod ac yn ystod pob diwrnod mae maes yr yl wastad llawn bwrlwm gyda chystadlaethau ar y brif lwyfan, perfformiadau ar y maes, gweithdai, canu a dawnsio byrfyfyr o bedwar ban byd mewn gwisgoedd traddodiadol. Mae cyngherddau Gala a gaiff eu cynnal gydar nos wedi denu enwau mwyaf y byd adloniant megis Pavarotti, Michael Ball, Elaine Paige, Domingo, Katherine Jenkins a Dame Shirley Bassey. Mae eleni hefyd yn sicr o syfrdanu gyda chyngherddau gyda Faryl Smith, Barbara Dickson, Syr Willard White, Blake, Natasha Marsh, ac hyd yn oed Cerddoriaeth James Bond, ymhlith y gwesteion arbennig bydd Honor Blackman, sef Pussy Galore! Am goctel ffrwydrol! Ymunwch gweddill y byd, ymynwch yn yr hwyl. Am ragor o wybodaeth, ffoniwch 01978 862 001 neu ewch ir wefan www.llangollen2009.com
Amserlen Eisteddfod Llangollen 1_7_09.pdf
Order from:- Alun Arwel Clement 30 Brynhyfryd Tce Ferndale
Rhondda
CF43 4LD
South Wales
E-mail: bafca@hotmail.com
( Each volume costs 15GBP each/$22.50 approx - As a guide Vol 1 & Vol 2 cost 37GBP/$55.50 approx which includes p&p to residents of the UK, while for residents in Australia it would cost 48GBP inc p&p/97AUD approx - All checks are payable to A.A. Clement )
Extract from Passages of life in Ferndale & District by Alun Arwel Clement
