By Ian Price2, 2009-09-22
To AutumnSeason of mists and mellow fruitfulness,Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;Conspiring with him how to load and blessWith fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shellsWith a sweet kernel; to set budding more,And still more, later flowers for the bees,Until they think warm days will never cease,For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.IIWho hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may findThee sitting careless on a granary floor,Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hookSpares the next swath and all its twined flowers:And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keepSteady thy laden head across a brook;Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.IIIWhere are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?Think not of them, thou hast thy music too, -While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,And touch the stubble plains with rosy hue;Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mournAmong the river sallows, borne aloftOr sinking as the light wind lives or dies;And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble softThe red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.JOHN KEATS
Photo Comp Judges decision.
I was delighted to be asked to judge this competition and have to apologise for the delay in making my final decisions. In my defence not only have I been abroad but I have also been very busy with the gallery and commercial work in the last few weeks, sorry! After an awkward access to the images (needs to be much simpler to access and view next time guys!) I was quite surprised. Firstly that there were so few entries, just 11 in total, but then secondly by the one or two very high quality examples amongst them. This of course has made my job extremely easy as I have not had to create sets and subsets of short-listed finalists.It would be extremely unfair to judge the composite and heavily computer enhanced images alongside the straight shots, so I have made the decision to keep them as separate categories, regardless of how few the entries.In the straight photo category I am very happy with my decision to award Skull Shadow the first place, with a VERY close second being Snow Stream. Both showed an acute observation and an eye for the unusual. The Skull shadow had beautiful tonal range, colour and composition. This probably pipped Snow Stream to the post as I was desperate to see just a hint more contrast or tonal separation, though I loved the monochromatic choice of treatment.With regard to the manipulated images, there was a very clear winner (although heavily David Hockney inspired!!) with George Washington Bridge , whereby the use of multiple images allows the artist to shift emphasis from one element of the composition to another, picking up and highlighting details or observations that might otherwise be missed. Again I wish the original images had a little more clarity and tonal range but it was still a successful attempt. In second place I would go for Kilt and Bagpipes for its humour and composition. As an artist for whom the beauty of photography lies within its own phenomenal ability to reproduce tone and texture, I have always been highly critical of attempts to be painters through using computer buttons! I still stand by my view on this and painting should be left to skilled painters, but considering the category of this composition, I still feel the image deserved mention. As a tip, if I am ever asked to judge further competitions, never enter images which have used the art buttons in software packages 
A special mention should go to the Unicorn shot, which whilst lacking in technique, was nevertheless a rather beautiful image and innocently observed, quite haunting and was considered for second place.I should also say that were no bad shots amongst the entries, which is a good sign for AmeriCymru members Glyn Davies 2009
| Welsh singer Karen Ann grew up in the South Wales valleys and started performing in eisteddfodau (traditional music competitions) at school. She left Wales at eighteen and fell in love with Latin America after going AWOL in Mexico at 21. Shes played in jazz duos in Costa Rica and rock bands in Argentina and sung tango in English in the USA. Finally putting down roots in one of South Americas smallest countries she felt the tug of her own and returned to singing Welsh and Celtic traditional music, forming a duo with the guitarist Jorge Galemire in 2005 which evolved into Trelew in 2007.
 Q1 What part of Wales are you from?
The South Wales Valleys a small village called Maes-y-cwmmer in the Rhymney Valley. My parents still live there. I was born in Newport, Gwent.
Q2 When did you emigrate to Uruguay and why?
I'd been fascinated with South America, particularly Argentina, since I was a child. I can still recall a primary school geography lesson about the gauchos. I ended up marrying an Argentinian and we lived in Costa Rica, Liverpool, Buenos Aires and Washington before moving here in 2000. Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay where we live, is across the River Plate from Buenos Aires. It's a small city, quaint, right on the water and it has a great quality of life. I'm a Valleys girl and Buenos Aires is just too huge for me.
Q3 You are the founder of a Welsh band called "Trelew' in Uruguay, how did this come about?
We chose the name Trelew because of its Welsh and South American roots. It's the name of a town in Patagonia, founded by Welsh immigrants in the 1880s. We're not exactly a Welsh band - though we definitely draws on Welsh traditional songs and our own lyrics have Welsh themes like the Welsh emigration to Patagonia. We wrote the songs after reading the diaries of some of the early colonists incredible epic stuff. Another of our songs is about my grandmother's life growing up on charity in Aberdare after her father suffered an accident down the pit. So Welsh issues are important to our music but we're based in South America and all of the musicians except me come from Latin musical traditions.
Q4 How would you describe your music?
Traditional British folk meets Buenos Aires melancholy meets Pampas zamba (a type of South American folk rhythm). People have told me our new album could be used a film soundtrack, it evokes sweeping South American landscapes, journeys across the sea. Galemire, the guitarist is amazing. He has created these walls of acoustic guitars that are just incredible. Then there's the bandoneon which is such a haunting instrument completely associated with tango - though South Americans who know the bandoneon will find that it sounds completely original in this album. There's definitely something about the old country and something definitely South American about it, and the fusion has its own life.
Q5 Do you have any plans to tour in the America's or elsewhere overseas?
We'd really love to play the States it's amazing how many festivals there are going on... Right now we're putting together a tour of South Brazil. And of course, we really want to play in Trelew, Patagonia we're working on that one 
Q6 What do you miss most about Wales?
Bacon butties and my nan.
Q7 Do you think you will ever move back to Wales?
It's not really on the cards right now. Though I go back there all the time -all my family are there.
Q8 - What are your dreams and ambitions for the future?
We'd like to complete our Welsh-Patagonian trilogy which still has only two songs!
Q9 What do you think is the best way for Wales to go about raising its profile overseas?
Publicise the countryside, the people are so friendly and the fact that it is a lot cheaper than London so worth going and spending at least a week. People who know who have been from this part of the world -IF they go at all- go for a day on the train to Cardiff. It's just not enough. My mum works in Caerphilly Tourist Information Centre next to the castle so if anyone reads this and goes there, drop in and say hello 
Q10 - Do you have any messages for our AmeriCymru readers?
We'd love to get greetings from the North of the continent. You can find us on Facebook and MySpace.
![Trelew]() Trelew's first album named Trelew was released in September. It's available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/Trelew and shortly on Amazon, Itunes and all other good internet stockists. Interview by Dave Parry 
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As you may have noticed we have turned the Cymraeg language file back on in an attempt to make the site bilingual. If anyone would like to assist us with that or suggest alternative translations or improvements please comment here or on my profile page.Diolch
By Byn (Bynbrynman)Tavarn Ty Elise, 2009-09-21
The Americymru International film Festival has been postponed till 2011 in order to allow more time for preparation and submissions. Final plans for this exciting event will be announced at next years Left Coast Eisteddfod in Portland, September 2010.
| FFLUR DAFYDD WRITER IN RESIDENCE AT INTERNATIONAL WRITING PROGRAM, IOWA UNIVERSITY
Fflur is currently writer in residence at Iowa University, where she will be researching her next English language novel, The Library, between September 3rd and October 12th, 2009. She is supported by the British Council and will also be taking part in a number of events see below:
Schedule of Events for Fflur Dafydd
(as of 8/20/2009:)
Public Events in Iowa
9/9: Reading at Prairie Lights Books, 7:00 PM
15 South Dubuque Street, Iowa City, IA USA
1-800-295-BOOK; http://www.prairielights.com/
9/25: Panel Presentation at the Iowa City Public Library, 12:00 PM
Meeting Room A, 123 South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA USA
(319) 356-5200; http://www.icpl.org/
Panel Topic: Translation/Writing Between Languages
Description: In what ways has translating, or writing across more than one language, been important to your literary thinking and/or to your creative process?
Other panelists: Vicente Groyon (Philippines), Soheil Najm (Iraq), Lijia Zhang (China)
NB: other events are forthcoming and may include one or more musical performances by Fflur at one of several venues in downtown Iowa City.
Academic Presentations/Classroom Visits in Iowa
(NB: Classroom visits are NOT open to the public)
9/21 International Literature Today. Fflur Dafydd will speak for 15-20 minutes to students enrolled in this undergraduate literature course.
Special Seminar in Creative Writing
Fflur Dafydd will teach a special creative writing seminar to undergraduates at the University of Iowa. This four-week course will meet from 2:30-4:30 PM on 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, and 10/2. Students will gather in a seminar room at the Writers House at 111 Church Street, a unique campus space dedicated to fostering writing, artistic collaboration, and literary performance at the University of Iowa.
Activities in Portland, Oregon, 10/3-10/9
(Includes public events and classroom visits)
Fflur Dafydd will join four other IWP writers in Portland, Oregon for several days of readings, talks, and other professional programming. Barry Sanders (west-coast-based author, Senior Fulbright Scholar, two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, and English professor) is hosting this series of literary events, in collaboration with colleagues at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland State University, Oregon Council for the Humanities, and other local partners. This will be the first IWP delegation to take part in such a dynamic slate of activities in the city.
The precise programme in Portland is still TBD, but will include some or all of the following activities:
An opening reception at Pacific Northwest College of Art, a fine arts college located in the city of Portland. http://www.pnca.edu/ .
Visits to classes at PNCA and the opportunity to participate in a group reading in the Commons, a large open art-space in the heart of campus: http://www.pnca.edu/studentlife/facilities/commons.php
An informal roundtable discussion at Portland State University, sponsored by the creative writing department and the English department on the topic of politics and writing.
Trips to see the countryside of the Pacific Northwest--the Gorge, the falls, the many rivers, etc. Read more HERE
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| Really Welsh Coffee!! The Secrets Out . "So how is coffee thats sourced in Africa & South America, by third generation Italians, actually Welsh we hear you ask. Well, as we said, the beans are first chosen individually for their resemblance to rugby balls(slight exaggeration but bear with us) by highly trained bean spotters, who we feed only on leeks and laver bread. Coffee beans from Pure Estates are selected and they make their transatlantic journey in welsh wool sacks, while we play Max Boyce records over and over into the cargo hold. By the time we get them, they can virtually sing Cwm Rhondda Once on Welsh soil, our beans bach undergo a further selection, (not everyone makes the squad on a tour) then we roast them here, grind them up to release all that lovely flavour and blend the results carefully to achieve a balanced taste and bouquet." Read more HERE |
| Niall Griffiths and Chris Keil Reading at The Left Coast Eisteddfod
Read our Interviews with Niall and Chris here:-
Niall Griffiths
Chris Keil
![]()    Niall Griffiths at Mt St. Helens  ![]() "The volcano is right over there.....honest!"
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By Byn (Bynbrynman)Tavarn Ty Elise, 2009-09-20
September 20, 2009 at 7:24 am -September 19, 2009Welsh scholar to speak at WVU Tech about shared mining historyWest Virginia's mining history owes a debt to the knowledge and skills of Welsh coal miners, according to a professor who has been instrumental in starting a history lecture series at West Virginia University Institute of Technology.By Susan WilliamsStaff writerAdvertiserMONTGOMERY, W.Va. --West Virginia's mining history owes a debt to the knowledge and skills of Welsh coal miners, according to a professor who has been instrumental in starting a history lecture series at West Virginia University Institute of Technology.Thursday evening a noted Welsh historian will talk about those contributions, particularly through the eyes of one Welsh miner who later became a writer.Bill Jones, who earned his doctorate in Wales, is also co-director of the Cardiff Centre for Welsh American Studies. In his lecture that begins at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Tech Center Ballroom, Jones will talk about the history of the South Wales coalfields, particularly as seen through the eyes of B.L. Coombes.Coombes, who died in 1974, wrote several books including "These Poor Hands: The Autobiography of a South Wales Miner." After its publication in 1939, Coombes gained an international reputation. In his writings, Coombes gives readers special insight into the underground world of the miner.Jones titled his lecture "With Dust in His Throat: Miner-Writer B.L. Coombes (1893-1974) and the History of Coal Mining in South Wales." South Wales is one of the most intensively mined areas in the world.Paul Rakes, an associate professor of history at Tech, said he and other planners at the college wanted to honor the late Otis K. Rice by naming the lecture series for him. Rice taught history at Tech and published many books including several on West Virginia history that are still widely used.Rakes, who started his work life as a coal miner, said Jones plans to give a brief overview of the history of coal mining in South Wales, then focus on Coombes' life and work.Rakes said Jones would show the many ways that Coombes' understated yet compelling voice emerged out of the mines of South Wales. Coombes also can be seen as one who speaks for the experiences of coal miners and mining communities everywhere, Rakes said.When he learned Jones would be traveling in the United States, Rakes contacted him. Rakes said Jones was happy to come to Tech, not only to point out the similarities between mining in West Virginia and Wales, but for a chance to walk in the mountains."He loves to walk in the mountains," Rakes said.Tech Provost Scott Hurst wants to make this first lecture "the kickoff for an annual event," Rakes said. Hurst has wanted to establish a series for some time, Rakes said, so Jones' visit to America gave them the opportunity to start the series.Jones has written many books and taught in several schools. He is currently the reader in Welsh history at the School of History and Archaeology at Cardiff University. He has also served as curator of the coal mining collection at the National Museum of Wales. In addition to writing, teaching and lecturing, Jones has also made several television documentaries about Welsh history.Rakes said he hopes people who attend the lecture will come away "with a greater appreciation of the similarities between the mining experience here and in Wales. Mining also influences an individual's thinking and changes the way one sees the world."The lecture is free and open to the public. Montgomery is east of Charleston on WVa. 61. The Tech Center Ballroom is near Old Main on campus.MONTGOMERY, W.Va. --West Virginia's mining history owes a debt to the knowledge and skills of Welsh coal miners, according to a professor who has been instrumental in starting a history lecture series at West Virginia University Institute of Technology.Thursday evening a noted Welsh historian will talk about those contributions, particularly through the eyes of one Welsh miner who later became a writer.Bill Jones, who earned his doctorate in Wales, is also co-director of the Cardiff Centre for Welsh American Studies. In his lecture that begins at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Tech Center Ballroom, Jones will talk about the history of the South Wales coalfields, particularly as seen through the eyes of B.L. Coombes.Coombes, who died in 1974, wrote several books including "These Poor Hands: The Autobiography of a South Wales Miner." After its publication in 1939, Coombes gained an international reputation. In his writings, Coombes gives readers special insight into the underground world of the miner.Jones titled his lecture "With Dust in His Throat: Miner-Writer B.L. Coombes (1893-1974) and the History of Coal Mining in South Wales." South Wales is one of the most intensively mined areas in the world.Paul Rakes, an associate professor of history at Tech, said he and other planners at the college wanted to honor the late Otis K. Rice by naming the lecture series for him. Rice taught history at Tech and published many books including several on West Virginia history that are still widely used.Rakes, who started his work life as a coal miner, said Jones plans to give a brief overview of the history of coal mining in South Wales, then focus on Coombes' life and work.Rakes said Jones would show the many ways that Coombes' understated yet compelling voice emerged out of the mines of South Wales. Coombes also can be seen as one who speaks for the experiences of coal miners and mining communities everywhere, Rakes said.When he learned Jones would be traveling in the United States, Rakes contacted him. Rakes said Jones was happy to come to Tech, not only to point out the similarities between mining in West Virginia and Wales, but for a chance to walk in the mountains."He loves to walk in the mountains," Rakes said.Tech Provost Scott Hurst wants to make this first lecture "the kickoff for an annual event," Rakes said. Hurst has wanted to establish a series for some time, Rakes said, so Jones' visit to America gave them the opportunity to start the series.Jones has written many books and taught in several schools. He is currently the reader in Welsh history at the School of History and Archaeology at Cardiff University. He has also served as curator of the coal mining collection at the National Museum of Wales. In addition to writing, teaching and lecturing, Jones has also made several television documentaries about Welsh history.Rakes said he hopes people who attend the lecture will come away "with a greater appreciation of the similarities between the mining experience here and in Wales. Mining also influences an individual's thinking and changes the way one sees the world."The lecture is free and open to the public. Montgomery is east of Charleston on WVa. 61. The Tech Center Ballroom is near Old Main on campus.AddThis
