This exciting new project proposes to bring artists together to create
a multidisciplinary performance and accompanying
exhibition of work, inspired by the landscape and history of the
Carmarthen to Aberystwyth railway line.
A group artists will walk along sections of the old railway line, to dance, to film, to sing and record; to
draw and make site specific art, reconnecting the locations and
histories of the line through creative responses to the journey. Sharing stories and songs along the route, the artists will blog the creation of new work as they go, developing ideas towards the final destination - an event on the
Gwili Railway: a performance in a vintage railway carriage travelling along part of the old route and an exhibition in the station. Although the campaign is in English the art works, performance and the
project pubicity will be produced bilingually, including both English
and Welsh language elements.
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Lead artist
Joanna Bond is a multidisciplinary artist living and
working in New Quay, west Wales specialising in ceramics, singing,
performance art, and capoeira.
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The idea formed in
June 2012 while Joanna was travelling back from honeymoon in Prague
by railway. 'I had a strong desire to connect west Wales
with south Wales where I grew up and where my parents still live'.
Up until its closure the railway connected
north and south Wales and was an instrumental part of rural life.
It is remembered with great fondness and its reinstatement would
bring environmental, social and economic benefits.
Read about the history of the line here
Using the railway as a metaphor
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Connecting
artists. The project brings together a number of
artists from various different disciplines, connecting ideas and
creative experiences.
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Connecting
places. The artworks will bring together stories and songs
of the area, sharing the personal experiences of places and
journeys.
Connecting people. The
project aims to engage with a broad audience. Through community
groups and organisations it will encourage and develop engagement with the
campaign to reinstate the railway and promote relationships between
art audiences, train enthusiasts, environmentalists and tourists.
The art & the artists
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Music &
song. Local folk music and songs from Carmarthen to Aberystwyth
will be explored and recorded by artists and musicians including Ceri Rhys
Matthews, Elsa Davies, Lynne Denman, Claire Parry and Mary Jacob
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Videos.
Video documentary and video artworks will be made during the project
by Jacob Whittaker and Naomi Heath following the artistic processes
of the group and collaborating with the other artists to create video artworks for the final production.
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Dance.
Joanna Bond and Ruth Hogg will be creating and dancing their own
choreographies inspired by the landscape, the railway and the other artists on the journey along the line.
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Storytelling.
Storytellers Peter Stevenson and Guto Dafis will share evocative and atmospheric stories around imagined and real journeys and
encounters about the surrounding areas and of the railway.
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Ceramics.
Joanna Bond will be making three espresso cups and saucers and
decorating them with hand-drawn images in response to the
collaborative walking of the line. They will also carry 3 unique QR
codes which when scanned will open a youtube video of a song or a
story relating to the specific design on that cup.
Performance. A
multidisciplinary performance will be held in a carriage on the
Gwili railway while travelling part of the old route, the final
destination of which will be a multimedia bilingual exhibition of
the project incorporating all aspects of the project.
What We Need & What You Get
To realise our goal we need -
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As working artists
we need to raise enough funds to cover the costs of our time and our
production materials. This amounts to around £6000 in total
for artist's fees and £2000 in costs (materials, transport, studio
hire, marketing).
For £1 you will get a big thank you and your name will be added to a register of thanks on our facebook page! and you can feel proud to be supporting artists in Wales!
For £5 you will be added to the register of thanks and recieve a limited edition email artwork of your choice.
For £10 you will get the above and a limited edition postcard signed by the artist
For
£20 you will recieve a code to enable access to a limited edition MP3 download by one of the artist musicians as well as a limited edition email artwork and thanks.
For £35 you will recieve a unique code to enable access to a limited edition MP3 download of a story by one of our artist storytellers as well as a song and an email artwork and thanks.
For £50 you will recieve a limited edition screen printed cotton bag, a unique code to enable access to an MP3 download of a story by one of our artist storytellers, a song by our musicians as well as an email artwork and thanks!
For £200 you will recieve a unique ceramic tile designed and made by lead artist Joanna Bond with an exclusive screen printed cotton bag, a unique code to enable access to a limited edition MP3 download of a story by one of our artist storytellers, a song by our musicians as well as an email artwork and thanks!
For £500 You will recieve 2 VIP tickets to the final event on the Gwili Railway steam train, a unique ceramic tile designed and made by lead artist Joanna Bond with an exclusive screen printed cotton bag, a unique code to enable access to a limited edition MP3 download of a story by one of our artist storytellers and a song by our musicians as well as an email artwork and thanks!
For £1000 You will recieve an exclusive set of 4 espresso cups by Joanna Bond, 4 VIP tickets to the final event on the Gwili Railway steam train, a unique ceramic tile, an exclusive screen printed cotton bag, an MP3 download of a story and a song by our musicians as well as an email artwork and thanks!
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If we do not reach the amount through this
campaign we will continue in trying other sources until September
2014 when if we still havn't raised the full amount we will donate
all funds to the Traws Link Cymru campaign fund to continue their work.
The Impact
The goal of this project is to develop a new artistic production which will be unique and exciting while also promoting interest in the wider campaign for reopening the
Carmarthen-Aberystwyth railway, which has already reached a stage of national debate in Wales and is a cause supported by
a number of Welsh assembly ministers and a growing public petition. Read more about Traws Link Cymru here
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The project
will contribute to the ongoing discussion and need to address transport
and energy issues
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The selected
artists are committed and concerned with engaging the public in
social issues through creative activity and using art to develop
communities and community engagement
The artists have the shared knowledge and experience to produce and manage this project effectively and have a history of
producing high quality work to schedule.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you are unable to contribute financially please
show your support by
Please email any questions, suggestions or information to singingthelineintoexistence@gmail.com