'We open in order to listen to the world as a field of possibilities and we listen with narrowed attention for specific things of vital interest to us in the world. Through accessing many forms of listening we grow and change whether we listen to the sounds of our daily lives, the environment or music. Deep Listening takes us below the surface of our consciousness and helps to change or dissolve limiting boundaries.’ Pauline Oliveros.1999
AFON (Gwrando'n Astud)
Between 2023-25 we will work with 10 freelance Dance and Sound Artists in partnership with river ecologists (including west Wales River’s Trust), local communities, activists/resilience groups, scholars and landowners bordering the Afon Cych, Dulais and Teifi. Enlisting Pauline Oliveros' Deep Listening practices as a foundation, we will consider and listen to the ways that human life is interwoven and deeply co-dependent on these river systems and consider what it is to make 'kin' with these watery bodies in these times.
Our central questions are:
How do we move with the river? What does the river teach us?
What does water mean to us now? & How can we give water more of a voice?
During a series of residencies in Abercych, artists Siriol Joyner, Ceri Owen Jones and Elsa Davies, Indigo Tarran, Jacob Whittaker, Gwen Sion, Will Menter, Rhowan Alleyne, Stirling Steward, Simon Whitehead & Omari Carter will cultivate ways of working in correspondence with the rivers, exchanging insights with the public in a braided participatory programme of walks, workshops, performances & concerts, social dances & celebrations.
There is a recent upwelling of sadness in our communities in response to the poor health of our rivers. At a time when many people are recovering from a period of isolation, this project is committed to repair, to spending time together listening & nurturing ourselves within the living landscapes of west Wales.
AFON began in summer 2023 with the residency of Newquay-based musicians Elsa Davies and Ceri Owen Jones, please visit our Residencies page to see more …
We are grateful to the Arts Council of Wales for supporting this project.
Rhwng 2023 - 2025 byddwn yn gweithio gyda 10 Artist Dawns a Sain llawrydd mewn partneriaeth ag ecolegwyr afonydd (gan gynnwys Ymddiriedolaeth Afonydd Gorllewin Cymru), cymunedau lleol, ymgyrchwyr a thirfeddianwyr sy’n ffinio ag Afon Cych, Dulais a Theifi. Gan ddefnyddio rhai o arferion Gwrando’n Ddwfn Pauline Oliveros fel sylfaen, byddwn yn ystyried ac yn gwrando ar y ffyrdd y mae bywyd dynol wedi’i gydblethu â’r systemau afonydd hyn ac yn cyd-ddibynnu’n ddwfn arnyn nhw, gan ystyried yr hyn ydyw i ‘berthyn’ i’r cyrff dyfrllyd hyn yn yr oes sydd ohoni.
Ein cwestiynau canolog yw:
Sut ydym yn symud gyda'r afon? Beth mae'r afon yn ei ddysgu i ni?
Beth mae dŵr yn ei olygu i ni nawr? Sut allwn ni roi mwy o lais i ddŵr?
Yn ystod cyfres o breswyliadau yn Abercych, bydd yr artistiaid Siriol Joyner, Ceri Owen Jones ac Elsa Davies, Indigo Tarran, Jacob Whittaker, Gwen Sion, Will Menter, Rhowan Alleyne, Stirling Steward, Simon Whitehead ac Omari Carter yn meithrin ffyrdd o weithio mewn cyfatebiaeth â’r afonydd, gan gyfnewid syniadau gyda'r cyhoedd mewn rhaglen gyfranogol blethedig o deithiau cerdded, gweithdai, perfformiadau, dawnsiau cymdeithasol a dathliadau.
Mae ymchwydd diweddar o dristwch yn ein cymunedau mewn ymateb i iechyd gwael ein hafonydd. Ar adeg pan fo llawer o bobl yn gwella ar ôl cyfnod o unigrwydd, mae’r prosiect hwn wedi ymrwymo i atgyweirio, i dreulio amser gyda’n gilydd yn gwrando ac yn meithrin ein hunain o fewn tirweddau byw gorllewin Cymru.
Dechreuodd AFON yn ystod yr haf 2023 gyda'r cerddorion Elsa Davies a Ceri Owen Jones o Gei Newydd. Ewch i'n tudalen Preswyliadau i dysgu mwy...
Rydym yn ddiolchgar i Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru am gefnogi’r prosiect hwn.
