Skip to main content

Artists draw the line under Clyne Common development

 


Art for the Common was held on Saturday (27 July) at the Linden Christian Centre, West Cross, and included a large mural painted by the children of Llwynderw School, alongside two knitted panels by the Swansea Yarn Bombers, as well as paintings, photographs, poetry, videos and sculptures by local residents.

Poet Rae Howells, who has written a book about the common and is poet in residence at Llanelli Wetlands Centre, was one of the exhibition’s organisers.

Rae said: “We are lucky to live in West Cross so close to this wild and green corner of Clyne Common, but sadly it is under threat of development. Since we found out about the planning application, residents have been making an effort to record the amazing wildlife here. It’s extremely boggy which makes it ideal for scores of rare plants and fungi, which in turn support a huge variety of insects, and of course birds, reptiles and amphibians thrive in an ecosystem like this. 

“When I started to learn more about the common’s wildlife, I began to write poems, which then became a book – This Common Uncommon. And through the book I met so many talented residents who paint, sew, sculpt, knit, take photographs, and we decided to bring all those talented people together to create work inspired by the common. It snowballed from there!”

Read the article in full on swanseabaynews.com


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Little Universe: 'Poems of true wonder'

We've had some lovely endorsements in from first readers for Little Universe , the stellar third poetry collection from Natalie Ann Holborow.  Thanks so much to these poets for being such stars and sending these in for us! We recommend all their books! Get them! Do join us for the launch at Swansea Waterstones on Monday 7 October  (6pm, free and unticketed, just come along), or find us at Bookspace in Cardiff for a joint reading with poet Rae Howells on Wednesday 27 November 96.45pm, tickets via the shop's website soon). I'll be chairing both events, so see you there!

MODRON: Can Art Save the Planet?

Rae Howells has written a community article for MODRON about her involvement in the campaign to save West Cross Common and her latest poetry collection This Common Uncommon : 'I find it hard to read the news about climate change. How often I have felt small and helpless in the face of articles that seem to offer no hope, just dismal predictions and downward trends. From animal species under threat to melting glaciers, footage of terrifying wildfires or catastrophic floods. What can one person do against such huge, complex – often global – problems? 'Like most people I am hungry for practical things I can do. There are the usual culprits – reduce flights, take public transport, stop single-use plastic, eat less meat, go solar. I do my best. But an action point that has really stuck with me is this: use whatever skills you have and get involved in something local, something community-based. 'The wonderful thing about this one is that it gives tangible, rewarding results. Plu

Buzz Review of This Common Uncommon: 'Finely wrought, intelligent, and full of heart'

' Howells writes with sensitivity, empathy, liveliness and keen observation ... Finely wrought, intelligent, and full of heart, This Uncommon Common is an important book that speaks for nature, land, and species which, too often, we see as silent: a vital tome at a time of urgency.' – Mab Jones, Buzz Magazine Thanks to Mab Jones and Buzz Magazine for this lovely review of Rae Howells' latest poetry collection This Common Uncommon