Breuddwydio Cen | Lichen Dreaming
A day of lichen imaginings at Gregynog on 16 March 2025
Led by movement artist Simon Whitehead (Abercych, CYM)
We recently had a great day at Gregynog Hall with Simon Whitehead as part of his Becoming Lichen research project with Oriel Davies.
Led by movement artist Simon Whitehead (Abercych, CYM), the day included:
A Lichen Dreaming - a place to dream and rest with lichen; a sound installation featuring recent field recordings of Lichen colonies in Coetir Tycanol, Pembrokeshire
Including a newly commissioned lichen score by Barnaby Oliver (Melbourne, AUS) for Hafren Community Choir (Newtown, CYM)
With contributions from Harpist Ceri Owen-Jones (Ceinewydd, CYM) and Cai Tomos, movement artist, (Caersws, CYM) with Cain, a group of elder performers from galeri (Caernarfon, CYM) responding to the installation and the temporal and haptic qualities of lichen.
In addition, an Oriel Davies curated programme of Lichen films (a link to this is in our social media bio on Instagram), including Becoming Lichen (an Oriel Davies commission by Ellie Orrell (Newtown, CYM)) and a new Natur am Byth commissioned film by boredomresearch, exploring Bryophytes, a collaboration between British artists Vicky Isley and Paul Smith (Southampton, ENG) and students at Newtown College.
A Lichen movement session for all on the lawn led by Simon Whitehead.
Nature Walks with Ellie Baggett (Natur am Byth/ Plantlife) and Josie Bridges (Natur am Byth) exploring the extensive Gregynog woodlands in search of unusual Lichen.
Information tables for Natur am Byth, Oriel Davies, Gregynog and Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust.
Plus: ‘Adopt a Lichen’ for the day
Supported by Arts Council of Wales & Natur am Byth
film by Ellie Orrell
boredomresearch has been commissioned as part of the Natur am Byth Arts Engagement Programme Associate Artist Residencies which aim to connect more people to nature and inspire new ways of seeing endangered species. A collaborative project between Natural Resources Wales (NRW), nine environmental charities, Public Health Wales (PHW) and Addo, and is funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council of Wales.