Writing Workshops
Exploring the National Contemporary Art Gallery Wales collection
Oriel Davies have commissioned writers Grug Muse and Emma Beynon to work with our audiences to create poetry and creative prose in response to artworks in the National Collection.
Animated Film Artist, Gemma Green Hope has been commissioned to translate the resulting texts into animated film. The finished work will be displayed at Oriel Davies and a publication will be produced.
Meet the Artists
Emma Beynon
I have been exploring the images from The National Contemporary Art Gallery for Wales with a group of poets from Newtown. Together we become a community of creative adventurers, responding in poetry to the paintings and photographs on Celf ar y Cyd: a glimpse into the many different ways of Wales.
It takes time, we are methodical in our observations. We freewrite: scribbling down everything we notice, describing the image, bringing it to life using the five senses. We remember. We imagine. We give the landscapes and people, the shapes and colour, a voice.
Writing poetry gives us a chance to look strongly, to notice and creatively respond to the artist’s narrative and process. It is a collective deep dive that generates discussion: questions and revelations. Each poem written within the group is strikingly different but all inspired by that moment when we are together, exploring the same image.
Grug Muse
As I look through the ‘Celf ar y Cyd’ collection, I am searching for unexpected links or pieces that can be placed together in interesting dialogues. What happens if we place a beautiful picture of a pool of water with an image of an ugly industrial landscape? What are the themes or ideas that connect them? Through these writing workshops, we are listening and contributing to the conversations that are happening between the art works.
Upcoming Writing Workshops
Workshops will run from 10.30am-1pm.
Join Emma for English writing workshops:
Wednesday 4 September at Oriel Davies Gallery
Due to the gallery being closed for redevelopment work (find out more) the following workshops will be at the nearby Hafan yr Afon
Wednesday 18 September
Wednesday 9 and 23 October
Wednesday 6 and 20 November
Wednesday 4 and 11 December
Wednesday 8 and 22 January
Join Grug for Welsh language based writing workshops:
Friday 13 September
Friday 11 October
More dates TBC
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Writing poetry in response to a painting is entirely new to me. I found it quite daunting at first but being part of a merry group carries you along. Nevertheless it is quite demanding… I had a painting of a hillside with very little happening in it; nothing came; I took it home and imagined skylarks in it and wrote the first line:
“Oh! to fly through the music of the sky, singing”.
By the end my words had become birds and the poem a cloud. Quite honestly, I couldn’t have wished for more. No one can take this away from you.
- Participant Feedback, 2024
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Part of a poem by Dewi Roberts, written in response to Polluted pool at Maindee by Jack Crabtree
Polluted pool at Maindee | Artwork (celfarycyd.wales)
Yn y wyneb – y meniscws
Er mor eithriadol o denau a bregus yw’r haen o wyneb neu’r meniscws, mae bywyd yma hefyd fel wyau mathau o wybed. Ffilm o fywyd sydd yma.
Ar waelod y wyneb
Yn hongian yn amyneddgar o waelod y wyneb mae cychwr sy’n aros am damaid o fwyd – treulia hwn llawer o’i fywyd ar ei gefn gan nofio am yn ôl.
Poem by Keith Roberts, written in response to Bedtime by Howard Hodgkin
Bedtime | Artwork (celfarycyd.wales)
Where does your frame end
and the picture begin?
As you drift off
to the chaotic dreamscapes.
Maybe you never had a frame,
dreams don’t.
They don't need them.
The gallery is open:
Tuesday - Saturday 10-4
Cafe closes at 3
Except for special events
Closed bank holidays
Most events at Oriel Davies are free to attend but we suggest making a voluntary donation here to support our continuing work delivering accessible workshops, events, activities and projects.