Date:	2008 - 2009
Artist:	Megan Broadmeadow and Mari Elain Gwent
Location:	Llanrwst, Conwy

Artists workshops begin a year-long project connecting
Llanrwst and the Gwydir Forest.

In this collaborative residency with Menter Iaith Conwy and the Cymru Lloegr a Llanrwst community group artists Mari Elain Gwent and Megan Broadmeadow are embedded in this distinctly independent town. In the days of Owain Glyndwr, Rhys Gethin and Hywel Coetmor the town was a rebel stronghold and burnt to the ground by the Prince of England’s forces and was deserted except for a herd of deer grazing in the square. For a century after Glyndwr’s war of independence, some of the population still lived in a cave – Ogof Carreg Gwalch – in Gwydir forest, keeping their rebel principles and passions alive. In 1947 Llanrwst Town Council applied for a seat on the United Nations Security Council on the basis of its special status as an independent town state poised strategically between the English and the Welsh side of Wales. This application was turned down but can Llanrwst take its place beside other micro-states and independent places throughout the world? ‘Cymru Lloegr a Llanrwst’ became the title of a renowned Welsh ‘anthem’ released by the 80s punk rock group Y Cyrff and subsequently the name of the community group Cymru Lloegr a Llanrwst, chaired by the renowned poet Myrddin ap Dafydd.

Broadmeadow and Gwent have a studio in the market in Llanrwst and from there are collaborating with the community and investigating the linking Path of the Deer from town centre to Gwydir Forest bringing the historical and legendary past into the contemporary present.

The project has been supported by Stiwdio Safle with the financial assistance of the Arts Council of Wales, Conwy Council, Forestry Commission, Royal Society of Architects, Menter Nant Conwy and Croeso Cymru.


November 2008

Project to light up Llanrwst's past on Saturday 22 November 2008.

On Saturday 22nd November, windows across the town square became exhibition spaces, displaying a wide variety of light-based artworks. The event featured projections of images from Llanrwst's history, illuminated drawings and prints, videos of the town and forest, as well as artwork made through collaboration with local groups.

The concept behind the night was formed after Mari and Megan were shown a collection of historic images from Llanrwst. Mari explains 'We have been building relations with historian Pat Rowley during our time working here, and fell in love with her vast collection of postcards and photographs of Llanrwst. We came up with the idea to have them displayed across the town, and hope to provide a enchanting and thought provoking experience by presenting them in the shop windows at night.'

The event aimed to give people a sense of the history of the town, and a chance to contemplate the past, whilst also presenting contemporary issues that affect the community. The identity of the town will be a strongly explored theme in the work as the residency's main aim is for the artists to respond to Llanrwst's historical stance as an independent state within Wales. The idea of Llanrwst as independent goes back a long way as it was first instated by Llewellyn Ap Gryfydd, in 1276. More recently, in 1947, an application was presented to the United Nations for Llanrwst to be given official status as a micro-state independent of the United Kingdom. Unfortunately the application was declined, but the artists are keen to explore this fascinating little- known piece of local history through their work.

The residency has been progressing well, and the artists are working regularly with local people to create artworks. A group of students from Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy will be given responsibility for the content of one window, and poems made by the Derby and Joan group will feature in another. Megan says 'We also want to use this event to show people's thoughts and feelings about the town. With the town being in the middle of a community appraisal, we feel that our work will fit well with the sense of awareness of local issues that are building at the moment.'

This event is leading the art project towards its climax as the temporary and permanent pieces Mari and Megan have made for the forest are now under construction. The launch for the 'Llwybr Y Ceirw' sculpture trail, is to be held on 02 July 2010.

For more information please contact Menter Iaith Llanrwst; 01492 642357.