After three weeks of experimenting with materials to create images inspired by our visit to Castell Penrhyn I brought the project to a conclusion today. I enjoyed visiting the Castle and found the space very interesting, however I was more influenced by the history of the quarry and the politics behind the historic events that took place in Bethesda. I tried to incorporate these ideas mainly through text. With this piece, I firstly created an outline of a mountain using ink and then wrote the poem ‘Y Streic’ by Gwyneth Glyn and Iwan Llwyd over and over again to resemble the veins of a piece of slate.
Y Streic
Mae’n beryg rhwng Padarn a Pheris,
mae’n aeaf y Gilfach Ddu,
Mae’r hogia’n cwyno’n y caban
a’r gegin yn wag yn y ty:
“Mae’n bryd i ni roi’n harfau i lawr,
a herio’r mistar yn y plasdy mawr!”
Ffarwél i’r llwch ac i’r llechi,
ffarwél i’r hen gyllell fach,
Ffarwél i’r ffowndri a’r efail
a’r holl beiriannau a’u strach –
“Mae’n hundeb ni yn ddigon cry’,
ac ni fydd bradwr yn y ty!”
Ond mae’n gafael ym Mhencarnisiog
a’r un geiniog ym mhoced y gwr,
mae’n llusgo yn ôl am y chwarel
cyn bod rhwd ar yr olwyn ddwr:
“rhyw ddydd cawn wared ar dy lwch
a rhydd fydd cân yr hen afon Hwch!”