27th February – Scientists in the Cinema

 

A really interesting and enjoyable morning in the Arts Centre Cinema. I invited Dr Mariecia Fraser, John Davies Hannah Vallin, Ben Roberts and Caroline Freeman from the Pwllperian Upland Research Platform – centre for the study of upland farmed ecosystems, Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University to watch my film installation in progress and Rhys Thwaites- Jones (Fforest Films) documentary film in progress, the screening was followed by a group discussion, excerpts of the recording will be used in the publication, in the gallery and the full 40 minute recording will be available on wireless headsets in the contextual gallery during the exhibition at Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown.

I was really pleased and moved by the level on which they engaged with the films, particuarily both films in conjunction with each other, one offering a macro the other offering a micro perspective on a landscape they all know so well, the work seemed to offer new insights and remind them of aspects of the landscape they had perhaps forgotten or overlooked, at the very least the films ignited a dialogue that I hoped for, this was a great achievement, my goal realised – which was to use my art practice to incite discussion and raise awareness of the environmental and ecological issues facing this upland landscape and to be able to offer the scientists an alternative creative ‘tool’ through which they could communicate to new audiences.