Page 13 - Ninnau Jan-Feb 2021

Cymru-Ohio: Dreaming of a new life.

By Sebastien Boyesen

When I was initially
approached about creating a
commemorative sculpture for
the Cymru Ohio project, I knew
little, if anything, about the his-
toric journey taken by the intre-
pid emigrants of Ceredigion.
I was fascinated to discover
that in 1818, six extended fami-
lies decided to venture to the
other side of the Atlantic in the
hope of starting a new life, and
to escape the overbearing
oppression and poverty in their
native homeland. It is hard to
imagine how difficult such a
journey must have been—a
voyage into the unknown, full
of danger and hardship. In my Visualisation render of proposed sculpture.
mind I felt that the format of
any work should be both standing interest in “anamor- process has been completed, the
intriguing and celebratory, phic” or optical illusory sculp- viewer is faced with what looks
whilst also being something that tures, and this seemed like the like an abstract design, until,
would work well within the ideal place and time to consider that is, the correct viewing posi-
given location. something completely different tion is obtained and the image
Through discussions with the that would achieve the kind of appears in all its glory. Several
Cymru-Ohio group, we unrav- size, scale, and cost that we had models were made to test the
elled and explored the story of envisioned, as well as creating a function of the process, which
the epic journey, trying to find work of great interest to the was found to be extremely
the key element that would pro- general public. effective. When a pedestrian
vide the platform from which to Visualisation render of proposed sculpture An anamorphic sculpture approaches the work, there is
create the sculptural work. What works in a very particular and the sense that there is something
caught my attention was the eye-catching way, and has been “hiding” within the structure,
tragic story of a young girl ularly hard. need to be quite large in order to used extensively throughout encouraging the viewer to fur-
called Mary, who, having start- We quickly agreed that Mary make an impact on the quay- recent history, but most notably ther explore and discover the
ed out with the initial group, would become the focus for the side. It felt as though a figura- for the Nelson Mandela memor- meaning of it, until they are
sadly died during the voyage. I work, and that an image would tive work in bronze would be ial in South Africa, where the finally rewarded with the com-
felt this could be the starting be chosen to commemorate not difficult to achieve because of artist has created an image of plete picture.
point for the work, as it symbol- just her life, but also the cost, so other materials had to Mandela from a series of steel The sculpture is intended to
ised the hope and aspiration for achievements of the group as a be considered. plates, that only appear to be in work at a large scale, some-
the travellers in such a way that whole. All of my work is “site-spe- focus when viewed from a cer- where in the region of 5-6
was both heartbreaking and rel- I then looked at how we could cific,” meaning it responds to a tain position. meters including the plinth. Its
evant. All journeys are prefaced integrate a significant sculptural particular location and environ- This was felt to be an ideal location means that it will be
by the potential of danger, but work into the harbour site and ment, and I often find myself way of expressing one of the viewed with a backdrop of the
to lose a much-loved family what format it might take. My having to explore new materials central ideas that we wanted to sky, creating a clear image.
member on the way to start a first reaction was to consider the and ways of working to fulfil a encapsulate within the sculp- Fabrication would be from laser
new life must have been partic- size and scale, which would brief. I have also had a long- ture. The notion of an image cut steel pieces, braced and
“appearing” when standing at a welded to form a stable T sec-
GORDON FARMER: certain viewpoint seemed to be tion that can be bolted to the
plinth in pre-determined loca-
the perfect analogy for how we
A major miner artist! imagined the emigrants would tions relative to each other.
have felt when looking toward
It is hoped that the final work
their new future—something will have an extremely long life
that could not be seen clearly at span, and will make a positive
By Phil Cope book of his work into print first, but materialises and solidi- contribution to the harbour area
while he is still with us … and fies as you draw closer to the as well as creating a fitting
I want to tell you about an 81- I’m asking you, the readers of end of the journey, until at last memorial to the original six
year-old, disabled ex-miner who Ninnau to help support the pub- your dream comes into focus. extended families who left
took up drawing after an acci- lication of these historically and Starting off with the image of Ceredigion for Ohio over 200
dent ended his working career. artistically important works of the girl, dressed in traditional years ago. www.boyesen.co.uk
Gordon Farmer is now an art. Welsh costume, I used a 3D
accomplished, entirely self- HAVE YOUR PORTRAIT CAD (computer-aided design)
taught portrait artist working DRAWN BY A WELSH program to create a series of
primarily in pencil, and living in SELF-TAUGHT, DISABLED vertical strips that could be
the Garw Valley. EX-MINER AND HELP US manipulated and positioned in
As well as his serious back TO PUBLISH AN INSPIR- space, using a fixed camera
and leg problems, the result of ING BOOK OF GORDON position to determine their rela-
his accident at work, Gordon FARMER’S ARTWORKS. tive locations. When this
suffers from double vision THIS IS HOW YOU CAN
(diplopia) and cataracts in both HELP …
eyes. Many a time, he has to For just a $100 contribution,
call for Moyra, his wife of 60 you will receive a signed copy
years, to give him his pencil Gordon’s sketch of of Gordon’s limited-edition
sharpener or a special pencil Aneurin Bevan book (posted to the US, or
that are there in front of him but delivered to you at the next
he does not see. North American Festival of
Self-taught artists were not ordinary Valleys’ people. Wales in Ottawa in late August
uncommon within the South And he uses just a pencil, 2021), as well as an original A4
Wales Valleys, of course, where graphite, another form of carbon portrait (based upon a photo-
auto-didacticism was the princi- like the coal which defined so graph you supply).
pal cultural direction. Bred from many of our Valleys’ stories, I think this is a wonderful
within the stones of Workmens’ created through millions of deal, and you will be playing
Halls and Institutes which had years of the compression of ani- your part in getting Gordon’s
themselves been built and oper- mal skeletons and plants under- inspiring work into print, keep-
ated by pennies per week donat- ground. I found out recently that ing alive for future generations
ed from miners’ wages, theirs’ graphite when subjected to high the faces and memories he has
was (had to be!) a philosophy of temperatures and pressures can recorded so lovingly over the
self-help and mutual care. And convert into diamonds, and past decades … and you’ll also
this culture, creative and oppo- today, George’s new armchair treasure, I’m sure, your unique
sitional, is clearly reflected in excavations are revealing the Gordon Farmer portrait of a
Gordon’s work, so much of abiding riches of Valley peo- loved one (or of yourself).
which – alongside his images of ples’ identities through the If you can help Gordon,
the great and the good, the infinity of reflections and please select the image you
famous and the infamous – cele- shades from black to white. want him to use for your por-
brates the lives and the faces of I want to help Gordon get a trait and email or post it to me
at: 43 James Rd., Blaengarw,
Bridgend, S Wales CF32 8BP
(You needn’t send any pay-
NEXT DEADLINES: ment at this stage.)
phil.cope66@gmail.com
MARCH-APRIL ISSUE: FEB 1 Let’s make something special
happen for Gordon, for the
MAY-JUNE ISSUE: APRIL 1 Valleys and for Wales.

January-February 2021 NINNAU Page 13