Natural Consequences – A Love Stories to Nature Commission

UPCOMING: 

An intriguing, new, multi- media performance piece; looking at our connections to the natural world and how we affect it. 

Thursday 13 March. Rhosygilwen Oak Hall, SA43 2TW 

FREE event. Booking required.Click BOOK to find out more.

Natural Consequences is a commissioned project for SPAN’s Love Stories to Nature initiative. This project brings together four talented artists: a composer, a choreographer, a poet/writer, and a visual artist. These artists, all older women with deep connections to the land of Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, have journeyed through extensive artistic endeavours. Their work is profoundly influenced by the natural environment they inhabit.

The idea for Natural Consequences stems from a desire to explore how humans and artists influence one another, communicate, and sometimes miscommunicate. Our actions set off a chain of effects on our environment, the outcomes of which are often unknown, whether beneficial or detrimental. This project reflects the natural world’s interconnectedness with humanity, highlighting our often limited understanding of nature’s messages and the consequences of our actions.

The project begins with a river, chosen for its environmental significance and symbolic representation of natural consequences. As Hermann Hesse said, “Water always the same and yet continually renewed.” A river is a thread, it embroiders our world with beautiful patterns, it connects people and places, past and present, it stitches stories together. A river is a journey, it grows, it changes, joined by tributaries, flowing to the sea. A river is full of life, we can bring it harm or healing, we can transform it but we cannot know the consequences of our transformations.

Each artist will respond to the creative work of the previous artist in their respective medium, creating a chain of transformative whisperings. This process mirrors the natural world’s unpredictability and uncontrollability. The first artist will not know where their work has been taken until the end of the process, ensuring a unique and organic evolution of the project.

Jacki Biggs – Poetry

The project has started with Jackie Biggs. Jackie is a poet based in north Pembrokeshire, inspired by the coastal waters and hinterland of Cardigan Bay. Since 2012, she has published three poetry collections: Before we Breathe (2021), Breakfast in Bed (2019), and The Spaces in Between (2015). Her work has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, earning her commendations in the RS Thomas Festival and Welsh International Poetry Competitions in 2019, and a Pushcart Prize nomination.

Jackie is an active performer at spoken word events across west Wales, England, and Ireland. She co-organises The Cellar Bards in Cardigan and is a member of the Rockhoppers Coast to Coast poetry group. She also contributed to the anthology Words on Troubled Waters (2024) and participated in the Women in Art Exhibition in Cardigan.

Geraldine Hurl

Geraldine Hurl will be the third artist taking over the Natural Consequences project as part of the SPAN Arts Love Stories to Nature Commission.

With over 40 years of experience as a dance artist and community dance practitioner, Geraldine has made significant contributions to the dance community in Wales. She has worked with key organizations such as Footloose Dance Company, Rubicon Dance, and Cardiff Metropolitan University, where she developed the first single honours dance degree in Wales.

Now based in North Pembrokeshire, Geraldine runs her own dance classes and workshops under “Teifi Dance,” focusing on creative ageing through dance. She is also a member of Striking Attitudes Dance Theatre Company and collaborates with Teifi Dance as an associate project company.

Gillian Stevens

Gillian Stevens is the second artist for the Natural Consequences project, commissioned by SPAN Arts as part of the Love Stories to Nature Commissions.

Born in Cambridge, Gillian began composing at thirteen and studied cello under Christopher Bunting. At York University, she embraced the viola da gamba and developed a strong foundation in composition. Her career spans both early and contemporary music.

Gillian’s life has been deeply influenced by raising five children, fostering others, and working as a music therapist since 1989. She has extensive experience teaching and facilitating improvisational music workshops for all ages and skill levels. After retiring as Head of Arts Therapies for Gwent NHS Trust in 2009, she has focused on performance, composition, and teaching.

Teena Gould

With a career spanning over 50 years, Teena has exhibited widely, won international awards, and represented Wales and Scotland at numerous events.

Teena’s work honours and enhances nature, combining a critical awareness of natural landscapes with a thorough understanding of clay and ceramics. Her studio-based ceramics are personal and transformative, allowing materials to find their form through the process of becoming. her passion for ceramics and environmental collaboration continues to inspire and innovatetEEN

 

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