Past Events

Artist’s Talk with Andrew Hladky
'Image as Organism'

17 April 2024
"I am a British/American artist who grew up in England, before moving to the USA in 2015. My work is deeply bound up with ideas of nostalgia, and how a nostalgic connection to the landscape can contribute to the ways we view ourselves.

I make sculptural paintings using oil paint and sharpened bamboo sticks. The sculptural forms that result grow out into a very uneven surface, ranging from the bare panel to 10” or more in depth. They resemble burnt trees or ruined habitations, as well as the constructions of insect or animal life, such as webs, nests and burrows."

This talk is part of the Hafod residency series, in collaboration with Noelle Griffiths. These talks are free to attend, and there is no need to book.

Andrew Hladky will also be offering a Workshop - 'Sculptural Paintings/Paint Sculptures' on the 21 April 3-5pm at Oriel Caffi Croesor.

Poetry Workshop with Suzanne Iuppa

09 April 2024
Suzanne Iuppa is one of our poets in residence for the Open Exhibition on the theme of Transformation.

She is a poet and conservationist living in the Dyfi Valley, and the poems she will write with us this spring will feature in her first full poetry collection.

Suzanne has over ten years' experience of teaching creative writing in community settings, and this session will be equally enjoyable if you are already writing or you haven't tried poetry before. There will be a variety of prompts, time to spend with the art, and a chance to share your work in a thoughtful environment.

Film and Poetry Evening with Jennifer Leach
'Life Cycles, Time and Acceptance'

27 March 2024
Jennifer will show her recent film 'The River' and share her poetry and writings. The evening will close with a sharing of original poetry, so please bring along your work. Shorter poems will allow for more contributions. Jennifer Leach works through the medium of English, but you are welcome to share poems in any language.

The River : This is the central film of a 3-screen 30 minute film; a life story written for my dear friend Anne Latto, a storyteller and actor. Using the age-old metaphor of life as river, it is the reflection of an old woman looking back on her life, as she turns to face the great horizon. She follows the flow of memories, from source to sea. Good times, hard times, times to remember, times to forget... the film is an homage to life, friendship, spirit and memory.

This event is part of the Hafod residency series, in collaboration with Noelle Griffiths.

Artist’s Talk with Jennifer Leach 'The River - art and life'
20 March 2024
Jennifer Leach is a Visual artist, poet, writer, storyteller, filmmaker, changemaker and Director of Outrider Anthems.

Outrider Anthems' vision is to emotionally engage communities through story and creativity in contemporary conversations about our relationship to Earth, Universe, societies and ourselves. We desire to invent and invest in new stories that generate challenge and balance.

This talk is part of the Hafod residency series, in collaboration with Noelle Griffiths. These talks are free to attend, and there is no need to book.

Life Drawing Sessions with Jane Muir
23/01/2024 - 12/02/2024 - 11/03/2024

We are pleased to be able to offer three all day life drawing sessions, in collaboration with Adult Learning Wales (ALW). These courses are funded by ALW, but we will be charging £20 per session to pay the model, this will be paid on the day of the session.

Tony Russell – Talk
The Gardens of Clough Williams-Ellis (Plas Brondanw and Portmeirion)
28 February 2024

Writer, broadcaster and author of ‘The Great Gardens of Wales’ Tony Russell will present an illustrated talk on the gardens of Clough Williams-Ellis here at Plas Brondanw and at Portmeirion. Clough was best known as an architect, but he was also very interested in issues around landscape and planning. Gardens were central to his ideas about how buildings relate to their site, and how the site relates to the wider landscape. Many consider the gardens at Brondanw to be among his finest work.

An Introduction to Welsh Poetry with Rhys Jones
Six sessions, starting 30 January 2024

This course is an introduction to Welsh poetry.

Its intention is to give an insight into the diversity and richness of the Welsh poetic tradition. We will read Taliesin's poems from the sixth century, up to T. Gwynn Jones at the beginning of the twentieth.

The focus is on reading one poem weekly, and there will be an opportunity to develop an understanding of the historical, social and literary context. There will also be an opportunity to look at the craft of the poets and some of the literary techniques they use. In addition, with support in class, you will cultivate the skills to formulate a personal response to these works.

The ability to speak and read Welsh is essential.

Plas Party
29 December 2023
You are invited to celebrate the holidays at Plas Brondanw, with music by Twm Morys and Gwyneth Glyn, and a chance to socialize and enjoy the warmth of the Plas at the end of the year. We are very grateful to the Clough Williams-Ellis Foundation for their generous contribution to the costs of hosting the party, which is free to attend. Everyone is welcome, whether you are an old friend or have never crossed the threshold before.

We will be providing some drinks and light refreshments, but if you could bring something to share, we would be very grateful. If you would like to bring an instrument to jam after the official musicians have finished their set, that would be lovely. We now have a piano in the library, which is also available for playing.

In the Time of the Holly King
Seasonal Workshop for Families
2 December 2023

To coincide with the storytelling event which takes place later in the afternoon, here is an opportunity to make your own wintery crown or table decoration using natural materials and traditional plants. Plas Brondanw staff will lead this session, and all materials will be provided.

Seasonal Story - Claire Mace
2 December 2023

In the time of the Holly King: join storyteller Claire Mace for some seasonal stories from across Wales. Learn about the Mari Lwyd, Hunting the Wren and the Gower Wassail. The story will be told through the medium of Welsh, and bilingual families and those learning the language are very welcome to attend.

Dr Bleddyn Huws
'Two poets and two cousins, Wil Oerddwr and T. H. Parry-Williams'
8 November 2023

Dr Bleddyn Huws is a senior lecturer in the department of Welsh and Celtic Studies at Aberystwyth University. He will offer a look at the work and relationship of the two famous poets, including a new discovery about a sonnet that was thought to be by Parry-Williams, but can now be attributed to Wil Oerddwr. This talk will be in the Welsh language, but higher level learners are very welcome.

Harvest Supper and Talk about the Croesor Valley
with Christine Mills, Siw Thomas and Ken Brassil
28 October 2023
As a celebration of the exhibition 'Sifting and Combing' by Siw Thomas and Christine Mills, the artists would like to invite you to a harvest supper. The supper will include a substantial stew, local cheeses and a dessert which will be served on ceramics created by Siw Thomas during her residency at Plas Brondanw. Archaeologist Ken Brassil will present a talk about the geology, history, people and culture of the Croesor Valley.

Proceeds to Plas Brondanw children's art workshops and to the Mountain Rescue Team.

The Poetry of the Princes
The Princes' Bards - Tutor: Rhys Jones

24 October 2023
Adult Education Wales in partnership with Plas Brondanw are offering this half day course free of charge.

The purpose of the course is to introduce the poets of the princes, and the hope is to make the poems easy to understand for a contemporary audience.

'Beirdd y Tywysogion' is the general name given to the poets who existed in Wales between around 1050 and 1300. They were a central part of the world of the Welsh princes, and a good number of the poems have been preserved to this day. As well as having an introduction to the historical, social and literary background of the poets, you will also have the experience of reading the work of some of them. The poetry of the princes gives us a unique insight into the life and thinking of the period, from individuals who were eyewitnesses to these exciting years.

History of the Princes
Tutor: James Berry

23 October 2023
6SW A short 2 hour course that hopes to reveal exactly who the Princes were. To look at them in light of modern research. The course hopes to show that rather than being isolated they were very much part of a Europe wide aristocratic military elite, trying to build strong feudal kingdoms on a European model.

Concert
Gwilym Morus and Osian Rhys

13 October 2023
We would like to invite you to an evening of music in the library at Plas Brondanw, with Gwilym Morus and another artist (to be confirmed). This will be an intimate evening with a small audience.

Gwilym Morus plays modern folk music using digital effects mixed with voice and guitar. His style has been described as 'passionate, dreamy and original'. Osian Rhys is a musician originally from Llanystumdwy, who performs folk songs under his own name, and as the lead singer of the alternative rock band, Gwaed.

He will perform a variety of songs in a stripped back style on an acoustic guitar.

Artists Talk, Exhibition Launch and Tea Party
with Siw Thomas and Christine Mills

23 September 2023
Come and enjoy afternoon tea at Plas Brondanw in the company of two artists who have been creating work in the house and gardens over the summer. There will be a question and answer session discussing the residency period and the work that has come out of it with Sian Elen and Seran Dolma, and tea and cake will be served on some of the crockery that Siw Thomas has created. There will be time afterwards to look at the exhibition.

Adult Learning Wales Summer School
21 August 2023
Art - History - Creative writing

Artist Talk
Manon Awst and Dr Sarah Pogoda

19 August 2023
An artist talk between Manon Awst and the academic and Avant Garde practitioner Dr Sarah Pogoda discussing the process of creating work for the exhibition ‘Wetland Dreams’ and the ideas that have developed as a result of the research work on bogs. The talk will be bilingual, in Welsh and English, and possibly also some German!

Children’s Workshops with Artists in Residence
Siw Thomas and Christine Mills
Firing and Felting

13 August 2023
An opportunity for children to have a go at felting with Christine Mills.

The clay pieces made during the previous workshop will also be fired during this workshop, and they will be available to take home the following week. Children are welcome to attend either one or both of these workshops.

Children’s Workshops with Artists in Residence
Siw Thomas and Christine Mills
Clay

4 August 2023
A chance for the children to have a go at some clay modelling. The clay pieces will be fired during the following workshop on the 13th August, but there is no requirement to attend both workshops.

Adult Workshops
Charcoal Drawing with Christine Mills

7 July 2023
This workshop will be outdoors if the weather is dry, and in the house if not. There will be a coffee break and a chance to discuss the work.

No experience is necessary. Materials will be provided but you are welcome to bring paper and charcoal if you have them.

Adult Workshops
Life Modelling in Clay with Siw Thomas

7 July 2023
An opportunity to experiment with depicting the human form in 3D, working from a live model. There will be a discussion at the start about figurative sculpture, please bring an image of a relief or a sculpture of a human form to talk about.

No experience is necessary. All materials will be provided.

Introduction to Alexander Technique
with Pippa Bondy

3 July 2023
The Alexander Technique is the art of "unlearning". It is a subtle method of releasing body and mind from old habits and attitudes. Improve your whole well-being and learn to manage and prevent tension, stress and pain. The technique helps you rediscover a more natural way of moving, enhances awareness and encourages a new sense of coordination, energy and freedom. It is widely taught as part of performing arts training courses, but is very beneficial to everybody.

Pippa Bondy MSTAT, has more than thirty years experience as an Alexander Technique teacher. For more information -pipbondy.com

Talk by Johnathan Powell

Part of the Hafod artist-in-residence series

7 June 2023

‘Memory into Landscape’

Talk by Olga Lamas

Part of the Hafod artist-in-residence series

17 May 2023

’Nature / Culture’

Talk by Carys Wilson

Part of the Hafod artist-in-residence series

5 April 2023

'Walking and Thinking, Thinking and Walking'

Talk by Andrew Morrison

Part of the Hafod artist-in-residence series

15 March 2023
Text as image - word-based artists' books and prints.