Elin Tomos, Lisa Hudson and Lindsey Colbourne will be giving a talk on ‘Merched Chwarel’ - women and the slate industry - as part of the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust/Unloved Heritage Winter Lecture Series, at the Thomas Telford Centre in Menai Bridge, LL59 5EA. GAT ask for a donation of £1 to cover costs.

Cyfle i ddod ar daith chwarel gyda ni.

An opportunity to come on a quarry walk with us: This is not a formally ‘led’ walk, but an informal opportunity to walk with us, share stories, do some drawing, writing, collecting/arranging objects …

You will be invited to bring your own packed lunch, and anything that might add to our collective walking experience! We would prefer no dogs. We suggest that accompanied children should be over 12 years old - and go under your care (obviously!).

The walk will not be too challenging but there is likely to be uneven ground with loose rocks and some steeper gradients.

Parking is limited, so we are asking you to book a place so we can send you more information on where to meet, to arrange car sharing and to let you know if the walk is cancelled due to the weather.

Booking form

Mae Merched Chwarel a’r Rhwydwaith Cyfuno yn eich gwahodd i weithdai creadigol i ferched haf yma, yn Storiel, Bangor. Fel helaeth o waith Merched Chwarel, byddwn yn dathlu hanes merched a gofyn y cwestiwn “Pwy yw merched chwarel y gorffennol, presennol a’r dyfodol?” Fydd y gweithdai yn gweld merched yn drilio ac yn gwnïo ar lechen, i greu dyluniadau unigryw. Bydd y darnau o lechi yn dod ynghyd i greu un cerflun cyfan.

Oes gennych chi grŵp o ferched fuasai a diddordeb archebu sesiwn?

Merched Chwarel and the Fusion Network invite you to creative workshops for women at Storiel, Bangor this summer. As with other Merched Chwarel work, we will be celebrating women’s stories and asking the question “Who are the quarry women of the past, present and future?” The workshops will see women drilling into and sewing patterns onto the slate, creating their own individual designs. These pieces of slate will come together to create one whole sculpture.

Are you part of, or do you know of a group of women who might be interested?

Lleoedd yn gyfyngedig, mae'n hanfodol archebu lle / Places are limited, booking is essential

Booking Form

Merched Chwarel and the Fusion Network invite you to creative workshops for women at Storiel, Bangor this summer. As with other Merched Chwarel work, we will be celebrating women’s stories and asking the question “Who are the quarry women of the past, present and future?” The workshops will see women drilling into and sewing patterns onto the slate, creating their own individual designs. These pieces of slate will come together to create one whole sculpture.

Mae Merched Chwarel a’r Rhwydwaith Cyfuno yn eich gwahodd i weithdai creadigol i ferched haf yma, yn Storiel, Bangor. Fel helaeth o waith Merched Chwarel, byddwn yn dathlu hanes merched a gofyn y cwestiwn “Pwy yw merched chwarel y gorffennol, presennol a’r dyfodol?” Fydd y gweithdai yn gweld merched yn drilio ac yn gwnïo ar lechen, i greu dyluniadau unigryw. Bydd y darnau o lechi yn dod ynghyd i greu un cerflun cyfan.

Lleoedd yn gyfyngedig, mae'n hanfodol archebu lle / Places are limited, booking is essential

Booking Form

Merched Chwarel and the Fusion Network invite you to creative workshops for women at Storiel, Bangor this summer. As with other Merched Chwarel work, we will be celebrating women’s stories and asking the question “Who are the quarry women of the past, present and future?” The workshops will see women drilling into and sewing patterns onto the slate, creating their own individual designs. These pieces of slate will come together to create one whole sculpture.

Are you, or do you know a group of women who might be interested?

Mae Merched Chwarel a’r Rhwydwaith Cyfuno yn eich gwahodd i weithdai creadigol i ferched haf yma, yn Storiel, Bangor. Fel helaeth o waith Merched Chwarel, byddwn yn dathlu hanes merched a gofyn y cwestiwn “Pwy yw merched chwarel y gorffennol, presennol a’r dyfodol?” Fydd y gweithdai yn gweld merched yn drilio ac yn gwnïo ar lechen, i greu dyluniadau unigryw. Bydd y darnau o lechi yn dod ynghyd i greu un cerflun cyfan.

Oes gennych chi grŵp o ferched fuasai a diddordeb archebu sesiwn?

Lleoedd yn gyfyngedig, mae'n hanfodol archebu lle / Places are limited, booking is essential

Booking Form

The Dresel Griddfan/Groaning Dresser is Merched Chwarel’s centerpiece installation at Storiel, involving all four artists and curator.  Having created a form for the dresser, we invite you to help make the Dresser increasingly groan with an accumulation of stuff, playfully challenging the historical representation of the quarryman’s wives.

We are looking for:

-       objects (found, treasured, trinkets, souvenirs, gifts wanted/unwanted)

-       works (pictures, samplers, 3-D pieces)

-       cards, sayings, photographs, dresser pictures

-       stories (personal associations with the dresser – positive and negative)

If you would like to be part of the project, please come to Storiel between 12 - 4pm on
Friday 14th June or 26th July.  

There will be an opportunity to experiment with indexing, mapping, collaborative curation, as well as tea, cake and a chat.

Croeso cynnes at bawb! Warm welcome to all!

Objects can be collected at the end of the exhibition in early September.
As the objects will be on open display, you will be leaving them at your own risk!

Merched Chwarel and the Fusion Network invite you to creative workshops for groups of women at Storiel, Bangor this summer. As with other Merched Chwarel work, we will be celebrating women’s histories and asking the question “who are the quarry women of the past, present and future?” The workshops will see women drilling into and sewing patterns onto the slate, creating their own individual designs. These pieces of slate will come together to create one whole sculpture.

Do you know of a group of women that might be interested?

Mae Merched Chwarel a’r Rhwydwaith Cyfuno yn eich gwahodd i weithdai creadigol ar gyfer grwpiau o ferched haf yma, yn Storiel, Bangor. Fel helaeth o waith Merched Chwarel, byddwn yn dathlu hanes merched a gofyn y cwestiwn “Pwy yw merched chwarel y gorffennol, presennol a’r dyfodol?” Fydd y gweithdai yn gweld merched yn drilio ac yn pwytho ar lechen i greu dyluniadau unigryw. Bydd y darnau o lechi yn dod ynghyd i greu un cerflun cyfan.

Oes gennych chi grŵp o ferched fuasai a diddordeb archebu sesiwn?

Lleoedd yn gyfyngedig, mae'n hanfodol archebu lle / Places are limited, booking is essential

Booking Form

Cyfle i ddod ar daith chwarel gyda ni.

An opportunity to come on a quarry walk with us: This is not a formally ‘led’ walk, but an informal opportunity to join us for a walk in one of the slate quarries in the Llanberis area. This walk will accompany our exhibition at Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru Slate Museum in Llanberis. It may involve walking down some relatively steep gradients, but will be on well-made paths.

We are asking you to book a place so we can send you more information on where to meet and to let you know if the walk is cancelled due to the dubious summer weather. Car-sharing may also be possible.

Booking form

Our new exhibition is opening as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations at the Museum.

Mwy o wybodaeth/more info

THIS WALK IS NOW FULLY BOOKED. THERE ARE STILL SPACES ON 20.7.19 WALK

Cyfle i ddod ar daith chwarel gyda ni.

An opportunity to come on a quarry walk with us: This is not a formally ‘led’ walk, but an informal opportunity to join us for a level - but uneven and potentially muddy - walk to Old Cwt y Bugail.

We may share stories, do some drawing, writing, collecting/arranging objects … do bring your own packed lunch, and anything that might add to our collective walking experience! We would prefer no dogs. We suggest that accompanied children should be over 12 years old - and go under your care (obviously!).

The walk is mostly along an old railway track: it takes about 45 minutes to get to the quarry, through high moorland. The quarry itself is uneven with loose rocks and some steeper gradients.

Parking is limited, so we are asking you to book a place so we can send you more information on where to meet, to arrange car sharing and to let you know if the walk is cancelled due to the dubious summer weather.

Booking form

Scroll down for English

Galwad am wrthrychau

Y mae'r Ddresel Griddfan  yn ganolog i waith Merched Chwarel yn Storiel,  ymglymiad y pedwar artist a curadur. Wedi creu y ffurf, hoffwn eich gwahodd i helpu gwneud y Dresel yn fwy griddfan drwy herio’r darlun hanesyddol o gwraig y chwarelwr.

Rydym yn chwilio am:

-                gwrthrychau (tlysau, cofroddion, anrhegion – unai wedi trysori neu wedi’i ffeindio)

-                darnau celf (lluniau, samplau,
darnau 3D)

-                cardiau, dywediadau, ffotograffau, lluniau  dresel

-                straeon (cysylltiadau personol a dresel - positif a negyddol)

Os hoffech gyfrannu dewch i Storiel rhwng 12 - 4pm unai ar Dydd Gwener 14/6
neu 26/ 7. Bydd yno gyfle i arbrofi gyda mynegeio, mapio a churadu cydweithredol, yn ogystal â te, cacen, sgwrs, a hwyl!

Croeso cynnes i bawb!

Call for Objects!

The Dresel Griddfan/Groaning Dresser is Merched Chwarel’s centerpiece installation at Storiel, involving all four artists and curator.  Having created a form for the dresser, we invite you to help make the Dresser increasingly groan with an accumulation of stuff, playfully challenging the historical representation of the quarryman’s wives.

We are looking for:

-       objects (found, treasured, trinkets, souvenirs, gifts wanted/unwanted)

-       works (pictures, samplers, 3-D pieces)

-       cards, sayings, photographs, dresser pictures

-       stories (personal associations with the dresser – positive and negative)

If you would like to be part of the project, please come to Storiel between 12 - 4pm on
Friday 14th June or 26th July.  

There will be an opportunity to experiment with indexing, mapping, collaborative curation, as well as tea, cake and a chat.

Croeso cynnes at bawb! Warm welcome to all!

Objects can be collected at the end of the exhibition in early September.
As the objects will be on open display, you will be leaving them at your own risk!

Bydd yr artistiaid yn bresennol i drafod a rhyngweithio gyda’i gwaith

Artists will be present and interacting with the work

@ Storiel, Bangor. https://www.storiel.cymru/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/events/183667479192602

Bydd yr artistiaid yn bresennol i drafod a rhyngweithio gyda’i gwaith

Artists will be present and interacting with the work

@ Storiel, Bangor. https://www.storiel.cymru/

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/183667475859269

This is an event being organised by Llechwedd Slate caverns, not a Merched Chwarel event, but maybe of interest! There’s going to be limited tours into the MASSIVE chambers at Maenofferen - the first time the chambers have been open to members of the public since the last of them closed in the late 90's.The chambers are as they were left by the miners - see the machinery, buildings and much more on your journey around Maenofferen. No lights (except head torches), no music, just pure mine exploration... Tours will take place on 20, 21, 27 and 28 April

For details see the facebook event page here or the Slate Mountain website here

Merched Chwarel recommend: A day of talks, discussion and music reflecting on Wales’s connections to transatlantic slavery at Amgueddfa Llechi Llanberis Slate Museum.

Through the medium of Welsh and English. Simultaneous translation will be available.

Free but book places on eventbrite: More info here

Come and join a discussion about the Merched Chwarel project and some of the stories we’ve discovered. Part of the Storiel series of talks about ‘active women’ in the area. Free! Warm welcome to all!

THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULLY BOOKED BUT YOU CAN GO ON THE WAITING LIST/BE UPDATED IF WE RUN IT AGAIN.

Come to our closing workshop of the series, designed to develop your own - and our collective - Merched Chwarel voice. The workshop will be held in Dyffryn Nantlle and led by the exceptionally talented Siân Miriam. Sîan is a writer, vocalist, spoken word artist and storyteller who is based in North Wales, and has family connections to the quarries. She is this year’s winner of Gwobr Esyllt Award.

The workshop will combine narrative and song, improvising from stories of Merched Chwarel from Dyffryn Nantlle. We will start off indoors, and weather permitting will go into a quarry to try out what we’ve developed.

This bilingual workshop is open to women/girls of all ages. No experience (or confidence!) in singing or writing needed: Warm welcome to all!

The venue for the indoor part of this workshop will be fully accessible. We hope the quarry part will be too, but if this is of concern, please enquire.

Spaces for this workshop are limited to 20 and tickets are £5. Book here!

(English below)

Dewch i’r gweithdy llais dwyieithog hwyliog yma yn Amgueddfa Llechi Cymru, Llanberis efo’r ysbrydoledig Sam Frankie Fox. Mae’r gweithdy wedi ei gynllunio i ddatblygu eich llais chi ac un ninnau, Merched Chwarel. Mi fydd yn anffurfiol iawn - does dim angen profiad blaenorol!

Mae Sam yn arbenigo mewn archwilio holl ystod y llais dynol mewn ffordd chwareus ac atyniadol. Fe fydd yn ein harwain trwy gyfres o gemau a chymeriadau lleisiol, dilyniannau galw ac ymateb a chaneuon unsain a harmoni syml. Byddwn yn defnyddio’r llais llafar yn ogystal â’r gân yn y gweithdy hwn. Fel rhan o’r profiad, bydd y rhai sy’n cymryd rhan yn creu offeryn llechen bach i gyfeilio i’r llais; rhywbeth y gallwch ei gymryd adref efo chi.

Byddwn yn cychwyn tu mewn yn yr amgueddfa, ac os yw’r tywydd yn caniatau, gobeithiwn fynd allan i Chwarel Vivian i arbrofi – a datblygu – ein synnau chwarel.

Mae’r gweithdy dwyieithog yma ar gyfer y rhai sydd dros 18.

Bydd mynediad llawn i safleoedd y gweithdy tu mewn a thu allan.

Cost y gweithdy yw £5, a chyfyngir y llefydd i 15. Bwciwch yma!

_____________

Come to this fun, bilingual, voice workshop at Amgueddfa Llechi Cymru Slate Museum in Llanberis, with the inspirational Sam Frankie Fox. The workshop is designed to help develop your own - and our collective Merched Chwarel voice. It will be very informal - no previous experience necessary!

Sam specialises in exploring the full range of the human voice in a playful, approachable way. She will guide us through a series of vocal games, vocal characters and archetypes, call and response sequences and some unison and simple harmony songs. We will use both the sung and the spoken voice for this workshop. As part of the experience, participants will make a mini slate instrument to accompany the voice; something that you can take home with you.

We will start off indoors in the Caban in the museum, and weather permitting, we may go to Chwarel Vivian Quarry to try out - and develop - our quarry sounds.

This bilingual workshop is for over 18s.

The indoor and outdoor workshop will be fully accessible.

This workshop is £5, and spaces are limited to 15. Book here!

THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULLY BOOKED BUT YOU CAN GO ON THE WAITING LIST/BE KEPT UPDATED IF WE RUN IT AGAIN

A warm welcome awaits you at this, our our first voice/sound workshop, part of a series to develop your own - and our collective - Merched Chwarel voice. Led by Jamie Dawes, this workshop will be very informal - no previous experience necessary! Jamie runs workshops for the Natural Voice Network.

We will start off in the old pub at Llechwedd Slate Caverns, where we have a nice fire and a couple of hours playing with songs in the round. After lunch in the cafe (not included in the ticket price), Llechwedd are kindly taking us down to a cavern, so we will sing our songs and see how it sounds: The first female voices in the deep!

This bilingual workshop is open to women/girls over 12 (under 18s should be accompanied by an adult). No experience (or confidence!) in singing needed: Warm welcome to all!

Note: This workshop is not wheelchair accessible: Access to the old pub and to the caverns are stepped.

Spaces for this workshop are limited to 20 and tickets are £5. Book here!

We will be offering a ‘taster session’ with a group of young people who are working with the history of Tal-y -Sarn. We hope to develop their interest in the stories of Merched Chwarel, perhaps to use ‘original sources’ to build characters for their project.