A week until the adventure begins.
Refer to Georges Perec and make a detailed, emotional and comprehensive list of everything.
- Borrow a tent
- Borrow a sleeping bag
- Research chosen activities, check footwear suitability.
- Remind Tom that we are in Brecon during the Brecon Jazz Festival(!)
- Thank Pete for sponsering this blog.
- A quote from Immanuel Kant from 1784...
`However obscure their causes, (permit) us to hope that if we attend
to the play of freedom of human will in the large, we may be able to
discern a regular movement in it, and what seems complex and chaotic in
the single individual may be seen from the standpoint of the human race
as a whole to be a steady and progressive though slow evolution of its
original endowment`.
Note to Self:- Check the size of your borrowed tent before you leave home. (Cerbyd bus in the background).
The evening of day one on the Cerbyd bus continued with a visit to a Cardiff pub. The Humanist group we had hoped to meet pulled out at very short notice, which is a shame `cos` if there's one thing I love it`s a bit of existential debate. Instead ,thinking on his very flight feet, Tom choreographed a evening of choice fanatisism. We had a Bruce Springsteen fan, a Evil Kneevil expert, a Newport enthusiast and surprise, surprise Artist Richard Higlett extolling the virtues of Coventry football club, through the medium of Jimmy Hill. Fab. Really!
I was charmed by Richard Higletts work we saw at the Oriel Mostyn later on in the week. They reminded me of a cross between Hundertwassers paintings and Jim Dines Tools. Utensils and domestic memorabilia painted with sort of primitive style that is just a little `Stepford Wives`.
Thanks to Shaun for the Springsteen disc. An education for the younger Cerbyd members! Never heard Born to Run. Outrage!
Many thanks to Ben and Tomoko who helped me erect the enormous tent. That marks the beginning of the group bonding for me. I don`t think it took long for us all to realise that the Cerbyd project was going to be an extreme bonding experience.
Ancient and modern(ish). The Cerbyd bus.
There once was a man who said `damn!`
It is borne in upon me I am,
An engine that moves
in predestinate grooves
I`m not even a bus, I`m a tram
Maurice Evan Hare 1905.
`The aesthetics of natural science and mathematics is at one with the aesthetics of music and painting- both inhere in the discovery of a partially concealed pattern`
Herbert Simon 1996.
Science busking and science bunting with The Institute of Physics, at the Eisteddfod.
At last, what I had been waiting for. Contact with real scientists. While part of the group performed simple and entertaining experiments with the public, others got to question and discuss matters with two real career scientists. Interesting points raised were the place of intuition and faith in relation to modern science, and the scientists own personal beliefs. One an aetheist, one a practicing christian, both senior gentlemen.
After science busking and conversation, we had a chance to explore the pavillion, and the many stands full of interest and information. Amoungst the racing maggots and pill pressing machienes, I met Alan Trow, an uwic astronomer who actually works with black holes and galaxies and nebula. Oh joy, He was looking for an educational artistic collaboration. I can feel a project emerging.
I stole an idea from a friend, and took a photo of a single cancerous cell, through the viewer of the eye piece of an electron microscope, that was under intense magnification. Interesting results, and the possibility of another project. I am delighted and inspired by the days visit.
Proven hypothesis #1.
Equipment
1 metal coat hanger
2 equal lengths of string
1 metal beater.
Method
Tie the two lengths of string in the corners of the coat anger, hook down.
Wrap string around index fingers once and hold with relative adjacent thumbs.
Stick index fingers in ears, without loosening string.
Lean forward.
Allow a thrid party to strike the hanger with the metal beater.
Enjoy and be amazed.
Use grill racks, metal rods and other implements suitable for the experiment. But the coat hanger sounds amazing.
It was a lunch time today I noticed the reluctance the Cerbyd group was showing, to be seperated in any way from one another. We all squeezed on to a single family picnic table shareing basic domestic lunch making tasks, with the attention and delicacy usually afforded to much more personal ritual. I could feel it, (but I am prone to emotional extremes), `The Big Love`forming in the Group dynamics, fab, fab, fab.
Everything Fundamental or Elemental
Happily in the bliss bubble
Possessive Warning
Sweetie in the Sweetshoppe
Into a different world.
Our schedule said mystery surprise.
The angels sent a tumble dryer at the camp site, for our damp and fetid bath towels. but, there was more to come.
All the bags were packed into the bus with expert care , to allow we
were told for one more. Bang on time, spick spack like a blonde and
smiley Mary Poppins, Christine appeared. Our tour guide for the day.
North Wales was our oyster, presented with humour and
style. Christine soon fell under the Cerbyd spell and we all welcomed
her into our gang. Leaving no stone undescribed, we were guided to the
Slate mine museum , Llanberis, via Beddgelert (sad story time). North
Wales is a rocky and alien landscape compared to the rolling hills
and farm lands of Carmarthenshire.
Travelling through Wales with its small towns and large open expanses
of countryside, has left me with thoughts, that perhaps the need for
communication must be addressed by means other than physical. Virtual
relationships and new media based communication are a vital part of our
practices as artists. It will be interesting to see how the intimacy and
bonding that we experienced during this project can be maintained.
How the distances between us, where we live and work will affect us ,
now we are no longer physically together. How does collaboration work
without physical proximity. How does the emotional content of a practice
form in these circumstances?
`We are in the presence of a new notion of space, where physical
and virtual influence each other, laying the ground for the emergenceof
new forms of socialisation, new life styles, and new forms of social
organisation.`
Gustardo Cardoso.
`Tis true; there`s magic in the web of it.`
William Shakespeare
Linear Time Ladies Please
Exquisite art history borne out of exclusion from society.
Carved to perfection
Detail from the Porch.
. 
(wonkey photo!)
Next most marvelous mystery surprise. We stopped off for a whizz
around the beautiful and unique Plas Newedd. We were told the story of
two women lovers, whose decandant behaviour shocked society ,but whose
legacy left Wales the most unique architectural splendour.
We love topiary. Geometry and hedges. Wow! But, it was four
o`clock, the house was closeing and like a small cloud of appreciative
locust tourists, we flew round the house , through the grounds, into
the bus and off again.
That evening we went to visit the Chirk writers Circle. Personally, I
found this evening more difficult than any other. The authors amoungst
us bloomed. Tom wrote a truely amazing bit of prose. I`ll try and
retrieve it for publication.
Unexpected Train of Events
There are many many more pictures on Flickr
So many, why did I take so many? That`s not including the really rubbish ones. Edit, edit, edit.
Next stop Land of the Giants.
A group called Cerbyd does `It`s Not Unusual`. It was.
Spellbound by Tomoko`s performance.
Half way now, and apart from all the science, the best day. Tents
down and off again. Getting quite expert at it now. With help of course.
Driving out into the back of the hemisphere, to meet the amazing men
of The Caernarfon Model Railway. Stuck with what to do when you
retire?Look no further. Both my brother and oldest nephew did the Hornby
obsession, so I thought I was prepared. Amazing and fascinating
things built and created by a group of true enthusiasts . Requireing
dedication and a steady hand.
Tents up , quick supper and every one getting ready for the George Formby Society. Very exciting.
Christine, our North Wales tour guide met us there, as did Pauls
beautiful wife Rachel. It was their second anniversary. Congratulations.
The members and audience of the George Formby Society made us welcome
and humoured our youthful and wacky exuberance. Yes, youthful , that
included me ;)
Tomoko`s silent and powerful performance held everyone entranced. I`m
sure most of the people there had never encountered anything like her
work, and were stunned into appreciative silence.
Then the very lovely Kath sang the traditional Welsh song `Calon Wen` , and brought a tear to more than one eye.
To cut a bit of a story short, as the picture shows we ended up on
stage, as `Cerbyd` the band. With a hastily planned rendition of Tom
Jones `Its not Unusual`.
Amazing Paul mastered the banjo in two minutes flat. (He said after`
I`ve never played the banjo before. The man who had lent him the banjo
said` You still haven`t!) Ben on the Big, Yellow, Squeeling, Foot Pump,
the four `Cerbydettes` on home made Kazoo things, which we had learned
about from The Institute of Physics, and Meg giving it as much Wellie as
she could as Tom. The audience had the grace to laugh in the right
places, and not long after we all left, to adhere to a camp
kerfew. Very, very funny indeed.
The ultimate bonding night, getting merry ( party in the bus) after,
Charlotte said that it was the best night of her life. we certainly had
been some kind of stars that night.
...but from the extraordinary... agents which, in obedience to that small number of laws, cooperate towards the effect.
John Stuart Mill
Paradise Found and Amplified
Clues to the meaning of life.
Further comfirmation, it`s to do with sweetness?
Blissed out.
It is true, that certain living creatures, as Bees and ants, live sociably
with one with another, ( which is therefore by Aristotle numbered
amoungst Pollitical creatures;) and yet have no other direction, than
their particular judgements and appetites... therefore some man may
perhaps desire to know, why man kind cannot do the same.
John Hobbes, Leviathan.
As we sat in the lush green woodland, entranced by beauty, somnified
by the buzzing of bees, being fed at the most wonderful barbeque
buffet, surrounded by a vision of friends and love, Tomoko said
` ... here is like paradise.`
Indeed quote of the whole week. Thinking about the week so far, in
terms of the highly applicable Hobbes and Tomoko quotes above. We have
had no descisions to make, we have been fed, watered, boozed,
entertained, educated, chauffeured, loved and welcomed. The removal of
any every day stress or strain ,and the addition of these fundamental
nessesities (?), are surely why were surrounded by a bliss bubble of
complete compliance. No need to worry, just communicate. Watch them,
watching you, watching them.
The composite sugar ( metaphorical and actual), induced hypnosis was
perfect. We were really in paradise. More summer pudding anyone?
Now I realise why I bought such a heavy and awkward tent. To keep me from floating away on the gossamer wings of a bee.
Did you know bees can`t see red? The winter activity of a queen bee is called Aestivate. An average bee lives for 500 miles.
Sugarscape on a Torus Doughnut
Together again and eating!
Pedegree Devon Rex and very old
The day I was dreading had arrived. My friend Kathryn, also
an associate from Oriel Myrrdin Gallery, Carmarthen, arrived on site to
take me away from the Cerbyd Crew. I had to go back to the Eisteddfod
to un-install my work . Not a quick or easy task. A million thanks to
Kathryn because I do not know how I could have coped without her. She says I owe her a big one...yep, defo., I do.
Ofcourse, time to leave the camp site came and I reacted the only
way I know how, and burst into tears. Direct Emotional response. Just a
little glimpse of what it was going to be like in a couple of days
time. Sadly, I missed the Appalation Dancing workshop, and met the gang
eventually in Llandysul at the beautiful old mill that is the home of
Sarah and her partner Mike. Kath and Tomoko demonstrated the fine
appalation dance moves. I think I missed something very funny, but
there are some pictures on the Cerbyd `Twitter` stream.
Amoungst strange cats and friendly vistors the Cerbyd Crew were
affectionately reunited, and fed once again, like kings. We must look
hungry! Gin fueled, interesting and lively after dinner discussion. Not
having to wrestle with our tents just for one night felt like cheating,
but only a tiny, little bit.
There are a number of morals to this story. Perhaps the most
important is that your friends just aren`t normal. No one`s friends are.
Mark Newman 2001.
Everybody on this planet is separated by only six other people.
Six degrees of separaton. Between us and everybody else on this
planet.... Its a profound thought...How every person is a new door,
opening up into other worlds.
`Ouisa` in John Guares 1990 play, `Six Degrees of Separation`.
Treble Agents of Double Fortune
Its a `Brian-Off`
Its a `Tom-Off`
Pre canoodleing exercises
Workshop or performance
`The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuosly in everyway necessarliy comes to grief amoung so many who are not so virtuos.`
Niccolo machiavelli
If the ammount of activity planned into this day, was
illustrated with an ananlogy to a stars matter density, this last full
activity day would have gone neutron.
Kayaking down the river in Llandysul was exhilarating. Like flying on
water. Everyone loved it, once we had overcome the embarassment
of squeezing into wet suits . We then walked over the road (almost
forgot what it was like to use the legs), for tea, toast and biccies.
The next couple of hours were a little strange.
Personally, I am quite a compliant sort. Tell me to do something and ,
within reason I`m glad to cooperate. Until ,I have thought about it
for a couple of days. We were asked, or were we told , to take part in a
workshop. Or was it a performance? For who`s benefit? There was a
mildly interested audience, and Mike led the activity with the flair of
a stage hypnotist. We `The Artists` performed the tasks issued, useing
materials quite out of some of our usual practices comfort zones. On
reflection, I`m not sure what it was about really. Another case of us
watching them watching us watching them watching us. An enthusiastic
Cerbyd debate followed.
Lunch was another amazing feast back at the mill, where we met and
chatted to dozens of other lunch guests.Then a short drive to our last
camp site. Tent up, and our next activity. Pub Quiz, hurrah.
Even though the `Quizz -Wigs`team cheeted, and nearly caused a riot
by questioning the accuracy of the quiz masters answers, they were
exonorated, and if you ignore the fact that the pubs regular quiz teams
slaughtered us, even the one man team, out of the three Cerbyd
teams... we won! Hurrah. Did you know that Moses sister was called
Miriam? Or that a limnologist studies lakes? S`funny what you do know
when you try.
Slept like a logs that last tented night.
Utopia? Bland in Comparison
Saw the flaring atom streams
and running torrents of her myriad universe
Running along the illimitable inane,
Fly on to crash together again,and make
Another and another frame of things,
For ever.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Back of the bus one last time
Last breakfast, last tent down.
What to write? If you have followed the blog this far you will
understand, that what to some was a weeks activity and camping, to
us became legend. The Cerbyd Crew. The landing was emotional, but it was
always going to be for me , thanks Tom for the comfort hugs. Thank you
Penny for coming to the train with me and Tiff for being there, at the
exquisite tea and bunting welcome home, at G39.
Thank you Cerbyd Crew you are all just amazing.
Since arriving home, I have been trying to analise what it was that
affected us so much. There was an intense bonding, (I don`t know how
much more it would have taken for cracks to appear). For me maybe,
it was the sense of family, of definately belonging
and the unconditional companionship and participation, the release
from everyday stresses, the inspiration that came from hanging out
with twelve other absolute experts and authorities.
Or was it ? Was it what I needed just at the right time? To be part
of a truely original piece of socially involved practice? I knew right
from first reading about the project, I really wanted to be involved.
I feel different. But, nothing has really changed. While we were
away, that eon that we were on the bus, the universe red shifted an
instant to the left. I am out of sink in a subtle and isolated , but
happy kind of way. I am inspired and enthusiastic about collaboration ,
full of ideas , I have made beautiful new friends. Thats not all
though. Things have changed.
I have endeavored to show that it is the pecular function of
physical science to lead us to the confines of the incomprehensible, and
bid us to behold it and receive it in faith, till such time as the
mystery shall open.
James Clerk Maxwell
This is a step forward in the dynamical explanation of physical phenomena.
Albert Einstein
I sleep better. x
Cerbyd to Culture Colony...Mission Accomplished
More luggage than a Terry Prachett book.
Kathryn and Charlotte in the back.
Having been home in Carmarthen about two hours, my behaviour is about as emotional and chaotic as it could be.
