'MAN GWYN MAN DRAW?'
The Promised Land
Retracing the paths of the Welsh Colonists


PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENT

'MAN GWYN MAN DRAW': a Welsh proverb, meaning "a perfect place over yonder".

People have always been on the move, from place to place, from country to country, from continent to continent. Very often they are seeking a better world - a gentler climate, wider opportunities, greater religious or political freedom. Many generations of Welsh people have spread to the four corners of the world to settle and to plant a little of their old way of life in the soil of the new country.

From the 17th century onwards, many thousands emigrated to America to work on farms or in the industrial towns. I have always been fascinated with the rich history of those who fled to America to seek the 'Promised Land'. The Welsh were a people so disheartened by the oppressive regime under which they lived and so desperate in search for a better life, that they were prepared to turn their backs on everything that was dear to them and head towards what they envisaged to be their own American dream. They were full of hope and had big plans to establish a 'New Wales' on the other side of the Atlantic, where their culture and language could flourish without restrictions.

But after months of harsh weather at sea, what they found in America was not always the utopia they had dreamt of. Sometimes they had to travel onwards in search of workable land. Most faced hardship, hunger and death. Others were fortunate enough to be blessed with good land and were welcomed with open arms.

Our work of art for this year's Burning Man will incorporate the concept of the American Dream and the 18th century Welsh psyche. The work will explore the relationship between idealism and reality and will delve deeper into the idea of creating a self-sustaining community, free from the oppression of capitalism and corrupt governments. These were the ideals of the Welsh migrants who fled their native country three hundred years ago; the artwork on the playa will offer an ironic parallel to the concept behind the Burning Man itself.

The work will consist of two contrasting elements, the first being a field of wheat, which from a certain perspective will have the illusion of reaching far towards the horizon. They will sway in the wind but hold their ground; symbolizing something that is able to grow even in the harshest conditions - that is, hope.



The second element will be a flock of sheep that will stand in a long straight line, and placed parallel to the field of wheat. The sheep (an animal that is of course, often associated with Wales) will represent the thousands of people who left their fields and farms behind and escaped, one by one, almost like lambs to the slaughter. A device will be fitted within each sheep with different audio recordings being played constantly. These will vary from hymns, composed in America by Welsh immigrants and sung by male voice choirs, to cutting-edge Welsh poetry and rap - not forgetting the occasional 'baaaaaah'. They will also illuminate during the night and will glow like lanterns on the playa. The work as a whole will raise questions about the true nature of colonization and the consequences of following your dreams, no matter what that might entail.



The installation will continue to grow during the week at Black Rock City as people will be invited to contribute directly to the work. They will be invited to convey their own personal vision of the American Dream on brown paper luggage tags, which they will then be able to tie onto the wheat-stalks. It is hoped that by the end of the week, the work will have grown in meaning and will have morphed into a different entity, which will encompass thousands of different dreams, aspirations and ideals. It will make us remember who we are and what we want. It will make us reassess our lives and make us realize and appreciate what we already have. But above all, it will celebrate the human condition for what it really is and will hopefully go a little way to rekindle our faith in the world in which we live.


PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

CREW DETAILS

There will be a crew of 4 people to assist with the installing and clean-up of the project. All five will differ in terms of expertise and skills.

DAFYDD ROBERTS is a self-employed artist and TV set designer who trained in Fine Art at Cardiff Art College and has broad experience of sculpture making, which includes creating ice sculptures in harsh weather conditions in Norway. Dafs will be managing the design and creation of 'Field of Wheat' and 'Flock of Sheep', along with Joe.

JOE ROBERTS A trained blacksmith who is also an avid climber and paraglidist. He will assist Dafydd in the construction of the sheep and wheat. He will also be responsible for day-to-day survival and will be invaluable to the team in terms of securing the structures and lighting the project as a whole.

LLYR GRIFFITHS A welder and trained mechanic, based in San Francisco. He will be assisting with any transportation problems that might arise. He will also be an invaluable asset in terms of sourcing the materials, constructing the artwork and disposing of items to be recycled and reused following the event.

ANGHARAD BLYTHE Angharad has studied art and design and will be the project manager. She will oversee the whole project and make sure that everything runs smoothly. She will also be in charge of the Clean-Up at the end of the week and will be planning our exodus! She is also responsible for fundraising and grant applications.

PRE-EVENT CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE 2008

12-18/06/08		ASSEMBLE INSTALLATION ON LOCATION IN WALES
01-30/06/08		SOURCE MATERIALS IN SAN FRANCISCO THROUGH LLYR
19/08/08		ARRIVE IN SAN FRANCISO, CA
20-21/08/08		SOURCE AND PURCHASE MATERIALS IN SAN FRANCISCO
21/08/08	9.00	PICK-UP TRANSPORTATION FROM SAN FRANCISCO
21/08/08	10.00	SOURCE AND PURCHASE WATER AND FOOD SUPPLIES, SURVIVAL SUPPLIES ETC.
21/08/08	12.00	TRAVEL TO BLACK ROCK CITY

ON PLAYA SCHEDULE

21/08/08	17.00	ARRIVE AT BLACK ROCK CITY
21/08/08	17.30	REGISTER AND CHECK-IN AT THE ARTery
21/08/08	18.30	SET UP CAMP FOR NIGHT
22/08/08	10.30	START WORK CONSTRUCTING 'FLOCK OF SHEEP'
23/08/08	19.00	COMPLETE WORK ON 'FLOCK OF SHEEP'
24/08/08	10.00	START WORK ON 'FIELD OF WHEAT'
24/08/08	18.00	COMPLETE WORK ON 'FEIELD OF WHEAT'
25/08/08-01/09/08		***BURNING MAN EVENT AND ART PARTICIPATION***
02/09/08	11.00	DISMANTLE INSTALLATION AND SEPARATE MATERIALS TO RAW STATE
02/09/08	13.00	BEGIN CLEAN-UP AND ENSURE NO MOOP OR GREY WATER IS LEFT ON PLAYA. SECURE LOAD.
02/09/08	14.30	ASSIST BRC CLEAN-UP PROJECT
02/09/08	17.00	CHECK-OUT OF THE PLAYA.
02/09/08	17.30	BEGIN JOURNEY BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO, STOPPING IN RENO ON THE WAY TO DISPOSE OF ITEMS TO BE RECYCLED AND ITEMS TO BE DISCARDED AS WELL AS TO DISPOSE OF THE GREY WATER WE HAVE ACCUMULATED DURING OUR STAY.