Arbrofion/ Experiments
Utopias Bach:
arbrawf sy’n archwilio
/experiments that exploresyniadau i’r dyfodol
/ideas for the future (that may already be present)
wedi’u creu/meddwl/cyflwyno/fframio ar raddfa fach (yn llythrennol, neu fel microcosm)
/constructed/presented/framed in a small scale (physically, or as a microcosm)gall, mewn ffordd, ein helpu i ddychmygu'r byd fel lle gwell i bobol a mwy-na-phobol o bob math, yn arbennig y rhai sydd wedi’u heffeithio’n ddrwg gan stad bresennol y byd
/ that in some way might help us imagine the world a better place for humans and more-than-humans of all kinds, especially those who are most badly affected by the current state of the world or its transition
Mae arbrofion Utopias Bach (yn y byd mawr, efallai mai ‘prosiectau’ fyddai’r enw arnyn nhw) yn cael eu hysbrydoli gan y syniad nad ydym yn gallu gwybod yn iawn beth sy’n digwydd – beth ddylien ni wneud – yn yr amseroedd ansicr yma. Ond dan ni eisiau gwneud rhywbeth, felly pam ddim arbrofi gyda phethau, ar raddfa bach yn lle rydan ni. Fel mae Tyson Yunkaporta yn dweud:
“The minute you have an idea and you think this is an important idea, everyone should know about this, everybody should be doing this, as soon as you’ve done that you’ve made an ideology and you are stuffed….All we can do is foster the conditions for emergence”
Mae pob arbrawf yn wahanol, wedi ei ddylunio gan y rhai sy’n cymeryd rhan. Mae rhai yn ei wneud yn unigol, tra mae eraill yn gweithio yn y gymuned
Mae’n ymddangos bod dau gyfeiriad (ac yn aml mae un yn arwain at y llall):
Un yn mynegi angen i wneud newidiadau gwirioneddol yn ein cymuned a ffordd o fyw, cael mwy o gyswllt gyda bodau dynol neu mwy-na-dynol eraill, gan gofleidio amrywioldeb.
Y llall ydi gwneud bydoedd bach dychmygol, yn mynegi angen am ddihangfa dychmygus ac efallai ymbyliad o’r dychymyg sydd wedi ei ddatblygu mewn cyfnod o ynysu a phendroni.
Utopias Bach experiments (yn y byd mawr, they might be called ‘projects’) are inspired by the idea that we can’t really know what will work - what we should do - in these precarious times. But we want to do something, so why not try things out, at small scale in the place where we are. As Tyson Yunkaporta says:
“The minute you have an idea and you think this is an important idea, everyone should know about this, everybody should be doing this, as soon as you’ve done that you’ve made an ideology and you are stuffed….All we can do is foster the conditions for emergence”
Each experiment is different, designed by those taking part. Some are being done individually, while others are working in community.
There seem to be two directions (and often one leads to the other):
one expressing a need to make actual changes in our communities and ways of living, being more connected with other humans and more-than-humans, embracing diversity.
the other is making miniature imaginary worlds, expressing a need for imaginative escapism and perhaps the stimulation of the imagination developed by isolation and reflection.
“It isn’t about having the number one best idea,
but having ideas that come from and work for more people”
- Emergent Strategy, Adrienne Maree Brown
Gweithio mewn cymuned
Mae rhai o’n harbrofion yn ymwneud ag artistiaid a chymunedau amrywiol yn gweithio gyda’i gilydd i ailddychmygu’r byd ar raddfa fach trwy hybiau creadigol, cefnogol a rhyngweithiol yng ngogledd Cymru a thu hwnt. Mae’r arbrofion yn amrywio o gymunedau daearyddol yn cyfarfod gyda’i gilydd yn wythnosol i drafod syniadau i ryngweithiau ar wasgar yn rhanu sylwadaeth manwl i wyliau bach a gweithredoedd bach traed ar y ddaear. Mae’r darganfyddiadau a chysylltiadau sydd wedi eu gwneud yn dod yn bwynt cychwynnol ar gyfer trafodaethau, yn cynhyrchu rhwydweithiau, cefnogaeth, deunyddiau a strategaethau hirdymor ar gyfer meddwl a gweithredu.
Os hoffech chi egino eich syniad-blanhigyn bach chi, efallai y gallwn eich cefnogi chi! Gweler yma
Working in community
Some of our experiments involve artists and diverse communities working together to re-imagine the world on a small scale through interconnected, supportive, creative hubs in North Wales and beyond. The experiments range from geographical communities meeting together weekly to discuss ideas to dispersed networks sharing detailed observations to mini-festivals and small scale on-the-ground actions. The discoveries and connections made become the starting point for discussion, generating lasting networks, support, tools and strategies for thought and action.
If you might like to sprout your own plantlet of an idea, we might be able to support you!
Ein arbrofion - Our experiments…
Cronecast
Bydd Crone Cast, o'r hen air Nordig kasta, ar ffurf ac arolwg - yn siâp, heb ffurf wedi'i wrthdroi, yn ddeunydd wedi'i ffurfio tu fewn i blisgyn y corff, y wyneb allanol y gragen neu sgerbwd, lapied o bridd.
Crone Cast, from Old Norse kasta, will be in form and appearance – an unfixed twist or distortion of shape, material formed in a body cavity, the external surface of shell or skeleton, a coil of earth.
Responding and experimenting with the conditions of the pandemic, in the context of climate change, societal and eco-system collapse, we are re- imagining crone as noticed, seen and heard, whilst noticing, looking and listening.
Experiments which have ‘finished’ in some way (although they may continue within other experiments, or be integrated into Utopias Bach’s ways of working etc)
Gororau'r Gogledd-ddwyrain - North-East borderlands
Yr Awen o sach Modryb Venodotia
- The ‘Awen’ from the sack of Aunty Venodotia
Tra bod gan Gymru sîn lenyddol Gymraeg lewyrchus, yn enwedig o ran barddoniaeth, mae gororau'r Gogledd-ddwyrain yn aml yn cael eu tangynrychioli, neu fel arall yn gwbl absennol. Yn gyffredinol, mae esboniadau'n canolbwyntio ar ddiffyg sgiliau Cymraeg ac/neu ddiffyg diddordeb yn y celfyddydau. Rwy'n fardd, yn wreiddiol o'r Gogledd Ddwyrain, ac ar hyn o bryd rwy’n ymwneud ag amrywiaeth o weithgareddau celfyddydol yn yr ardal. Fel y cyfryw, yr wyf yn ymwybodol bod ffactorau eraill ar waith, gan gynnwys tlodi ac amddifadedd cymdeithasol, diffyg cyfalaf cymdeithasol, a diffyg hyder cyffredinol mewn sgiliau iaith a llenyddiaeth. Wedi gwrando’n ddiweddar ar rai naratifau lleol, ynghyd â’m profiadau fy hun, rwyf wedi penderfynu cynnig fy sgiliau ieithyddol a llenyddol yn y gobaith o bontio’r bwlch a hyrwyddo cydraddoldeb a chyfiawnder cymdeithasol yn y rhanbarth hwn. Dechreuaf gyda helpu band lleol i gyfieithu geiriau a dod o hyd i gyfleoedd i lwyfannu. Byddaf hefyd yn ceisio hyrwyddo ysgrifennu fel ffurf o fynegiant ymhlith unigolion nad ydynt wedi cael y math hwn o gyfle o'r blaen. Byddaf yn ceisio creu cysylltiadau rhwng y gweithgareddau hyn, gan groesbeillio'r gwaith o baratoi geiriau sydd â naws Gogledd-Ddwyreiniol amlwg, ynglŷn â bywyd ar y gororau.
Whilst Wales has a thriving Welsh literary scene, particularly with regards to poetry, the North-East borderlands are frequently under-represented, or else are even entirely absent. Explanations generally centre around a lack of Welsh language skills and/ or a lack of interest in the arts. I am a poet originally from the North-East, currently engaged in a variety of arts-related activities in the area. As such, I am aware that other factors are at work, including poverty and social deprivation, lack of social capital, and a general lack of confidence in both language and literature skills. Having recently listened to some local narratives, coupled with my own experiences, I have resolved to offer my language and literary skills in the hope of bridging the gap and promoting equality and social justice in this region. I will begin with helping a local band to translate lyrics and finding opportunities for platforming. I will also seek to promote writing as a form of expression amongst individuals who have not previously had this kind of opportunity made available. I will seek to make links between these activities, cross-pollinating the preparation of lyrics which have a distinctly North-East flavour, regarding life in the borderlands.
Cerddorfa Lastic Band Utopias Bach Rubber Band Orchestra
Experimental orchestra created by Kar Rowson, as part of her Collaboratory meeting. Seen here at Femke van Gent’s ‘Mother Island Whispers’, as part of the ‘Band to Welcome Spring’ global project 20.3.22
“Welcome in the Vernal Equinox by playing instruments outside wherever you are, and people all around the world will be doing the same!” Nick Tobier
““It’s not about conquering the world
but of making a world capable of holding many worlds.”
-Ernst Bloch
Lindsey Colbourne: Call A Tiny Council of All Beings - Achub y Byd!
What if…