WNGGA
| Friday September 4th
9:00 am - 12:00 noon:
Afternoon Seminar Session |
Saturday September 5th
9:00
am - 12:00 noon:
Afternoon Seminar Session
|
| S1
Welsh Nationality Room at the University
of Pittsburgh, an Armchair Tour
with Dale Richards and Jack Owen ~ Co-chairmen of the Welsh Nationality Room The Pittsburgh St. David’s Society has brought a piece of old Wales to Pittsburgh to honor the contributions of our ancestors. Come and hear the story of the Welsh Chapel turned classroom from two of the persons who brought the dream to a reality. This is an armchair tour version given as a seminar; actual tours to the site of the Welsh Nationality Room will also be given during the weekend. A grant from WNGGA helped make this Room possible. Sponsored by The Pittsburgh St. David's Society |
| S2
From Israel to Wales with Love
with Olwen Hughes ~ Welsh Artist and Leicester Painter In 1981, Mrs. Rebecca Fine of Cardiff, commissioned Olwen Hughes, one of Wales' best topological artists, to create a painting of the synagogue in Ely, Cardiff which led to more paintings and eventually, to an exhibit in Jerusalem. Come hear this fascinating and little-known story and see the paintings and photographs themselves. |
| S3
Where Dylan Dreamed
with Olwen Hughes~ Welsh Artist and Leicester Painter An entertaining and informative illustrated talk on various aspects of the short life of the celebrated Welsh son, Dylan Thomas, as told through the paintings and drawings of Olwen Hughes. Olwen will tell about working with the Welsh writer and film director, Jack Howells, who received an Oscar in 1964 for his direction of the film "Dylan," starring Richard Burton. Olwen's story will also recount her close friendship with Aeronwy, Dylan's daughter. |
| S4
Welsh Language Class
with Hefina Phillips ~ Cymdeithas Madog Come and learn a few rudiments and phrases of your mother tongue, one of Europe's most ancient languages, and the vehicle of an awesome literary heritage nearly two thousand years old. For those who are interested in receiving advanced language instruction or in participating in chat sessions please contact the WNGGA headquarters directly. Sponsored by Cymdeithas Madog. |
| S5
Ysogl Gân: Learn to Sing
with Dr. Keith Davies Jones ~ Ysgol Gân Instructor and Dianne McCarty, Accompanist Come prepare for the hallmark event of our weekend, the National Gymanfa Ganu. Learn how to sing your part with others in your section or just come to listen to beautiful Welsh music. |
| S6
The Welsh Fiddle
with Ar Log ~ Welsh Folk Band Get up close and personal with the Welsh Fiddle. Ar Log, our performers on Thursday night, will share a host of Welsh fiddle tunes for your enjoyment. We're sure that your questions (and you) will be entertained. Sponsored by Sain Records |
| S7
The Welsh Harp
with Ar Log ~ Welsh Folk Band This is an opportunity for a more intimate encounter with the Welsh Harp, also featured in the Ar Log concert on Thursday night. Discover why the Welsh Triple Harp is different from other harps. In this seminar you'll be close enough to see all the action. Sponsored by Sain Records |
| S8
Welsh Cartoons of J. M. Staniforth
with Dr. Christopher Williams ~ Swansea University Joseph Morewood Staniforth (born 1863) worked as chief editorial cartoonist for the Cardiff daily newspaper the Western Mail and for the London Sunday newspaper the News of the World. From the early 1890s until his death in 1921 his cartoons were an integral element to both newspapers interpretation of current affairs, and many were republished in separate volumes dealing with themes such as wars, industrial disputes and elections. Staniforth work provoked admiration and infuriation from politicians, trade unionists, religious leaders and businessmen, many of whom, including David Lloyd George, paid tribute to his imagination and influence. JMS as he signed himself, was labelled the Welsh Tenniel after the great Punch cartoonist Sir John Tenniel, and in the opinion of art historian Peter Lord was the most important visual commentator on Welsh affairs ever to work in the country. This illustrated talk will consider the life and work of J. M. Staniforth, with a particular focus on those cartoons which addressed the issue of the national interests and destiny of Wales itself. |
| S9
The Diaries of Richard Burton
with Dr. Christopher Williams ~ Swansea University Richard Burton (1925-84) was one of the most accomplished actors of the twentieth century, enjoying global fame for over thirty years. His private life, particularly his marriages to Elizabeth Taylor, ensured that he was rarely out of the headlines from the 1960s onwards. He was also, of course, a proud Welshman: hailing from the Afan valley in South Wales, his first language Welsh, a talented rugby player in his youth and a keen follower of the game throughout his life. For many years he kept journals or diaries, in which he recorded his thoughts about his work, his family and friends, and the world around him. Now deposited at Swansea University, these fascinating documents are being prepared for publication. They reveal a Richard Burton rather different in character from the popular image of the legendary hell-raiser and lavish spender. The writer of these diaries comes across as a thoughtful, reflective and caring man, despite being buffeted by storms not all of which were of his own making. By engaging with Burton’s own words we gain a much more complete understanding of one of the most iconic Welshmen of all time. |
| S10
Welsh Immigrants in the American Coalfields
with Dr. Ronald L. Lewis ~University of West Virginia Most histories of American immigration concentrate on the mass migrations from southern and eastern Europe at the turn of the twentieth century, on the discrimination they experienced, and their eventual assimilation generations later. Unlike the Europeans, the British were welcomed as valuable reinforcements by Old Stock Americans, and they were thought of as invisible immigrants. From their own perspective, however, British immigrants, particularly the Welsh, occupied an ambiguous status between natives and immigrants. This presentation will focus on Welsh coal miners, by far the largest group of skilled workers among Welsh immigrants, and explores their formative influence on the American coal industry. |
| S11
On the Origin of Welsh Lovespoons
with Chris Watkins ~ Lovespoon craftsman The Welsh custom of giving a lovespoon has existed since at least the 1600s. Although they are mostly bought and given for special occasions now, this has not always been the case. During this seminar we will engage in a comprehensive literary and media review of the custom from the present day back to the earliest surviving example, dated 1667. We will question the significance of the lovespoon in the modern era, and examine the many guises it took throughout the last century. We will discuss the near death of the custom at the end of the 1800s, despite its popularity throughout the previous 200 years. Finally, we will explore two theories that attempt to explain how and why Welsh people began to carve these intricately decorated, romantically meaningful love tokens. |
