Volunteers needed to help ‘re-discover map of Wales’ sculpture by Welsh artist Paul Davies

People on and around Anglesey are invited to join volunteering events at the Llyn Alaw reservoir (Anglesey) in November, to help rediscover a huge sculpture (approx. 11x6 yd) by Beca artist Paul Davies (best known for his ‘Welsh Not’ - performance at 1977 Eisteddfod).

The events emerge from an ongoing collaboration between Welsh Water, Isle of Anglesey County Council’s Countryside and AONB Unit and Bangor University researcher Dr Sarah Pogoda from the School of Arts, Culture and Language. Sarah is looking into Paul Davies’s work and the Llyn Alaw site in particular, working closely with local authorities and the artist’s family.

Sarah explains, “Paul initiated the commission from Welsh Water in 1987 in context with the then European Commission’s ‘Year of the Environment’. Paul, Art & Design students from Coleg Llandrillo Menai (then Gwynedd Technical College) and local volunteers joined forces over months for building the sculpture, using only local materials. It is one of the first major works of so-called ‘land art’ in Wales and the UK.”

The sculpture has been overgrown by bramble, gorse, and undergrowth for more than a decade. But with two volunteering events in 2023, the sculpture has been cleared and is now visible again.

Alwyn Roberts from Welsh Water explains, “We’re delighted to play our part in bringing this piece of cultural heritage back to life. The area – and with it the sculpture – fell a bit off the public visibility since Alaw Fishery closed a number of years ago, but we hope that through our common efforts we will bring the sculpture back to be enjoyed by visitors to the site, as it is an important piece of local heritage.”

Owen Davies (AONB Community Warden at the Isle of Anglesey County Council) has been taking the lead for clearing the sculpture from its overgrowth and has been organising the volunteering events. Owen explains, “We look forward to working with members of our local communities to help revive this historic artwork at Llyn Alaw using hand tools such as garden-loppers and bow-saws. It has been challenging and very rewarding work last year thanks to many helpers. We now need to ensure to maintain a cleared sculpture, so please, we need many helping hands!”

The volunteering event will take place from November, 23-24, 10:00am - 2:00pm. Volunteers can be re-imbursed for their fuel, but we will also arrange lifts to and from the site. Portable toilet and hand washing facility will be available. Bring your own lunch.

For further information on the volunteering events, please contact Owen Davies.

For further information on research relating the sculpture, please contact Sarah Pogoda, 01248 382521.