Archives

Crow a poem by Rachel Carney in response to ‘Mother and Child Flight’ by Karin Mear I follow my crow up the road hopping aside to let the people pass wait! wait for me! she flits away   turns [...]

A Metamorphosis a poem by Rachel Carney in response to photographs of the Phurnacite Plant at Abercwmboi, taken by Hans Hoyer Ignore the dirt and clamour, try not to cough, just wait for the [...]

This blog will take you on a whistle-stop tour of the valley’s railways via photographs from the Cynon Valley Museum collection. This includes some railway ‘outposts’, an example of railways and [...]

The Shadows a poem by Rachel Carney in response to ‘Lockdown’ by Karin Mear They measure out the flat span of each red day that passes or shape themselves – shadows of shadows inside shadows. [...]

Yellow a poem by Rachel Carney in response to ‘When the Singing Stopped’ by Karin Mear a cage of feathers, light as breath, a flare amid the groan and roar, a song flung from the womb [...]

Stare a poem by Rachel Carney in response to ‘Kings of the Hill’ by Roy Carr Hooves sunk in the snow, they ruminate in their world of white hills, barbed wire and far horizons. They munch on [...]

This blog post tells the story behind the Y Côr Mawr Commemorative Medal, belonging to the museum collection, and the connected story of the choir and its conductor, Caradog. This fine silver [...]

Night a poem by Rachel Carney in response to ‘Night Bird’ by Karin Mear   The white, scratched shell of my spirit – what’s left of it – lies in this nest, beneath the shadow of my silence. [...]

One of the Bacon Sisters A poem by Rachel Carney in response to a set of sketches by the Bacon Sisters Reflections on the Writing Process “I was struck by the quiet and calm atmosphere of these [...]

This blog post tells the story behind the message on an earthenware plate produced during the First World War. At the beginning of the First World War, Britain was heavily reliant on imports for [...]

Writing Inspired by Art: A Creative Writing Workshop   I’m running a free online creative writing workshop, based around the Cynon Valley Museum’s online art exhibitions, on Saturday 27th [...]

She Bakes A poem by Rachel Carney in response to ‘Kitchen Votive’ by Karin Mear Today I baked a dozen eyes, adding lashes just for fun, checking them half way through to make sure they [...]

From campaigning to reopen the museum to embedding the museum in our community, volunteers have been essential, and we would like to say thank you to every single volunteer.

Axe A poem by Rachel Carney in response to a photograph of a Neolithic Axe from Mynydd Bwlfa   All we have left of you is this green axe worn smooth in places, shaped and wielded over [...]