The first CWM festival was set deep in the amazing valley ‘Cwm Cowarch’, Southern Snowdonia, Wales. Bringing together the
network that had evolved from monthly events at the ‘Time Bar’
(Greenwich), The 291 Gallery (Hackney, East London) and the newly realised ‘Utrophia Project Space’ (Greenwich / Deptford), Utrophia was able to co-ordinate three days of live music, film, performance and food. the festival was
free of charge and was made possible by the collective efforts of everyone who attended.
A stage was built in the
barn out of wood scattered around the grounds, equipment was provided by the bands performing, a miniature
cinema was set up in a black cab from London, sculptural pieces hung from trees in the forest, screens made from
huge white sheets hung between trees and peoples’ films were screened.
The unique way in which this three day
event came into being, highlighted the strength of the network that had formed and that an amazing event could
be realized without waiting for the financial aid of any external body (i.e. corporate sponsors etc).
Co-ordinated by
key Utrophia artists Inigo Minns, Ben Cummins and Stephen Molyneux, each element was made to fit together
coherently, making this grass roots festival a strong foundation for future Utrophia events.
A film by artist Michael Maier 'Bread.Sounds.Solitude and Shelter.Cwm August 20-22.2004' edits together footage from the festival
and will be part of a box set, documenting Utrophia’s Cwm Festivals. You can also watch it by looking just to the right of this text...