“Well, it’s a marvellous night for a night walk with the stars up above so bright, a fantabulous night to see art works ‘Neath the cover of a January sky…..”
These were the words I was humming as I stood alone, holding onto a large red light outside a charming Edwardian church on a street corner in Roath in the bitter cold of a January evening. As the light began to fade and dusk turned into the inky blue of night we were putting the last minute bits and bobs to the evening adventures.
An event which signals the beginning of the creative year for all involved with Made in Roath and one which is a firm (if not cold) favourite. The event sees us taking a pleasant stroll through the streets of Roath stopping off at pre-arrange cultural points to enjoy and be enlightened by artists, poets, speakers, music makers and historians. This year Made in Roath was illuminated by a large red light outside a charming Edwardian church on a street corner.
The proceedings begin at G39 (our local international contemporary art gallery) in the shadows of the towering structures of Cardiff and with the sounds and yellow passing lights of traffic on City Road, we gathered ready to begin. It was a lovely night, cold and dark and we were surprised at the amount of people who braved the conditions and crowded together in harmony with the sounds a violin player serenading the air.
The night walkers procession headed down City Road to the now rubble filled site of the former Poets Corner Pub where we heard the message that its better to do something rather than nothing. Onward then pushing down to where a proud car garage once stood, now transformed into a restaurant, a sign of the changing nature of the city and City Road in particular. Onward once again with an unexpected turn down a dark ally way and into the Yurt of Miligis where we learned about the history of the area.
Off we went again, moving on quickly we headed passed a charming Edwardian Church illuminated very nicely by a very large red light on the street corner which served as an indicator as where to go next (see we had a plan for that). After another ally, this one containing refreshments and hot potatoes we finished the night at Welcome House, Made in Roaths current studio space, for a tour of the artist studios and to get warm around a roaring outdoor fire.
It was a whistle stop tour of the night and its culture, a tale telling glimpse into the cultural heart of the city. As we the a new year, a refreshing reminder that yes there are things going on and yes there are people doing things so why don’t we join them and do things too.
Cultural, musical, historical, writing, speaking, learning and enlightening things, I’d recommend all those things and more to try in 2017.