CÂN Y COED Rainforest Symphony is a unique collaboration between the Rainforests of Wales and Environmental Sound Artist, Cheryl Beer. The composition is led by the vascular systems of ancient trees, ferns and moss, collated by repurposing hearing aid and biomedical sound technology, empowering nature from beneath the bark, where every note of the Symphony is led by the rainforests, themselves.

NEWSFLASH : Cân y Coed Rainforest Symphony ​represents the UK in Qatar
Since its launch in July 2022, Cân y Coed Rainforest Symphony has been making national & global impact, raising awareness of fragile ecologies, culminating in Cheryl being approached by Downing Street to represent the United Kingdom at the Garden of Diversity in Qatar - a living statement as to how Great creativity can grow greater understanding. More than 30,000 people visited the Great Garden of Diversity during the World Cup. The photograph of the Garden, reveals Cheryl's installation halfway down the pathway, on the left, with an insitu information board & her biodegradable QR Codes installed within the tree. Smaller versions of the QR Codes are available in her Symphony Store.

Cheryl says, 'It is a great privilege & honour to represent both the UK & Wales at the World Cup, bringing the Rainforests of Wales onto a global stage & poignantly, deconstructing stereotypes about disability'

Alongside this installation, at the other side of the World Cup Stadium, Cheryl was one of 12 artists - The Cultural Squad, representing her home country, Wales, at an insitu exhibition organised by Wales Arts International.

Newsflash: Cân y Coed Rainforest Symphony is permanently ​installed ​​at ​the National Botanic Garden of Wales, inspiring visitors to hear nature more deeply.

Cân y Coed Rainforest Symphony at WORLDS AWAY: Art, Nature & Wellbeing
The Mac, Birmingham ​2nd September - 26th November 2023

Continuing to raise awareness of fragile ecologies, Cân y Coed Rainforest Symphony, the music, sound & visual, is off to The Mac in Birmingham as part of a 3 month digital residency at World's Away, an exhibition bringing together artists who have been inspired by the natural world and its power to stimulate feelings of belonging, mental and physical wellbeing. Artworks consider a range of views from the romantic vision of nature as a therapeutic companion to a new contemporary era of ‘climate anxiety’ and its enormous global challenges.' - Free Entry.

FREELANCING & THE CLIMATE CRISIS
Cultural Freelancers, Wales
Online Event - 15th September 2023

Cheryl is a Guest Speaker at an online event aimed at  Cultural Freelancers & raising awareness of their role in addressing the climate crisis. By taking the example of her Unlimited Main Commission, Cân y Coed, and the global trajectory of the work since its launch, Cheryl will discuss how we can make mindful & impactful choices within our creative practices, thus inspiring our audience to do the same. Click the photograph to sign up for this free event.

O N C A  GALLERY, Brighton
Artist Residency & Cân y Coed Installation - 9th Aug to Sept 4th 2023​

Cheryl is excited to have been invited by O N C A Gallery, Brighton as resident artist, celebrating the launch of her new Cân y Coed/ Song of the Trees reference book with a rainforest exhibition & installation. Cheryl & ONCA are experimenting with the notion of an artist being 'remotely present': an immersive experience with audience in the space and Cheryl appearing live using online platforms at her studio in Wales. 
​ ​​1st & 2nd of September - On the Ist & 2nd of September, the Audio/Visual installation of Cân y Coed Rainforest Symphony will exhibit at O N C A with an opportunity for a live online Q&A with Cheryl. She will also be faclitating a 'remotely present' Song of the Trees drop in to answer questions about her new book,& give an insight into the research that has influenced her work. Supported by Unlimited, Celebrating the Work of Disabled Artists.

LINKS, ​Llanelli
August 8th 2023 (Closed workshop) 

OGHAM - CELTIC TREE ALPHABET 
During Cheryl's Cân y Coed residency in the Celtic Rainforests of Wales, she began indepth research into the Ogham Celtic Tree Alphabet & now delivers Ogham workshops and seminars that aim to connect people more deeply with the trees on their doorstep. LINKS is a charity supporting people with mental health needs. The group will explore how the ancient Celts named themselves through a Tree Alphabet, where every letter represented the folklore, bardic tales and spirituality of a tree. They will learn the Celtic Tree meaning of their own name, connect with their Ogham birth tree and gain a more emotional connection to the well being that trees offer freely. Funded by LINKS & Supported by Artscare Gofal Celf.​

Cân y Coed Rainforest Symphony  at Beyond the Border International Storytelling Festival  July 7 -9th 2023

Cheryl is delighted to have been invted to Wales' International Storytelling Festival, Beyond the Border at the National Trust's Dinefwr Castle, Llandeilo. Leading a Listening Circle, she will be sharing Cân y Coed Rainforest Symphony & the story of her journey since repurposing hearing aid technology to compose music with the biorhythms of nature. Based in the ancient woodlands at the Queen Beech, Cheryl will tell the story of her Unlimited Main Commission where she spent a year as a resident Environmental Sound Artist at 5 remaining enclaves of rainforest across Wales to compose a symphony led by the natural world.

We Are Sacred, We Are Beautiful
The Seagull Gallery, Cardigan
 Wednesday June 14th @ 2pm 2023

For the first time since her hearing loss, Cheryl will be performing live readings from her collection of environmental poetry. Invited as a guest of celebrated artist, Dorothy Morris, she will be at the launch of We Are Sacred, We Are Beautiful, at The Seagull Gallery, Cardigan. Click the link to visit Dorothy's website.

A B E R E T W M 
​Guest Speaker - CÂN Y COED 
​Aberystwyth Arts Centre May 9th 2023 

In celebration of Aberystwyth’s unique creative DNA and its Arts centre’s 50th anniversary, renowned interdisciplinary artist Marc Rees has created an exciting multi-day performance. ​A B E R E T W M reimagines an ancient local myth, taking audiences on a journey across the town centre, overlaying forgotten heritage with contemporary issues to illuminate a pathway to a positive future and culminating in an immersive musical concerto. Cheryl is appearing in the Round Theatre on Monday 8th May as a Guest Speaker, giving a unique insight into her lived experience as a deaf Environmental Sound Artist & composer, as well as her work with the Rainforests of Wales. Afterwards, Cheryl's Cân y Coed Rainforest Symphony Sound Installation & accompanying video will be exhibited in the theatre space.

Ty Cerdd; Music Centre for Wales
Wales Millennium Centre. 2nd - 5th Feb.

In the pursuit of orchestrating CÂN Y COED Rainforest Symphony in a way that is inclusive of Cheryl as the deaf composer, she partnered with Diabiillty Arts Cymru to apply for support from Ty Cerdd, the Music Centre for Wales. This enabled her to collaborate with Associate Music Director of the Paraorchestra, Lloyd Coleman & invite a wide range of musicians to the Ty Cerdd Studio to see which ones were compatible to Cheryl's hearing needs. A full report & video on Inclusive Orchestration is available at Cheryl's BLOG.

Cân y Coed & Ogham - The Celtic Tree Alphabet. ​Parc Howard Museum
with Arts Care Gofal Celf - ​26th June ​

During Cheryl's Unlimited Commission at the Rainforests of Wales, her research led her to the Ogham Celtic Tree Alphabet. The Celts spoke through a language of the trees that is still used today within the Welsh Bardic tradition.  Arts Care Gofal Celf have invited Cheryl to hold an outdoors talk & workshop, where those attending will hear about Cân y Coed Rainforest Symphony, find out their Ogham Birth Tree, write their name in the Celtic tree alphabet and make their own an Ogham to take home. NB: Spaces are limited, so please be sure to contact rachel@acgc.co.uk before coming, to make a booking.​​

CÂN Y COED Rainforest
Symphony Recorder Quintet
May 22nd People Speak Up
Y Fwrnes Theatre, Llanelli 2023

Picture
Click to read the blog
Continuing her quest to orchestrate CÂN Y COED Rainforest Symphony in a way that is inclusive of her hearing needs, Cheryl is collaborating with Swansea based musician, Delyth Holland, who has kindly organised a Recorder Quintet of local players to work with Cheryl, so as to experiment & find out how her hearing responds to 5 instruments playing at once. Following research earlier this year at Ty Cerdd supported by Disability Arts Cymru, the quintet will comprise of recorders from treble to contrabass, hoping that these will be compatible with Cheryl's remaining lower range of hearing. People Speak Up are kindly supporting the project, inviting the quintet & Cheryl to rehearse at their base, Zion Chapel, Ffwrnes Fach, part of Y Ffwrnes Theatre.

Climate Justice Celebration of Policy
Centre for Alternative Technology
Digital Storytelling March 3oth 2023

Cheryl was commissioned to make a video piece for her story 'The Re-imagining' told from the perspective of an old oak tree, 50 years in the future. The tree tells how its carbon cousins, humanity, finally made the changes needed for Earth to thrive, led by the creatives. The telling accompanied by sound & visual edits of Cheryl's Cân y Coed Rainforest Symhony, raising awareness of fragile ecologies & placing nature's voice centre stage.
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​As an Associate Artist for the Arts Council of Wales, Cheryl was invited to join the co-design group for Climate Justice in the Arts, a collaboration with The Centre for Alternative Technology, supported by Natural Resources Wales. The Re-imagining was shown at Sheppard Theatre for the celebration of that policy, using the arts to connect people with the nature and climate emergencies. 
Click the link to start a conversation with Cheryl

History - Symphony Launch 2022 : ​at ​The National Botanic Garden of Wales. 21st June

The launch of CÂN Y COED Rainforest Symphony was hosted by The National Botanic Garden of Wales. Esteemed guests joined Cheryl in the Theatr Botanica to watch a film about her year's work in the rainforests. Her QR Coded portal to CÂN Y COED was unveiled & is now permanently sited at an old oak tree, where every day,  visitors are transported to the Rainforests of Wales through their mobile devices, listening to the song of the trees.
''At the core of my work, is a mission - to raise awareness of fragile ecologies. When I lost my hearing, nature rescued me & now I am committed to returning that kindness through my Arts practice. The vulnerable nature of our Welsh Rainforests is a lesson, showing us how close we are ourselves to the same fragility. That is why I am deeply moved that Cân y Coed Rainforest Symphony has been received so widely by so many,  way beyond my expectation. '' 
​- Cheryl Beer
Since launching at the National Botanic Garden of Wales, Cân y Coed Rainforest Symphony has had extensive National & International reach. From the Commonwealth Games to the Southbank Centre, London, from Qatar to Canada, appearing in prestigious venues & events across the globe, appearing in 31 Tate associated galleries across the British Isles! ​The following section is designed to show you the impact of Cheryl's Rainforest Symphony, since July 2022. 

BBC Radio 4 : Sketches: Stories of Art & People

From July to August, Cheryl joined BBC Radio 4 & BBC Sounds, giving a personal insight into her work as a hearing impaired, Environmental Sound Artist & Composer. The program delved into the wonders of her work, exporing how Cheryl composes music by collating biorhythms from the conductivity within vascular systems of the natural world.​
DISABILITY ARTS CYMRU
​In recogintion of CÂN Y COED Rainforest Symphony. Disability Arts Cymru  celebrated Cheryl's success by making her Artist of the Month for June/July 2022.
​In addition, her launch video delivered in Welsh, English & British Sign Language was shared at their website & with their new digital partner AM Creative App - empowering Cheryl's work UPON a national platform.

Celtic Rainforest Woodland Festival

CÂN Y COED Rainforest Symphony was exhibited at the Celtic Rainforest Woodland Festival - As the Third Movement of the Symphony, 'Dancing Fern' was composed in Cwm Elan Rainforest,  it was fitting indeed, for it to return home. A permanent wooden QR sign, transporting visitors to the symphony, is now housed at Cwm Elan Information Centre.
Unity Film Festival  - CHAPTER ARTS
​Cheryl was invited by Hijnx Theatre Company to be part of the Unity Film Festival at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, where audiences had the opportunity to scan biodegradabe QR Codes & delve beneath the bark at the Rainforests of Wales, transporting them from the city & immersing them within the Song of the Trees, beneath the bark.

The Senedd, Cardiff

CÂN Y COED Rainforest Symphony was exhibited for 2 weeks at The Senedd, Cardiff,  sponsored  by Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Assembly Member, Lee Waters. The Audio/ Visual was displayed on a rolling schedule & included in the visitor's tour., alongside a wooden easel & QR Code display that enabled visitor's to access the work via BSL & Welsh.
​Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
​​CÂN Y COED Rainforest Symphony joined Hijinx Unity Festival at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff for 4 days as a meditative installation, where audience were invited to access CÂN Y COED in a soft area, transporting them from the busy urban capital, to the calm & tranquil Rainforests of Wales.
Pontio Arts & Innovation Centre : ​28th - 29th June 
CÂN Y COED Rainforest Symphony installation toured with Hijinx Unity Festival onto Pontio in Bangor, North Wales ...
​1st - 2nd July - ​Y Ffwrnes Theatre
CÂN Y COED Installation toured with Hijinx Unity Festival to Y Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.
2nd July WAIWAV - The Pier Arts Centre, Orkney Islands, Scotland
Cheryl was part of a ground breaking UK wide Arts Intervention called WAIWAV marking the 102nd anniversary of Dadafest. Her piece 'Sound heArt' invited audience to listen inside the environmental sound artist, whilst delving beneath the bark of the trees that saved her @ CÂN Y COED Rainforest Symphony. A permanent QR Coded sign was installed & audience were invited to a film showing, followed by Q&A.

​WAIWAV SPECIAL EDITION BOOK LAUNCH

​As part of the intervention, a WAIWAV special edition zine was published, featuring Cheryl's work alongside all 31 of the artists taking part. The limited edition copies have become collector items & 4000 were distributed throughout the UK, as well as being placed as reference material in the foyer of the 30 Galleries taking part, You will find the reference copies in the following TATE associated galleries - 

Arnolfini Arts Centre, Bristol / Baltic Centre of Contemporary Art, Gateshead / Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow  Firstsite Art Gallery, Colchester / Glynn Vivian Gallery, Swansea / Golden Thread Art Centre, Belfast / Grizedale Arts, Coniston / Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston / The Hepworth Art Museum, Wakefield / HOME, Manchester / Ikon Gallery, Birmingham / John Hansard Gallery, Southampton / Leeds Art Gallery / Liverpool Biennial Gallery / MIMA – Middelsbrough Institute of Moden Art / Manchester Art Gallery / MK Gallery, Milton Kenes / Modern Art Oxford
Newlyn Art Gallery / Nottingham Contemporary / Pier Arts Centre, Orkney Islands, Scotland / Site Gallery, Sheffield  Tate Britain, London / Tate Liverpool / Tate Modern, London / Tate Gallery St Ives / Towner , Eastbourne / Turner Contemporary, Kent / VOID Gallery Londonderry, Ireland.

THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES

CÂN Y COED Rainforest Symphony was given as a gift by the Welsh Government & Wales Arts International, to all the foreign dignatories, special guests, sports aficionados & team members at the Welsh Welcome Party of The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. 

THE SOUTHBANK CENTRE, LONDON

​​Cân y Coed Rainforest Symphony was selected to exhibit at THE SOUTHBANK CENTRE, London for the Unlimited Festival. It was played in The Southbank's A/V Theatre on a continuous loop throughout. ALSO, the Vibration boxes that Cheryl has designed, so people can easily convert the sound back into vibration, enabling them to FEEL the Symphony through their hands, was available from the main desk at the Southbank Centre & a dedicated room was set up for folk to use them.  Cheryl had her own web page on the Southbank Centre Website during the festival, which exhibited her Creative Access films alongside the Main Commission in BSL & Welsh language.

​Broadleaf Magazine

Cheryl's work with trees was featured in the Woodland Trust Autumn Special Edition 50th Anniversay Broadleaf Magazine, celebrating half a century of The Woodland Trust, who have planted over 55 million trees since launching in 1972. Cheryl's photograph titled - '10,000 Years of Moss' - taken at Coed Llennyrch Rainforest during her residency, appeared as a double page spread in the special edition. Carbon dated back 10,000 years, the moss of the Welsh rainforests is one of the most significant eco-systems around the globe.

BIG GREEN WEEK

For Green Week, Cân y Coed Rainforest Symphony was at Pontpool with Head 4 Arts where hand held, biodegradable QR COdes enabled audience to go into the woods & listen to the SYmphony. In addition, Head 4 Arts commissioned Cheryl to record a children's story penned whilst she was resident at Coed Lletywalter Rainforest & make a digital illustration with teacher notes. The piece is touring primary schools across Ponypool.

Rewilding the Symphony

Bringing the Symphony home to Carmarthenshire felt important to Cheryl - after all, it was a little pocket of Carmarthenshire woods, opposite her cottage in West Wales, that helped to nurture her well being when she suddenly lost her hearing & so, she has formed a partnership with FUSION Carmarthenshire to plant biodegradable Symphony QR Codes in the Top Ten Woods. Cheryl ran a survey across the county, inviting nominations & visited the Top Ten favourite woods. In addition, she was commissioned to create a downloadable map to encourage & inspire folk to visit the beautiful woodlands on their doorstep. 
'Emotional connections to nature create greater awareness by instilling the sense of love that is inherent within humanity; a love that promotes nurture, but before we fall in love with fragile ecologies, we have to know about them & that's where my work & my practice can help you to make a difference.' Cheryl Beer
Commissioned and supported by Unlimited, celebrating the work of disabled artists, with funding from Arts Council of Wales