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Mining Landscape: Book & DVD

Mining Landscapes is an arts project with a twist. It aims to cover traditional topics in unconventional ways – through the media of sound, performing arts and film.

Three talented community artists were appointed in the spring to develop the work in their own unique style, exploring tourism and mining heritage in Cornwall and West Devon.

To see a trailer of Mining Landscapes go to www.auneheadarts.org.uk

The end results include some unusual sound recordings, underpinned with old miners’ songs and sea shanties and punctuated by poignant clips of local people telling stories from their lives in the Tamar Valley. A quirky film captures some of the literal and virtual personal views of the Bere Peninsula and
Morwellham’s mines.

Two of the artists involved, Paul and Tanya Morel, said: “Drawing on the rich history of the area – the mining, the market gardening, the river, the railway – we’ve been exploring how the landscape of the Valley has shaped the lives of the people who live and work here.

It’s a gently meandering, sometimes humorous and often rather poignant piece that we hope captures something of the spirit and beauty of this unique and wonderful place. The work aims to serve as a celebration of the people of the Tamar Valley – the almost tangible connection many of them feel to the landscape and its heritage, the strong sense of belonging – of unity and pride in its history, its present and its future.

We’ve been really touched by the incredible warmth and generosity of the people we’ve worked with and their willingness to talk to us and share their stories with humour, honesty and passion.”

The finished pieces debuted during this year’s Tamar Trails Festival (2009), and special events will be held where you will be able to meet the artists involved.