Local artist, Jozef Swoboda, a pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, has found inspiration in wind turbines. His images place the turbines at the heart of the landscape. He captures both the energy of the turbines and the natural landscape which surrounds them.

Dan McCallum, one of Awel’s directors said “You can feel the excitement and power in Jozef’s art. It represents the way that young people view our landscape. Turbines are now part of it and add another dimension. In the past, artists such as Joseph Herman who lived in Ystradgynlais which is next door to Ystalyfera, captured the life of the miners working underground. Whilst Herman celebrated the grit and determination of our coal mining communities, Josef Swoboda’s work points to a positive energy transition. And he’s able to stay above ground to paint which has got to be a good thing!”

We want our community wind farm to be part of an artistic response to climate change. We have already worked with Carol Ann Duffy and Gillian Clarke to work with local poets, producing two books on the theme of climate change. We’ve combined with Pontardawe Arts Centre to produce community theatre on issues of global warming.

We want other artists, writers, musicians to be part of the movement which is the most important of our generation – literally, whether we have future generations depends on the action we take now.  Wales is taking a lead on this policy and we want to help translate this into practical action. For more information and to get in touch, visit www.awel.coop.