Wavespeech (PAC)

Wavespeech

Pier Arts Centre

Sat, 20th June-Sat, 12th Sept 2015

This exhibition contains works made specifically for the PAC and is a 

collaboration between David Ward and Edmund de Waal pursuing 

a dialogue of ideas and associations that resonates with the collection,

 architecture and harbour context of the Pier Arts Centre.

David Ward

David Ward is one of Britain's most notable landscape photographers, he has a unique style that is `distinctive for their graphic simplicity and technical qualities` . Ward says he is `particularly drawn to making abstract intimate landscape images` and his work is `informed and inspired by many of the great American photographers of the last century`.

Between  (1985-2015)

a series of 1-12,

unique light exposures on photographic paper

Although these don`t seem like typical landscape images, I feel they do reflect the 

shapes and form of the PAC interior and the land/seascape outside. 

Alalemma (2015)

wall mounted stainless steel mirror finished convex discs (10cm diameter)

note; made for this specific location.

The title of this piece `Analemma` refers to a scale showing the daily declination of the sun.

 Simply put, from a fixed location on earth if you recorded the position of the sun in the sky, at the same time everyday for a year it would take this figure of 8 path and this effect is due to the earths tilt on its axis as it orbits the sun and that the earth doesn`t orbit the sun in a circle but an ellipse!!

I found the concept behind this piece fascinating and loved the simplicity of the finished works!

Edmund de Waal

Edmund de Waal is a world famous ceramicist and author, he is best known for his large scale installations of porcelain vessels. Waal says his work ` comes out of a dialogue between minimalist, architecture and music` and is `informed by his passion for literature`. As an author he has written widely on art and ceramics, his book `Hare with the Amber Eyes` (a family memoir) has won several major awards and has been translated into over 30 languages.

sgeir (2015)

40 porcelain vessels with gilding in a pair of plexiglass and aluminium vitrines

I wondered if these had been created to the sound of the sea, as I can 

almost `see` small waves lapping on a shore in the placement of the vessels?

the lost and found  (2015)

30 porcelain vessels in 17 plexiglass and aluminium vitrines

I loved the textures in this piece and you really had to `peer` inside 

the boxes to see the items inside.

holmr, I-VI  (2015)

6 aluminium and plexiglass vitrines each holding

 5 porcelain vessels with gilding

My favourite Waal pieces, they sit so perfectly within the PAC,

 at home almost! Love them!!

David Ward and Edmund de Waal

Wavespeech (2015)

gilded wall lettering

As the artists were making new pieces for the PAC, the exchange of ideas and references led to a major new collaborative work in the form of a large scale wall text. They each wrote independently, having agreed on the opening words: Pier. And..............

For me this was the highlight of the exhibition, the gilded letters looked 

stunning against the white walls and the words were pure poetry!

The text makes reference to the PAC, the history of the islands, personal journeys, the sound of the sea and so much more! The text stretches the full length of the passage and as you look along the two lines of golden words they appeared to unite at a focal point and perhaps that is significant! It is a collaborative works of the two artists, each making separate journeys to come together here in Stromness!

If you want to learn more about the Pier Arts Centre or the works 

of Ward and Waal just follow the links below

http://www.pierartscentre.com/

http://www.into-the-light.com/

http://www.edmunddewaal.com/

Damien Hirst at the Pier Arts Centre

ARTIST ROOMS
Damien Hirst

Sat, 20th June-Sat, 12th Sept 2015

I can`t say that I`m a huge fan of Damien Hirst works but as a leading figure of
British Contemporary Art of almost 30 yrs, he must be worth a look!!

This `Artist Rooms` exhibition has been subject to much controversy in Orkney, particularly to one of its works `Away from the Flock`  (a lamb in formaldehyde solution). Although the piece was made in 1994 and is `referencing the allegorical representation of Christ as the sacrificial lamb of God` its arrival here perhaps couldn't have come at a worse time as farmers have suffered huge lamb losses due to the terrible weather conditions. In saying this, PAC have said that the local visitor numbers are up and although there was a lot of grumbling and tutting about this exhibition, it maybe proves `there`s no such thing as bad publicity` !!!!

And here is the controversial works...........................

`Away from the Flock`
(1994)

I don`t especially like sheep but this was beautifully

 preserved and reminded me of a cuddly toy.

 I found the opaque glaze of the eyes a little disturbing,

 a chilling reminder that the creature is dead.

 From certain angles there appears to be more than one lamb,

 an intriguing optical illusion created by the glass box?

Another interesting piece was these three large medicine cabinets displaying medical models intended as teaching tools for doctors, dentist etc . They were disproportionate to the human body and the bright coloured plastic reminded me (again) of children's toys but I`m not sure you`d let kids play with them? Hirst was raised as a catholic and often makes references to Christian  iconography. The presentation of the works refers to church alter pieces, whilst the title relates to the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit

`Trinity-Pharmacology, Physiology, Pathology`

(2000)

There was also a display of collages produced by  Hirsts in his early days that demonstrates his formative interest in the constructions of Margret Mellis (1914-2009), whom he met in the mid 80`s before attending art school. 

Margaret Mellis, Number 35 (1983), household paint on wood

Damien Hirst, Red and Pink Balloon (1996), paper, card, paint and glue

 Hirst saw these works as bridges between painting and sculpture and considered them a re-arrangement of "already organised elements", which then got "tumbled around with other stuff and became things in their own right".

Although these works may look a bit `rough and ready` they are the foundations on which Hirst built his career and I can see the relationship between these and the his newer pieces through the abstract  arrangements of the objects and the meanings of these found within, his use of shape, colour and texture and the way he captures them within a frame.

For me, Hirst`s artworks are very thought provoking and I guess that is the point of  his art, isn`t it? Location, religion, culture, age and even timing would have an impact on how its seen and perhaps appreciated? Possibly Hirst understands this and maybe he doesn`t care if you like his art or not, the point is to question and think about it, its about communicating to each viewer individually so that ultimately everyone responds to it- good or bad he gets a reaction? However you view his art there is no doubt that he has become a very successful artist and even if you don`t know his name you`ll probably recognise some of his works!

Open Windows Exhibition

Where the 'Street is the Gallery'!

Each year artists are invited to submit one piece of art works to be displayed in windows throughout the main street of Stromness from the Pier Head to the Museum.

This year the exhibition is to coincide with the Orkney Science Festival which is celebrating the International Year of the Light so the theme for the exhibition is 'LIGHT'

Light is a vast subject in which to take inspiration from and through my research I have looked from the stars and their galaxies to photons(particles of light) and how light behaves.

I`ve also read Albert Einstein`s Theory of General Relativity and it`s `space-time` to James Clerk Maxwell's Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field and electromagnetic radiation(I perhaps should say I looked over rather than read thoroughly or I`d still be reading!)

Both theories were fascinating, if some what bewildering but it`s through these two scientists theories that I  finally submitted the piece that I did. I felt they related to and I could identify them with the art and ideas I`m currently working on which includes- time and maths! 

And here it is..............................................................................

 Essence of Life

. The concept behind the artworks was to use the line as a connection between time and space as light moves through day and night, the sun and moon, a natural clock is part of our daily lives and impossible to live without. I also see the line and its shadow as a representation of life and memories, the layers of light and shadow as echos of our existence, perhaps the essence of life.Time is in constant movement so the image is a captured moment of this and I choose photography as a medium rather than the original piece as another link to the theme of light; the word `photography` means `drawing with light` .

`Open Windows` begins on the Saturday 29th August and runs to Sunday 6th September and with 50 participating artists it should be an excellent exhibition!!

For more info on events taking place during the Orkney Science Festival 2015 go to

http://oisf.org/

 Some other interesting web sites to look at in connection with the International Year of Light are

http://lightexhibit.org/

http://www.light2015.org/Home/CosmicLight.html

http://spie.org/x93905.xml

Brown&Wood Exhibition

NOT BROWN WOOD

Custom House Gallery

8th-29th August 2015

This is series of paintings by Westray artists Peter Brown and Jerry Wood.

These two artists were very different, both in how they painted and the 

themes in which they worked from.

Jerry Wood`s paintings were large and vibrant with an organic flow, themes of foliage,

 figures and fantasy dominated the canvass.

And in contrast Peter Brown`s paintings were of  stylised interior and still-life's
with a more minimal use of colour which were small and quiet.

This exhibition is worth taking a look at even if its just to see the varies approaches taken by artists in painting and subject matter and how they portray that!

You can view more of their artworks at:

http://www.westrayartgallery.co.uk/

http://www.no1broughton.co.uk/art.html

Stephanie Spence Exhibition

Parallel Lines

The Old School Gallery

11th July-6th Aug 2015

Although this exhibition has finished, I though it was worth a late `blogging`!

And this is because of my own preconceived ideas about the setting 

in which such an exhibition should be placed or perhaps shouldn't`?

The Old School Gallery (as the name suggests) is housed in a traditional Orkney building with stone walls, low ceilings and exposed beams and I thought Stephs clean, modern architectural paintings  would sit awkwardly inside such a space! I`m delighted to say `how wrong one can be` and that the contrast between them actually complimented the pieces and brought the viewer closer to the works!

The paintings work well against the `textures` of the old building.

I love the way the colours `pop` out at you but notice how the shapes and lines explored in the paintings are
 not that different from the shapes and lines inside the building ie beams, stonework, walls?

 

This was a really clever idea a `play trough` full of Lego ! It not only kept Thorfinn amused while
 I got time to enjoy the works but it was a humorous reflection of the exhibition!

Shopping Week 2015

25th July 

Shopping Week holds a 3-legged fancy dress  juice race for the kids 

so Thorfinn and his friend David decided that they wanted to enter it. 

This gave me a good excuse to excerise my `creative practise` outside college, 

can you guess the `inspiration` behind this pair of likely lads!!

Amazing what you can do with a tyrex suit, odd fabric,
 glue and a bit of imagination!

Asterix & Obelix ready for battle!

The other compeditors-let the games begin!!

Well they gave it their best shot but came 6th in the race but were 2nd in the
 fancy dress winning £12 and a bag of marshmallows.


Thorfinn moves on to entertain the Queen and crowds with his diablo tricks.

Thorfinn with Glen who took the circus workshops earlier on in the week

Thought I`d end with this! A very amusing and witty
 protest to the OIC `forgetting` to put up Shopping Weeks
bunting! Opps!

Inspirational yachting holiday

10th - 19th July 2015

We chartered a yacht (the `Catherine J) for a weeks family holiday.

Having never sailed a yacht before we didn`t know what to expect so with Mike Cooper

 a friend and our skipper for the week we set sail on what turned an incredible experience 

and an inspirational one for me!!

Our `epic` voyage!

Starting from the Kirkwall marina we sailed to Stronsay, Fair Isle, Westray, Rousay,

 Shapinsay arriving back at the Kirkwall marina 7 days later- which is a 170 mile round trip!!

On route we met so many lovely people from all over the world and we soon discovered that

 sailing was just like being part of one great, big happy family!

Skipper and crew of the Catherine J.

Out of all the islands we visited perhaps the Fair isle was the most memorable for different reasons.

Its a small isolated island with dramatic landscapes and lots of puffins!! 

It`s situated 50 miles NE of Kirkwall, halfway between Orkney and Shetland and 

took us 8 hours to sail there!

Land ahoy!! First view of Fair Isle

Entrance to North Haven, our home for the next 2 nights

Rugged coastline

Only road on the island that leads to the only shop there!!

B&W `arty` photo of North Haven harbour and this rather cool
looking seat with resident sheep!

These are but a few the photos taken, of course I took lots more of all the islands we went to and although they were all unique in their own way it wasn`t this that inspired me on the trip,

 I was in fact intrigued in the `art` of sailing the sea.

From the ebb and flow of tides, pressure systems, wind speed and direction, these all

 determined our `passage plan` and with Mikes knowledge how best to take advantage of them.

Navigational charts, GPS, compass, buoys, rigging, knots all essential in sailing provided me with

inspiration to take forward into my Creative Practise 3 next semester and the starting point around these ideas is my proposed sculpture from Professional Practise 1.

I am looking forward to starting college again in September and excited that maybe

 this sculpture could be realised with concepts taken from around my sailing experience.