Thursday, 21 April 2016

Rousay Field Trip

Nine BA students and two tutors set off for a days `creative rambling` round the island of Rousay.
Meeting at Tingwall, we catch the 10.40 am ferry, it`s a short 20 min crossing to the isle and on disembarking the ship we board the OC minibus for our first scheduled stop!

Midhowe Cairn
A communal tomb built about 3500 B.C.
It contained the remains of 25 bodies along 
with various animal bones.

The cairn is situated inside another building specially constructed to conserve it 
with a suspended platform so a visitor can get a `birds eye` view of tomb.
A very interesting contrast between the old and new!


Known as a `stalled` cairn, the bodies were laid out 
on benches between the uprights. 
Notice how the moss looks like a plush green carpet.

A panoramic view from outside the cairn,


 I wonder if the view has changed much in over the last 2000 yrs? 
It``s a short walk along the coast line to our next stop.............

Midhowe Broch
This pre-historic stone round house was constructed and used sometime between 
200 B.C and 200 A.D. and would have been an impressive building perhaps
 demonstrating the owners power and influence in the area!
These Iron age structures are unique to the north and west of Scotland.

View of entrance
Interior walls
Steel bolts and bars holding together the fragile stone pieces.
Cooking up some art!
View looking out towards sea.

Perfectly framed!

Our next stop was something I`d wanted to see for some time... 

 Ian Hamilton Finlay Sculpture
Perched on the edge of Kearfea hill over looking the sea is this 15 tonne Portland stone 
with the simple inscription `Gods of the Earth/Gods of the Sea` on it.


The sculpture measures 330 cm x 210 cm x 74 cm

Below is a link showing the installation of the works
http://www.kelsen.co.uk/project/ian-hamilton-finlay

Group photo.

From here we go to Savisdale beach for a late lunch and back in time to catch the ferry home but not before visiting `The Craft Hub` a lovely wee building that sells local hand crafted products.

Loving their sign!!

http://www.crafthuborkney.co.uk/
Rousay might be a small island but it has a long and interesting history,
definitely well worth a visit!!










Friday, 15 April 2016

Open Windows Update

The official opening is tomorrow so lots of artists are installing 
their works today and that includes me!





What a lovely window space, I think the sculpture looks great and
must say a big thank you to Age Concern Orkney 
for supporting the Open Windows Exhibition!

Link to leaflet with location and details of each artist

There has been 2 changes since the leaflet went to print
No7-Scottish Hydro, Norna Sinclair (that`s me) now at
Age Concern Orkney, Victoria Street
No25-Orkney Tech, Kristyn Grieve will be replaced by Mark Scalding.



Wednesday, 13 April 2016

Easter Break

Thinking about art doesn`t stop for the holidays and I`ve been considering
 the possibilities of the title statement `We Are Our Journey`.
With a few days planned in Rackwick I decided to experiment with the idea of 
spray painting the title on the sand and film the waves `gently` carrying it away. 
 It turned out to be quite a challenge as I hadn`t thought about what impact the wind 
would have on both the stenciling material and spray paint!!

 I did get some photos.......




....but filming proved difficult with the speed of the tide coming in,
it was a bit like `now you see it, now you don`t`! 
(and I got very wet feet!!)

I had also intended to spray some of the rocks and cliffs with 
the idea it would relate to the connection between land and sea,
 it`s continues journey through time and tide.
Unfortunately this did not happen as the wind had ripped my stencil
 and made off with most my spray paint by this point!!

Although the day didn`t quite go as expected I think the idea is worth
 pursuing and it`s also a good excuse to go back to Rackwick!!

















Monday, 11 April 2016

Open Windows Exhibition 2016


  
This year the Open Windows Art Exhibition is being held in Kirkwall`s 
town centre where you can see the works of 30 artist`s in
 various windows up and down the street. 
It runs from the 16th April - 30th April and is open 24 hrs a day

Originally my window was to be at Scottish Hydro but due to unfortunate circumstances
 I am now at Age Concern`s Advocacy in Victoria Street which is still a great window!

note:this is not my display!! LOL
(Works  installed 15th April will update then)

The event has been organised by Kirwall BID and local artist Laura Drever.
For more information follow the link below

There will also be a leaflet available guiding the viewer along the street.

This is a great way to see the diverse talent and skills of local artists and 
with 10% of all sales going to Orkney Charitable Fund it also helps 
support Orkney`s young folk in need.