This exhibition is the culmination of 4 years hard study and is a thought provoking
installation in response to her mothers secondary breast cancer.
I don`t want to give to much away but for a sneak peek go to
Monday, 30 May 2016
Form & Function
Form & Function
Eight Orkney Makers
23 April-4 June 2016
Pier Arts Centre
This latest exhibition at the PAC celebrates the quality and diversity of
design and craft all of which is produced in Orkney.
Zoe Davidson
Jeweller
Zoe`s current work focuses on the geometric structures of the
man-made blocks that form the Churchill Barriers.
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| From the collection `Barriers` |
Kerrianne Flett
Ceramics
Kerrianne`s bowls have strong echoes of Japanese vessels, each pot evolves
on the wheel the randomness of the glaze gives individual
character making every piece unique.
Kevin Gauld
Furniture Maker
Kevin`s furniture is based on using traditional materials and techniques.
From Orkney chairs to more innovative contemporary designs
such as this beautiful mirror.
Hilary Grant
Knitter
Hilary`s knitting textiles are inspired by the small details of things
around her from the patterns of the shoreline to textures
on weathered fencing stabs.
Emma Thomson
Jeweller
Emma`s works with non-precious materials such as copper, stone
and polmer clay to create these wonderfully unique pieces of jewellery.
She also uses photographic laser transfers onto wood
which adds another dimension.
Marielle Thomson
Textile designer
At the centre of Marielle`s design is her love of nature. Her fabrics use both
traditional and digital methods of design and production.
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| Close-up of cushion cover |
Robbie Thomson
Furniture Maker
Recycling waste materials and discarded objects Robbie creates `one of a kind`
functional and desirable objects. Copper pipe, wood and sandstone
are brilliantly crafted into practical items and were some of my favourites of the exhibition.
Kirsteen Stewart
Textile designer
Kirsteen`s work is bold and colourful, drawing inspiration from a variety of sources
such as the landscape, lines of maps and the movement of light.
These are all connected to the experience of island life.
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| The wall was like a giant mood board and gave a real insight into the design process. As an student in Fine Art Textiles this was truly an inspirational exhibition!!! |
For more information go to
Sunday, 8 May 2016
Journey`s End!
Last port of call for my sculpture `Voyage`
With the end of the Open Windows Exhibition and the sale of my sculpture
it was time to take it to its final destination, a lovely garden in Queens Street, Kirkwall.
I am delighted to see that this piece will be kept outside where the steel
will corrode leaving a wonderful patina and the rope weathers naturally.
I hope `Voyage` will age beautifully and its new owner has
many years of enjoyment from it!
Wednesday, 4 May 2016
Creative Practise 3 & Professional Practise 2
Yesterday saw the final set up of my CP 3
and also the end of PP 2.
With limited space in OC art department,I choose two key pieces from the
Pier Arts Centre exhibition that I felt best represented my work.
I was really pleased with the painted plinth and the
different perspective it gave to the sculptures.
Professional Practise 2 consisted of four outcomes presented in folders these were
Outcome 1 - Portfolio with CV, artist statement, images of work and business card
Outcome 2 - a digital version of the above on a DVD
Outcome 3 - folder of opportunities
Outcome 4 - this was the PAC exhibition with it`s key elements in
curation, interpretation & marketing/PR
I found this year very challenging but know that I`ve done everything to the best of my ability and given it my all (and some), I`ll just have to wait til June to see if it was enough!! (fingers crossed)!
Other BA students were also set up for marking................
Level 1`s Spatial Practise module
Sarah Wylie
`Viewfinder`
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| Striking photography |
Maureen McCubbin
`The Space Beyond the Door`
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| Intriguing title to her installation. |
Wendy Barker
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| This was very cleverly done |
Jane Glue
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| Playful use of materials |
Norman Cockett
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| Although unfinished I really love the concept of this piece |
Level 2 Creative Practise 1
Jean Tulloch
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| Jean`s balloons representing a celebration of life!! Brought a smile to my face! |
Ruth Tait
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| I found these pieces very evocative, many a tale told over a cup o tea. |
Level 2 Creative Practise 2
Beccy May
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| Beccy`s work with water and the human form is simply beautiful |
These images are just a small portion of the works produced
and there was some really exciting ideas and thoughts,
I can`t wait to see how these are developed next semester.
Poppies: Weeping Windows
Several thousand hand made ceramic poppies cascade down from a
small window on the west end of the St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall.
This spectacular display comes to Orkney as part of the commemorative events,
marking the centenary of the Battle of Jutland, the most significant naval battle of WW1.
Poppies:Weeping Windows is from the installation Blood Swept Lands and Sea of Red
that was originally on show at the Tower of London in 2014, a collaborative
project between artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper.
More information about the Jutland battle, Orkney`s commemorative events and the original installation can be found on links below:
http://www.scapaflow.co/index.php/history_and_archaeology/the_20th_century/war/the_battle_of_jutland
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.
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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!
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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.
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| View of entrance |
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| Interior walls |
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| Steel bolts and bars holding together the fragile stone pieces. |
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| Cooking up some art! |
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| View looking out towards sea. |
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| 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.
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| 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 |
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| Group photo. |
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| 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.
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