Old New Scotland - A visual exploration of the cultural landscape of Nova Scotia
The exhibition is a Trans-Atlantic traveling exhibition of oil paintings water colours, drawings and etchings by Nova Scotia artist Anna Syperek. ‘Old New Scotland’ explores the landscape and settlement of the rural Gaelic area of Eastern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island. The images in the show are a celebration of the people, their spirit and culture as seen in the landscape of New Scotland.
Anna Syperek lives on St.Georges Bay near Antigonish. She has been painting the landscape of Eastern Nova Scotia for more than thirty years. She said: "During this time, I have come to realise that my love for this landscape is greatly influenced by the meaning that is invested in it by its inhabitants. The Gaelic-speaking settlers who inhabited much of Eastern Nova Scotia possessed a strong emotional connection to place, the place they left and the place they came to. This love of place was passed on with and through their love of language, music and dance. Although less apparent in the visual arts, it was a powerful presence in their songs, poems and music. They are full of visual images and haunting melodies that tie these people irrevocably to their land.
"I feel my paintings are inspired by and in some way an interpretation of this culture’s strong emotional connection to the land. My deepening interest in this region as the focus for my artwork has paralleled my gradual understanding of and participation in this culture, as an artist, art teacher and resident."
The exhibition consists of forty two images- large oil paintings as well as watercolours, etchings and drawings. There will be a number of special interpretive panels, in both English and Gaelic, with a brief history or anecdote about some of the places or persons represented accompanying each piece.
Included in some of the panels will be exerts from Cape Breton poet Joyce Rankin’s book, "At My Mother's Door. Her writing is very evocative of the Gaelic immigrant experience and its continuous effect on their descendants.
"Our people were exiled from another place, while the bards wrote with longing love in an ancient language. And we send our children to be exiled from this one. Sometimes they wake in the night With the pain from an amputated language and a phantom homeland"
Joyce Rankin from ‘At My Mother’s Door’
A fully bilingual catalogue and poster will accompany the exhibition. The catalogue will consist of reproductions of some of the artwork and details on the cultural and historical dimensions of the show, with commentaries by Dr. Daniel MacInnes, professor of Anthropology, St.Francis Xavier University. "I can’t recall any other show that is as comprehensive in showing the physical spaces occupied by the diaspora of the Clearances. There is great deal of history that can be evoked from the images. This is an art about a people…."
Vice Convener of The Highland Council, Dr Michael Foxley said: "We are delighted to organise the hosting of the exhibition in the Highlands, as we aim to celebrate the very strong historical and cultural links that exist between the Highlands and Nova Scotia. The links do exist in the Gaelic language, song, tunes, travel, people, festivals, landscape, place-names, communications – Alexander Graham Bell who invented the telephone lived in Badeck - Cape Breton, sport such as sailing, and it is said that ice hockey originated from camanachd shinty.
"I am especially pleased to have helped ensure that the exhibition comes to Arainn Shuaineirt, Moidart. Arisaig and other areas of Lochaber share a common heritage with Cape Breton – a common history, language song and way of life. This is best seen in Anna’s evocative portraits.
"The Council in association with other relevant local organisations and groups wishes to foster and support the links in a practical and innovative manner in order to enhance our cultural development and this can be achieved when we focus on 2007 which is our year to celebrate Highland culture this will include the Canadian Maritimes."
The Old New Scotland show has been exhibited in Canada at the Inverness Centre for the Arts in Inverness Cape Breton and the St.Francis Xavier University Art gallery in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Beginning in September, the show will go on a tour of the Scottish Highlands.
The exhibition starts it’s Highland tour in Skye at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig from 19th – 28th September then October1st – 5th November it moves to Taigh Chearsabhagh, North Uist before appearing at the Arainn Shuaineirt Centre, Strontian for the rest of November. In December it will go on display at Glenurquhart High School Library.
Anna’s husband, Peter Murphy, a documentary filmmaker, is preparing a short DVD for presentation with the show. The DVD will have a 15 minute introduction to the show and will consist of a discussion at the exhibition by St.Francis Xavier Sociology professor Dr. Dan MacInnes, a Gaelic introduction by Effie Rankin, brief excerpts from native Gaelic speakers that reflect the theme of the exhibition and two poems recited by Cape Breton poet Joyce Rankin, one with background music provided by fiddler Glenn Graham who came to the Highlands as part of the Memorandum of Understanding exchange program and visited Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Plockton School of Excellence in Traditional Music and taught at Fèis Rois last May.
Old New Scotland Itinerary
NOVA SCOTIA
June Inverness, Cape Breton, Inverness Arts Centre
July Antigonish, N.S. St. Francis Xavier U. Art Gallery
SCOTLAND
Sept Skye, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig,
Oct North Uist, Outer Hebrides, Taigh Chearsabhagh
Nov Strontian, Arainn Shuaineirt Centre
Early Dec Glenurquhart High School Library
For further details please contact Dualchas on 01478 61 3856 or Morag Anna MacLeod Gaelic Development 01478 613835.