The Big Willow Art Project Event
An exciting art project is now well underway on the Brahan Estate near Marybank in Ross-shire with a team of enthusiastic volunteers, drawn from the membership of the Scottish Basketmakers’ Circle, assisting Patrick Dougherty in building a willow sculpture by a lochan. There is also an on-going programme of master-classes and activities for local schoolchildren held by two other artists-in-residence, Caroline Dear and Tim Johnson and a special exhibition on basketwork will be opening in Inverness next week
The sculpture is being constructed from willow grown on the estate and takes the form of Patrick’s response to the landscape there and his interest in the standing stones in the area. Patrick is an artist of international reputation and has built these exciting sculptures all over the world, usually spending a month or more on each piece. For him, the experience of working with professional basket-makers is a new one and it has been beneficial to everyone involved in the project including the artists-in-residence, the volunteers and the visitors to the site.
He said: "We are all learning from each other and I am really enjoying being with people who know about willow, who understand how to work with it."
The project, which is funded by The Highland Council, Highland 2007 and the Scottish Arts Council’s Lottery Fund, is engineered to engage and excite interest locally and nationally. So far there has been a steady stream of visitors to the site and everyone who sees the work in progress is amazed at the inspired, stunning impact of what is going on in this quiet Highland estate.
The work will be completed by the opening on the 27 May 2006 and will stand until it is deconstructed one year later as part of the Highland 2007 Year of Culture celebrations. This specially commissioned performance event will feature music by Blazing Fiddles, fire and dance by Te Pooka with assistance from the Scottish Basketmakers Circle.
To complement this major project, The Highland Council’s Exhibitions Unit has commissioned an exhibition of new work by members of the Scottish Basketmakers’ Circle which will open in Inverness Museum and Art Gallery on Saturday 27 May and be on display until 17 June before touring the Council’s art galleries in Kingussie, Thurso and Wick.
Entitled "Pushing The Boundaries" members were invited to challenge their own boundaries in terms of techniques, ideas and materials as well as push the boundaries of their definition of "basketwork". Exhibits have come from all across Scotland, England and from as far as Denmark and New Zealand.
The Highland Council’s Exhibitions Co-ordinator, Lucy Woodley said: "With the opening of the "Pushing the Boundaries" exhibition on the 26th May in Inverness, even more people will be able to see just what can be done with a handful of willow wands!"
Further information can be found on the SBC website www.scottishbasketmakerscircle.org
CONTACTS:
Further information on the Big Willow Project and to arrange interviews and press photo shoots- Pamela Conacher, Project Manager:
Pamela.Conacher@care4free.net tel: 01687 470320
Patrick Dougherty – www.stickwork.net Patrick is available for interview at Brahan up until the 28th May 2006.
For further information on Pushing the Boundaries exhibition contact Astrid Shearer or Lucy Woodley: exhibitions@highland.gov.uk tel: 01463 710978
Images of the Big willow event for reproduction from: info@finmacrae.com tel: 01862 892633
SIGNIFICANT DATES:
Friday 26th May, 4-6pm
private view of Pushing the Boundaries exhibition, Inverness Museum & Art Gallery
Saturday 27th May, 2-4pm
opening of Patrick Dougherty’s sculpture, Brahan Estate, Dingwall
May 2007
Deconstruction event
Pushing the Boundaries Exhibition Tour Schedule. Highland dates confirmed, subsequently touring nationally:
27th May – 17th June
Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, Castle Wynd, Inverness IV2 3EB
24th June – 15th July
Iona Gallery, Duke Street, Kingussie, Badenoch & Strathspey PH21 1JG
12th August – 9th September
Swanson Gallery, Thurso Library, Davidson's Lane, Thurso, Caithness KW14 7AF
16th September – 14th October
St Fergus Gallery, Wick Library, Sinclair Terrace, Wick, Caithness KW14 5AB
Patrick Dougherty at Brahan, May 2006