Highlands & Islands
For further information visit the Hi-Arts dedicated festival pages
The Lewis Chessmen: Unmasked
15 April – 12 September 2011 Free
The Lewis Chessmen were discovered on the western shore of the Isle of Lewis in 1831, as part of a hoard of walrus ivory. The hoard includes assembled pieces made of walrus ivory from at least four chess-sets, probably made in Norway in the late 12th or early 13th century. As the largest and finest group of early chessmen to survive, they are one of the most significant archaeological discoveries ever made in Scotland and are of major international importance as few chessmen survive at all from the Middle Ages. The most comprehensive exhibition on the Lewis chessmen for over a decade, it features chessmen drawn from the collections of National Museums Scotland and the British Museum, and looks at the mystery and intrigue surrounding the chessmen, explores the stories surrounding their discovery, craft tradition in Trondheim, Norway ,the playing of ancient board games and the popular appeal of the chessmen, who have featured in books, films and television programmes from The Saga of Noggin the Nog to Harry Potter.
Museum nan Eilean, Francis Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis HS1 2NF
Open Mon – Sat 10am – 5.30pm
e-mail: museum@cne-siar.gov.uk
Telephone: 01851 822746
Jeanette Sendler - Mapping the Body
23 April - 12 June 2011 Free
Talk on History of Tailoring 31 May 2011
An exhibition of new work by textile artist Jeanette Sendler which investigates the history of pattern cutting in relation to individuality in clothing today. Trained initially as a ladies’ tailor she later learned to create complex constructed garments by studying the history of period costume. Her current work is about returning to an appreciation for detail, showing the beauty and complexity of clothing based on pattern cutting. During a one week residency in Helmsdale she established a number of strong visual links between her most recent work and a series of old maps of the geographical area taken from the archives.
She also discovered that although a number of tailors had lived in the area over the past two hundred years, very little knowledge of local patterns has survived. Timespan is now seeking any information on local patterns that anyone from the East Sutherland area may have. There is an illustrated talk on the History of Tailoring by Jeanette Sendler and Lorna Jappy on 31 May at 7pm.
Timespan, Dunrobin Street, Helmsdale, KW8 6JX
Open Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm Sun 12 - 5pm
Turned & Twisted
30 April – 2 July 2011 Free
This exhibition of international works from the Craft Council Collection will surprise and intrigue in unexpected ways with found objects re-cycled into new creations and often masquerading as something else. Among the objects is Ballet to Remember by Maria Militsi which featured in popular A History of the World in 100 Objects. The choice of work was influenced by the use of techniques and materials by four Highland makers – Jennifer Cantwell, textiles, Caroline Dear, fibre, Patricia Niemann, jewellery, and Nick Ross, product design – who were supported in Making Progress, the HI-Arts mentoring scheme to support established makers to develop their work. The new work by these makers can be seen in a series of solo exhibitions at the same venue.
Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, Castle Hill, Inverness IV2 3EB
Open Mon – Sat 10am – 5pm
Patricia Niemann - Making Progress Spotlight Exhibition
30 April - 28 May 2011 Free
The first of four solo exhibitions of new and experimental work developed by four makers on the HI-Arts mentoring scheme. In her studio based in the wilds of Caithness, Patricia makes contemporary fine jewellery using precious metals, hot glass (blown and hot sculpted), textiles and found objects. She is inspired by all forms of body adornment, especially objects that change the silhouette of the wearer. Current themes are the rough beauty of Caithness and the effects of the harsh weather and the Sea on its landscape and people, as well as the aesthetic qualities of decay, local funeral archaeology and anthropology, which she approaches with an element of humour.
Small Gallery, Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Castle Wynd, Inverness, IV2 3EB
Open Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm
The following Making Progress Spotlight Exhibitions take place at the same venue on:
4 June - 2 July - Nick Ross, product design
9 July - 6 August - Caroline Dear, fibre
13 August - 10 September - Jen Cantwell, textiles
From July the accompanying exhibition is More Than Floral, which explores the theme of nature through a broad range of objects and invites a new way of looking at the world of plants and our relationship to them.
Lucy Woodley Jewellery
May 2011 Free
Jewellery normally only comes to life when it is being worn but Lucy Woodley has always thought that it could be so much more than this. She explores possible solutions by developing different ways of displaying jewellery when it is not being worn. Each necklace or spoon is integrated it into a background which echoes the design, creating a whole new decorative object and extending the function of the piece. Her inspiration is the natural world and this exhibition features some of her favourite plants.
An Tobar, Tobermory Arts Centre, Argyll Terrace, Tobermory, Isle of Mull PA75 6PB
Spirit of Air
7 May – 4 June 2011 Free
Internationally recognised for her sculptural baskets and forms, willow artist Lizzie Farey brings her solo exhibition Spirit of Air to the Highlands. In these aerial wall sculptures she freely explores the beauty of willow. She grows her own materials, and using willow as a medium for drawing she expresses her thoughts and emotions, which are often on the theme of flight, relationships or nature.
Iona Gallery, Duke Street, Kingussie
Open Mon – Fri 1pm – 5pm Sat 10am – 12 noon
The exhibition then tours to St Fergus, Wick, 11 June – 16 July and Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, 17 September – 15 October 2011.
West Coast Open 7
13 May - 5 June 2011 Free
Now in its seventh year, this open show has developed as a highlight on the an talla solais calender, showing a wide range of work: painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and craft from across Scotland.
an talla solais, Market Street, Ullapool, IV26 2XE
Fishtastic Festival – Children’s Workshops with Deirdre Nelson13 & 14 May 2011 £3 per child, £5 for two children Advance booking required
The rich fishing history of the area has shaped the community of Helmsdale and one of Scotland’s oldest working fishing boats, The Isabella Fortuna, will be sailing in with everyone welcome to hop aboard for a tour of the legendary vessel. As part of the festival young people are invited to a two-day workshop with textile artist Deirdre Nelson, where they will knit and felt their own fishy goodies, followed by a parade from the Isabella Fortuna to Timespan to give children a chance to show off their knitted wonders.
The workshops are part of the successful Fish Exchange project which began during residencies by Deirdre with Shetland Arts and on Uist. It is not a funded project, and has evolved and grown through the enthusiasm of the artist and individuals. Find out more at http://dstitch.blogspot.com/p/fish-exchange-is-project-which-began-in.html
Timespan, Dunrobin Street, Helmsdale, KW8 6JX
13 May: 10am - 12am 14 May: 10am - 1pm 5.30pm: Children's parade
Telephone: 01431 821 327
Gilly Langton Jewellery Classes
14 & 15 May £98
Jeweller Gilly Langton has launched a new jewellery course especially for Craft Festival Scotland 2011; each course has space for 10 pupils, and places must be booked in advance.
The course includes basic and advanced jewellery techniques including piercing, soldering, forging, doming, drilling, chain making and polishing in either copper or sterling silver. Silver can be purchased from Gilly once pieces are designed.
Plockton High School, Plockton
10am – 4pm each day
Booking form & details: gillylangton@hotmail.com
Made in the Highlands at Made in Clerkenwell
19 – 22 May 2011 £2.50 (under 16’s free)
Happening within Craft Festival Scotland, a selection of work by a range of makers from throughout the Highlands and Islands will be shown as part of Craft Central’s Made in Clerkenwell open studios event in London. Initiated by HI-Arts Craft Development working with Craft Central it showcases jewellery and Silversmithing by Eileen Gatt, Lucy Woodley and Melanie Muir, textiles by Jenny Deschenes and ceramics by Daniel Kavanagh and Julia Smith. There is also a display of work in the Craft Central Corner shop in Clerkenwell.
Craft Central, 21 Clerkenwell Green, London, EC1R 0DX
33-35 St John’s Square, London EC1M 4DS
For further information about HI-Arts Craft Development http://crafts.hi-arts.co.uk
Selling the Sizzle
3 June 2011 Free
HI-Arts Craft Development's Summer Makers event, ‘Selling the Sizzle’ has a focus on craft retailing and new ways of selling. A great range of inspiring speakers will be there from across the country, starting with a keynote presentation on the new V&A Dundee and what it means to makers in Scotland. There will be talks on using social media, the reality of running a craft shop, pop-up shops and maker collectives, as well as a chance to network over lunch in the lovely surroundings of the Town House. After the event there is the opening of the second Making Progress Spotlight show featuring product designer Nick Ross, who is interested in how products affect us and how we use them in our lives. At the moment he wants to create products or concepts which don't merely solve these issues but discuss what affects they have on us.
Inverness Town House, Bridge Street, Inverness
http://www.hi-arts.co.uk/craft-festival-scotland-2011.htm
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images (top to bottom)
Lewis Chessmen ©National Museums Scotland - Museum nan Eilean, Jewellery, Lucy Woodley - An Tobar, Ballet to Remember, 2009/10, used objects (found on the street or sourced from ebay, second-hand shops and antique markets), silver 18ct gold details, lost wax casting, Maria Militsi Photo: Nick Moss – Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, Highland Craft Logo, Faith, Lizzie Farey - Iona Gallery, Broach, Gilly Langton – Plockton. Photo by Shannon Tofts, Textiles, Jeanette Sendler - Timespan, Fish, jumper - Timespan, Made in the Highlands - Craft Central, London, Made in the Highlands - Craft Central, London, Made in the Highlands - Craft Central, London , an talla solais
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