Nomadic Boulders sculpture unveiled at John O'Groats
A SCULPTURE which cost £118,000 and was inspired by the force of the Pentland Firth was officially unveiled at a ceremony at John O’Groats at the weekend.
The Nomadic Boulders – created by Dundee-based artists Matthew Dalziel and Louise Scullion – was well-received by the crowd of around 100 people who attended Saturday evening’s event.
The sculpture, which is part of the wider regeneration of John O’Groats, incorporates boulders that were swept up on to a nearby beach after a storm two years ago. They are suspended on three arcs of bronze painted a rich pelagic colour.
To cope with the demands of the location, where winds can be powerful, the sculpture masks a complex interior structure of highly engineered galvanised steel, set into substantial foundations.
The ribbon on the five-metre sculpture was cut by Canisbay boy Alec Kennedy, who was also one of the local primary school pupils who took part in the impressive opening ceremony.
A piece of music to mark the occasion was commissioned from Caithness composer Jim Sutherland, whose family home in Thurso overlooked the Pentland Firth.
His composition was performed by Steven Blake on bagpipes and Fraser Fifield on saxophone and reflected the heritage of the area as well as the sounds of maritime activity.
The Canisbay pupils recited a poem called The Swelkie which was written by Thurso-based writer George Gunn, who hails from Dunnet.
It told the story of how the sea was made salty and how it connects to people, culture, history and the landscape of the far north.
Donna Swanson, of Thurso Players, led workshops with the children in preparation for the opening ceremony.
Gunn hopes the performance by the Canisbay pupils could be developed and lead to a bigger piece of work which might feature at an event such as Caithness Music Festival.
“There is a landscape of stories here. I think it is important to get the children to perform in public and build their confidence and get them involved in the expressive arts. They told the story of The Swelkie and that is their story. This sculpture is theirs too,” he said.
Sutherland, artistic director of La Banda was pleased the unveiling involved local people and praised the part played by Gunn and Swanson in putting on the performance.
His inspiration for his composition, which captured the sadness and joy associated with the sea came from his memories of growing up near the Pentland Firth and recent trips back north from his base in Edinburgh.
“I grew up in Thurso overlooking the Pentland Firth which holds a very special place in my heart. It was a great inspiration to my fertile childhood imagination with many an hour spent marvelling at it from my bedroom window, wondering what great creatures might lurk in it,” he said.
“I have known it in all sorts of weather, through the seasons and across the years, from the calming sound of it as I stood upon its shores on warm summer days with the taste of the salt on my lips to the thunderous power of it crashing on the coastal rocks through winter storms. These memories will never leave me.”
Sutherland said he thinks the sculpture fits well in its environment and hopes it will be appreciated by local people and help enhance the John O’Groats area.
“I would like to see it lit up at night,” he added.
Louise Scullion said it was “a real treat” to work on the sculpture for the past 18 months and “quite a pleasure” to see it realised.
“John O’Groats is going through exciting times and what a thrilling landscape to set a sculpture in. Hopefully, it will focus attention back on the sea,” she said.
Matthew Dalziel said he and his artist colleague had “put their heart and soul” into the project and hopes the work “will have a resonance for years to come and add to the area”.
“It was a great experience for us,” he added.
They were keen to produce work that reflected the “interesting dynamic of the area, which is so much more than a famous destination”.
“We were particularly drawn to the power of the sea, squeezed as it is between the mainland and the Orcadian Skerries; for generations these waters have and continue to represent an awe-inspiring power that can oscillate between a hypnotic temptress and a terrifying and destructive force,” said Dalziel and Scullion.
The artwork was funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Creative Scotland Lottery Fund.