Ideas lift off for paper aeroplane exchange
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A CAITHNESS artist is acting as "matchmaker" for an exchange of creative talents across the Atlantic that all came about through an article published in the John O'Groat Journal a century ago.
Dunnet-based artist Joanne B Kaar was reading through her Groat when a vintage news item from 100 years ago piqued her interest.
"The newspaper article, published a few months ago, caught my eye as it connected Newfoundland with Caithness," she said. "I've been lucky to visit Newfoundland on three occasions – twice selected as maker in residence for the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador in Woody Point and then at the Old Cottage Hospital in Norris Point."
Joanne is also working as a consultant on a "portable museum" project based in Newfoundland for Trinity Historical Society.
Apart from her interest in Newfoundland, Joanne said she finds inspiration through heritage, culture and searching through archives. In May this year, she came across an article in the Groat about an event from a century ago in which two intrepid airmen, attempting the first non-stop transatlantic flight, took off from Newfoundland in an attempt to land on British or Irish soil.
The pilots Harry Hawker, an Australian aviation pioneer, and his navigator, Lt Commander Kenneth Grieve, a member of the navy with a keen interest in aviation, left Newfoundland on May 18, 1919, in a small Sopwith aeroplane.
The two pioneers ended up being blown miles off course by storms. With the radiator overheating, the men realised they had no choice but to risk a daring manoeuvre with a chance of saving their lives. Spotting the Danish steamer Mary, they deliberately ditched the plane into the Atlantic, two miles ahead of the ship, after covering 1100 miles. The plan worked. It was 90 minutes later when the two men were picked up from the water some 750 miles from the coast of Ireland. The aeroplane was left to be claimed by the ocean and the two men were eventually landed at Scrabster on May 26, 1919.
The airmen were much impressed with the enthusiasm of the reception by the people of Thurso and voiced their thanks. They were cheered all the way to the station where a great crowd had assembled to give them a send-off.
As the train departed, cheers came from the public to the pioneers who said they would long remember the welcome extended to them by the people of Thurso.
On reading the article, Joanne saw "an opportunity not to be missed".
"I contacted people here and in Newfoundland that I had worked with, and proposed the idea of a paper aeroplane exchange as a way of reaching out and a fun icebreaker to connect heritage, museums, crafts and arts groups who have similar issues of isolation, short tourist seasons and suchlike," she said.
Joanne explained that parts of the Newfoundland landscape are similar to areas of Caithness and the idea was "a way of us all appreciating our own as well as other cultures and locations".
She added: "It's a simple idea that all ages and abilities can be included in.
"The response I got was brilliant – more than I could have hoped for – so, to make the experience meaningful for all, I suggested 'matchmaking' each group from the north of Scotland with one in Newfoundland.
"I'm now leaving it to them to chat and make plans for their paper aeroplane exchange."
The first exchange to take place is between Admiralty House Communications Museum, located at St John's in Newfoundland, and Strathnaver Museum in Sutherland with an event planned in St John's at the end of this month.
Joanne said there are further matchmaking plans with Castletown Heritage Society, the Bonne Bay Cottage Hospital Heritage Corporation and the Wick Society.
For further information and updates visit Joanne B Kaar's website, www.joannebkaar.com, or email info@joannebkaar.com
