Legends stay 'alive and kicking in the Caithness consciousness' at Halkirk art show
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Sidh Chailleann Art (SCA) says it is honoured to be putting on the current 'Legends of Caithness' exhibition at The Ross Institute in Halkirk.
Coordinator Cally Maxwell comes from a background of arts projects in Leicester and London where her speciality has been engaging people at all levels of the art-making process.
"The idea of picking out the old and new, living and magical legends of the area came from conversations with local groups including the Halkirk Heritage and Vintage Motor Society, the Caithness Broch Project and the Pilgrims Way," said Cally.
"Rather than being a place that people pass through on the NC500 or on the way to Orkney, this project wants to show Caithness in all its glory and with the local artists, photographers and storytellers involved."
Caithness folklore is shown through the work of Katie Squires’ linoprints, Hannah Cambridge’s porcelain sculpture and Eleanor Lee’s hessian figures which "sold like hotcakes" through the first week of the exhibition, adds Cally. Donald Omand’s book 'Caithness Lore and Legends' gave the sites for photographs taken by Paul Steven. Modern legends are shown in Dawn Mackay’s sketches of Scrabster characters, and Lindsey Gallacher’s scratchboard depictions of 'Dowpy Dan' have encouraged people to share numerous stories.
Penny Irvine’s fibre and pyro pieces sit with Ian Pearson’s glass works to question how the wind farms, the landscape, art and work sit together. Gavin Macqueen’s photographs of the local wind farms give a frame to the artworks with Jackie Newton’s oil paintings of Peedie Sands, Dunnet and Murkle beach amongst others. Katie Budge and Alisdair MacKechnie have photographed local living legends showing the vibrancy of the Caithness community.
"Bringing artists, legends, storytellers and visitors together builds connections between the people and places, and the stories of these connections are best told by the people who know them.
"The voices of Caithness play in the background as Wick Voices provided the audio to the exhibition. These are stories told by Gail Anthea Brown, Davey Nicholson and Eric Farquhar and more. This is an exhibition that wants to feel familiar to visitors and also showcase the beauty and skill in Caithness."
Numerous community groups and businesses helped with the show and Diversity Scotland will provide "inclusivity training" to artists running art workshops for young people. Local organisations are encouraged to get in touch with the project at www.sidhchailleannart.com to be added to a digital map of Caithness which shows the sites of folklore and the artists involved.
Today, Thursday July 13 between 2-4pm, Doreen Leith will tell the tale of George Levack and his "brave observations of the fairy folk" in the 1800’s.
Last week, children’s sessions were held by Jane Mather who helped the attendees create wands to summon imagination, and dreamcatchers to snag stories of myths. "Jenny Neesham brought props, performance and expertise for the young adults session and should be a go-to contact for anyone looking at the deeper and lesser-known histories of the Highlands," says Cally.
The sessions keep up the tradition of oral storytelling, which celebrate the ways that recollections change between the generations, and develop to take in the changing times. They are also a call for new stories by new voices, and new ways in which selkies, mermaids, faerie folk and more obscure figures of this county can "stay alive and kicking in the Caithness consciousness".
Legends of Caithness has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LegendsOfCaithness and a website www.sidchailleannart.com with more info. SCA is committed to making the art world an accessible place through supporting educational routes into arts, inclusive training and practise, and by sharing ways to let art support individuals and the landscape in practical ways.
The art sessions will be geared towards supporting applications to arts training courses and will be run by working artists who can share information on how to make a sustainable and rewarding living through art-making.
Cally Maxwell has been described as a "dynamic and highly motivated co-ordinator" who takes art out of the traditional exhibition space and puts it where it can be enjoyed by the many rather than the few. She has been involved in managing and curating various art projects across the UK.
