Art Exhibitions
"Outreach - Reach Out"
The exhibition in the Gallery – “Outreach – Reach Out” is showing the work of the artists who have been in residence, for varying periods of time, throughout north and east Sutherland over the past 21/2 years. Each artist is represented with a selection of the work they produced in response to the area where they were in residence.
All the residencies focussed on heritage, historic, cultural, natural and were based in Helmsdale, Golspie, Brora, Skerray and the Strath of Kildonan.
Jonathan Macleod, spent 3 months in Helmsdale and his small jewel like pieces show aspects of his many walks in the area and his particular interest in the history of Gartymore.
The Golspie artist in residence Nigel Mullan was intrigued by local place names and their translation from and into Gaelic and the way that they reflect the landscape, he has produced a piece of sculpture and two large prints to express his interest.
Natural heritage formed the basis of the work done by Gemma Petrie who spent her residency in Skerray. Her particular interest was the mosses, lichens and algae of the area, that form the basis for her large watercolour paintings
Julian Meredith, based in Helmsdale, also used the natural heritage of the area for his source material – the migration of salmon up and down the River Helmsdale and whales passing in the North Sea. One of the many large drawings he produced while thinking through ideas for a piece of commissioned work at the harbour is on show in the exhibition.
Julian getting down to work on the East Pier Wall at Helmsdale
The cultural heritage of Brora, old and new, was subjected to the scrutiny of Beatriz Pimenta Velloso, a video and photography artist from Rio de Janeiro.
Her photographs and “Cultural Clearances” video give an interesting view of Brora through the eyes of an artist from a huge city with a population of millions. Interesting fact: The population of Rio is app. 4,781 persons per sq.km. In North Sutherland the figure is less than 1 person per sq.km.
Beatriz and sheep
The photographs and poems, of Catriona Murray and Janis Mackay, give an evocative description of the Strath of Kildonan in winter.
All the artists have captured the essence of Sutherland, and its wonderful heritage. This exhibition runs until the end of July and is well worth a visit.
All but one of the artists worked with local school children and examples of the creative work produced by them can be seen in the upper foyer.
The Outreach Residency Programme was funded by Scottish Arts Council, North Highland Leader + and Scottish Natural Heritage
For the month of August the work of Charles MacQueen, Christine Woodside and Sian MacQueen will be showing. These are internationally recognised artists with a Helmsdale connection
Visual Arts Sutherland (VASu) are providing a “rolling” exhibition in the lower foyer and café these too are well worth a look. The members currently showing are Cyril Reed, Hazel Reed and Jennifer Mackenzie