Big Totem Draw
Sarah Longley
with Artists Helen Robertson, Irene Blair and Emma Bennon
Kirkton Church Hall
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Sat 29 Oct
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2pm - 8pm
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Sun 30 Oct
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11am-5pm
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Mon 31 Oct
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10am-5pm
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Tue 01 Nov
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10am-8pm
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Wed 02 Nov
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10am-5pm
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A colourful collaborative drawing installation in Kirkton Hall on the theme of Totems involving schools, artists and community groups.
Artists are inviting the people of Skye & Lochalsh to a collaborative drawing event over several days, around the theme of Totem Poles;
using as the starting point the poem 'Totem' by Michael Longley which was inspired by Lochalsh. It will happen over several days: 26th October- 29th October. Local Primary Schools and community groups are invited to take part and there will be an open event on the final day with the whole community invited.
Several totemic structures will be there when people arrive. They will be read the
poem, then invited to design their own totems which can be joined together. Colourful materials will be provided: water-soluble pencils and oil pastels. Inspiration will be
the poem itself, the participants’ own lives, and the natural
world. It is hoped that the rich culture, wildlife, history and
folklore of Skye & Lochalsh will be expressed with colourful
imagery. There will be plenty of print-outs and nature books to look
at, as well as books and source material on Totems. Participants will learn about the indigenous art of the
Pacific North-West, which will inspire an exciting new way of
interpreting their own locality & community.
In addition Lochalsh Life Drawing will be doing a special session on October 26th involving members of the Skye Circus Skills who are going to dress up as animals featured in the poem and move whilst the life drawers capture them using colourful drawing materials. This collaborative work will be added to the exhibition.
There
will be the opportunity to explore different ways to make marks and to
experiment with colour.
Artists will be on hand to help. Above all, it will be fun, colourful and improvisational: who knows
what the end result will look like!
The culmination of the event will be an open invitation to the
community to come and see and to make their own totems on Saturday 29th from 2pm. From 6-8pm there will be an official 'opening' of the installation with readings, music and refreshments. The whole community and contributors will be encouraged to come, with everyone invited to make their mark.
Pupils from Methodist College Belfast will be taking part in the exhibition, providing a link between Belfast (the home of the poet) and the Western Highlands.
In the longer term, the designs and ideas will help towards carving a
real totem which will displayed permanently in a community
space.
Participants: Auchtertyre Primary, Plockton Primary, Glenelg Primary, Loch Duich Primary, Kyle Primary, Kyleakin Primary, Broadford Primary, Plockton High School, Portree High School, Methodist College Belfast, Airdferry Resource Centre, Kyleakin Connections, Lochalsh Life Drawing, Sarah's Saturday Club, Women's Royal Institute, West Highland College, Skye Circus Skills.
A walk around the Big Totem Draw exhibition
This is a free event
Suitable for ages:
All
Organised by
Sarah Longley
Family Friendly Facilities: Kitchen, toilet
Accessibility:
Several steps and a handrail