ArtyNess: World Book Day is in the frame in the Highlands
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DESPITE the worrying political landscape in Europe, one thing is certain: it’s that time of the year again. World Book Day is upon us, writes Barbara Henderson.
It’s the one day every year where every children’s author is all but guaranteed a school audience – and with restriction on visitors to schools lifting, it seems that schools and libraries are keen to open their doors to us wordy types again.
As you read this, I will be en route visiting several schools in Clackmannanshire, Renfrewshire and Edinburgh, and I absolutely cannot wait. I am only just back from Orkney where I was lucky enough to do school events at the Kirkwall Library.
Live events! What a buzz! Who would have thought it! It’s like the world of creativity is awakening from a deep, enchanted sleep, and everything has a shine and a sparkle to it. It is so good to get together again.
With that in mind, I thought I’d take a detour from my usual bookish fare and focus on the visual arts for a moment. For the past few months, I have been mesmerised by my friend Lorraine’s social media posts. I know her predominantly as a writer and a graphic designer – but it seems to me that her creativity has recently been supercharged by the Bridgehouse Art Portfolio Course in Ullapool. Wow, is all I can say.
The course exhibition opened to the public on February 27 and runs till March 6. Eleven students, ranging in age from 18 to 70+, began the full-time, immersive course in October 2021. Four come from the Highlands, but most travelled from much further afield. One intrepid artist even crossed the Atlantic to join the group, but whether from Dundee, Oxford, or New York State, all made Ullapool their home for the duration of the course.
Better known as LG Thomson, my friend Lorraine lives in Ullapool and is using the course as an intriguing and creative way to develop her writing. She said, “I signed up for a one-week summer course with Bridge House Art and applied what I learned there to the book I was working on at the time. Within weeks, it was picked up by an American publisher. I’m very excited to see what will happen after the portfolio course.”
Having seen the quality of her work, I can’t wait to see what happens next either. Visitors to the exhibition are promised a thought-provoking range of art from figurative to abstract, using materials ranging from traditional oils, printmaking, and acrylics, to found cloth, collage, and ink and bleach. Student sketchbooks and portfolios will also be on display, giving a fascinating insight into the creative process.
Now, that does it! I do love to see a sketchbook! I am fascinated by the journey, not just the end product. Should you find your way to Ullapool to see this exhibition, you may well bump into me there!
– GLIMPSE Exhibition, Bridge House Art – An Talla Solais, Ullapool, until Sunday, March 6, 10am-4pm.
