► Aidan Nicol: “O Da Bog”
‘O Da Bog’ is an edible art, film and science collaboration offering a visually exciting, approachable and interactive experience of the cultural and environmentally significant features of blanket bogs.
Filmmaker/creative producer Aidan Nicol and storyteller/baker Jenny Watt will undertake seasonal field-work to create film, audio and edible-art pieces which playfully communicate the unique environment, big-picture climate science and special landscape features of bogs in Shetland, thereby translating dense scientific data into (literally) digestible narratives. The work will be showcased in an immersive installation at Hymhus and a Sunday Teas at the Bigton Hall featuring the bog inspired cakes.
► Austin Taylor: 5-Day Photography Short Course
Self-taught photographer Austin Taylor will be attending the a 5-day “Ideas for Successful Photography Short Course” with University of the Arts, London.
Facilitated by an award-winning photographer, the course is designed to recalibrate your photography practice. Each step involves taking, looking, thinking, writing and discussing photographs. What is there of you in a photo and why should this photo exist? The course will embrace and utilise other art-forms to stimulate ideas and develop unified concepts, with participants gaining insight as to where their ideas for photographs come from and what they're trying to achieve.
► David Boyter: “Hinna”
Shetland-based musicians and composers David Boyter (Eyland project) and Lana Elaine Smith (Herkja) are collaborating to create a new body of instrumental music. In ‘Hinna’ (to have time to), they’ll be working together to compose works for an ensemble featuring Accordion/Piano (Lana Elaine), Guitar/Mandolin/Banjo (David), Cello (Sophie Wishart), and Drums/Percussion (Mark Ockendon).
Blending elements of both traditional and contemporary music, these accomplished artists will fuse a variety of influences to create fresh acoustic compositions. A studio recording will capture this new sound, with the aim of serving as a platform for live performances across Shetland and beyond.
► Emily Briggs: “Garbanzo”
‘Garbanzo’ is a one-woman show, originated by Emily Briggs, a movement and theatre artist from Shetland. This multidisciplinary comic-feminist work is designed to be performed in casual spaces such as bars, restaurants and small venues. So far, Garbanzo has had one public, work-in-progress sharing, and, after a period of subsequent remodelling, is ready for its second phase of development.
This project will consist of a two-week artist residency giving Emily Briggs and her collaborator, Andreia Simoes, much-needed intensive studio time to develop Garbanzo’s movement language, and the opportunity to share their creation practises by facilitating two community workshops.
► Helen Robertson: Bee Art – “Ultima Thulbee”
Inspired by the Shetland Bumble Bee, a community woodland and the ideas of Joseph Beuys (German sculptor and performance artist, 1921 – 1986), Helen Robertson’s ‘Bee Art’ will combine art, craft, community, performance and installation in a Social Sculpture.
She will design life size bees using wire knitting, metal clay vitreous enamelling, and gold leafing and offer workshops in the techniques so participants can design and make their own. 100 bees will be made and installed during a collective action event in Michaelswood, with the bees installed by participants at their chosen location.
► Liz Musser & Ruth Oliver: “Shetland Story Slams & Spoken-word Storytelling Workshops”
This project from Liz Musser and Ruth Oliver aims to connect our community, celebrate the diversity and commonality of our experiences and build confidence.
The ‘Shetland Story Slam’ is an open-mic event, similar to a poetry slam. Anyone can attend as a storyteller or audience member - both are important. Ten storytellers’ names will be chosen from a hat to stand up and share a true, personal, 5-minute story on a chosen theme.
Storytelling Workshops will be held before the Slam. The skills learned can be put to use at the Story Slam, a family dinner, a job/university interview or presentation.
► Lucy Wheeler: Land and Sea Art Residency - “Muir is Tir”
This multi-artform residency will run in partnership between An Lanntair and Sail Britain, led by Project Curator, artist and islander Jon Macleod. ‘Muir is Tìr’, is based on the Gaelic sea-lore book, of the same name by George Macleod.
Spending time on land and sea, the expedition will focus on oral knowledge in the Anthropocene as a tool for understanding the archipelago, examining the use of mnemonics, placenames, memory mapping, ocean lore and traditional skills. Exploring the seaways and islands of the remoter corners of the Isle of Lewis, the ‘hub’ of the Shiant Isles, offers artists shared experience and collaboration, while allowing time for creative reflection, observation and contemplation.
Lucy will take sketchbooks and canvas material with her during the residency, using watercolour, acrylic and pencils to work on land and sea. She will also aim to make prints using natural materials and pigments, such as seaweed, and hopes to experiment incorporating natural printmaking in her artwork.
► Lydia May Hann: “FELT”
FELT is a workshop and exhibition project building upon work Lydia May Hann previously undertook in Oslo, Norway which she will now continue in Shetland. FELT is a unique meeting point between material, heritage and people through the medium of unprocessed sheep's fleece. It will involve a series of wetfelting workshops celebrating communal labour and joy in childish things (squishing your fingers and toes in wet soapy wool) resulting in sculptures celebrating the diversity of Shetland sheep and Shetland people.
Sheep and yarn are synonymous with Shetland but many still only come in contact with the material clean and spun, or on fluffy show lambs. FELT seeks to celebrate and champion the value of the animal and human labour that underpins island life.
► Peter Ratter & Magnus Stout: “Ptolemy”
Both Shetland-based creatives, Peter Ratter is a published poet and Magnus Stout is a musician. ‘Ptolemy’ will set several of Peter’s works to music using a variety of instruments, with the ultimate goal of incorporating a visual aspect as well to create a multimedia performance.
Peter’s poetry is often inspired by the culture, history, and landscapes of Shetland and his experiences growing up here, and the accompanying music will reflect this, utilising electric and acoustic guitar, violin, viola, piano, and vocal performances along with digital effects and mastering.
► Suzanne Briggs: “Singing Mamas” Training Course and Sessions
Suzanne Briggs will be undertaking training to become a licensed Singing Mamas leader and offer sessions here in Shetland. ‘Singing Mamas’ sessions are for women, with or without children, to sing together in a supportive environment. Simple songs are taught by ear and everyone’s voice is valued and welcomed.
The Singing Mamas approach uses the NHS ‘5 ways to mental wellbeing’ framework alongside the Maternal Mental Health Alliance guidelines for peer support.
Singing Mamas is a not-for-profit organisation run with, by and for women to improve perinatal mental health of the women in our communities through singing. Full information about the organisation can be found here: https://www.singingmamas.org/
