During the autumn of 2020, Shetland Arts put out a call for commissions for artists based in Shetland, or with strong island links, to create new works that would explore inventive methods and non-traditional and digital media to respond to the challenges in creating performance. The following projects were successfully commissioned:
Wildie & Lalla
Composer and musician Catriona MacDonald and film maker Shona Main will collaborate on a new musical composition and film. The work will emerge from each artist's impressions of two houses in Unst central to the story of Jessie Saxby, a Shetland born writer, and her relationship to her daughter who died tragically young.
Da Flit
Christie Williamson & Chris Stout’s project is inspired by the migration of Christie's great-great-grandmother from Foula to Walls, Christie, a poet and composer Chris will collaborate on a new sound piece. Acclaimed Shetland born actor, Sandra Voe, will voice the words of the main character in the poem, Lilias.
Islesburgh Drama Group Radio Play
Since March Islesburgh Drama Group have moved their rehearsals online, working towards the aspiration to self-produce a radio play. This commission will allow them to produce a new work by a local playwright, with Jennie Atkinson directing, in the format of a radio play.
A Shetland Folk Story
A puppet-based animation of a new folk story written by Jen Hadfield, with animation by Gilly Bridle and music by Jenny Sturgeon. These three artists will collaborate for the first time on a folk story about what happens when a very, very large rock rolls down a hill into the midst of a village. How do the people cope with this intrusion? Do they learn to live with it, around it or despite it?
Sonic Interactions
This project will see the creation of a set of video artworks, created from the collection and manipulation of field recordings made in four specific sites around Shetland by sound artist Renzo Spiteri.
The Island is The Gallery
Vivian Ross-Smith seeks to build on her recent work "Broadcast" by bringing a new piece of wearable artwork into the public realm and challenging our notion of where art belongs and what defines an appropriate space for showing work. Wearing her work and creating an adhoc gallery space, she will interact with members of the public in a variety of settings around Shetland.
These works will be presented throughout April, in line with current public health guidance, as part of Refresh Now, a celebration of new art and performance.
