Argyll, 7-10 August 2009

ARTMAP Argyll got off to a promising start this year, kicking off with glorious weather. In the bright sunshine, the trail of cheery red dots, indicators of participating studios, was clear to be seen.

Conceived by a number of working artists and makers in Argyll in 2007, Artmap Argyll is in its second year, supported this year by Homecoming funding from Argyll and Bute Council. The event was supported by a comprehensively informative website and attractive booklet, where I had read that the Open Studio experience would provide a unique opportunity to visit and meet working artists and makers in their private studios and homes, which is where many of the artists have their studios.

Sculptor Melanie Chmielewska at work

Having only one day to spend, I decided to concentrate on a cluster of artists in the mid-Argyll area, starting with a painter, Lesley Burr, in Lochgilphead. Welcomed at the door by Lesley, the promise of a glimpse into the private life of the artist was immediately realised. After a trip upstairs to her studio, Lesley, whose contemporary paintings are inspired by landscapes and the influences of weather and light throughout the season, invited us to wander through the rooms of her home, where her paintings are hung.

She is the current and enthusiastic chairperson of Artmap Argyll, and explained that the initiative is to promote and raise the profile of artists working in Argyll, and is very much in its infancy. They clearly have an open mind about how it might continue and grow.

This brought to mind possibilities of niche tourism, links to the hospitality industry, local gardens and what makes other festivals, such as the Pittenweem Arts Festival, now in its 26th year, successful. It seems to me that Argyll offers a wealth of possibilities.

From Lochgilphead, it was off to Crinan, to meet sculptor Melanie Chmielewska, who works mainly in stone these days. Arriving at Crinan, after a meandering drive along the canal side, passing yachters enjoying a leisurely and sunny passage through the channel, we found Melanie, decamped from her usual studio in the nearby boatyard.

Melanie has set up a gazebo in her garden for the duration of the school holidays, allowing her to do some work and be there for her daughters at the same time. Many of the artists were being similarly creative with regard to making time for children who would usually be at school.

Though Melanie did not have work on display, having just sent off a commissioned piece she had completed after 18 months of work, she had many images of her work and was encouraging visitors to interact. Supervised by Melanie, I made an attempt on a piece of sandstone with a hammer and chisel – good fun, but Melanie needn’t worry about the competition for a while yet!

From Crinan, we set off towards Tayvallich, turning off a couple of miles before it, to see the works of painter and drawer Norman Rea, mixed media artist Alex Hamilton, and graphic artist Polly Hamilton.

Set in a beautiful location at the end of a track about half a mile from the main road, it was a delight, though not necessary, to walk the last part of the track in the sun, enjoying the perfume from the roses, the sight of the hovering, orange dragonflies and the oddly curious, but at the same time deadpan stares of Alex and Polly’s Herdwick sheep in the nearby fields.

The artists were setting up in an outbuilding, creating a small but abundant gallery when we arrived. It was not yet noon on the first day and they were delighted to already have received a few visitors and to have sold a couple of pieces.

On then to Tayvallich, for a visit to the home and studio of painter Libby Anderson, who paints prolifically and has varied interests. I found her portrait paintings, particularly those of the children, appealed to me most. Once more, we had the opportunity to walk round the artist’s home to view her paintings.

We joined the locals and holiday makers for a stroll around Tayvallich, before heading for a nearby beach to enjoy a picnic lunch, looking out over the sparkling Sound of Jura while we ate. Bliss!

Spotting the large red dot by the roadside on the way out of Tayvallich, we followed the arrow to the home and studio of painter and printmaker Jane Smith. In her first year participating in the Artmap event, Jane had set up a gallery in her son’s bedroom and was generous with her time and explanations of the motivation behind individual pieces: her observations of local wildlife, such as gannets and eider ducks and her growing interest in insects.

Jane was very enthusiastic about Artmap Argyll, explaining, “I love it as a two way event! It is an opportunity to communicate to people what you were thinking, why you’ve gone down a particular route.”

By then, it was time to head for home, via Tarbert, Portavadie and the Colintraive ferry. I only had a nibble at what was on offer and could probably have managed to see more artists if I had taken a less leisurely approach. But it had been a wonderful day and a wonderful way to see Argyll, at the same time experiencing at first hand a taste of the rich diversity of the visual arts scene there.

A full weekend would offer a much wider view of the 33 participating artists and makers, working with glass, wood, sculpture, weaving, original prints and all styles of painting – and all out with the gallery context.

© Ishbel Crawford, 2009

Links

• Artmap Argyll

Associated Page

• Artmap Argyll gallery