Da Gadderie, Shetland Museum & Archives, Lerwick, Shetland, until 6 December 2009

Painting by Symone Duddy

WHAT AN amazing treat on offer in Da Gadderie this month. Shetland Schools’ Art Exhibition is a perfect antidote to the prospect of gales, winter and Christmas shopping. Take anyone from any age group to see the show and they will surely find plenty that stands out for its quality, intrigue and style.

Emerging from the show I had the same, brilliant feeling I get from seeing an epic film; bewilderment at the richness of the work, the attention to detail, the slick production, the feeling that a huge cast and crew have devoted so much time and effort to a project that has come together with sweat and (probably) tears to make a classic that will have a lasting impact for years to come.

Highlighting work from schools throughout Shetland, from nursery children through to S6, the exhibition showcases painting, drawing, collage, design projects, three-dimensional work and animation in a packed and varied display. The broad range of techniques, materials and styles demonstrates the breadth of talent, imagination and energy from both pupils and teachers.

The whole show is tied together beautifully by the installation; no hint of the temporary fold-out display boards that characterise most school exhibitions, these young artists and their work have been given status and deference by well-framed and professionally presented work. The standards are high and the creativity is bountiful.

The Shakespearian subjects by Claire Laurenson at both entrances to the show are quite stunning; the eyes of both Lady Macbeth and Ophelia are huge and menaced and disturbing, the technique is mature and expressive and the use of colour is very alluring.

Contrast this with the lines, colours and simplicity of the pipe-cleaner fish from P2/3 children at Dunrossness and you start to get a feeling of the massive range of styles and ideas that have gone into the work on show. Imagine the heaps of interesting work that did not make it into the exhibition… .

There are myriad hints of the environment that makes Shetland a magical childhood playground and an inspirational subject; Hannah Anderson’s Ringed Plover shows great attention to detail and texture. The composition of nine weather-related images from P3 at Aith Primary is Monet-esque in its bold, expressive and energetic style.

From this wild expression to the close observation of Stephanie Wiseman’s still life compositions of The Feast – kitchen implements, reflected asparagus and folded cloth are luscious and well executed. And to Hazel Hunter’s Imaginary Bird and Emma Sandison’s Scabby Man’s Head, both small three-dimensional objects tucked away behind glass but which show such simple yet bold understanding of shape and colour, each a beautiful object.

If I have to pick a favourite from the show it is Jake Spooner’s Self Portrait, a free and explosive charcoal drawing that shows great skill in mark-making with a tricky medium that can often result in a mess. Here it is used well with a mixture of tones and lines to create a fantastic composition, striking and funny, and Jake is only in P1!

I write as someone who loved art at school. My art teacher and what he taught has dictated my entire professional life and who I am. The notion that a good teacher can change a person’s life is certainly true and I imagine that will resonate in years to come with many of those whose work is on show in Da Gadderie.

It is a fabulous exhibition full of talent, energy and promise, and, like a great film, will reveal more and more over several viewings. Go, and then go again.© Jane Matthews, 2009

Links

• Shetland Museum & Archives