HIGHLAND PERTHSHIRE’S first Fire and Ice Festival culminated in a spectacular finale on Saturday evening (4 December) at the Scottish Crannog Centre after a harrowing week of disruptions caused by the early onslaught of winter.

The week long festival, organised by the Perthshire Visual Arts Forum (PVAF) in conjunction with Perth & Kinross Council and the Scottish Crannog Centre, included an artists’ exhibition, craft sessions, storytelling and master classes in ice carving and fire sculptures with Lithuanian artist Kestutis Musteikis in preparation for the evening show.

Fire and Ice visitors admire the burning pod (photo © Barrie Andrian).

Despite several cancellations due to the weather, nearly 100 people enjoyed the event from throughout Perthshire and beyond including local school children who had made lanterns and pots to be fired on the night. One couple travelling from Australia came specifically to Kenmore for the Festival, having seen it advertised on the internet.

Ticket holders were treated to welcome drinks of hot cordials and Lithuanian and Scotch whisky and an opening fire-juggling performance by circus actor Tam Baker before setting off on a procession through lochside woods. Four statuesque ice carvings were strategically positioned along the trail featuring a standing stone, a Celtic man with wild boar and bird, a fire god, and an ice crannog all eerily lit with miniature coloured LEDs.

A very ancient and pagan atmosphere was created by the flaming torches reflecting off the snow and ice and the strong drumming led by Ronnie Goodman.   As the procession moved along the trail a series of dark, straw-clad images were glimpsed representing a Tree of Life with man and woman; an old hunched woman reflecting on past lives; a swinging pod; and a Celtic horse and chariot.

The Celtic horse and chariot burning brightly on the loch (photo © Barrie Andrian).

Each was lit in turn setting the night sky alight with sparks and shooting flames. The most spectacular image was the horse and chariot which was set out in the water. In the still of the night, the ceremonial burning sent out multiple reflections on the loch, while in the background the crannog was lit by spotlights sparkling on the snow-covered thatch.

On the way back to the crannog visitors stopped to admire a burning tee-pee shaped paper kiln made by ceramic artist Allison Weightman in which pots made by the children were being fired. After warming up with hot soup, participants walked under an ice gateway out to the crannog where local storyteller Claire Hewitt recounted traditional myths and legends. Inside the visitor centre, the Fire and Ice artists’ exhibition remained open all evening featuring LED lit tissue-covered willow stars from the workshop led by Georgia Crook, and paintings, sculptures and videos by PVAF members.

Earlier in the week, organisers feared the worst as ploughs struggled to clear local roads; several artists could not reach Kenmore to display their work for the special exhibition; pipes froze leaving no water for 2 days and car parking was only suitable for 4 wheel drive vehicles. Barrie Andrian, Director of the Scottish Crannog Centre said, “It was a little nerve-wracking but we managed to thaw the pipes and we are especially grateful to all those who helped with snow removal. Also, thanks to the herculean efforts of the lead artist Kestutis and PVAF and Crannog teams, the exhibits and all the sculptures were ready in the nick of time for a sensational evening.”

Ice standing stone by PVAF Chairwoman Su Grierson (photo © Barrie Andrian).

PVAF Chairwoman Su Grierson added, “This event has been a year in the making. Bringing together 3 very different organisations and facing severe weather conditions was at times very challenging, so it was wonderful and very rewarding to see everyone’s hard work come together at last. And it’s great that so many people managed to get here despite the difficult driving conditions.“

The event was supported by the Scottish Government and the European Community Rural Tayside Leader 2007-2013 Programme. The Scottish Crannog Centre is now closed until a special Winter Week+ opening in February.

© PVAF, 2010

• PVAF
• Crannog