With building work on the new Natural Retreats/ Heritage GB development starting this summer, the Transform Weekend (2-3 July 2011) celebrates the changes about to take place in John O’Groats. Led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and also funded by LEADER as part of a wider arts strategy this weekend is the first part of the arts programme and delivers a range of exciting temporary projects, many have involved the community as contributors.

DUFI | are we there yet? | John O’Groats House Hotel

are we there yet? is a colourful multi-image piece exploring perceptions of holidays, childhood and the idea of journey. Now the largest public artwork in the Highlands, this major 3D commission uses the iconic hotel as a ‘canvas’, before works starts on the its redevelopment later this summer. DUFI are Fin Macrae and Alister MacInnes, based near Tain. They are known for their street art and public art and worked on are we there yet? in collaboration with four other Scottish artists; Richie Cumming (Skint), Fraser Gray (Soul Relics), Martin McGuinness (Macism), and Mike Inglis. This team previously collaborated on a major street artwork in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and another in Inverness city centre.

This – the largest artwork in the North of Scotland – will be in place for 2 months.

Gavin Lockhart | 50% Sail | All Lamp Posts

50% Sail consists of around 50 sails which have been installed on all lamp posts around John O’Groats harbour and it’s approach road – the last long straight to the journey’s end. Echoing the areas maritime heritage 13 white ships’ sails defineg the road down to the harbour while others have been painted by the children from Canisbay Primary School. Gavin is based on the North coast. His lens and digital work has been featured in international art exhibitions, the National Gallery of Scotland, and in the area – he projected imagery developed with local young people on the dome of the Dounreay Power station.

Gavin Lockhart | Here We Are | Journey’s End Café & Harbour

Here We Are is a new film work featuring video portraits of local people gathered during the Canisbay Show along with a text from George Gunn. This work will be shown in two parts; the first is an extract displayed on a monitor in the Journey’s End Café and the second will be a one-off outdoor projection (see events for details).

Alexandria Patience | Local Dream Boats | Grass in front of The Last House

This installation of Local Dream Boats mounted on hand cut peats was conceived to honour traditional hard labour by carving 100 boats that will carry local families’ stories of the past and dreams for the future. The boats are made from lime wood with a shape based on the traditional East Coast Scaffie. A small number of boats have been kept for those attending the Transform Weekend – go to the seaward side of The Last House to decorate your sail! Brought up in the North East, Alexandria worked internationally before settling in Portskerra on the North Coast. Her work is rooted in her background of a fishing and crofting way of life and crosses many media; from traditional storytelling to performance art and installations.

Alexandria Patience | Storytelling Trail | John O’Groats Harbour & Village

Consisting of a short walk, guided by the artist, the storytelling trail will feature John O’Groats’ history and stories as told by local people.

Allison Weightman | Groatie Buckies | Beach and Grass by the Sign Post

Ceramic artist Allison Weightman is based in Ullapool, and her studio is in Scoraig. Her project Groatie Buckies – is based on the small cowrie shells from the local beach which, if kept in your purse, will ensure that you will never be poor. Allison has worked with the local community, Canisbay, Keiss and Crossroads Primary Schools and Thurso High School to make hundreds of small porcelain cowrie shells forming a path installation near the famous sign post, and a large raku fired ceramic shells located on the beach. Allison’s makesfine quality raku fired ceramics, exhibited across the UK and featured in the BBC’s ‘Show Me The Monet’ the judges selected her shotgun blasted ceramic bowl.

Transform Weekend: John O’Groats is being part-financed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Government and the European Community Highland LEADER 2007-2013 Programme.

Events Programme (include map showing local of information tent – on the grass next JOG Knitwear)

Saturday 2 July

11.30am – 12noon | Guided Tour | Meet at the information tent

Guided tour of all artworks led by co-ordinator, Kirsty Body; including conversations with the artists were possible.

12 – 3pm | DUFI | Street Art in Progress | Start/Finish Line by the John O’Groats House Hotel

Live street art with an option to have items tagged by the team, accompanied by music from Small Feet.

1 – 4pm | Allison Weightman | Live Firings | Sign Post – above the harbour

The paper kilns will be lit by Allison at 1pm followed by a drop in raku workshop, glaze and then watch your own pot being fired (1 hour), free to take home.

2 – 2.30pm | Guided Tour | Meet at the information tent

Guided tour of all artworks led by co-ordinator, Kirsty Body; including conversations with the artists were possible.

3 – 3.45pm | Alexandria Patience | Storytelling Trail | Meet at the information tent

Starting at the information tent next to John O’Groats Knitwear, the storytelling trail will guide you through a series of environmental installations and recounting local stories and the villages history. Ends down at the harbour.

8 – 11.15pm | Arts Ceilidh | Seaview Hotel

Ceilidh featuring local musicians, storytelling and film projection. 11.15pm procession to Harbour.

11pm – 12 midnight | Gavin Lockhart | Outdoor Screening | Harbour

Gavin’s new film is a community portrait projected into the fleet of sails in the harbour. Filling the centre of the harbour with translucent fabric sails like the ghosts of the fishing fleets returning, this one time only large outdoor film screening will be viewed against the ‘glimmer’ of the fading light to end the first day’s celebrations.

Sunday 3 July

11.30am – 12noon | Guided Tour | Meet at the information tent

Guided tour of all artworks led by co-ordinator, Kirsty Body, including conversations with the artists where possible.

12noon – 3pm | Allison Weightman | Live Firings | Grass by the Sign Post

A drop in raku workshop, glaze and then watch your own pot being fired (1 hour), free to take home.

1 –2pm | Alexandria Patience | Boat Launch | Harbour Pier

Launch of 100 hand-made boats. Start time weather and tide permitting. Local families are invited to launch their boats in the sea.

2 – 2.30pm | Guided Tour | Meet at the information tent

Guided tour of all artworks led by co-ordinator, Kirsty Body, including conversations with the artists where possible.

3 – 3.45pm | Alexandria Patience | Storytelling Trail | Meet at the information tent

Starting at the information tent next to John O’Groats Knitwear, the storytelling trail will guide you through a series of environmental installations and recounting local stories and the villages history. Ends down at the harbour.

3.50pm | Allison Weightman | Groatie Buckie Launch | Harbour Pier

You are invited, as part of the weekend’s closing performance, to help gift 2000 porcelain shells to the sea.

Arts Programme Manager: Sue Pirnie | Co-ordinator :Kirsten Body

To find out about future events follow us on Facebook: John O’Groats Transformation or read our artists’ Blog: www.hie.co.uk/blog/john-o-groats . For more information or queries contact nick.scroggie@hient.co.uk

Source: pirnielimited