The lamp in the seaward window – The Art of Sylvia Wishart opened to the public at the Pier Arts Centre at the end of August and has already proved to be very popular with around 200 people attending the preview event and over 1000 visiting the gallery in the exhibition’s first week.

Supported with funding from Scotland’s Islands the exhibition forms a key element of the year long cultural celebrations. Further funding has been awarded from Orkney Islands Council Culture Fund and the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh, and the exhibition has been generously sponsored by J&W Tait Ltd, Orkney.

This exhibition represents the first comprehensive gathering of the work of Sylvia Wishart RSA (1936-2008) and includes work from throughout her 50 year career as an artist.

To accompany the exhibition, the centre is facilitating an extensive programme of educational events and workshops for all ages.

For younger visitors, workshops will be taking place at the gallery as part of the regular Leading Lights programme aimed at children aged primary 1 – 7. There will be two session looking in particular at mixed media drawing and painting and will be led by the centre’s Education Officer Carol Dunbar. The Leading Lights workshops will take place on Saturday 17 and 24 September from 10.30am-12noon at £8.00 for the two sessions.

During the second week of the October holidays, from Monday 24 – Friday 28 October there will be a further 5 sessions looking at mixed media for primary aged children. These will be taking place every morning at 10.30am – 12noon and repeated at 2.00pm – 3.30pm. The cost will be £3.00 per session or £12 if booking all five.

Three local artists will be leading workshops for adults based at ‘Heatherybraes’ Sylvia Wishart’s former home and studio in the Outertown. The workshops will take place on Saturday October 1, 8 and 22 and will explore the landscape through mixed-media drawing and painting. The first session will be led by Tim Wootton, the second by Laura Drever with Mark Scadding facilitating the final workshop. Participants must be over 16. All three sessions will cost £40.00 and this cost will include all materials required.

Finally, there will be four study group sessions introducing participants to the work in the Pier Arts Centre’s permanent collection. These will take place on Wednesday evenings starting on October 5 and running until October 26 at 7.30-8.30pm at the Pier Arts Centre. Sessions will be £2.50 each or £8.00 if booking all four.

Carol Dunbar, Pier Arts Centre Education Officer commented ‘ There is such a wealth of idea and inspiration within Sylvia’s work for young and old alike, from the detailed pen and ink drawings to the complex layering within her later work. We hope that the range of workshops will appeal to a wide audience, especially the study group, which is a new addition to our education programme, it will be very informal with a key work stimulating debate and discussion each week.’

Spaces are limited for all the educational events and booking is essential. For further information on any of the workshops, or to book a space contact the gallery by telephone on 01856 850209 or by email carol.dunbar@pierartscentre.com

the lamp in the seaward window – The Art of Sylvia Wishart is on display at the Pier Arts Centre until Saturday 5 November. The centre is open Monday – Saturday 10.30am – 5.00pm. Admission is free.