The art of artist Sylvia Wishart continues to draw in large numbers of visitors to the Pier Arts Centre. The display will shortly expand to include a short film created especially to celebrate the life and work of the artist.

‘Reflections’, a film commissioned by Orkney Arts Society with financial support from Scapa Flow Landscape Partnership Scheme and the Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture, is the work of Stromness film maker Mark Jenkins. Fiona Cumming of Orkney Arts Society said, “ We are delighted with the film and wish to acknowledge the support we have had from the Pier Arts Centre and the estate of the artist.”

The film celebrates the life and work of Sylvia Wishart, illustrating some of the paintings and drawings exhibited in the lamp in the seaward window together with interviews by friends, family and admirers of the artist including; Ola Gorie; Bunty Wishart; Elsie Seatter; Billy Tait; Colin Kirkpatrick and Yvonne Gray. The film also features Sylvia’s former colleagues at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen; Arthur Watson; Joyce Cairns and Bill Connon, talking about her talent as a teacher.

Neil Firth, Director of the Pier Arts Centre and a former student of Sylvia Wishart said “We are delighted to be able to complement the exhibition of drawings, paintings and prints with this thoughtful tribute to the artist. Sylvia’s work beguiles the viewer and many visitors have returned time after time to try to absorb the detail and subtly of her work. This short film provides new insights into the artist’s character and world that will enhance our visitor’s enjoyment of the show.”

The 15 minute film will be launched to the public at the Pier Arts Centre on Saturday 22nd October 2011 and will run everyday, from 10.30 am to 5 pm, until the end of the exhibition on Saturday 5 November 2011.

A selection of work from the lamp in the seaward window is to be shown at the Royal Scottish Academy from 1 January – 29 February 2012 and then at Grays School of Art in Aberdeen from 24 March – 20 April 2012.

A book documenting the artist’s career is in preparation and will include a new essay by the writer and art critic Mel Gooding and many colour reproductions of rarely seen works.

The Pier Arts Centre
Victoria Street
Stromness
Orkney
Tel: 01856 850209
Web: http://www.pierartscentre.com/

Source: The Pier Arts Centre