This weekend sees two new exhibitions open at the Pier Arts Centre that continue to develop the strong collaborative networks that the gallery has established locally.

The Art of Research brings together two very different displays of artwork: Being and Remembering – new work by Rik Hammond and William Kirkness – a teacher of many parts – curated by Mirella Arcidiacono. Both exhibitions share the central focus of research and archaeology, but presented from contrasting perspectives.

For Being and Remembering, Rik Hammond brings together a collection of contemporary works made as a result of a short residency at Orkney’s World Heritage Site, the Heart of Neolithic Orkney.  Based at the Ness of Brodgar during the 2011 digging season, his work reflects the strong parallels that exist between visual art and archaeological practice and the creative potential in sharing research methods. His strong emphasis on drawing as both a recording and explorative tool and his experimental approach and openness to enquiry and chance has enabled a set of bold and distinctive results to emerge.

Rik said, ‘The residency has had a profound effect on my work and the way I approach and think about it.  In a way, the exhibition is only a snapshot of some of the ideas I’ve been working on – and having now developed a number of exciting collaborations with archaeologists and people working in connected fields of study, I’m looking forward to continuing my work on the subject well into the future.’

Developed in partnership with the Pier Arts Centre and the Archaeology Department of Orkney College UHI, and with support from ‘Scotland’s Islands’, the Symbols in a Landscape residency offered an opportunity for a visual artist to work with archaeology, and through active engagement with the World Heritage Site, and the archaeologists and rangers based there, to develop further layers of meaning and interpretation.

In presenting the display William Kirkness – a teacher of many parts, Mirella Arcidiacono, Museum and Gallery Intern with the Pier Arts Centre and Orkney Museum has gained valuable experience in curatorial research methods.  She faced the challenge of organising an exhibition across two venues and bringing material and artefacts together from a limited starting point. Her exhibition explores and celebrates the life and work of William Kirkness (1887-1974), handicraft teacher, film maker and antiquarian.

Mirella said, ‘The material displayed at the Pier Arts Centre concentrates on Kirkness’s documentary film and photographic work – including his filming of the first excavations at the Knap of Howar, Papa Westray 1929-35 – while the display at Orkney Museum will focus on presenting a biographical portrait of this extraordinary man alongside examples of his handicraft work.’

In a unique collaboration between the Pier Arts Centre and OIC Arts, Museums and Heritage, Mirella has been based in Orkney since October 2011, on a year long internship supported by Museums Galleries Scotland.

The Internship is one of only twenty taking place in galleries and museums across Scotland. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, it is designed as a professional training programme providing the interns with the skill and experience to take forward a career within the museums and galleries sector.

Exhibitions Curator at the Pier Arts Centre, Andrew Parkinson commented, ‘Our programme for 2012 will underscore our on-going ambition to display work that has strong local as well as national and international dimensions. These two exhibitions reflect that intention, with the focus of Rik’s work on the World Heritage Site and Mirella’s research uncovering the extent of William Kirkness’s influence through his educational work. We’ll continue this focus throughout the year when we celebrate 30 years of Soulisquoy Printmakers in the spring and present a display of new works by internationally acclaimed Scottish artist, Christine Borland, in the summer.’

Being and Remembering – new work by Rik Hammond and William Kirkness – a teacher of many parts – curated by Mirella Arcidiacono are on display at the Pier Arts Centre until the 17 March. The companion exhibition on William Kirkness at the Orkney Museum is also on display until 17 March.

Exhibition tours will take place on Saturday afternoon at the Pier Arts Centre. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet with Rik Hammond at 2pm and Mirella Arcidicono at 3pm and hear more about their exhibition projects. Admission free.