An exhibition and art activities inspired by the sailor’s ditty box.

Travelling Light is the exciting new exhibition opening at An Talla Solais (Ullapool Visual Arts) on 19th April 2013. The exhibition will show new work by seven artists invited to respond to the idea of the sailor’s ditty box, or traditional travelling bag. Each artist comes from a place in Scotland in which seafaring has long been a part of its culture: John Cumming, originally from Shetland, now lives on Orkney, as does Frances Pelly; Will Maclean in Dundee is originally from Coigach; David Cass is based in Edinburgh; Ian Stephen and Christine Morrison are from Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis and Peter White, working with poet Jon Miller, is from Ullapool.

Supported by Creative Scotland, this exhibition will be a unique opportunity to see the work of these acclaimed artists exhibited together. The work on show will include sculpture, painting and printmaking and will reflect on the idea of the ditty box as a focus of identity, departure and travel. Ullapool is the perfect venue for this show, being a thriving port with fishing and seafaring central to its history and its current culture.

Originally drawn to the subject through voyages around the Outer Isles as part of the Sea Change project by Cape Farewell in 2011, John Cumming has been reflecting on the relevance of the ditty box to the contemporary world for some time. He says: On the deck of a boat the sky is immense, the horizon uncluttered. The individual seems small and the ocean infinite. By contrast, below decks there is no private space, everything is commonly owned and occupied. For seamen it has always been thus, hence the need for a small token of one’s own individuality; one’s history, maintenance and hopes sealed within a hand-sized box. The ditty box became an artists’ space in which to explore these themes.

Alongside the exhibition, An Talla Solais is running a series of community activities to explore the connections between the sea, voyaging and art. These will include art workshops led by Eleanor White, a sketchbook walk exploring Ullapool’s seafront, a box-making workshop using boatbuilding skills, a night of film screened at Ullapool’s Harbour and opportunities to sail on the sgoth Jubilee, the 1935 fishing vessel that will sail over from the Isle of Lewis during this project under the auspices of the Falmadair (the North Lewis Maritime Society). The artwork made during these activities will be added to the exhibition to create a growing display of work inspired by the theme.

Exhibition opens Friday 19th April, 7pm for a walk round the show with John Cumming and Ian Stephen (free)

Exhibition runs 20th April – 19th May, open 10am – 4pm daily; free entry; all welcome

For information on all activities related to the show including how to book, see our website http://www.antallasolais.org/travelling-light-activities.

Source: An Talla Solais