29 Feb 2012 PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE
INCH KENNETH
an EXHIBITION by artists collective 6°WEST
at An Tobar, The Tobermory Arts Centre, ISLE of MULL
1st March – 27th April 2012
Opening Event –Wednesday 29th February
6-8pm

The exhibition, INCH KENNETH, showing at An Tobar is a distillation
of work developed since 6°WEST’s 2011 residency on the island of
Inch Kenneth.

In June 2011, the island of Inch Kenneth and its extraordinary
house welcomed 6°WEST for a week long residency. This offered
a unique opportunity for the artists collective to explore the multiple
histories, ecology and geology of this culturally significant island.

The 6°WEST artists collective are Anne Devine, David Faithfull,
Mhairi Killin, Veronica Slater and curator Alicia Hendrick.

Fundamental to the identity of 6°WEST is the group’s convergence
to make art in response to the distinctive landscape and culture
of the Inner Hebrides. The name 6°WEST indicates the longitude
of the location where the five members meet to generate
new ideas, as well as their aim of creating a sixth space for
collaboration. This sixth space can be a person, process,
place, object or organisation. In the residency Inch kenneth
became the sixth member, in this exhibition Shannon Tofts
occupies the sixth space. A commissioned essay by Georgina
Coburn sets the work of 6°WEST in a contemporary art context.

Inch Kenneth is a culturally significant island with a fascinating
history. It is part of a sculptural tradition represented by a
collection of medieval stone carvings in its 13th Century
chapel. Boswell and Johnson visited its shores in 1773 as
part of their tour of the Hebrides and in the 1940s it became the
home to the eccentric Mitford Family.

In addition to the gallery pieces there is a portfolio of
commissioned prints created by the collective in response to
their experience on the island.

6°WEST received funding from An Tobar for this touring exhibition
and from Argyll and Bute Council, Hi-Arts and Creative Scotland
for their artists’ residency on the island of Inch Kenneth as part of
the Year of Scotland’s Islands.

For more information: http://6degreeswest.blogspot.com
Alicia Hendrick
Curator, 6°WEST
Tel: 07590 385 571
Email: leestudio@btopenworld.com

Editors Notes:
1. 6ºWEST is the newly formed arts wing of Highland Renewal.
http://www.highlandrenewal.org
2. Images available. Contact Shannon Tofts:
images@shannontofts.com
3. 6ºWEST is the name of a new artists collective based on the isle
of Mull.
4. The name 6ºWEST indicates the geographical location of where
the five members meet to generate new ideas, as well as their
aim of creating a sixth space for collaboration. The sixth space
could be a person, process, place, object or organisation.
Fundamental to the group’s identity is a convergence to make
art in response to this distinctive landscape and culture.
5. For its launch on Friday 15th April 2011, 6ºWEST travelled over
from the isle of Mull by boat to Eilean nam Ban. This island lies in
the south of Iona at longitude 6º22’ W (6 degrees, 22 minutes
West). To mark the launch, each member of the collective spent 22
minutes creating an art work in the group sketchbook, in response
to the island’s longitude, the inspiration for their name.
6. In October 2011, St Oran’s Chapel housed an exhibition of
commissioned prints by each of the participating artists, developed
from their residency on Inch Kenneth. These prints were
accompanied by a series of photographic sketchbooks containing
images by Shannon Tofts, selected by each artist reflecting on their
time on the island. A commissioned essay by Georgina Coburn sets
the work of 6ºWEST in a contemporary art context.
7. Interviews with members of 6ºWEST can be arranged.
8. 6ºWEST has been given the unique opportunity to have complete
access to Inch Kenneth and its house by the Barlow family, who
own the island.