Community Textile Projects 

Follow the links below for all the details, including photographs, of these projects. 

Click here for full List of Meetings coming up (pdf)

A Journey Through Elphin

In the spring of 2019, the communities of Elphin, Knockan and Ledmore came together to plan a really exciting piece of textile art to grace the walls of the newly-decorated Community Hall. 

One of the groups who use the hall regularly is the Craft Circle, and it seemed obvious that they would form the core of the people who would make the work.  So I visited them on a number of occasions to help them develop a visual plan for this community wall-hanging. To start with, we looked at maps of the area, including one that was hand drawn in 1774. This led to discussions about the unique historical and social features of the townships. 

Beautiful Bunting at Drumnadrochit

In April 2014 I visited Craigmonie, the community learning centre in Drumnadrochit, on the shores of Loch Ness. The building that houses both the school and the community facilities is beautiful and bright, and is used for all sorts of activities, including community celebrations and craft fairs. 

So, together with a diverse group of locals, I set about creating some imaginative bunting to give the space a happy air of celebration for just such occasions.  We decided that each flag would have a local theme and that the flags would feature lettering that, when joined together, would make three phrases connected to the area:  GLEN URQUHART, LOCH NESS and SCOTLAND.

The George Bain Project

Saturday 17th March sees the opening of an exciting exhibition of Celtic art at An Talla Solais, Ullapool's own arts centre.  On display will be some of the intricate design work of George Bain, known as the father of modern Celtic design, who recorded the complex patterns of ancient Celtic and Pictish art and produced the definitive guidebook to their construction.

The exhibition is curated by Groam House Museum, located on the Black Isle, who hold the national collection of his work.  Ullapool will show a new selection  of artwork together with items exhibited in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Iona.  What makes this exhibition really special is that, in the spirit of George Bain (who was so keen to promote modern interpretations of Celtic design that he even set up a 'Celtic school of art' in Drumnadrochit), part of the work on display has been made by the local community.

Fringe: Textiles from the Edge of Civilisation

It all started with a conversation between some of the women who had taken part in the textile banner making elements of Tillidh Mi Dhachaidh, a Homecoming event organised in 2009.  Nearly one hundred people had played their part in making these banners and the wealth of local talent was obvious in the quality of the resulting work.  One participant glowed with pride, as it was the first time her work had been exhibited.  The seed of the Fringe project was now sown.

Chris, Fran, and I then tried to think of a way of encouraging these hidden textile artists to develop their skills and to share the resulting work with the wider community.  So, in the depths of the worst winter most of use can remember, we ran a number of textile ceilidhs, taking the meetings out to Elphin, Achitibuie and Badcaul, as well as the Macphail Centre in Ullapool.  At these meetings, we discussed the ways in which living in the north west put us on the fringe, or edge of society, or on the edge for some completely different reason.  Every interpretation of our theme was welcome and the project was open to all.

The Pear Tree Project 

This year (2011), Ullapool is celebrating the life and times of an ancient Worcester shire Black Pear tree which once grew in the grounds of the Old School House, Market Street.  Its fruit was a bit on the hard side, but was well-know by local children for its excellent ammunition qualities!

Sadly, the pear tree had to be cut down to make way for much-needed new houses, but memories of the tree and related childhood experiences, are being recorded and interpreted through a series of art and social history activities, including my ambitious attempt to build a pear tree in only eight hours! The workshops took place at an talla solais, Ullapool's art centre and I was helped in this enterprise by a good number of Primary 6 pupils from Ullapool Primary School and a few intrepid adults from the community at large.

Ullapool Banner Making Project 

Tillidh Mi Dhachaidh (I Will Return Home) is a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the opening of Ullapool High School's new community building, and the 25th anniversary of the upgrading of the school from a two-year to a full six-year secondary.
The project is named after Calum Macdonald's RunRig song which talks of a young person's new life away from the Highlands, and the longing for home which stays with him.
 
For three weeks in Autumn 2009, former pupils of Ullapool High School who now work professionally in the Creative Arts will exhibit their work throughout the village, and headline concerts in the Village Hall and the Macphail Theatre, featuring musical collaborations with present pupils and community members. 

Banner Making - Yellow Banner

Yellow Banner Gallery  from the above Banner Making Project Tillidh Mi Dhachaidh

For a full description of this project please visit Ullapool Banner Making Project

Banner Making - Blue Banner

Blue Banner Gallery from the above Banner Making Project Tillidh Mi Dhachaidh

For a full description of this project please visit Ullapool Banner Making Project

Banner Making - Green Banner

Green Banner Gallery from the above Banner Making Project Tillidh Mi Dhachaidh

For a full description of this project please visit Ullapool Banner Making Project

Banner Making - Red Banner

Red Banner Gallery from the above Banner Making Project Tillidh Mi Dhachaidh

For a full description of this project please visit Ullapool Banner Making Project