Exhibition at An Crubh on the Isle of Skye (Week 14)

I am very excited about the opportunity to exhibit my most recent work at the wonderful An Crubh facility on the Isle of Skye in the busy half term week in October.  The facility is a prime location for artists and has a heavy footfall because of the co-located cafe, shop and post office.  It is very much a locally-managed and staffed venue providing space for the local community to meet, eat, exercise and engage in other community events.  This will be my first solo exhibition on the Island.

This is how An Crubh describes its own journey from a dream to a highly-successful community venue:

“Three things were at the top of the community’s wish list – a shop, a proper hall for activities, and a place to meet and socialise. Thus, the idea for An Crùbh was born.

The journey to build An Crùbh began in 2011. We received generous support from The Big Lottery Fund, The Coastal Communities Fund, Highland Council, The Robertson Trust, HIE, Fearann Eilean Iarmain, Camuscross & Duisdale Initiative Fundraising Group and architects WT Architecture. The Common Grazings Shareholders were also very generous in their support of the project.

The local community gave of their time and effort very generously. And at the beginning of 2016 the children of Camuscross and Duisdale cut the first sod.

The building that came out of that journey is a model for how small communities can develop and bring vibrancy to an area.” (An Crubh website 2019).

I have now started creating my installation plans and liaising with a printer and framer to produce my framed images in two sizes:  70 x 70cm and 40 x 40cm squares.  My intention is to exhibit my newly-created seascapes and reed photographs – all taken during my intensive “creating images” phase of my Final Major Project.  I see this as a significant opportunity to gain feedback from both visitors and local people on the Island.  I intend to systematically collect feedback through a comments book and being present throughout the exhibition to talk to visitors about my work.  I will also monitor footfall to gain a sense of the success of An Crubh as a venue for my work in the future.

I have lots to think about in terms of publicity, curating and editing my final images and getting the show on the road.  More on this next week.

References

An Crubh website.  Images. [Accessed on 10 September 2019].