Past Events - 2011

Drawn Together

A special one-week exhibition of the stunning work made by some of our autumn classes: the Drawing for the Terrified sessions and the primary school's Twilight classes.

Open Day

Allison Weightman fired all the many 'tiny pots' which were made at the workshop last Monday. She made a pit which she filled with wood, and the the pots, these were then 'smoke fired ' underground. The results will be on show in our next exhibition, Opening this Friday, 'Painting with Smoke'. Cargo Canoe came with its cargo of precious silver, There was a painting Workshop in the tent, in response to the current exhibition of Paintings by James Lumsden, and throughout the afternoon the CAFE served us all with plentiful and delicious cake, coffee, and tea. Thanks to all who helped out, and to all who came along to make this such a fun day!

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Flight

Camille Bernard, Becs Boyd, John Colles, Estelle Craig, Catherine Emberton, Jackie Gaskill, Fiona McAndrew, Olivia MacDonald, Simon MacKenzie, Les McMinn, Louis Staples, Stella Stewart

An talla solais

and the Market Street Collective

The Market Street Collective is independent of ATS and has been invited to use one of our rooms to promote and sell their own work, and that of other artists in the highlands. The winter opening will test the waters, in the hope that the arrangement will continue in 2012 and beyond.

Why are we taking this step?

In the current economic climate ATS is keen to support artists and makers trying to make a living from their work. Supporting the Collective is a practical way of doing this, in addition to continuing to put on exhibitions such as the current Members' Show, Lustre.

A huge benefit for ATS from the Collective's presence is that we will be able to extend our opening hours from our traditional 3-hour afternoon to a full day. This is because the members of the Collective will 'sit' our exhibitions, a job done until now by volunteers. The longer hours will mean that more people will be able to come to see our shows.

We hope the presence of the Collective will also appeal to a new range of people, enabling a wider group to be introduced to the exhibitions and activities of ATS.

In return for use of the room, the Collective will be contribute 10% of their takings from sales to the running costs of ATS. This is a welcome new source of funds. ATS currently has no core funding and every contribution towards our running costs makes a real difference to us, especially in this climate of reduced funding for the arts.

Finally, as a result of no longer sitting, our volunteers will be freed to help us with the other things that we really want to do. There will be plenty of opportunities to be involved in other aspects of ATS, particularly through helping with our busy exhibitions programme throughout the year. More volunteers are always welcome: let us know if you'd like to be involved.

We wish the Collective well with their venture.

Susan Brown ' To See Through'

Lustre Gallery view

'Lustre' at An Talla Solais & The Market Street Collective

Written by Nicki MacRae on her blog nickipaints.blogspot.com 28th November 2011

The wall based 'part two' of the members show will be taking part in the Early Spring at Eden Court Inverness, and I'm looking forward to entering some work to that myself - although with so much talent involved with An Talla Solais there's always a real danger ones humble efforts might get squeezed off the available wall space. Somehow I wouldn't mind though, when you are treated to such inspiring and glorious stuff!

A second reason for taking the trip over to Ullapool on a windy Winter day was to check out the new The Market Street Collective shop within An Talla Solais' premises. Such a clever idea, concived that to help man exhibitions without needing to pull in tens of volunteers to gallery sit, and also allow the centre to be open for longer and on more days of the week - as well as providing a extra way for local artists and craftspeople to market and sell thier work outwith An Tall Solais member or special exhibitions. The Collective have formed themselves up as a separate group to An Talla Solais, and in return for use of the room, will donate 10% of takings to An Talla Solais - much needed revenue for the organisation. The current run is a pilot, but hopefully should roll on into next year and beyond. I can't help but think what a logical and brilliant solution this is for all parties involved!

I must say, the shop is just visually stunning! The Collective have worked hard to not only source and stock from amongst the members some very, very high quality work, but also have taken such a tender care in the display of it that you simply can't help but be uplifted by spending time there. And of course an uplifting, warm, inviting shopping experience is what makes you want to open that purse and spend, so this aesthetic integrity alone bodes well for a long and fruitful future for the shop.
The selection of items on offer is impressively large for a small space - greetings cards, mugs, breathtaking silver jewellery, beautiful handwoven scarves and throws that scream 'glossy interiors mag', striking paintings, accessories made with Harris Tweed, earthy yet stunning pottery, wordy witty screen prints...
I do hope the collective are going to be working on an e-commerce site and be offering mail order in future, as I really do think what they have created has a unique selling point which exsists both within and outwith it's physical location and relationship with An Talla Solais and Ullapool. Something curated with such care, marketed direct from the makers, straddling the honest / earthy and ethereally beautiful deserves to be shared with the widest possible audience!
My only regret during my visit was that I was just one present off completing my Xmas shopping, having promissed myself a non-panicing December... Next year - and I hope the collective does push forward into the next Festive Season - I know exactly where I will be coming to stock up!

The Winter Gallery outside an talla solais

Now on:

If you are interested in showing work in this little space, please call An Tall Solais on 01854 612310 or email charlotte@antallasolais.org

Flock Project

A Flock of paper birds has come to roost at An Talla Solais! They were created all over the world as part of our Big Draw project, and they are now migrating south (by post) from the Hebrides to the Equator. Please come to see them this week in our tiny temporary gallery outside the An Talla Solais entrance.
(For more info see our blog at http://bigdrawflock.blogspot.com

Sat 15th Oct 2011

Four Views

30th Sept - 16th Oct 2011

Four artists connected to Ullapool come together to exhibit their work at an talla solais Ullapool Visual Arts.

Dick Lindsay, Rhona Joan MacLeod, Simon Mackenzie and Pam Macdonald
an talla solais is exhibiting these four artists this October, together as an exhibition of local artists whose work is largely inspired by the local environment and landscape.

Dick Lindsay

Rhona Joan MacLeod

Simon Mackenzie

Pam Macdonald

There is a duality to my work and one strand cannot function without the other. I work with intense colours and ornament at the same time as producing monochromatic work concerned with mark making and memory. It is as if I need to empty myself of colour and excess before I can say something in a much quieter reflective way.
My work is very craft based - stitching, painting, dyeing, printing, papermaking, paper clay, felting, quilting, knitting, crochet, bookmaking to name but a few things I am involved in, all of which seem to be leading me to the knowledge that drawing underpins and informs everything I do. Learning to draw has been the greatest challenge of all, the smallest amount of progress is akin to blood from stone. I expect that I will be learning to draw for as long as I can hold a pencil!"

an talla solais Ullapool Visual Arts, Market Street, Ullapool, IV26 2XE
www.antallasolais.org
01854 612310

Painting with Smoke

3rd to 25th September 2011 2- 5 pm daily

An exhibition of ceramics accompanied by photographic and painted images

Featuring ceramic artists; Paula Ilecka- Jozwiak, Alex Johannsen, Helen Michie, Fergus Stewart and Allison Weightman
With work from visual artists; Julia Campbell, Sophie Fisher, Celia Garbutt, Peter Haring, Martin Howard, Barbara Peffers, Sheila Robertson, Charlotte Watters, Peter White and Joanna Wright

Painting with Smoke will open on Friday the 2nd of September at an talla solais from 7 - 9 pm.

an talla solais is delighted to be exhibiting the work of such talented and bold ceramic artists this September. From the delicate and subtle work of Helen Michie’s botanical inspired pieces to the humorous and quirky characters in Alex Johannsen’s work and to the voluminous and beautiful forms and surfaces of Allison Weightman’s vessels, there is a real wealth of surface and content in this collection. Amongst the materials and processes on show in this exhibition are works made with porcelain, raku, smoke firing, pit firing and salt glazes, as in Fergus Stewart’s stunning pieces. Alongside the work of these select artists will be a display of porcelain and pit fired ‘tiny pots’ made by participants of prior workshops delivered by Allison Weightman, to accompany the exhibition.

The images in this exhibition, paintings and photographs, take as their focus the ceramic medium; bowls and vessels, still life objects. Pieces of ceramic tableware, cups, jugs and bowls have been the subject matter for still life painters tirelessly. This exhibition presents this theme and draws on the connections between different ways this subject is represented through the painted and photographic mediums. This promises to be a beautiful exhibition, one not to be missed!

James Lumsden / Paintings

6th - 29th August 2011

For further details of this exhibition can be found on the News page of this site.

For further information contact joanna@antallasolais.org / 01854612310 / www.antallasolais.org Market Street (next to the Village Hall), Ullapool IV26 2XE
Exhibition open 2-5pm daily, 6th - 29th August

Fleet

9th - 31st July 2011

To celebrate the Tall Ships visiting Ullapool, An Talla Solais is pushing the boat out with its July exhibitions! One of the offerings on show is Fleet: an exhibition of Small Ships. These myriad little ships have been created by artists near and far to mark the nautical fever that is seizing Ullapool this summer.

For the last few months ATS has been inviting its members and well-wishers to turn small squares, made appropriately of marine plywood, into ships to join a fleet. Over 150 have been beautifully transformed, many by artists well-known to ATS such as Celia Garbutt, Marian Leven, Will Maclean, Sheila Robertson and Peter White. Others were made during a drop-in workshop by parents and young ones alike. The fleet is more diverse, colourful and characterful than anyone had anticipated!

It will be launched alongside An Talla Solais's other July exhibitions on Friday 8th July from 7-9pm. The launch will also include the start of a three-day silent auction for the ships, which will continue during opening hours on the weekend of 9th and 10th July. The auction will raise funds for ATS, an art centre that receives no public funding and exists thanks to donations and public support. Any ships not sold at the auction will be for general sale for the rest of the exhibition, which finishes on 31st July.

ATS is open from 2-5pm daily. Also showing from 9th - 31st July are equally seaworthy shows: The Westland by Joanne B Kaar and Lynn Taylor, telling the story of the ship of that name emigrating from Scotland to New Zealand in 1879, and a series of beautiful etchings by Jason Hicklin inspired by the coasts of Scotland and Ireland.

For further information contact joanna@antallasolais.org / 01854612310 / www.antallasolais.org Market Street (next to the Village Hall), Ullapool IV26 2XE
Exhibition open 2-5pm daily, 9th - 31st July

Etchings 1995 - 2009

8 - 31 July 2011

an talla solais is delighted this Summer to present the beautiful and powerful etchings of Jason Hicklin. The land and sea scapes of the West Coast portrayed in his rich monochrome etchings evoke these familiar local environments. His dedication to the investigation of these places is brought together in this exhibition, spanning work from the 90s to some of his more contemporary images.

'My work over the last sixteen years has been based on walks, boat trips and drawings predominately based on the coast of West Coast of the British Isles, over these years the process of etching has been central to my images. The process of corrosion and resisting the acids is an ancient process and provides a mark and a unique series of problems and solutions. The work in this exhibition results from trips to the Outer Hebrides (1995) ,Tory Island Co Donegal (2009) and various and ongoing trips to the Inner Hebrides'  

Jason Hicklin

NB: Further details can be found on the News page and the Event Calendar page of this site.

The Westland

8 - 31 July 2011

In 1879, the 'Westland' set sail on its maiden voyage from Tail o' the Bank in Scotland, to Port Chalmers in New Zealand. Navigating through the filtered lens of 130 years artists Joanne B Kaar (Scotland) and Lynn Taylor (New Zealand) respond to the way of the Westland in creating parallel 84 day log books, prints and artefacts.

Inspired by the sea-chest of crew member William Young and Jonathan Moscrop's onboard ship diary Kaar and Taylor have become like sailors, spinning sea stories of this passage through their daily log entries of fragmentary discoveries, narratives, weather observations, histories, memories, objects and images.

They bring two sides of the story together, Kaar relating to William Young's family croft house (Mary-Ann's cottage) in Dunnet, Caithness Scotland, and Taylor to Port Chalmers and the Otago Harbour surrounds, New Zealand, where the Westland first docked and the immigrants started their new lives.

Project Blog :

NB: Further details can be found on the News page and the Event Calendar page of this site.

Carved Modelled and Cast John Cumming and Frances Pelly
11 June - 3 July 2011

Opening Night Friday 10th June 7 - 9 pm

Artists' Talk and Demonstration Saturday 11th June 2011 from 7.30pm

To accompany the "Carved, Modelled and Cast' exhibition of sculpture which will be running from the 11th of June till the 3rd of July in an talla solais, the two exhibiting Orkney based artists, John Cumming and Frances Pelly will talk about their work in the exhibition; processes and influences. John Cumming will talk also about Shetland and Orkney artists and poets and expand on the influences these places have on these forms of artwork. Frances Pelly will give a demonstration of Letter Cutting in stone. all welcome, no need to book, just turn up. Suggested donation £2 to an talla solais.

Dhans - John Cumming

Field - Francis Pelly

Carved, Modelled and Cast - John Cumming and Frances Pelly

John Cumming and Frances Pelly are two Sculptors based in Orkney. Their work is deeply influenced by the environment they live in, both the natural landscape and the culture of the Northern Isles. An Talla Soalis is thrilled to introduce the beautiful work of these artists to the west highlands.

Cumming is originally from Shetland. The fishing industry has long been an influence in his work; buoys, ropes, creels and gear appear in much of his visual vocabulary. He responds also to the poetry and writing of the Orkney and Shetland Isles.

Pelly's background is Edinburgh and Perthshire, she settled in Orkney after a residency with Highland Park distillery in Kirkwall in the 1980s. Her work shows her keen observation of her surroundings and a developed understanding of the landscape she lives in. Pelly studied Sculpture and Ceramics, her traditional tutoring in these processes introduced her to stone carving and letter cutting, this has been an influential process in her work since.

This exhibition at An Talla Solais is a unique collection of new and retrospective work. The artists' work compliments each other, their subjects spring from a similar source, and their rendering of these subjects and the shared understanding of materials and processes unite the exhibition.

It is an appropriate show for the highlands too, where stone, water and land are so important. The work lends itself to a similar contemplation, in the way many visitors will come to the highlands this June to grapple with and marvel at the landscape, so An Talla Solais hopes people will come with high expectations of this wonderful exhibition, which will provide another way of seeing the land around us.

The opening of this show is between 7 - 9pm on Saturday 16th April at an talla solais - with outdoor highlights around the village.

The exhibiting artists will be on hand through the afternoon on Sunday the 17th of April for an informal question and answer session about their work and their practice - free no need to book!

Five recently graduated artists return to Ullapool to present an unmissable exhibition of collaborative and individual work. Tiffany Bottomley, Christine Morrison, Mary Somerville, Matt Stockl and Rhiannon Van Muysen first came together in 2006 during the portfolio course at Bridge House Art before dispersing to begin degree courses at Scotland's three main Art Schools. The diversity of the exhibiting artists work will offer a glimpse at the wide range of specialisation offered in Scotland's contemporary arts institutions and will include stop motion animation, installation, painting, printmaking and illustration.

Tiffany Bottomley, B.A. (hons.) Painting and Printmaking, Glasgow School of Art,
Christine Morrison, B.A. (hons.) Intermedia Art, Edinburgh College of Art, (currently; M.F.A. Art, Space and Nature, Edinburgh College of Art)
Mary Somerville, B.A. (hons.) Fine Art, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art,
Matt Stockl, B.A. (hons.) Illustration, Edinburgh College of Art,
Rhiannon Van Muysen, B.A. (hons.) Fine Art, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art.

Spring 2011 at ATS

	Opening day of West Coast Open 2011

Well it has been a busy spring at An Talla Solais! Over the past couple of weeks we have had a great response to our various shows, workshops and events.

To celebrate the Ullapool Book Festival 6 - 8 May An Talla Solais put together an exhibition of sketchbooks and artist's books: The Handmade Library. Great thanks to the Ullapool Museum who loaned us their exhibition trailer 'The Museum Machine', and to all who contributed to make this such an enjoyable event. The trailer was an ideal venue for this little exhibition, and it inspired visitors to stay and linger in the space, examining the beautiful books, turning pages and opening covers.

On the Friday evening ATS ran two children's workshops at which tutor Charlotte Watters made artist's books with 16 enthusiastic participants drawing, collage, folding, cutting, sticking... This was also the final weekend of Retrace, an exhibition of 5 recently graduated artists, who returned to Ullapool after previously studying on Eleanor White's Bridge House Art portfolio course 5 years ago. Their exhibition of stop motion animation, installation, painting, printmaking and illustration generated an enthusiastic response.

On Friday the 13th we opened West Coast Open 7. Now in its seventh year, this open show has developed as a highlight on the An Talla Solais calendar showing a wide range of work: painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and craft from across Scotland. This year is as exciting as ever, showing a superb high standard of work. The exhibition runs right through the gallery, exhibiting in each of the 4 gallery spaces. The show is open 2 - 5 pm every day till the 5th of June - a must-see.

	Spring at ATS

During this time ATS members and visitors have been busily crafting their Small Ships, as part of a project to be revealed at ATS during the Tall Ships' visit in July. Last Saturday we invited people to drop in and make a small ship (on a little piece of plywood) to join the fleet which will form one of our July exhibitions. The workshop was crammed with people sticking and painting, and an impressive 34 new ships were added to the fleet!

The small ships project is designed to help ATS raise some much needed funds. We have no core funding and are completely dependent on donations from our members and supporters, as well as much volunteer effort, to enable us to put on all these events and exhibitions, and indeed to be here at all! The Small Ships will be exhibited in July and will be for sale. If you would like to support us by painting a small ship for the fleet, then get in touch with Joanna at ATS.

Thanks to all those who work so hard to keep us going and to all those who support us. Keep an eye on the summer schedule for what's coming up: more shows, artist's talks and unusual classes…

an talla solais Ullapool Visual Arts, Market Street, Ullapool, IV26 2XE www.antallasolais.org 01854 612310

an talla solais Ullapool Visual Arts is a Charity registered in Scotland SCO40348

A word from the outgoing Chairperson of ATS:

The Membership of ATS will know that in April I stood down as Chairperson, after 7 years in that role. It may not be widely known though, that our new Chairman, Peter Haring was elected at our Annual General Meeting, and agreed to take the seat for one year. I am delighted to pass the responsibility of this position to Peter. I am satisfied that An Talla Solais is in good hands. Peter has been part of our committee for many years and has steered us through the intricacies of applying for and achieving Registered Charity Status and helping us establish ourselves as a Limited Company.
I, along with the whole An Talla Solais Committee offer Peter our very best wishes, for his new place and future work in An Talla Solais, Ullapool Visual Arts.

Barbara Peffers, retiring Chair of ATS

ArtAngles talks A new series of talks and discussions about art: all welcome (places will be limited so advance booking is recommended. £2 per person) Thursday 10th February 7.30pm: James Hawkins, painter, talks about his work and inspiration Monday 14th March 7.30pm: Pamela Conacher from Hi-Arts on the state of crafts in the highlands Monday 4th April 7.30pm: John McNaught from the Highland Print Studio on printmaking (artangles logo attached) Life Drawing Sessions We will be running untutored life drawing evenings for ATS members on the following Thursdays in March: 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st from 6-8pm. Cost £7 per session (£5 concession) or £24 for all four (£16 concession). Please come along with your drawing materials; no need to book. Viewfinders Our first exhibition of 2011 opens this Saturday (24th Feb), and will run till the 6th of March. An exiting exhibition of diverse work from the students of the Bridge House Art Portfolio Course 2010/2011. Painting, drawing and Print Making. ...Open to the public: Sunday 27th February to Sunday 6th March 2011 1pm to 5pm daily admission free Featuring work by: Isabella Blake, Sarah Colles, Caitlin Donaghy, David Falconer, Serena Gelb, Arthur Kirkwood, Jacky Maxwell, Sheila McGrath, Sasha McMahon, Helen Mulligan, Annie Sturgeon Past events for 2011 will appear here throughout the year For more information contact: an talla solais Tel: 01854 612310 Email: antallasolais@btconnect.com www.antallasolais.org an talla solais, Ullapool Visual Arts is a registered charity run by and for local artists, and provides a space for exhibitions, classes, workshops and individual studios. Membership is open to all and costs £10 per year. An talls solais, Ullapool Visual arts Market Street, Ullapool, Ross-shire, IV26 2XE SC040348 www.antallasolais.org an talla solais, Ullapool Visual Arts is run by a voluntary committee of local artists and has a membership of over 100. We moved into the former Ullapool medical centre in February 2008. Much work has been done in this last year to bring the building to life and transform it into a space fit for purpose. Individual studios are let to local artists. Group studios are available for classes and workshops. The gallery space is flexible with a new lighting and hanging system. If you would like to find out more about past and future events please explore this site. For more information contact Ailsa Strange, Secretary, an talla solais email ailsa@antallasolais.org or phone 01854 612288 Past News News Archives Past news can be reviewed in Past Events