creative workshops in Assynt
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Creating Assynt – A Community’s Response to the Landscape
Canisp moonrise
The geology of Assynt is overwhelming to the eye, with great mountains such as Suilven and Quinag dominating the skyline. The people who live and work in amongst these huge slabs of rock have a close relationship to the land, one which is largely unspoken.
This summer, the local community will be given the opportunity to express their close connection to and understanding of this landscape through a series of art and writing workshops, led by local artist Jan Kilpatrick and visiting writer Christian McEwen. They will visit three locations – Knockan Crag, the Bone Caves and Little Assynt Community Woodland – on each occasion, gathering impressions and inspiration for their own creative response. North West Highland Geopark officers and a member of staff from Coigach and Living Landscapes(CALL) will act as field guides.
The activities run from Monday 25th August until Wednesday 27th August 2014. The week then finishes with a flourish, with a celebration of the work produced. This will take place at Elphin Community Hall on Friday 29th August, between 7.00 pm and 9.00 pm. There will be art work on display and a short programme of readings of the work produced . Refreshments will be provided. After a few days, the exhibition of work will move to Achiltibuie, and then to Lochinver in order to share the experience with other communities living in similarly remote locations. This project has received generous support from the Macphail Centre, Ullapool and Highland Council, and has provided an exciting opportunity for the tutors to work in partnership with the Geopark and CALL, two organisations keen to promote the unique qualities of this ancient land.
For more information about this project and to find out how to take part, contact Fran or Chris at The Macphail Centre, Ullapool, tel: 01854 613336 or visit www.macphailcentre.co.uk
Jan and Christian, on Tanera Mor