The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
‘Great connectors’: Arborial inspiration behind exhibition
With lots happening in Forfar over the coming months, the Meffan Museum and Gallery will be the focus for an exhibition from the Society of Scottish Artists.
Time Spent Amongst Trees is a new exhibition of contemporary artwork inspired by nature’s “great connectors”. The work on display has been produced by 24 of Scotland’s most acclaimed artists, all of whom are professional members of the Society of Scottish Artists, the country’s leading artist-led organisation.
The exhibition will give visitors the opportunity to view work in a multitude of disciplines, including the more traditional media of painting, photography and sculpture and contemporary offerings in moving image, large-scale installation and ceramics. All of the pieces have the same theme in common and reveal how each artist has responded to the idea of Time Spent Amongst Trees.
According to Kirsty Lorenz, who is both an exhibiting artist and cocurator of the exhibition: “Nature has
always been an inspiration to artists, as has man’s relationship to nature. Our pervading sense of ecological crisis makes this ever more critical and complex. It is something ingrained in my own artistic practice, and through Time Spent Amongst Trees we wanted to showcase some of the diverse work that our professional members are making that also responds to this. Trees, our great connectors, seemed like the perfect starting point.”
One of the participating artists is Fife-based Mike Inglis. Mike is intrigued by the concept of exploring the creative possibilities that exist between public art and outsider art. His pieces are often sited publicly. For this exhibition, he has created Portable Structure 1|Hide and Seek, which is a response to the temporary structures built by migrants seeking refuge in the woods surrounding Calais.
Also inspired by his experiences in France, although in very different circumstances, Alan Bond’s charcoal drawing describes a Basque Palmobiere. This structure, which the artist discovered while walking in the French Pyrenees, is a camouflaged tree house built by local hunters hoping to catch migrating pigeons. “I have come to the conclusion that these structures are not so much about hunting, but more about time spent with friends. One hunter told me they only shoot about 6 or 7 birds a year. A poor return on the investment in ‘time spent among trees’ building the structures,” says Alan.
For president of the Society of Scottish Artists and co-curator of the exhibition Sharon Quigley the show has been a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with the Meffan. “We are very excited to bring a selection of works by established and up and coming artists to the north-east.
“In recent years the society has made a firm commitment to reach new audiences by creating partnerships with artists and organisations across Scotland and beyond. Working with the Meffan has offered an exciting opportunity to achieve this.
“Our society is a charity run by artists for artists and our members volunteer time and skills to organise exhibitions, residencies and development opportunities for fellow artists.”