First painter awarded Schueler scholarship Gaelic college
A PARISIAN painter has been named the fourth resident artist at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig (SMO) on the Isle of Skye.
Under the Jon Schueler scholarship, which has been running for four years at the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, Agathe de Bailliencourt plans to produce paintings in direct physical connection to the local environment, nature, water and shape of the landscape. Each piece will be related to each other and will reference Schueler’s work.
On hearing the news of her residency at SMO, the Berlin-based artist said: ‘I am so happy to be awarded this scholarship, it means a lot to me. It is a wonderful opportunity to further develop my work in such a special landscape on the Isle of Skye this coming summer. During my time there, I’ll focus on a series of water-colour paintings, site specific in every possible sense.’
This year marks an important anniversary of Scheuler’s birth which makes Agathe’s appointment as the first painter on scholarship all the more appropriate, according to SMO members.
Kath Macleod, arts development officer, SMO, said: ‘We are delighted to be welcoming Agathe de Bailliencourt as the fourth Jon Schueler Scholarship Artist in Residence at SMO. Agathe is the first painter to be appointed and perhaps this is fitting as 2016 is the centenary of Jon Schueler’s birth.
‘The scholarship programme over four years has attracted more than 1,100 international applications from around the world and puts Skye and the Gaeltachd firmly on the map as an exciting place to develop contemporary visual art in Scotland responding to the unique setting of SMO, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture.
‘The three previous recipients of the award, Takeshi Shikama, Helmut Lemke and Oliver Mezger, will be exhibiting alongside work of Jon Schueler at SMO, opening at the ‘An Linne’ symposium and running throughout.’
This year will see the abstract expressionist’s work celebrated throughout Scotland, the UK and the United States. For more information and to book a place, please see Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s website www.smo.uhi.ac.uk or www.eventbrite.com.