CRITIC’S CHOICE

THE buzz of degree shows has been sorely missed these past two years, not least if you’re a graduating artist. But if you’re going to have not had a proper degree show, then it’s no mean consolation to find yourself up on the walls of the Pier Arts Centre in Stromness, where the collection includes the likes of Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicolson, Wilhelmina BarnsGraham, Olafur Eliasson, et al.

The Pier’s long-standing “Recent Graduates” exhibition is a fine showcase of those Orkney-based artists who graduated in the previous year – here, the Covid years, 2019-2021 – whether at Orkney College (University of the Highlands and Islands) or Art Schools south, mostly denied a physical exhibition and the rough and tumble of installing one’s work in whatever space the Art School gods have decreed is yours.

There’s a wide array of work here from Orcadian graduates, of whom examples amongst the many are Orkney College students, Sarah Wylie (above), who looks for the overlooked spaces in the Orkney landscape, and

Ruth Tait, a mature student who fulfilled a lifelong ambition to do an art degree when she retired, and has spent the last decade doing so (somewhat inspirationally) finally installing her degree show in a working barn.

Pier has, alongside many other arts organisations around the country, been active in working with local artists and communities during the pandemic, alongside their work with emerging artists in usual times. Their latest venture is a set of two three month bursaries for artists aged 18-24 – and particularly those “who experience barriers progressing their work as artists” – based in Scotland, giving them support including a two week residency in Orkney to engage with the collection, the islands, and local artists and makers. Those interested should contact Carol Dunbar at the Pier for more information.

Recent Graduates, Pier Arts Centre, Victoria Street, Stromness, Mainland, Orkney, 01856 850209, www. pierartscentre.com, 12 Feb – 19 Mar, Tues – Sat, 10.30am - 5pm