Rockfield Centre exhibits teacher and artists' ebb and flow

The Rockfield Centre opens a sea-view window on a new art exhibition this week.

The seashore-themed Liminal Zone is the culmination of a year-long research project exploring the connection between teaching and creative practice by staff of the University of the Highlands and Islands and colleagues from other Scottish universities.

Funded by the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland and organised in co-operation with SAMS (Scottish Association for Marine Science), based at Dunstaffnage, the exhibition was officially launched on Monday and will run until Saturday March 19.

Using the seashore as a metaphor for the connection between teaching and creative practice, research behind the exhibition has shown the overwhelming majority of creative arts staff find that their teaching benefits from their art practice, and vice versa, but only about a third feel supported in their creative practice by their employers.

Whether they are ‘drowning’ in teaching or ‘building craft’ with students, ‘diving’ into or ‘immersed’ in creativity, the seashore has proved a fertile and powerful way of thinking about these two roles.

Dr Mandy Haggith, who leads the project, said: 'This exciting exhibition draws together art from artist-teachers who are all inspired by the seashore as a metaphor for the ebb and flow of our teaching and creative practice. We have writers like me exhibiting, and also sculpture, photography, painting, music and sound.

'This is a vibrant show that really demonstrates the passion we share for our hybrid roles between art and teaching. Our work is crucial for nurturing the next generation of artists in Scotland and our exhibition includes a policy showing how our institutions can help to support and sustain us in our work.'

Details of opening hours can be found on www.therockfieldcentre.org.uk.