Professor Will Maclean to give 20th Angus MacLeod Memorial Lecture in Lewis

Will Maclean, the internationally-renowned artist and designer, Emeritus Professor of Fine Art at the University of Dundee, will give this year’s Angus Macleod Memorial Lecture on Friday October 27 in Pairc School, Gravir, Lewis.

His subject will be the series of powerful and evocative stone monuments to commemorate the Heroes of the Land Struggle in Lewis, which he designed in the 1990s and subsequent decades, and which have since become an integral part of the island’s landscape.

In his illustrated lecture, Professor Maclean will discuss the design elements and some of the background history of the memorials at Balallan, Aignish, and Gress, commissioned by the Cuimhneachain nan Gaisgeach project, led by Angus Macleod, and the later An Suileachan monument at Reef, commissioned by the Bhaltos Community Trust.

Donnie Morrison, chairman of the Pairc Historical Society which organises the annual Angus Macleod lectures in conjunction with the Islands Book Trust and other partners, said: “We are delighted and greatly privileged that Professor Maclean has agreed to give this year’s landmark memorial lecture, the 20th in the series in honour of the late Angus ‘Ease’ Macleod of Calbost.

“It is also highly appropriate since Ease was the driving force behind Cuimhneachain nan Gaisgeach and worked closely with Will and others to bring this ambitious project to fruition.

“Please make a note of the date in your diaries now for what will surely be a wonderful community occasion as we welcome Will Maclean back to Pairc.”

Further details of the lecture will be published nearer the time. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.

The Angus Macleod lectures are organised by Pairc Historical Society, the Islands Book Trust, and Angus Macleod’s family, in partnership with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

For more detail, contact Donnie Morrison at donnie@pairchouse.co.uk or John Randall at john673randall@btinternet.com.