Any colour you like

Last week saw us complete our third visit to Banchory since the project started, and it is safe to say that the community engagement aspect is well under way.

On Thursday we opened our Drop In Studio, on the High Street. The idea being that folk can visit us to find out about the project and to share their ideas. It also gives us a great chance to meet the community.

To help kick things off with a sugar rush we ordered cakes from the cracking Birdhouse Cafe and then rented an urn so that we could chuck a little caffeine into the mix!

On the first day we had somewhere around 60-70 visitors, very much due to Vhairi Walker who basically grabbed people off the street! Things went so well we opened the shop again on Friday afternoon and had at least another 50 visitors.

We started working on a series of short interviews with the team at Cordiners Sawmills. As well as meeting some lovely folk at the West Church Friday coffee morning.

We are looking forward to coming back down next week! - AL

BLOG TITLE

Pink Floyd - Any Colour You Like
The Dark Side of The Moon (1973)

Last week saw us complete our third visit to Banchory since the project started, and it is safe to say that the community engagement aspect is well under way.

On Thursday we opened our Drop In Studio, on the High Street. The idea being that folk can visit us to find out about the project and to share their ideas. It also gives us a great chance to meet the community.

To help kick things off with a sugar rush we ordered cakes from the cracking Birdhouse Cafe and then rented an urn so that we could chuck a little caffeine into the mix!

On the first day we had somewhere around 60-70 visitors, very much due to Vhairi Walker who basically grabbed people off the street! Things went so well we opened the shop again on Friday afternoon and had at least another 50 visitors.

We started working on a series of short interviews with the team at Cordiners Sawmills. As well as meeting some lovely folk at the West Church Friday coffee morning.

We are looking forward to coming back down next week! - AL

BLOG TITLE

Pink Floyd - Any Colour You Like
The Dark Side of The Moon (1973)

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In this line of work, it never hurts to plan

In the last seven weeks, we have been tearing around the country like sales reps on double time.

Between: Fin running workshops in Dunoon; an exhibition install in Helmsdale; holidays in Mull (Fin wanted to see Balamory); holidays in Lake District (Al needed mint cake);  painting a mural in Leith with the Blameless crew; the start of our project in Banchory; and tremors of things in Derby; we have found ourselves on the road a lot.

Far too much for one blog so what we are planning is to do some posts over the next few days.

In the meantime here is a picture of a hedgehog. - AL

BLOG
Jeremy Messersmith - Deathbed Salesman
The Reluctant Graveyard (2010)

In the last seven weeks, we have been tearing around the country like sales reps on double time.

Between: Fin running workshops in Dunoon; an exhibition install in Helmsdale; holidays in Mull (Fin wanted to see Balamory); holidays in Lake District (Al needed mint cake);  painting a mural in Leith with the Blameless crew; the start of our project in Banchory; and tremors of things in Derby; we have found ourselves on the road a lot.

Far too much for one blog so what we are planning is to do some posts over the next few days.

In the meantime here is a picture of a hedgehog. - AL

BLOG
Jeremy Messersmith - Deathbed Salesman
The Reluctant Graveyard (2010)

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All art has been contemporary...

Work on Foundations continues and last week was one of those week's where everything seems to have gone to plan. We are ahead of schedule by a few days and all the heavy work is done now. Just need this weather to continue for next week and we are all done!

The contractors have been professional and efficient and doing a great job - steel looks good, tree looks good, paving looks good, benches look good...just hope the client and people of Invergordon will feel the same.

Not wanting to give too much away just now until it is finished so have attached some images just showing some details. Maybe another blog later this week. - FIN

BLOG TITLE
Peter Bjorn and John - Dig A Little Deeper
Gimme Some (2011)

Work on Foundations continues and last week was one of those week's where everything seems to have gone to plan. We are ahead of schedule by a few days and all the heavy work is done now. Just need this weather to continue for next week and we are all done!

The contractors have been professional and efficient and doing a great job - steel looks good, tree looks good, paving looks good, benches look good...just hope the client and people of Invergordon will feel the same.

Not wanting to give too much away just now until it is finished so have attached some images just showing some details. Maybe another blog later this week. - FIN

BLOG TITLE
Peter Bjorn and John - Dig A Little Deeper
Gimme Some (2011)

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You and I parted ways...

Its been a very long time since we blogged and its not because we've been sitting around doing nothing...

Over last month we have been working on a number of projects with a lot of our energy going into the design and organisation of the artwork for Invergordon Off The Wall. We now have a date for the opening - 16th November - so we are working very hard towards that date. There is also the small business of getting the cookbook ready as well which is really taking shape and looking good (if we do say so ourselves...)

Anyhow, thought I would blog about a project I have worked on for the last couple of years with a group of folks in Wester Ross.  Called Shot In The Dark the project was developed to help people who are recovering from mental ill health an opportunity to learn about digital photography.We have been running a series of photography workshops which became more an exercise in critique and its been a lot of fun. Have built up relationships and seen more confidence develop in group members and also stylistically seeing how they have developed.

There have been a number of small exhibitions over the last couple of years but on the 5th September there is one opening in the Inverness Museum & Art Gallery called "Isolation". The subject was chosen because of different associations the word conjures up - living in small communities, being alone, dealing with health issues etc.

I have attached a few images taken by some of the group - each telling different stories. If you are in town go and see it - its worth it.  - FIN

That's What It's Like To Be A Bird

This photograph of my nephew was taken on a day's kite flying. It shows the intensity of concentration of a child's focus, isolated from all around. 

Completely in the zone.

So Near And Yet So Far

Some people disrespect places of isolation. They seem to enjoy visiting, yet cannot keep them tidy.

No Reception

Taken at Elphin Community Hall. The subject sits outside alone, attempting to get reception.

BLOG TITLE

William Fitzsimmons - We Feel Alone

The Sparrow And The Crow (2008)

Its been a very long time since we blogged and its not because we've been sitting around doing nothing...

Over last month we have been working on a number of projects with a lot of our energy going into the design and organisation of the artwork for Invergordon Off The Wall. We now have a date for the opening - 16th November - so we are working very hard towards that date. There is also the small business of getting the cookbook ready as well which is really taking shape and looking good (if we do say so ourselves...)

Anyhow, thought I would blog about a project I have worked on for the last couple of years with a group of folks in Wester Ross.  Called Shot In The Dark the project was developed to help people who are recovering from mental ill health an opportunity to learn about digital photography.We have been running a series of photography workshops which became more an exercise in critique and its been a lot of fun. Have built up relationships and seen more confidence develop in group members and also stylistically seeing how they have developed.

There have been a number of small exhibitions over the last couple of years but on the 5th September there is one opening in the Inverness Museum & Art Gallery called "Isolation". The subject was chosen because of different associations the word conjures up - living in small communities, being alone, dealing with health issues etc.

I have attached a few images taken by some of the group - each telling different stories. If you are in town go and see it - its worth it.  - FIN

That's What It's Like To Be A Bird

This photograph of my nephew was taken on a day's kite flying. It shows the intensity of concentration of a child's focus, isolated from all around. 

Completely in the zone.

So Near And Yet So Far

Some people disrespect places of isolation. They seem to enjoy visiting, yet cannot keep them tidy.

No Reception

Taken at Elphin Community Hall. The subject sits outside alone, attempting to get reception.

BLOG TITLE

William Fitzsimmons - We Feel Alone

The Sparrow And The Crow (2008)

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Let's change our roads, and chase them all around

The sun has been shining today (well for a while anyway...) but it certainly wasn't shining on Saturday when we were at the Inverness Bicycle Festival.

We had been asked by IOTA to do some stencilled t-shirt's using a couple of designs we had done specially for the event so were quite happy to help out.

At the start of the day things really weren't looking promising at all with the rain tipping down (felt sorry for the folks at RockNess...even though I wouldn't have minded being there myself) but rain did slow down and then we had a proper queue of kids waiting to get a t-shirt. Was a bit manic but we got there in the end with about 125 t-shirts being done in 4 hrs!!!

Couldn't have managed it without the assistance of Kirsten from IOTA (THANKS!) and if we did it again would make sure we had a couple of extra hands to help out. - FIN

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Bombay Bicycle Club - Dust On The Ground

I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose (2009)

The sun has been shining today (well for a while anyway...) but it certainly wasn't shining on Saturday when we were at the Inverness Bicycle Festival.

We had been asked by IOTA to do some stencilled t-shirt's using a couple of designs we had done specially for the event so were quite happy to help out.

At the start of the day things really weren't looking promising at all with the rain tipping down (felt sorry for the folks at RockNess...even though I wouldn't have minded being there myself) but rain did slow down and then we had a proper queue of kids waiting to get a t-shirt. Was a bit manic but we got there in the end with about 125 t-shirts being done in 4 hrs!!!

Couldn't have managed it without the assistance of Kirsten from IOTA (THANKS!) and if we did it again would make sure we had a couple of extra hands to help out. - FIN

BLOG TITLE

Bombay Bicycle Club - Dust On The Ground

I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose (2009)

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Astronauts in the weightlessness of pixelated space...

Last Thursday we completed our third and final session with some of the pupils from Ullapool High School at an talla solais. We have been working with the idea of pixels which also creates a nice simple grid for cutting stencils. They all produced something different and we think they have done a great job!

It is now due to be part of a show at the gallery at the end of April.
We are now hope that this could lead on to a much larger project and commission to produce a large wall-piece.

Big thanks to the pupils and staff for taking part and being a well-behaved bunch (the pupils that is...) and also to Joanna at an talla solais for being so helpful (and for coffee/peppermint tea) - FIN

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Rush - Virtuality

Test For Echo (1996)

Last Thursday we completed our third and final session with some of the pupils from Ullapool High School at an talla solais. We have been working with the idea of pixels which also creates a nice simple grid for cutting stencils. They all produced something different and we think they have done a great job!

It is now due to be part of a show at the gallery at the end of April.
We are now hope that this could lead on to a much larger project and commission to produce a large wall-piece.

Big thanks to the pupils and staff for taking part and being a well-behaved bunch (the pupils that is...) and also to Joanna at an talla solais for being so helpful (and for coffee/peppermint tea) - FIN

BLOG TITLE

Rush - Virtuality

Test For Echo (1996)

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Go play a video game

What a day - the sun is shining, we've had lunch and back in the office after a trip to Ullapool for a workshop at an talla solais (a visual arts centre in the village with great facilities). Are going to be doing a few workshops there with a group of pupils with the intention of designing a big piece for somewhere in the village.

Had fun today with grids and getting them to sketch something small in a pixel pattern that we hope they will be able to spray their own tags next week. We made a wee example for them ourselves (Pacman based!) and sprayed it on the pathway with chalk.

Followed this up with a trip to Rhue Art and the new gallery. Fantastic space to show in... Good to catch up with James and Flick Hawkins over a mug of homemade lemon and ginger tea and hear what new work James is experimenting with.

Back in the office now and doing paperwork. Ah, the yin and yang of being an artist. - FIN

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Lana Del Rey - Video Games

Born To Die (2012)

What a day - the sun is shining, we've had lunch and back in the office after a trip to Ullapool for a workshop at an talla solais (a visual arts centre in the village with great facilities). Are going to be doing a few workshops there with a group of pupils with the intention of designing a big piece for somewhere in the village.

Had fun today with grids and getting them to sketch something small in a pixel pattern that we hope they will be able to spray their own tags next week. We made a wee example for them ourselves (Pacman based!) and sprayed it on the pathway with chalk.

Followed this up with a trip to Rhue Art and the new gallery. Fantastic space to show in... Good to catch up with James and Flick Hawkins over a mug of homemade lemon and ginger tea and hear what new work James is experimenting with.

Back in the office now and doing paperwork. Ah, the yin and yang of being an artist. - FIN

BLOG TITLE

Lana Del Rey - Video Games

Born To Die (2012)

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There is unrest in the forest, there is trouble with the trees...

A short film that was made about a project we did in Hilton Village. Shot and edited by Mike Webster through Creative Identities, we think its pretty good. Apologies for the bad sideburns and 'tache - was all for a good cause (Movember - we raised over £500 from our bad facial hair in the DUFI team!) - FIN

BLOG TITLE

Rush - The Trees

Hemispheres (1978)

A short film that was made about a project we did in Hilton Village. Shot and edited by Mike Webster through Creative Identities, we think its pretty good. Apologies for the bad sideburns and 'tache - was all for a good cause (Movember - we raised over £500 from our bad facial hair in the DUFI team!) - FIN

BLOG TITLE

Rush - The Trees

Hemispheres (1978)

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We will make a home...where the trees stand still

Its been a busy old few weeks as we welcome you to 2011. One of the first things we wanted to achieve was to get the Hilton Village Panels completed and installed. All the hard work had really be done by all the kids at Hilton Primary, Inverness Royal Academy and the Hilton Youth Cafe who really had been most magnificent in this project. A particular word of thanks has to go to young Jordan who showed great commitment and turned up to other group sessions as well to help out.

We really were genuinely pleased with the work they had done as this was a new material for us to work on and was a bit of an experiment for us. There are things we feel we can adapt for our own work as well so all in all we are quite happy little woodland bunnies!

BLOG TITLE

Bebo Norman - Where The Trees Stand Still

Myself When I Am Real (2002)

Its been a busy old few weeks as we welcome you to 2011. One of the first things we wanted to achieve was to get the Hilton Village Panels completed and installed. All the hard work had really be done by all the kids at Hilton Primary, Inverness Royal Academy and the Hilton Youth Cafe who really had been most magnificent in this project. A particular word of thanks has to go to young Jordan who showed great commitment and turned up to other group sessions as well to help out.

We really were genuinely pleased with the work they had done as this was a new material for us to work on and was a bit of an experiment for us. There are things we feel we can adapt for our own work as well so all in all we are quite happy little woodland bunnies!

BLOG TITLE

Bebo Norman - Where The Trees Stand Still

Myself When I Am Real (2002)

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I'm up in the woods, I'm down on my mind.

Another few sneaky taster images from another wee project we are finishing tomorrow...chickens, eggs, deer - what is going on?!

BLOG TITLE
Bon Iver - Woods
Blood Bank EP (2009)

Another few sneaky taster images from another wee project we are finishing tomorrow...chickens, eggs, deer - what is going on?!

BLOG TITLE
Bon Iver - Woods
Blood Bank EP (2009)

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...I can change, I can change. If it helps you fall in love

Another recently finished project that we completed the beginning of November. We spent a few days with Libby, Chic and the gang at J12 in Glasgow working on a wall for their youth centre drop-in.
The starting point for this was about 6 months ago with a discussion with the group about what they would like on their wall and the idea of revolution and change was settled on. Using themes of old Communist propaganda we came up with this design.

Incorporating the kids themselves into the image ( a recurring theme in community projects!) was a lot of fun - one of the kids dogs appeared and we even snuck in a chicken...

Libby said "Everyone loves the wall, lots of “Wows” when people go through for the first time. Thank-you again for all your work, especially the way way you were with the kids"



Also repeated the hand motif from Re-Imagining The Centre
The text that runs along the top is Hebrew and is a tattoo on the Chic's forearm. It means "Change is Possible" - can't argue with that.

BLOG TITLE
LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change
This Is Happening (2010)

Another recently finished project that we completed the beginning of November. We spent a few days with Libby, Chic and the gang at J12 in Glasgow working on a wall for their youth centre drop-in.
The starting point for this was about 6 months ago with a discussion with the group about what they would like on their wall and the idea of revolution and change was settled on. Using themes of old Communist propaganda we came up with this design.

Incorporating the kids themselves into the image ( a recurring theme in community projects!) was a lot of fun - one of the kids dogs appeared and we even snuck in a chicken...

Libby said "Everyone loves the wall, lots of “Wows” when people go through for the first time. Thank-you again for all your work, especially the way way you were with the kids"



Also repeated the hand motif from Re-Imagining The Centre
The text that runs along the top is Hebrew and is a tattoo on the Chic's forearm. It means "Change is Possible" - can't argue with that.

BLOG TITLE
LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change
This Is Happening (2010)

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Everybody’s got something to hide except for me and my monkey

We are a fair bit behind in terms of updates to work we have done but here is another new entry that shows the finished work at Broxburn swimming pool. (There are also more great images on the Shale People site). This job presented us with some new challenges and allowed us to look at the way we represented the work slightly differently. Instead of "fighting" with the brick pattern we decided to use that as a series of guides to work in. This is now the largest piece we have done (if the 4 bits of wall are taken together is a bit bigger than Jesus!) Our colour pallette was picked to reflect the two locations and think it is sympathetic to both the building itself and the environment that surrounds it.

This was completed over 5 days of mixed weather at the end of September with help from the pupils at Broxburn Academy. They really go stuck in and were a valuable asset as we worked hard through sun, rain and wind!

We also have to extend a huge thanks to recent art school graduate Dani-Louise Smith who really was a big help over the week and really seemed to enjoy working in a new medium - we look forward to seeing some of her new work with spraypaint!

Thanks again to Shirley-Anne Murdoch of Artichange who organised this. As usual her organisation made everything go smoothly - right down to the official photocall on the last day when we had local MP Graeme Morrice, SNP Councillor and Artichange member Janet Campbell, Academy Teacher Claire Anderson and Business Development officer Laura Machnik all joining us together with some of the pupils and the fabulous Betty Glenn (nee Curran) who really didn't look like she was old enough to be our Gala Queen from 1953! Amazing how all that came to light over the course of the week and we are obviously delighted that someone recognised her from the artwork - all we have to wait for now is someone to recognise our Quoit playing miner from early last century...

BLOG TITLE

The Beatles - Everyone's Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey

The White Album (1968)

We are a fair bit behind in terms of updates to work we have done but here is another new entry that shows the finished work at Broxburn swimming pool. (There are also more great images on the Shale People site). This job presented us with some new challenges and allowed us to look at the way we represented the work slightly differently. Instead of "fighting" with the brick pattern we decided to use that as a series of guides to work in. This is now the largest piece we have done (if the 4 bits of wall are taken together is a bit bigger than Jesus!) Our colour pallette was picked to reflect the two locations and think it is sympathetic to both the building itself and the environment that surrounds it.

This was completed over 5 days of mixed weather at the end of September with help from the pupils at Broxburn Academy. They really go stuck in and were a valuable asset as we worked hard through sun, rain and wind!

We also have to extend a huge thanks to recent art school graduate Dani-Louise Smith who really was a big help over the week and really seemed to enjoy working in a new medium - we look forward to seeing some of her new work with spraypaint!

Thanks again to Shirley-Anne Murdoch of Artichange who organised this. As usual her organisation made everything go smoothly - right down to the official photocall on the last day when we had local MP Graeme Morrice, SNP Councillor and Artichange member Janet Campbell, Academy Teacher Claire Anderson and Business Development officer Laura Machnik all joining us together with some of the pupils and the fabulous Betty Glenn (nee Curran) who really didn't look like she was old enough to be our Gala Queen from 1953! Amazing how all that came to light over the course of the week and we are obviously delighted that someone recognised her from the artwork - all we have to wait for now is someone to recognise our Quoit playing miner from early last century...

BLOG TITLE

The Beatles - Everyone's Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey

The White Album (1968)

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It's electric, YEAH!

Q: What do you do when kids are defacing an electric substation?
A: Get big kids to come and graffiti it!

Here is one we finished in the summer but somehow did not get a blog up about it. We worked with The Calman Trust and Scottish & Southern Energy and some of the pupils of Inverness Royal Academy, to inject a bit of colour into an otherwise dull substation. Here are a few images for you...

BLOG TITLE

Diamondhead - It's Electric

Lightning To The Nations (1980)

Q: What do you do when kids are defacing an electric substation?
A: Get big kids to come and graffiti it!

Here is one we finished in the summer but somehow did not get a blog up about it. We worked with The Calman Trust and Scottish & Southern Energy and some of the pupils of Inverness Royal Academy, to inject a bit of colour into an otherwise dull substation. Here are a few images for you...

BLOG TITLE

Diamondhead - It's Electric

Lightning To The Nations (1980)

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How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?!

In September we had a great week painting in Broxburn. The two paintings we created were part of the project Shale People.

A big thank you to: Shirley-Anne Murdoch, of artichange, for organising and managing the whole project; the students from Broxburn Academy; and a big thank you to artist Dani Louise Smith for all her help on site.

We will explain more later, and upload more photos, but for the moment here is a little taster.



BLOG TITLE
Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2 - Education)
The Wall (1979)

In September we had a great week painting in Broxburn. The two paintings we created were part of the project Shale People.

A big thank you to: Shirley-Anne Murdoch, of artichange, for organising and managing the whole project; the students from Broxburn Academy; and a big thank you to artist Dani Louise Smith for all her help on site.

We will explain more later, and upload more photos, but for the moment here is a little taster.



BLOG TITLE
Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2 - Education)
The Wall (1979)

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