5.30.2008
5.27.2008
Tales from the North Coast
North Coast OURS trip 24-25 May
Earth Ship
Our first port of call was at Skerray's Earth Ship. This home is being built almost exclusively from reclycled materials by Rhona and Steven Graham. Found mostly in the desserts of North America, building an earth ship is a hugely demanding and ambitious project, particularly in our wet Scottish climate. The main structure of the house is built from reclaimed car tyres that are then packed with earth until they inflate. To learn more about eartships and this particular project, please visit Rhona and Steven's web site, which can be found in our Links!
As you can see, the weather was great! Here are some photos of us hard at work on the earth ship, packing tyres. Steven first demonstrated the process to us, selecting the right size of tyre, making sue they are level, lining the botom with cardboard , then finally packing the tyre with subsoil until the top inflates. This is very hard work! usually it takes a day for one person to pack a tyre but with the power of the OURS team, we managed to pack two in just over an hour! - this was a great project to see and take part in, and we hope to visit again in the future...Thanks Rhona and Steven for having us!
Getting the tyres level.
Lining the tyre with cardboard.
Packing the tyres with a sledge hammer!
Ok Ben...
Heather having problems with her hair again.
Ruth
The OURS gang aboard the Earth Ship.
...in the works...
Lotte Glob's studio and Sculpture Garden
After leaving the Eart Ship, we headed along the North Coast to lotte Glob's home. Lotte is a Dutch ceramicist who has lived most of her life in the Highlands of Scotland, her work is directly influenced by her surroundings and she has transformed her croft into an evolving scupture garden. We were shown aroung the studio and garden by Lotte's assistant Martina who is herself an accomplished ceramicist with a shop in Balnakeil Crafts Village.
As we walked around the croft discovering the many hidden wors of art that seem to grow out of nowhere, we felt as if we were being watched...the ceramic creatures that popualte the croft have eyes!
Lottes's place on the banks of Loch Eribol
Martina
Lotte's creatures
Durness
We arrived in Durness at around 2.30pm, settled in and visited the Balnakeil Crafts village. There, we saw Martina's work, bought lots of lovely chocolate from Coco Mountain Chocolate factory and visted the studios of several other artists.
Later we met up with 7 young people who attend the Durness Youth Group. We delivered the presentation to them on our projects that we had been practicing in our last workshop. The presentation was a good experience, which went very well and so we all headed off to Sango Sands Oasis for a much deserved dinner.
The two groups got along well and we went down to Sango beach for a game of sand pictionary - basically pictionary but instead of drawing on paper, the two group were put into mixed teams and asked to draw or sculpt their words in the sand. The first group to get ten words correct - won!
Sand pictionary is a little harder than the normal kind.
Sunset On Balnakeil Beach
Sand Angel
Sunday 25 May
am - Sand Castle Competition on Balnakeil Beach
Naturally, Jenny and Ruth's castle was the winner!
Smoo Cave
Donned with helmets and sitting aboard a rubber dingy, we were led by Colin Coventry into the inner chabers of Smoo cave, the largest sea cave in Scotland. The inner caves are full of natural water where a unique breed of trout swim! Colin, clearly an expert in geology and caving, described in facinating detail how the caves came to be formed and the still evolving theories that surround them.
The final stop on our trip was Northlands Creative Glass in Lybster.
The three international artists in residence who spoke at Timespan on 19 May, were shwoing their beautiful work and leading an open workshop, which allowed workshops participants to make their own glass fish. It is a long process so we were not able to take our fish and other creatures home the same day. When we eventually collect them, we will be sure to post some pics, can't wait!
Ruth
Earth Ship
Our first port of call was at Skerray's Earth Ship. This home is being built almost exclusively from reclycled materials by Rhona and Steven Graham. Found mostly in the desserts of North America, building an earth ship is a hugely demanding and ambitious project, particularly in our wet Scottish climate. The main structure of the house is built from reclaimed car tyres that are then packed with earth until they inflate. To learn more about eartships and this particular project, please visit Rhona and Steven's web site, which can be found in our Links!
As you can see, the weather was great! Here are some photos of us hard at work on the earth ship, packing tyres. Steven first demonstrated the process to us, selecting the right size of tyre, making sue they are level, lining the botom with cardboard , then finally packing the tyre with subsoil until the top inflates. This is very hard work! usually it takes a day for one person to pack a tyre but with the power of the OURS team, we managed to pack two in just over an hour! - this was a great project to see and take part in, and we hope to visit again in the future...Thanks Rhona and Steven for having us!
Getting the tyres level. Lining the tyre with cardboard. Packing the tyres with a sledge hammer! Ok Ben... Heather having problems with her hair again. Ruth The OURS gang aboard the Earth Ship. ...in the works...Lotte Glob's studio and Sculpture Garden
After leaving the Eart Ship, we headed along the North Coast to lotte Glob's home. Lotte is a Dutch ceramicist who has lived most of her life in the Highlands of Scotland, her work is directly influenced by her surroundings and she has transformed her croft into an evolving scupture garden. We were shown aroung the studio and garden by Lotte's assistant Martina who is herself an accomplished ceramicist with a shop in Balnakeil Crafts Village.
As we walked around the croft discovering the many hidden wors of art that seem to grow out of nowhere, we felt as if we were being watched...the ceramic creatures that popualte the croft have eyes!
Lottes's place on the banks of Loch Eribol Martina Lotte's creaturesDurness
We arrived in Durness at around 2.30pm, settled in and visited the Balnakeil Crafts village. There, we saw Martina's work, bought lots of lovely chocolate from Coco Mountain Chocolate factory and visted the studios of several other artists.
Later we met up with 7 young people who attend the Durness Youth Group. We delivered the presentation to them on our projects that we had been practicing in our last workshop. The presentation was a good experience, which went very well and so we all headed off to Sango Sands Oasis for a much deserved dinner.
The two groups got along well and we went down to Sango beach for a game of sand pictionary - basically pictionary but instead of drawing on paper, the two group were put into mixed teams and asked to draw or sculpt their words in the sand. The first group to get ten words correct - won!
Sand pictionary is a little harder than the normal kind.Sunset On Balnakeil Beach
Sand AngelSunday 25 May
am - Sand Castle Competition on Balnakeil Beach
Naturally, Jenny and Ruth's castle was the winner!
Smoo Cave
Donned with helmets and sitting aboard a rubber dingy, we were led by Colin Coventry into the inner chabers of Smoo cave, the largest sea cave in Scotland. The inner caves are full of natural water where a unique breed of trout swim! Colin, clearly an expert in geology and caving, described in facinating detail how the caves came to be formed and the still evolving theories that surround them.
The final stop on our trip was Northlands Creative Glass in Lybster.
The three international artists in residence who spoke at Timespan on 19 May, were shwoing their beautiful work and leading an open workshop, which allowed workshops participants to make their own glass fish. It is a long process so we were not able to take our fish and other creatures home the same day. When we eventually collect them, we will be sure to post some pics, can't wait!
Ruth
5.25.2008
Some more of Heather's North coast pictures
Saturday 24 may
Today we went to help pack tyres at an earth ship, the method of building an eco friendly house using recyclable materials like tyres was really interesting and the dedication of the people building it was inspirational.
After spending an hour there we travelled to see Lotte Glob’s sculpture garden and studio, we were shown around by Martina, Lotte Globs assistant. Her work was really unusual and amusing, she had made lots of little alienish animals along with some more serious work which was very beautiful and unique. Her sculpture garden was lovely to walk around so we decided to have our lunch there.
After lunch we travelled to Durness where we were staying the night and got settled in at the lazy crofters bunkhouse. It was a very nice bunk house with a deck outside and a nice big kitchen. We walked along to the crafts village and went to some of the shops. We first went to Martina’s shop were she sold her artwork, I bought a ceramic dragon or dinosaur (it’s really cute!).
We then went to the chocolate shop called cocoa mountain and got a chocolate each I had a whisky truffle it was luuuuuuuurvely. We also went to the book shop, which was boring hahaha books are no fun but other people bought some (some books are fun though).We walked back to the bunk house and spent like 10 minuets getting ready to go and meet the Durness youth group.
The Durness youth group were all very nice and we went out for dinner at the Sango sands oasis restaurant after our presentation. The restaurant was quite nice but I wasn’t very hungry because I had had a big lunch so I got farmhouse pate, onion rings and orange juice. The onion rings were nice but the pate was not….it was lumpy (I hate lumpy pate….the lady said it wouldn’t be lumpy ). I also had strawberry ice-cream, it was good but I didn’t eat it all, Alison ate a bit though. After dinner we went to Sango sans beach and played sand pictionary (drawing in the sand) and hide and seek . We then walked to the other beach, which I cant’ remember the name of and watched the sun set, it was beautiful. I took lots of pictures of it and rolled down the sand dunes(fun!).
By the time I we got back to the bunk house I was sooooooo tired , we had tea and Orios ( Orios are so goooood) then I went for a shower and went to bed.
I had a great time this day, the best part was ……everything, everything was great I can’t pick a favourite…don’t make me pick lol. The most surprising thing was how good hard work is for your mood, I was in a really good mood after packing tyres….
The most challenging thing was lifting a sledge hammer, I gave up and used a little one instead. What I learnt today was how to pack a tyre full of dirt, which is a handy skill to have (if your planning to build an earth ship!) lol.
Sunday 25 may
Today we woke up to yummy pancakes courtesy of Sean and Alison the master bakers of our group !!. Once full with breakfast, we drove back down to the pretty sunset beach and had a sandcastle building competition, Ruth and Jenny won with there volcano castle…..hmmmm lol. Then we went to Smoo cave to go on the boat tour into the cave. It was amazing inside. The tour guide told us all about how the cave was formed and about the ages of rocks and stuff. It was a bit scary going in the boat but a great experience. Lastly we travelled to Lybster, getting lunch at along the way. At Lybster we went to a glass model making workshop. You were supposed to make a glass fish but I made a glass heart :D. They wont be ready until a few more days . I cant wait to see the outcome .
The most surprising thing about today was that cows go on the beach in the mornings….the baby ones were cute (not so much the big ones…).The best part of today was Smoo cave it was a great experience and so amazing, I also really like the fish that lived in the cave, they were cute. The most challenging thing was making a square sandcastle ( without a bucket), I had never attempted this before but I think I did quite good for my first time. What I learnt today was how Smoo cave was formed, although I cant really remember the details I have an idea sort of..
Today we went to help pack tyres at an earth ship, the method of building an eco friendly house using recyclable materials like tyres was really interesting and the dedication of the people building it was inspirational.
After spending an hour there we travelled to see Lotte Glob’s sculpture garden and studio, we were shown around by Martina, Lotte Globs assistant. Her work was really unusual and amusing, she had made lots of little alienish animals along with some more serious work which was very beautiful and unique. Her sculpture garden was lovely to walk around so we decided to have our lunch there.
After lunch we travelled to Durness where we were staying the night and got settled in at the lazy crofters bunkhouse. It was a very nice bunk house with a deck outside and a nice big kitchen. We walked along to the crafts village and went to some of the shops. We first went to Martina’s shop were she sold her artwork, I bought a ceramic dragon or dinosaur (it’s really cute!).
We then went to the chocolate shop called cocoa mountain and got a chocolate each I had a whisky truffle it was luuuuuuuurvely. We also went to the book shop, which was boring hahaha books are no fun but other people bought some (some books are fun though).We walked back to the bunk house and spent like 10 minuets getting ready to go and meet the Durness youth group.
The Durness youth group were all very nice and we went out for dinner at the Sango sands oasis restaurant after our presentation. The restaurant was quite nice but I wasn’t very hungry because I had had a big lunch so I got farmhouse pate, onion rings and orange juice. The onion rings were nice but the pate was not….it was lumpy (I hate lumpy pate….the lady said it wouldn’t be lumpy ). I also had strawberry ice-cream, it was good but I didn’t eat it all, Alison ate a bit though. After dinner we went to Sango sans beach and played sand pictionary (drawing in the sand) and hide and seek . We then walked to the other beach, which I cant’ remember the name of and watched the sun set, it was beautiful. I took lots of pictures of it and rolled down the sand dunes(fun!).
By the time I we got back to the bunk house I was sooooooo tired , we had tea and Orios ( Orios are so goooood) then I went for a shower and went to bed.
I had a great time this day, the best part was ……everything, everything was great I can’t pick a favourite…don’t make me pick lol. The most surprising thing was how good hard work is for your mood, I was in a really good mood after packing tyres….
The most challenging thing was lifting a sledge hammer, I gave up and used a little one instead. What I learnt today was how to pack a tyre full of dirt, which is a handy skill to have (if your planning to build an earth ship!) lol.
Sunday 25 may
Today we woke up to yummy pancakes courtesy of Sean and Alison the master bakers of our group !!. Once full with breakfast, we drove back down to the pretty sunset beach and had a sandcastle building competition, Ruth and Jenny won with there volcano castle…..hmmmm lol. Then we went to Smoo cave to go on the boat tour into the cave. It was amazing inside. The tour guide told us all about how the cave was formed and about the ages of rocks and stuff. It was a bit scary going in the boat but a great experience. Lastly we travelled to Lybster, getting lunch at along the way. At Lybster we went to a glass model making workshop. You were supposed to make a glass fish but I made a glass heart :D. They wont be ready until a few more days . I cant wait to see the outcome .
The most surprising thing about today was that cows go on the beach in the mornings….the baby ones were cute (not so much the big ones…).The best part of today was Smoo cave it was a great experience and so amazing, I also really like the fish that lived in the cave, they were cute. The most challenging thing was making a square sandcastle ( without a bucket), I had never attempted this before but I think I did quite good for my first time. What I learnt today was how Smoo cave was formed, although I cant really remember the details I have an idea sort of..
5.12.2008
The spanners are coming
During the coarse of the summer holiays we are going to be leading art workshops in Five lucky remote communities With the help of our faithfull old Ruth MacDougul(I hope I spelled her name right or she'll kill me !!;)
We will stay in each communitie for three days and we will do "icebreaker games", a derieve , video photography and more! We will also help them set up their own blog site to record the events that take place.
Eventually we want to have an exhibition of our work at timespan and would like to invite the communities that we visited back to timespan to so that they can see each other's work!!!
It's going to be an exciting summer holiday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SEAN
We will stay in each communitie for three days and we will do "icebreaker games", a derieve , video photography and more! We will also help them set up their own blog site to record the events that take place.
Eventually we want to have an exhibition of our work at timespan and would like to invite the communities that we visited back to timespan to so that they can see each other's work!!!
It's going to be an exciting summer holiday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SEAN
North Coast Trip 24-25 May 2008
On the 24th of May, members of the Spanners will be heading North, first to visit and take part in building an Earth Ship! watch this space...
Following this, the group will head along the North coast to visit the studio and sculpture garden of internationally renowned ceramicist, Lotte Glob.
The rest of the day will be spent visiting Balnakeil crafts village and the beach.
In the evening , the group will meet up with the Durness youth group, have dinner together and weather permitting, take part in arts related activities on ther beach.
Alison Bell: Textile Artist
Alison Bell is a textile artist from Skye and she will be staying in Timespan's new artists' flat for the month of June.
Aswell as using this time to develop her own work, Alison will be leading workshops for young people and adults and giving a talk on her work on Monday 16 June at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome!
To see examples of Alison's beautiful and complex work, please go to:
www.alisonbell.co.uk
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