You gotta maybe think that Scottish Natural Heritage and the Deer Commission joining forces has got to be a April Fools - but no, those two great landscape manicurists are teaming up officially. My bear Bob thinks its a joke !
0 Comments
I've not been up to Achmore, near Kyle of Lochalsh for a few years. Came across a couple of old friends at a woodland event recently who wanted some help with their woodland buyout. Last time I saw Kate and Callum Bulloch was at their wedding 15 years ago. So looking forward to that, plenty to do before Wednesday mind. Could be one of the new buyouts Fernaig Community Trust. Good woodland management plan in place and loads of ideas, they've got to get some youngsters back into the area. How good is this work ? Recycled cardboard origami - mental ! Brilliant idea and colours don't you think? I'm sure that's Margaret Thatcher second from the right, any other suggestions ?
I've known about the work of Angus MacPhee and it has amazed by its beauty and power. Angus MacPhee was born in the township of Iochdar, South Uist in 1916. He grew up on a traditional croft where he worked alongside his father after leaving school at 14. At this time his talent for music (he sang and played the chanter), tending animals and 'making things' was recognised. The latter would keep him occupied for almost 50 years of his life, making, creating, and constructing the most elaborate and amazing grass garments and objects. Angus spent this major part of his life in Craig Dunain, a psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of Inverness.
Joyce Laing has written a lovely book angus MacPhee - Weaver of Grass, picked it up on Sunday and couldn't put it down. An insight into a remarkable mind. I passed my chimney sweep Old Jock in his ancient Ford Anglia van on my way to the gallery the morning. He used to collect scrap for Eduard Bersudsky, the Russian sculptor. Ed was a big pal of Tim Stead and we had some craic with him when he was staying in the Borders. Ed and Tatiana run Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre in the new Russian Culture Center in the Trongate in Glasgow. Well worth a visit. I think I'll take him up some scrap next time I'm up. Just about finished the Community Woodlands Association Arts Project. It's been a great intro back into the direct action again. The best bit about it was wanting to get a statement out there about the contribution our woods make to Scotlands cultural heritage. We don't really tell folk about what's ahppening out there. So hopefully we can do something about that.
http://communitywoods.org is worth a look at some time. Might just be coincidence, but two weeks after we went live with popular video on Wha's Like Us and got over 1,500 hits in 2 weeks - up pops Woodland Trust and Borders Forest Trust on You Tube and Facebook. You'll need to get up earlier in the morning guys. Still it's nice to see that you're spending your grant money on social networking. |
|