26-27 May 2006
26-27 May 2006
more coming soon...
Scottish Rocks in My Shoes, by Patrick Dougherty
The beauty of the Scottish Highlands are forever embedded in my mind, and during the week after my return home to North Carolina, I told anyone who would listen, about the sound of the wind in ancient oak trees on the Brahan Estate. I also explained the strange weather systems that blew across the mountains near where I worked, making sheeting rain and bilious clouds in one field and sunshine in another. I explained the beauty of the Conan River below the sculpture site and how the sea seems to intrude into the land wherever you go. I certainly saw more rainbows in one week than in all my years put together, and one afternoon a nearby tree stump seemed so illuminated by the rainbow 's end that a pot of gold seemed certain.
Maybe the real treasure for me was the hearty band of basket makers who came from everywhere in Scotland to help me work on the sapling sculpture. They brought tales of sticks and how to use them from their own locale. It became clear that these stalwart souls were weatherproof and could work fitfully despite wind or rain.
When arriving on June 11 at my next work site in Columbus, OH, I thrust my foot into my work shoe the first morning, only to find the group of small stones which I had collected in Scotland to use as my model for the basket maker's circle sculpture. This surprise prompted me to remember my first few days in Scotland and my quest to identify a theme for the upcoming sculpture. The site was a beauty and located on a small pond below the original castle site and also easily viewed from the kitchen table of Andrew and Judith Matheson the owners of the estate. I needed something simple and yet a sculpture with enough scale to easily be seen from a distance. While ringing my hands, I happened on a picture of the standing stone circle at Calanis. In my mind those early builder knew how to organize a compelling public presentation, and I decided to mimic those primal stone shapes using willow saplings gathered on the estate as a building material.
Scaffolding appeared and two strong young men came with shovels to dig the necessary holes for the larger upright saplings. Basket makers began arriving. The site was a flurry of activity, and the sculpture developed by leaps and bounds. Anna King suggested "Close Ties" and the sculpture was named and celebrated. I flew back to the United States on May 29 and as it turned out, I had Scottish rocks in my shoes.
I salute all the wonderful people that made this month in Scotland and the resulting sculpture a resounded success. High on my list for the Golden Stick Award is Valerie Pragnell for her original inspiration in conceiving the event and to Pamela Conacher for helping to organize all the details. I am completely indebted to the Scottish Basket Marker's Circle for their total involvement in planning the Big Willow Event and helping with the construction of the sculpture itself. A special thanks to Steve Mofitt for his enthusiasm and his effort to make those who volunteered happy. A double handshake for Fin Macrae for his photographs of the event and his finess with his filmmaking students. Finally, "Hurrah!" to the Matheson's for their Scottish hospitality.
" Patrick completed his work at 2.30pm on Friday 26th May and after much discussion and debate it has been named 'Close Ties'. I suspect it will still be known as Big Willow! The rain stayed away for most of the opening on the 27th although it was a bit muddy underfoot. A great crowd turned out to view the work and to officially open it by touching the willow. The swans on the lochan had watched the whole process over the month and their cygnets hatched out just in time to view it all completed!
Patrick had the assistance of a dedicated team of volunteers from the Scottish Basketmakers Circle throughout the building and they were all fed, watered and organised by the ever patient and resourceful Stephen Moffat, the local co-ordinator. Working with Patrick has been a real pleasure for everyone. He undertook a project in an area he had never visited working with people he had never met and nothing seemed to be a problem. He was always willing to stop and talk, to explain and showed a level of dedication and creativity that is inspirational.
Brahan Estate showed remarkable vision in letting the SBC take over the estate for the month - and before - and we would like to thanks Judith and Andrew Matheson, Jim Gilzean and Mairlen Macglachlan for all their assistance, patience and understanding.
The photography for this project has been undertaken by Fin Macrae - nothing stopped him and we did our best to arrange the correct weather for his wonderful images! Alister MacInnies produced all the marketing material, signs, invites with professionalism and creativity. Rosy Naylor from Platform Designs has created a website that reflects the project so well - it is a pleasure to view.
And finally we would like to thank our sponsors - The Scottish Arts Council, Highland 2007, Ross and Cromarty Enterprise, Highland Council and Brahan Estate.
Valerie Pragnell approached me in 2004 with the idea for this project and I would like to thank her for opening my eyes to the world of basketmaking - it has been a wonderful project to work on and without her vision and inspiration it could never have happened. Thank you to Bryce Reynard and Anna King and all the members of the Scottish Basketmakers Circle that I have had the pleasure of working with.
I look forward to May 2007! "