We are delighted to have our first ever review on the blog which comes from Ruth Impey, Creative Producer and Project Lead for the Arran Arts Heritage Trail. To mark the launch of their new website a terrific symposium was held, with an incredible line up of speakers from across Scotland including some of our own SWARN Members. If you didn’t get the chance to watch the symposium Ruth has kindly written up a very thorough review of the day!
The Arran Arts Heritage Trail launched on 29th April with a fascinating online symposium. The symposium was chaired by broadcaster, writer and lover of Arran and art, Kirsty Wark. The schedule provided a rare treat, with contributions from the National Galleries of Scotland, the Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery, the University of Glasgow, Glasgow School of Art, the Alasdair Gray Archive, Lyon & Turnbull and the irrepressible Richard Demarco in conversation with BBC Arts correspondent Pauline McLean.
One of the morning highlights was the Joan Eardley session regarding her formative years on Arran, chaired by Kirsty Wark. This included new research presented by Dr. Jenny Brownrigg and Prof. Susannah Thompson from Glasgow School of Art, who kicked off the symposium with their paper ‘Early Eardley: Placing Arran Works in Context’. A panel discussion followed with a diverse list of contributors including Anne Morrison Hudson, Eardley's niece, and journalist Jan Patience, both founders of Eardley100, Dr. Jenny Brownrigg and Prof. Susannah Thompson, and Anna Carlisile and Alexandra Mathie from Heroica Theatre Company.
Herocia Theatre Company produced a play ‘Joan Eardley: A Private View' (2017) excerpts from which were reworked in a short film especially commissioned by the Arran Arts Heritage Trail, which received its public debut as part of the Eardley discussion. The film ‘Tabernacle’ narrated by Kirsty Wark focuses on the cottage come studio in Corrie where Eardley and her lifelong friend, Margot Sandeman, spent summers painting whilst students at Glasgow School of Art.
This made for an extraordinary discussion ranging from topics such as Eardley’s Arran works as a predictor of her more famous Catterline paintings, family memories, her lack of self belief and the importance of her friendship with Margot Sandeman, to her sexuality, bravery and inner energy and I would have quite happily have listened for the rest of the day.
However, the programme was jam packed including Richard Demarco suggesting that the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, be held on Arran rather than Glasgow, a talk on fairies and Hannah Frank, the ‘Missing Colourist’, Jessie M King bringing Paris to Arran, the ‘Smashers Club’ and a remarkable and revealing glimpse into the sketchbooks of Duncan Shanks and Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
The line up for the symposium was incredible and it was wonderful to have such a range of contributors, from students, filmmakers, independent researchers, actors, journalists, academics and playwrights discussing artists who have been inspired by Arran’s landscapes. I couldn’t have thought of a more inspirational way to mark the launch of the Arran Arts Heritage Trail and celebrate Arran’s longstanding and rich artistic heritage.
A full list of speakers, paper titles and films can be viewed on the website and session talks will be uploaded in the near future. As a member of SWARN the Arran Arts Heritage Trail is looking forward in the coming months to promoting women artists and their artworks represented by the trail, such as Mary Armour, Agnes Miller Parker and Alison Prince. For further information contact Ruth Impey arranartsheritgemanager@gmail.com.
- By Ruth Impey
Image credits Sandeman Estate and Joan Eardley Estate
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