Projects

Irises.

The Iris is one of my favourite flowers. In mythology the goddess Iris soared across the skies on rainbow bridges bringing messages of hope to humanity. Wherever she walked on earth stunning, fragrant blossoms of every colour emerged from each of her footprints and these are called Irises.

Taynish NNR Art Trail

The Taynish Art Trail provided me with a wonderful opportunity to create two works relating to the beauty of nature - 'Indra’s Pearls’ and the carving for 'The Poet’s Seat’.

My fascination with spiders’ webs glistening with dewdrops stems back to my childhood memories of walking to school on misty mornings. I have always been intrigued and fascinated with the bejewelled necklaces sparkling with tiny crystals in the morning sunshine. I created this large, airy web to catch and reflect the light filtering through the trees and this magnificent, sturdy oak tree seemed to be the perfect location.

The name 'Indra’s Pearls’ comes from the idea that the whole universe is reflected in each tiny droplet on the web. In the story of Indra’s Pearls, the net stretches out endlessly in all directions and therefore the process of reflection is infinite, signifying that the macrocosm is found in the microcosm.

This idea connects with the verse I have carved on 'The Poet’s Seat' at the pier. This verse is from 'The Auguries of Innocence’ by William Blake (1757-1827)

'To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour.'

Both artworks are encouraging us to take the time to make the connection between the everyday reality we experience and the boundless landscapes of cosmic beauty.

The Taynish woodland is a rich haven for spiders and I would hope that people visiting might take the time to look closer at nature and witness some real spiders spinning away in the long grass. Likewise, the pier is a wonderful spot to sit and enjoy and appreciate the immediate surroundings. The seat has been masterfully created by Gordon Campbell from SNH and there is a geocache at the site housing an ‘Anthology of Tree Poems’ and a notebook. Visitors can sit and enjoy reading poetry in this beautiful environment and possibly write their own comments and poems about the surrounding trees.

Celebration of St Columba

Love of Nature is one of the characteristic features of Celtic Christianity and the mosaic work on the front of my box was inspired by the great love and reverence that St Columba had for Darach, the Noble Mighty Oak Tree.

Inside the box is encased seventy-five acorns. Each small acorn, seemingly sealed in a dry and lifeless husk, has the potential to grow into a magnificent and mighty oak. This is truly awe inspiring and we can learn so much from the oak tree that grows slowly to become strong and majestic.

Assemblages

Transforming discarded objects into artwork is fascinating and I find collecting, arranging and re-arranging both rusty and shiny metal objects into symbolic assemblages is intriguing and rewarding. A hidden story always reveals itself in the final piece.

Labyrinths

Ideas linking projects on nests, webs, labyrinths and hammocks relate to connection and communion with ourselves, with each other and with nature.