New artist commissions

The Bealach team is excited to announce two new artist commissions.

An open call to artists asked that they submit applications responding to the theme of ‘Bealach’ the Gaelic word meaning passage or gateway. Following a strong response and high calibre of submissions two artist proposals were selected.

Commission winners Philippa Thomas and Hector MacInnes said: “We’re really looking forward to finally telling the story of the Slighe Sìoman and the Hebridean Cable Transit Company, which has fascinated us ever since we first visited Lewis.

“We spent a part of 2012 working in Lochs, and were intrigued by how accessibility and transportation can change and rebalance the culture of an area.

“We hope that learning about the Slighe Sìoman will encourage people to think about Stornoway’s place in Lewis, and the Outer Isles’ place in the world.”

A second commission was also awarded to Lewis based artist Jon Macleod.

His project is entitled ‘Deiseal’ the Gaelic word meaning ‘sun wise’ or direction of the sun.

Using solargraph photography and long-exposure the artist will record the path of the sun, across the landscape of Lewis and Harris from the Winter Solstice, shortest day of the year Dec 2015; to the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year June 2016. The imagery will reflect this circular nature both in format and content.

Both projects are due to be exhibited in An Lanntair’s Galleries in the autumn of 2016.

Project Curator Catherine Maclean said: “We are delighted to announce the first commissions for Bealach. This is such an exciting project for Lewis and Harris and a great opportunity to promote, celebrate and support the artistic community of Lewis and Harris.”

Check out the project blog to find out more about what’s happening as part of Bealach: {http://www.lewisharriscreativeplace.wordpress.com/|at