Exhibition Premiere And Skye and Lochalsh Reader Day
A new exhibition entitled “Weaving With Words” will be launched in Portree, Isle of Skye on Saturday (24 March) to coincide with a special Readers Day organised by Highland Libraries authors to celebrate books and reading.
Over the last three months Highland Libraries and the Highland Adult Literacy Project has been supporting a writing and textile art project with newly established social firm, Rag, Tag and Textile who have recently been short-leeted for a national recycling award.
The exhibition, which will be on display at Tigh Na Sgire for the whole day before heading off to tour venues in the Highlands for the rest of the year includes an imaginative range of artworks combining words and textiles. Following its Portree premiere the exhibition will be touring other venues throughout the Highlands look out for future appearances.
The Reader Day, which also takes place on Saturday 24 March at Tigh na Sgire, has a varied line up of authors, most of whom are based on Skye. The programme for the day includes two author sessions with the five authors plus plenty of opportunities for people to chat to fellow readers and book enthusiasts.
Cindie Reiter, The Highland Council’s Reading Development Co-ordinator said: “This will be a wonderful day for anyone with an interest in books and readers of all ages are welcome to come along. As well as two sessions with the guest authors, there will be a chance to speak to them throughout the day and buy their books. We are also holding a book swap so we are asking anyone to bring along a book that they have enjoyed reading and swap it for one to take home.”
Invited authors are Linda Gillard, Lady Claire MacDonald, Angus Peter Campbell, Norman Newton and Roger Hutchinson.
Linda Gillard lives on Skye and is the author of two novels, Emotional Geology (set on the island of North Uist and shortlisted for the 2006 Waverton Good Read award) and A Lifetime Burning. She has been an actress, journalist and primary teacher but now writes fulltime.
Lady Claire MacDonald is a well known local celebrity and an internationally renowned cookery writer. A Self taught cook Claire is in great demand all over the world and also runs perennially popular cookery demonstrations from her Kinloch home.
Angus Peter Campbell writes in both English and Gaelic. He has written short novels for children in Gaelic, poetry in English and two novels for adults in Gaelic, published in 2003 and 2004. He was awarded the Bardic crown at the Mod in 2001 and the Iain Crichton Writing Fellowship in 2003. He lives on Skye.
Norman Newton was born in Glasgow and has lived in New Zealand and the USA. Since 1998 he has had responsibility for reference and local history collections for the Highland Libraries network of 40 libraries. Norman has written a number of books about the Scottish Highlands including: The Highlands of Scotland, The North-West Highlands, The Shell Guide to the islands of Britain. Skye and The life and times of Inverness.
Roger Hutchinson is an award-winning author and journalist. Born in the north of England in 1949, he moved to Skye in 1977, where he still lives. His books include Camanachd: the story of shinty (1989); Polly: the true story behind “Whisky Galore” (1990); The waxing moon: the modern Gaelic revival (2005); Calum’s Road (2006).
The event, which has been organised by Highland Libraries as part of the 2007 Year of Highland Culture with funding support from the Scottish Arts Council, is only £5.00 per person and will run from 11.30am to 4.45pm. A delicious lunch is included and as places are limited it is advisable to pre-book by telephoning Area Libraries Officer, David Linton on 01478 614060.
ENDS