An Talla Solais need your help. The strain of the pandemic has been made all the harder with the resulting loss of our Gallery - a space where we brought world class art to the rural Highlands, and held community events, talks and workshops.
The benefits of creativity on mental health are well known and many of you have reached out to tell us of the positive impact our digital creative workshops had on you over lockdown. We believe these services are vital in a small, rural community like ours and want to continue offering them.
We are seeking new and innovative ways to continue to share and show art in person alongside our series of hybrid online exhibitions and community workshops. To do this we need to cover not only our core costs but also develop a physical place to deliver our activities. We have a vision for how our current office space on Market Street could look: a creative hub in which people can connect, create and engage with art and, through it, with each other. However, the building as it stands needs significant refurbishment to be used in this way.
Community is at the heart of An Talla Solais, but without a physical space to bring people to geter we have found ourselves at a crucial point, and we need your help.
The Rewards - Donations of any size are hugely appreciated. We want to use this opportunity to give something back to our community, so in return for your donations we have put together a collection of limited edition rewards. We are so grateful to the artists who have supported us in these and hope that you love them as much as we do...
- Exhibition Posters: Limited edition A4 posters, printed on premium matte paper, are available in five designs from different exhibitions in the Gallery. Choose from 'Stillness and Flow' by local artists Peter Davis and Susan Macintosh, 'As Coastline is to Ocean' by the brilliant David Cass, Robert Callender and Joseph Calleja, 'Murmur', where five artists reflected on climate change, our 'Members Exhibition' in 2019 with a beautiful image from local artist Karen Beattie, and finally the beautiful 'Memorial' by Peter White.
- Limited Edition Print: This is a unique opportunity to own a piece of work by recent graduate Kris Sahlholdt. Kris was the winner of the Royal Scottish Academy graduate prize in 2020, when she came to An Talla Solais for a months residency. This limited edition A4 photographic print, 'Leckmelm Lump', was taken during her time in Ullapool. Printed in Scotland on Ultrasmooth Photo Rag 305gsm acid free paper. Only 5 available.
- Limited Edition Print: Local photographer Neil Gerrard originally trained in Photographic Science before exploring photography in a creative and experimental way. A member of ATS, Neil's beautiful prints regularly sell out at our Members Exhibitions. This limited edition A3 photographic print is of Loch Broom. Printed on Epson Traditional paper with a soft gloss traditional finish, each print measures 46.3 x 30.9cm. Signed and numbered, there will only be ten of these available.
- Embroidered Leatherwork: Born and raised in the Highlands of Scotland, Iseabal Hendry is inspired by the traditional craft skills that she grew up with, from basket-weaving to boatbuilding to roof-thatching.
An embroidery graduate from the Glasgow School of Art, Iseabal’s practice originated from a desire for zero-waste. By weaving together thin strips of leather with cotton, she makes use of the entire hide with almost no wastage. Sourcing her materials as locally as possible, the tannery Iseabal works with makes the world's lowest carbon intensity leather in the world, while the cotton is woven in Scotland.
Iseabal’s work weaves together environmental values, a modern aesthetic based on time-honoured techniques and materials, with the landscape that continually inspires her to make.
Both pieces are framed locally in ash and stained to bring out the variation of colour in the hand-dyed leather. Due to weight local collection is preferred if possible.
'Liath' £350, Scottish leather of traceable origin, cotton, dye, 56cm x 66cm x 3cm (light weave)
'Dorcha' £400, Scottish leather of traceable origin, cotton, dye, 60cm x 69cm x 3cm (dark weave)
*The rewards below have now been purchased. Thank you for your support!*
- Sets of Exhibition Postcards
- Mindful Photography workshop
- Original Paintings by Karen Beattie
- Earthenware vessel by Patricia Shone
- Stoneware Vessel by Jenny Mackenzie Ross
- Original Painting by Peter White
- Original Painting by Jude Edgar
- Original Painting by Joanna Wright
- Original Drawing by Susan Brown
- Original Sculpture by Lar MacGregor
- Original Painting by Susan Macintosh