Demystifying art in Cowal

Arts, crafts and music recently came together with marked success at Cowal Open Studios Open Day rounded off with a  fabulous evening concert at Strachur Memorial Hall.

One of the impressive outcomes of such events is that they help to demystify art, particularly for children and rural audiences. With little in the way of consumer friendly art exhibitions or museums in Argyll many children’s only experience of art outside the school environment will be with their parents to the main cities (for those who have parents keen on the arts) or the occasional school trip. So many grow up thinking art is somehow ‘precious’ or ‘high-brow’.

By encouraging children to come to an open day of arts and crafts, and making it clear that they are welcome in the forty or so studios involved in COS, hopefully many more local children will see the natural connection between art and what they see around them every day.

Many of the artists involved in COS take their inspiration from the Cowal landscapes and seascapes. Meeting and talking to artists, and maybe ‘having a go’ yourself, makes the whole process fun and inter-active. Hopefully it can also lead to people being more appreciative and receptive to what they see around them on the hills and lochs of Cowal!

Certainly there was a great turn up during the day, with over 130 visitors to the Hall, and 35 children involved in free craft making with paper, wool and card-there was sticking, stitching and winding galore with little faces rapt in happy concentration. They also had the opportunity to watch and get involved in felt-making and making their own cups, mugs and pots under the eagle eye of Arrochar potter, Tom Butcher. He is going to fire the pots that were made – so many grannies and aunties are due a delightful hand-made Christmas present.

On the exhibit side, as well as pottery, felt-making and crafts, there were displays of photographs by Derek Prescott; wood turning and furniture from Bute-based Ray Beverley.

Many of those attending will have been encouraged to visit the studios of their choice on the Sunday. But one of the great benefits of the Open Studios weekend to the whole community and to visitors is the availability of an Artists Directory. While ALL the studios were open for the weekend, people who missed the events can use the directory to contact the artists direct and find out when they can visit the individual artists and see them at work.  A quality piece of work in itself, the Directory is an invaluable year round resource and a ‘mini-exhibition’ in its own right.

Music played an important role on the day. A great turn out of sixteen people turned up for a Singing Workshop with Muldoon’s Picnic. The delight of those in attendance was obvious from the gorgeous sound emanating from the old Hall. The participants were so enthused and excited by the work they did that they are organising another singing session in a couple of weeks time at the Hall. It looks as though Cowal Open Studios has helped stimulate the starting of another local community group. As one participant said on their feedback form: ‘Harmony singing – EXCELLENT’.

In the evening the Hall was full to bursting for an international concert arranged in conjunction with Fiddle Folk/Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop with folk and traditional musicians from Brittany, the Netherlands and Scotland.

The feedback from visitors and residents about the day was ecstatic. A taste of this was one person who wrote:  ‘The combination of visual arts and music is excellent, making the events into something much richer. Worth travelling to. The more arts/crafts and trad music in rural communities the better. Scotland’s cultures are excellent and should be available to be enjoyed by all, not just those living in main cities.’

A community event such as this also shows that, if the organisers and local voluntary groups are willing to work together in harmony they can all help each other.

• The provision of teas, coffees and cakes added to the relaxed atmosphere of the day and grossed £170 for Hall funds.
• A bar put on at the concert raised a profit of £150 for Cairndow Community Child Care.
• Fiddle Folk/Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop raised £187 from a raffle of items kindly donated by COS members.

A day where everyone was a winner.

Mark Morpurgo, Folk & Traditional Music Editor