There is a Tide – an exhibition by Clare McNiven at An Tobar, runs until 31st December 2008. It is a series of life-sized sculptures made from rope and nylon string retrieved across the beaches of Argyll.

Clare McNiven is a Argyll-based painter and sculptor, living in Craignish and a member of Ardfern‘s Elemental Arts Group. Her sculptures and paintings are also sometimes on exhibit at The Spinnaker Cafe on the first floor on Oban’s main street, opposite the bay.

Her string figures have a fluidity and a vitality that is sometimes joyful, sometimes poignantly reflective. This is an exhibition well worth seeing. It is, in every way, OF Argyll – from the artist, to the recycled string discarded from the angling, fishing and sailing that is the life of Argyll’s waters, to its island venue in this forward-looking arts centre.

Then, on 16th December 2008, there is the launch of ‘Shops’, the third album commissioned by An Tobar from some of the best contemporary jazz musicians in Scotland.

This particular initiative of An Tobar‘s is a really imaginative creative link between music and commerce. The CDs are commissioned for use in the shops of Tobermory. Residents and visitors alike can shop to top flight music from local and other Scottish musicians. Get to Mull. You’ll never have to listen to ‘Don’t they know it’s Christmas’ again.

The launch of ‘Shops, at An Tobar on 16th December will hear in full flight, resident Mull musicians, celebrated jazz pianist Dave Milligan, Tom Bancroft on drums and Tom Lyne on bass. Since they began composing and recording the work in Tobermory, the David Milligan Trio has played in venues across the country including the London Jazz Festival at The Barbican.

This is another event not to miss – but to keep them both in your mind, you will find them in the For Argyll Events Calendar on this page.

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