Culture Collective Celebration: Virtual Exhibition
Culture Collective projects have focussed on the process of working with communities, rather than on any predetermined output. Along the way, however, communities and artists have created paintings, banners, photography, textiles and sculpture, as well as intangible, temporary and ephemeral moments of creativity.
As part of the Culture Collective Celebration on 4 October 2023, we collected a small selection of the physical creations, to introduce some of the projects and offer a taste of the work produced in, with, for and by communities across Scotland.
▴ NAME: ESRAA BEN-HUSAIN, OBJECT: MODEL KUWAITI BOOM, 2022 Morwenna Kearsley “Kuwait was very famous for sailing, diving, anything related to the sea. And my father's side of the family used to live on this type of boat when they would travel – to South Asia for trading spices, pearls, and fabrics. The journey would take around six months or sometimes people didn't even come back alive.” Told through photography and in the participants' own words, FONDS is a project about how the evocative objects we keep connect us to the people and places we love. In collaboration with a local community newspaper, Greater Govanhill Magazine, we asked people who live in the local area to share an object that meant something special to them. From Kuwait to Brazil, Afghanistan to Rwanda the objects featured represent stories of migration, transformation, love, and resilience. Created during an extended Culture Collective residency through Street Level Photoworks. Part of Kearsley’s project, ‘FONDS’, produced under residency with Street Level Culture Collective Courtesy of the artist and Street Level Photoworks
▴ Seen, Heard, Valued & Believe Women, 2022-23 Cat Meighan A collaborative piece co-designed by women who attended workshops at Inverness Women's Aid, and a response piece by the artist, Cat Meighan. Take a poster, start a conversation. Produced under residency with the Highland Culture Collective Courtesy of the artist and Highland Culture Collective project partners: Eden Court, Fèis Rois, Highland Print Studio, Highland Third Sector Interface, Lyth Arts Centre and, North Lands Creative
▴ Living With SMART, 2023 Evija Laivina Collaborative photography project between artist Evija Laivina and Brandon Gunn, a young man who suffers from a rare condition after radiotherapy, SMART syndrome. The collection includes 10 Brandon photographs and a documentary photo collection by Evija Laivina. They were exhibited at Circus Artspace in Inverness, Unit 8, Carsgate Road, Inverness from 5th - 8th of July 2023. Produced under residency with the Highland Culture Collective Courtesy of the artist and Highland Culture Collective project partners: Eden Court, Fèis Rois, Highland Print Studio, Highland Third Sector Interface, Lyth Arts Centre and, North Lands Creative
▴ A tree with many leaves, 2023 Ieva Grigelionyte A tree with many leaves is a bay leaf tablecloth which came together reflecting on my recent experience of becoming mother and spending the majority time in bed gazing through the window, looking at my bay tree and anchoring myself to its calming green presence. Produced under residency with the Culture Collective Courtesy of the artist and Inverclyde Culture Collective project partners: Beacon Arts Centre, CVS Inverclyde, Inverclyde Council, Kayos Youth Theatre and, RIG Arts
▴ Woman in Red Cafe, 2022-23 Laleh Sherkat Art27 Scotland artist in residence Laleh Sherkat is an acclaimed Iranian photographer and photojournalist. Laleh’s photography proposes we embrace the cultural plurality that is modern Scotland and celebrates our neighbours in the Southside of Edinburgh. Part of Sherkat’s project, ‘We Are Southside’ Courtesy of the artist and Art27 Scotland
▴ Man Outside His Shop, 2022-23 Laleh Sherkat Art27 Scotland artist in residence Laleh Sherkat is an acclaimed Iranian photographer and photojournalist. Laleh’s photography proposes we embrace the cultural plurality that is modern Scotland and celebrates our neighbours in the Southside of Edinburgh. Part of Sherkat’s project, ‘We Are Southside’ Courtesy of the artist and Art27 Scotland
▴ Young People at Street Corner, 2022-23 Laleh Sherkat Art27 Scotland artist in residence Laleh Sherkat is an acclaimed Iranian photographer and photojournalist. Laleh’s photography proposes we embrace the cultural plurality that is modern Scotland and celebrates our neighbours in the Southside of Edinburgh. Part of Sherkat’s project, ‘We Are Southside’ Courtesy of the artist and Art27 Scotland
▴ Woman Beside Watermelons, 2022-23 Laleh Sherkat Art27 Scotland artist in residence Laleh Sherkat is an acclaimed Iranian photographer and photojournalist. Laleh’s photography proposes we embrace the cultural plurality that is modern Scotland and celebrates our neighbours in the Southside of Edinburgh. Part of Sherkat’s project, ‘We Are Southside’ Courtesy of the artist and Art27 Scotland
▴ untitled, 2023 Anne Pitcher, Created by Creative Art Group in West Dunbarton, expressing local tales told by storyteller Anne Pitcher, gathered from honoured local Tradition Bearer and Storyteller, Traveller Jimmy Williamson, "The Master Willow Weaver and the Royal Fairy Baby Basket" Produced under residency with the The People’s Parish Courtesy of the artist and Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland (TRACS)
▴ The Tapestry, ongoing Emma Lawrance The Tapestry is a community project in collaboration with Spark, a neighborhood network organization in Craigshill. It portrays key aspects of local life, landmarks, and important memories of the group. The project is ongoing, and volunteers meet every Thursday afternoon to continue their work. This is an interactive display - please feel free to add your own stitches. Produced under residency with the West Lothian Arc Courtesy of the artist and Firefly Arts
▴ Qreative Collective Pride Banner, 2023 Jennifer Cantwell and Rachael Macintyre Inspired by Rachael Macintyre’s work with the Qreative Collective, Jennifer Cantwell designed and made this beautiful, bright banner for the group for the second ever Pride march in Moray, 2023. Produced under residency with the Combine to Create Courtesy of the artists and Findhorn Bay Arts. Photo credit: Ruby Worth
▴ What Are You Gonna Do About It?, 2023 Young Quines In Spring 2023 the Young Quines undertook a project exploring arts activism out and about in their local community: Kirkcaldy. Inspired by art activist group the Guerilla Girls, who use art to campaign anonymously for gender equality, the Young Quines were keen to create pop up art works that would engage the local community with issues important to them. Using tape and cardboard, we created slogans on placards to encompass important messages that the Young Quines felt passionately about including LGBTQIA+ rights, the climate crisis, the lack of teen mental health support and the demise of the high street. We then photographed the placards around Kirkcaldy to create an anonymous poster campaign. The original posters have been repurposed for this Culture Collective event, now including quotes from participant feedback that highlight the importance and value of the Young Quines groups across Fife and the huge impact that they have made on the lives of the young women and people of marginalised genders who participate in the programme. Courtesy of Stellar Quines
