Menontional; Kids Art

May 16th, and it was time to get on the road again. It was a bit of a pull to leave Dunoon, given how the weather had been and how the place absolutely feels like home. There are many places yet to see, to revisit, and to happen upon, so back into Grey and off we went. 

First to Edinburgh. There was to be a day with Mac1 and then a day with Aitch. With sister, it was - as you may have come to expect from us now! - a visit to the art gallery. The Open Exhibition was on. This is where not just established artists, but anyone with any ambitions to sell their work can submit and, if accepted, be hung for the public to view. We did it in two shifts. 

Arriving via the easy access (back door) entrance, we landed in the hall with the more outrageous offerings. We were, for the most part, very impressed and ended up lingering in there for the best part of 40 minutes. I loved the shark (recycled plastics used and representing endangered species as a result of plastic pollution), and several other pieces in there. Am holding back images for the Monday posts, so you'll see those later in the year!

As we walked into the next 'chamber' we found it was a video presentation set up and all the moving picture artworks were on a loop. We ended up staying there for all but the last two - so nearly 90 minutes!

Two items we both enjoyed immensely. The first was a video featuring visuals of the Scottish coastline, above and below water, with a commissioned soundtrack. It runs about 18 minutes and is available to view on Vimeo - I do not think you will be disappointed to have spent your time with it! Put it on full screen, sit back, and brrreeeaaathhheeee...

The other was a most moving set of scenes of the battlefields of Belgium from WW1... with some dates. These places are now lush and productive, and show few scars, though the ground remembers. Given the film-maker's name, we have assumed that the Percy Young McNiven (PYM) of the title fought in those battles, on those dates and was either grand or great-grandfather to him. 

Please note:  viewing will only be possible until the close of the exhibition on June 8th. If you are reading this after that date, do try, but I suspect you will no longer be able to access them.

I did a little research (of course). I could find only this clip from the Edinburgh Gazette on PYM, when he was first awarded the Military Cross - but I noted at the end of the film that he also had 'bar', which means he earned the recognition at least once again.

I was also able to trace that the family belongs locally to the Lothians, being from Newbattle, near Dalkeith, just to the south and east of the capital city. As you will see, should you chose to watch it, PYM lived a good long life following that dreadful time.

At this point, we decided we needed lunch. As we moved to the lower level for the bistro, we walked through the interactive space reserved for kids, and discovered that a fully curated exhibition was now hung there. Again, a couple of these I am keeping for the Art Vibe series, but here is the example of the Oban High School set.

We were gobsmacked at the talent that was showing through, as well as the thinking that presented itself through imagery. 

From the teenagers, we moved to the toddlers...

We were as moved and impressed by what we saw here as by anything in the grown-ups' show above!

After lunch it was back up to complete the remaining three rooms of works. Here is just one, general, teaser image and individual works I favoured will appear as and when...