Beòshlaintean
30th March - 10 June 2000"Beòshlaintean" the Uist 2000 Millennium exhibition depicting livelihoods on Uist - past, present and future launches on Thursday 30lh March 2000 at Museum nan Eilean, Sgoil Lionacleit, Benbecula. The exhibition, which forms part of the UK wide Millennium
festival focuses on five trades and professions which have survived
a Millennium on the Uists. The skills of the mariner, the farmer,
the boat-builder, the jeweller and the herbalist are with us
today as they were in the last Millennium. What does the future
hold for these skills? The past is depicted by local school children through art and written work to produce an imaginative, creative and colourful presentation of life in Uist as it was in the year 1OOOAD when Vikings settled on the islands. There are examples of Viking jewellery, pottery, farming implements, ships and clothing. You also get an insight into the Viking diet and how they used their skills in these trades
The present day position has been captured through a contemporary
black and white photographic exhibition by Gus Wylie ~ a well-known
and respected photographer of social history in the Hebrides.
His photographs illustrate how these trades exist today ~ setting
the worker and his tools in their environment. The portrayal
of the talents, skills and craftsmanship of islanders is powerful.
The final part of the exhibition is a tape slide presentation -blending past and present with the future. The script written by Donald S. Murray has a strong flavour of Uist, It is narrated by a number of local people and the music soundtrack created in Uist. The images used to create the tape slide are the work of five local photographers and the finished effect is stunning. The exhibition blends a number of art-forms with history and community - evidence of the creativity and community spirit that exists in Uist in the year 2000. It is the work and participation of local schools and the wider community that has made this celebration of our Millennium possible. The exhibition launches on Thursday 30th March 2000 at 7.30 pm at Museum nan Eilean. It moves to Taigh Tasgaidh Chill Donnain, in South Uist on the 4th July 2000 and to Urachadh Uibhist in North Uist on the 23rd September 2000. The exhibition is funded with a National Lottery grant from the Millennium Commission, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, LEADER 11 and Western Isles Enterprise. Contact: Morag Ferguson, Project Manager: 01870 602655 or Dana Macleod, Tel: 01870 602864 |
May 2000May is officially Museums and Galleries Month, a national scheme to promote the role of museums and to encourage people to visit their local cultural venues. As part of the promotion Museum nan Eilean is hoping to present a special event linked to the 'Beòshlaintean' exhibition, Watch this site for details. |
