Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne is to feature modern representations of the ancient bardic tradition of the Highlands and Islands of  Scotland in a unique collaboration with a west coast artist.

As a pilot project,  the first five portraits of bards  painted by Ullapool based Andrew Ward  will be installed on MV Isle of Lewis, the Ullapool/Stornoway ferry, to coincide with the celebration of the Royal National Mod in  Stornoway.

The exhibition, which will be based in the ships forward lounge, will be opened by the artist himself who will be accompanied by writer, film maker and art historian Timothy Neat.

Andrew Ward said: “The transmission of culture is as important as the culture itself. The idea behind the paintings is to convey the inspiration and creative force of the Gaelic bards through modern painting, connecting the present day with the pre-Christian Gaidhealtachd. Installing the portraits on the ferry creates a social sculpture - art outside of the gallery for all people. The aim is to generate new insights, to inform and transform – in conversation, work, education and daily life.  The ferries are a symbol of movement and change on the surface of the unconscious, the sea. The bards are a living tradition rooted deep in our past, deep in our unconscious. They have always been and still are a voice for the people, describing who we are and where we come from.”

Caledonian MacBrayne’s Head of Communication and Customer Care Hugh Dan MacLennan said: “The company has a splendid tradition of involving itself with the environment in which it operates and also the various cultural strands from Ardrossan to Stornoway.  We are delighted that we are in a position to mark the Royal National Mod’s presence in the Outer Hebrides through the display of Andrew’s work and we await with interest feedback on his interpretation of the work of some of our most famous bards.”

The official opening of the display of Andrew ward’s work will be held on Wednesday, October 19, on the Stornoway ferry leaving Ullapool at 10.30 and returning at 16.30. The work will remain on display on MV Isle of Lewis for a number of weeks.

The Wednesday morning sailing will be accompanied by music and bardachd, sponsored by Tomatin Distillery and Art Intervention, with the support of Caledonian MacBrayne.

ANDREW JAMES  WARD

Born 1954, grew up in Strathpeffer,  Ross-shire.

In his final year at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee, Andrew wrote his Diploma thesis on African Art. This led him to leave Scotland in 1980 and spend the next two years living with tribes in Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya. “I must have drawn hundreds of portraits. It was a liberating experience as tribal people don’t expect a photographic representation. When you draw them, you draw their soul”
This work was later sponsored by the British Council and exhibited at the French Cultural Centre, Nairobi with a lecture at Nairobi University.
In 1982 he went to live in Switzerland where he opened SOS, School of Seeing, a school furthering the creative process. He has given numerous teacher-training seminars and was guest lecturer at Zurich University.
In 1990 opened Labyrinth Publishing. The first book documenting his artwork won the prize “Most beautiful Swiss Book 1991”. A further four publications followed.
 Andrew exhibits internationally in the mediums of painting, installation and sculpture. In 1998 a documentary film of his work “Tamangur”, was short-listed for the Grand Prix at the Paris Art Film Festival.
In 2003 Andrew moved to Italy where he still keeps a studio.
In 2005 Andrew and his wife Kerstin returned to live in Scotland.

 
RECENT  EXHIBITIONS
2000           The Hague Appeal for Peace. The Hague, Holland             
                    Gallery  Lutz and Thalmann, Zurich
                    United Nations, New York

2001          United Nations. Durban, South  Africa
                   D6 Museum.Cape Town, South  Africa
                   Schoenthal Sculpture Park.Basel, Switzerland

2002          National Museum Manila, Philippines
                   GSIS Museum of Modern Art. Manila, Philippines
                   Art Frankfurt, Germany

2003          House of Congress, Taipei. Taiwan
                   Gallery Lutz and Thalmann, Zurich.  Switzerland

2004          Philadelphia Free Public Library, USA
                   Georgetown University, Washington. USA
                   Studio Bach. Geneva, Switzerland

2005          Schoenthal Sculpture Park.  Basel, Switzerland
                   an talla solais. Ullapool.

ends

For further information on the contents of this News Release, please contact Hugh Dan MacLennan, Head of Communication and Customer Care, Caledonian MacBrayne.   Tel: 0776 435 4021; e-mail hugh.maclennan@calmac.co.uk.

Issued:  Thursday, October 6,  2005  : 0900