Press and Journal Piece:
North visitor centre hosts off-beat display
LOCAL VOICE AT CENTRE OF SHOW
BY MARJO HALLOWELL
Published: 11/04/2009
A NEW art exhibition is open to the public today, after it was officially opened last night.
Studio 1824 is at Helmsdale Ice House until May 17, and marks the end of the two-year artist-in-residence programme at Timespan, and is the first in a series of three exhibitions. The works, by Chris Dooks, were commissioned and curated by Timespan’s youth arts group, led by Ruth Macdougall. Mr Dooks said a linguistic survey sound recording from 1964, featuring fisherman Neil MacKay and wife Mary, nee Sutherland, had never been heard by their next of kin.
He said : “A knitting group helped me track them down. “Using the acoustics in Helmsdale’s Ice House, I shaped music from the recordings, adding fresh elements to create a mini album of ‘folktronica’ with accompanying photographic cover art.”
The project became a “netlabel”, www.studio1824.com – a live electronic concert, community workshops and a gallery exhibition.
Heather Macdonald from the youth group said they chose Mr Dooks because they liked his enthusiasm and the originality of his ideas. She said: “Working with Chris was a good experience. He took interest in other peoples ideas, and his positive attitude made things even more interesting. “The sound workshop shed a whole new light on the different styles of music and how they can be made. “I’m sure Studio 1824 will be innovative and thought-provoking as well as interesting and enjoyable, exactly what is needed to bring the icehouse into the spotlight.” The exhibition is on from Monday to Saturdays, 10am to 5pm, and Sundays, noon to 5pm.
