“It’s my grand uncle Michael L Ryan (right) who served with the 16th bn highland light infantry he was killed in action on the first day of the Somme attacking toward just south of Thiepval. He is with his brother William Patrick Ryan (left) my great grandfather who served in the merchant navy during both wars. He was also killed in action in WW2.”
The Artist in residence will work with our First World War archive to bring to life some of the interesting stories and characters which exist in the original letters, diaries and photographs kept by Highland soldiers during the conflict.
‘The Highlanders’ Museum is delighted to announce the appointment of Robyn Woolston as Artist in Residence for the first 6 months of 2017. Thanks to a grant from Museums Galleries Scotland, we have been able to appoint our first Artist in Residence who will be working with our World War One collection to generate a creative response, engage local primary school children and interact with visitors to the Museum. The residency will be followed by an exhibition of Robyn’s work alongside pieces generated from the schools workshops.’
Gill Bird - The Highlanders’ Museum (Queen’s Own Highlanders Collection)
Himalaya mountains has been my home for 4 years; it’s where pemanagpohas flowered, it’s where my life started once again, it’s where most of our stones and jewellery come from, it’s where the wild things and the quiet hearts are.
1. Inveraray castle and its fairytale facade. Its green light tone is a jewel ! 2. Old Man of Storr - Hiking the famous Old Man of Storr and sketching. 3. Highland cow - one of the fantastic beasts of Scotland. 4. Buachaille Etive Mòr encircled by the river Etive. 5. Roadtrip Essentials
1. Neist Point - Stunning cliffs and lighthouse at the most westerly headland on the Isle of Skye. 2. Old Man of Storr - Hiking the famous Old Man of Storr and sketching. 3. Eilean Donan Castle 4. Quiraing - Hiking the Quiraing is so utterly unique, so surreal. It’s like passing through Lord of the Rings country.
Top: ‘A nap in the dug-out bunks. Contalmaison. 1916’ Bottom: 'The Battle of Flanders. A stretcher bearer party coming through the mud near Boesinghe. Pilsen. 01/08/17’
The Artist in residence will work with our First World War archive to bring to life some of the interesting stories and characters which exist in the original letters, diaries and photographs kept by Highland soldiers during the conflict.
‘The Highlanders’ Museum is delighted to announce the appointment of Robyn Woolston as Artist in Residence for the first 6 months of 2017. Thanks to a grant from Museums Galleries Scotland, we have been able to appoint our first Artist in Residence who will be working with our World War One collection to generate a creative response, engage local primary school children and interact with visitors to the Museum. The residency will be followed by an exhibition of Robyn’s work alongside pieces generated from the schools workshops.’
Gill Bird - The Highlanders’ Museum (Queen’s Own Highlanders Collection)
Fort George is a large 18th-century fortress to the north-east of Inverness. The current fortress has never been attacked and has remained in continuous use as a garrison.
The fortification is based on a star design that remains virtually unaltered.
The Highlanders’ Museum (Queen’s Own Highlanders Collection) covers three floors of Fort George’s former Lieutenant Governors’ House.
I’m lucky to have spent some concentrated time delving into the archives (photographic + object based) at the Highlanders’ Museum at Fort George, Inverness, over the past 6 weeks. It’s provided a fascinating, funny, and at times, incredibly poignant window onto the everyday lives of families, soldiers and regiments during World War One.
Naturally there are War Diaries, which detail strategic manoeuvres and life-saving co-ordinates, but there are also highly personal notes like the one sent from son to father which signs-off ‘Your dying son’or the postcard which reads ‘God bless my DEAR DADDY at the WAR and keep him safe’
Out of this densely woven web of narratives I’m beginning to navigate some ‘pathways for expression’ which will lead to an exhibition on-site from October 2017 - March 2018.
Image: The photographs above show my working space at the museum. It’s an ‘open-studio’ of sorts where I can communicate with people visiting the site, explore ideas and get a feel for the over-arching narratives that are emerging out of my residency.
