Haltwhistle Interpretation Panels
Differentia was appointed to design and produce interpretation materials for the Connecting People to the Past initiative. The project will complement other projects being carried out in Haltwhistle e.g. Town Improvement Scheme and the Haltwhistle Burn Interpretation Project to improve the physical appearance of Haltwhistle and provide better orientation and interpretative information. In addition it will help enhance the visitor experience and engender a sense of local pride in the heritage of the town.
The Sheep Fenke at Appin
The Sheep Fenke at Appin has been completed as part of the partnership between Sustrans and Scottish Natural Heritage.
Differentia Design came up with the concept of creating a natural and traditional structure that would be functional and beautiful. So, we used a common place artifact and turned its use to people rather than sheep.
It was important that the local connection was explored and the words carved on the slate discs inside the shelter were selected from poems written by the children of Strath of Appin Primary School as a result of two poetry and design workshops held there this year which were led by Isle of Luing poet Norman Bissell.
The Sheep Fenke itself was built by David Campbell Stonemason. Davie was key to the success of the Fenke as he was born and bred in Ballachulish and has family ties in Appin. So to say it was a labour of love for Davie would be an understatment. Davie took great pride in sourcing all the material locally.
Natural Stoneware Panels
We really like Lavastone and Natural Stoneware Panels. We also really like the company that produces them. Not only is is a natural material but it is also made by craftsmen. This stuff doesn’t just roll off a machine – each one is made by hand and there is genuine care behind its construction.
We have used Natural Stoneware very successfully in some very challenging locations including Oban in the West Coast of Scotland. The Stoneware Natural Interpretation panels come from France and are carefully handcrafted so each project is bespoke. Natural raw materials: lava stone used by Empreinte comes directly from quarries located in Volvic, on the slopes of former volcanoes in the Massif Central region of France. No pre-use transformation or preparatory chemical process is required.
Signage and Interpretation Guidance
Signage can be prepared for a number of different locations with different outputs necessary for each location. Some of the issues to consider are vandalism, salt and sea damage, high light (West Coast of Scotland), cattle damage (cattle licking salt of signs), development change, water and damp (marsh, river and coastal locations), sensitive historic locations, urban settings.
Each location should be matched with the most appropriate signage so it is important not be sold “off the shelf” solutions. We have provided some options below – but of course there are other solutions including bespoke solutions that can be added.
Gorebridge Tactile Outdoor Interpetation Panels
This project was completed last year and is now installed in the Gorebridge area of mid Lothian, Edinburgh.
The panels were produced by using zinc etched steel and have a raised surface in order for visually impaired people to be able to get an impression of the subject. The images were produced as line illustrations and a simple heritage trail was created linking the various interests of the site.
Big Tiles for Oban
The Oban Bay project has been on the go for around 3 years but finally funding was put in place last year and the whole job is now complete. The project involved putting together 7 panels and we chose Enamelled Stoneware for its hardwearing and quite simply gorgeous look. These panels will be going on the railings right on the sea front – so the hazards are sea, salt, wind, high intensity light, herring gull poo and frost.
Gates for Sustrans
These gates are a work of art – thanks to Chris Brammall. Here are a few pics and more will be added later – the way Chris is able to work with steel is fantastic – he says it is just like putty when you get it hot enough.
These gates are of course functional but rather than produce loads of interpretation panels situated on the Path these gates get across an interpretation message and yet provide a beauty and function. The theme of the Highland Galley is illustrated through the shape of the gates and the subjects within the gates are derived from school workshops done with Scottish Poet Norman Bissell.
Immortalised in Stone
Poetry written in stone alongside the Sustrans Path between Oban and Fort William.
So at last we have the first project on the ground for the Caledonia Way. At Kentallen Norman Bissell’s poem “A Mooring” has been carved into stone along the shoreline. David Campbell Stonemason worked all last week to get the stones all done before the really bad weather sets in.
The poem goes like this:
ON ROCK
Air clach
LICHEN CIRCLES
Cearcall Crotal
THRIFT QUIVERS
Neòinean-cladaich air chrith
BIRCH GROWS
Beithe a’ fàs
WATERS RUSH
Uisge a’ ruith
A MOORING
air acair
And here is the proof:
When sound is art and art is interpretation
Sound as art – art as interpretation
Susan Philipsz wins Turner Prize with Sound
When we proposed a Sound Chamber for a site in the middle of a hay Meadow little did we know that we were bang up to date in the art world. Susan Philipsz has created art out of laments and words – singing or perhaps more like voicing emotions. But it is the locations that make these soundscapes stand out – creating goose pimples and yearning in the listener.
This is the most exciting thing to come out of the Turner Prize and I don’t care that some artists are poo pooing this as ordinary …. this is touching and accessible and brings an art form to many more people than any visual can achieve.
This opens up sound as a medium that does not rely on sight or language to appreciate. It also creates a stillness in the listener that begs you to stand still and contemplate. It’s a bit like walking into an Italian Dumo or ancient abbey – you just have to stop and go inside yourself and really think about who you are and what is your place in the world.
Here is the Lost Reflection
The Internationale at the ICA
Check out this website http://www.artangel.org.uk/home for more interactive projects.
What is Interpretation?
We have just created a little video – little as it is short and very modest. It is kind of a summary of our What is Interpretation guide available as a pdf. This video shows some of the different types of interpretation panels and interpretation projects we have been involved in over the last few years.
Here is the video – you can play in Youtube here. Or just play direct from this website. The subjects include:
- Oban Interpretation Project – panels created in Natural Stoneware
- Luing Interpretation Project – GRP and slate and stone plinths
- Caledonia Way – gates and stone structures
- Bishop Auckland Town Trail Interpretation
- Lemington – Newburn Interpretation
