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.
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
Oban Icons
A pile of stuff has been happening lately. Workwise and otherwise. Tonight I have just finished a tender document – basically three days work in order to jump through the hoops of official speak – at least my tender document was a fraction of the length of the procurement document terms and conditions. These things are supposed to make things easier and yet they simply reward the companies who are able to read through the clutter of all this nonsense.
Been working hard on the west coast of Scotland projects. The Oban panels are done but they are still not installed – over a month and they are still sitting in a box in Oban somewhere. These panels are the first major pieces of work I have produced using the Stoneware Enamel process and they look georgeous. Here are some images of the artworks that make up the panels.
The images to the left are graphics based on each of the themes. Other stuff going on includes working with my group of Adults with Learning Disabilities on branding their project – Holder House Community Allotment. Tomorrow we visit Sunderland Winter Gardens to see what they are all about. More about this another time.
My guitar stuff is still on the go – got a new guitar – Yamaha Semi Acoustic.
Andy James visit is approaching and we are all getting ready for that.
Got to go now – more later.
Oban Interpretation Panels
The Oban Shorefront interpetation is nearing completion – a three year involvement for me. Here is a pic of one of them being manufactured. There are seven in total and are all produced on Enamel Stoneware. ONe of them even has Audio – with Gaelic songs and poems. Watch this space for more pics of them in situ.
Another trip to Oban
In August I once again made a trip to Oban – this time it went like this:
Train from Wylam to Kilmarnock and then cycle to Ardrossan. Ferry to Brodick on Arran. A quick run over the top to Lochranza and then a ferry to Kintyre. Then a 68 mile ride to Oban. I got to the Youth Hostel at 10 pm! Altogether 110 miles – a great ride though but I must admit to being a bit tired at the end of it!!
The trip was mainly to look at my new project in Oabn and theat is to look at interpetation panels along the shorefront. I will be posting more stuff about this over the next few weeks.
But I wrote a poem when I was there, I was waiting for an otter to appear – along the harbour near to the Youth Hostel. It didn’t but I watched a Cal-Mac ferry arrive from Mull and a sunset behind Bienn More!
Here it is:
The clouds flow over Bienn More
Waves slap the bare backsides
Of rock, not new
Born, but ancient
I wait for otters stirring
Herring gull flaps by
Un-noticed
Not caring
The sun, sinks
And is swallowed
By mountain
And the cold is felt
The clouds now
Settled
As mountain
Mergesintosea
My
Thoughts
Of
Otters
Renewed
