John Kefala Kerr | Heather Marshall | Isla Robertson | Verity Standen
For one month An Tobar’s gallery will be given over as an open studio to some of our Associate Artists. The Made-On-Mull Associate Artist programme exists to give time and space for developing ideas which have resonances here on Mull. We'll be showing a series of experimental works-in-progress: from the sounds of weaving and duets sung in the landscape to plays about Mull's first ever Pride event, renewable energy, rural tourism and loss.
Come and meet the artists and join in the conversations about their work.
Associate with Artists: Verity Standen
Thu 11 May – Sun 21 May 2023
Evening event Friday 12 May 6.00 -7.30pm
For the last week of Associate with Artists we will be combining documentation of all the work from across the month with screenings of artist and musician Verity Standen’s project ‘Island Duets’. These short pieces are being created in collaboration with local singers, using one-to-one interviews and recording in the landscape to infuse each piece with a sense of the place it was made. You may well hear the singers Verity is working with practicing at An Tobar across the month!
Previous Associate with Artists events:
Associate with Artists: John Kefala Kerr
Thu 20 April – Tue 25 April 2023
Evening event Friday 21 April 6.00 -7.30pm
John’s project Fray explores the cultural, historical, numerical and textural aspects of textile weaving, informed by the traditions and practices of fabric production on Mull. Through compositions, poems, and audio tracks, he invites audiences to consider pattern, hue and texture as translated via the interwoven sounds and rhythms of Mull, including the natural soundscape and the Gaelic language (spoken/sung). The work seeks to fray boundaries between music/sound, language and woven materials and to encourage listeners to meditate on the connections between the visual, auditory and tactile senses.
John’s work is motivated in part by his Greek heritage; having grown up immersed in the language and culture of rural Greece, he is sensitive to the striking geographical parallels between Mull and the Pelion region. During Associate with Artists, John will share some of the weaving and textile-inspired audio material he has been developing and would love to chat to anyone interested in learning more about his work. He will also be experimenting in situ, working with live weaving, sound-making objects and microphones.
On Friday the 21st of April you are welcome to join us for an open-poetry evening at An Tobar to hear some of John’s published and unpublished work and perhaps share some of your own writing.
Associate with Artists: Heather Marshall
Thu 27 April – Tue 2 May 2023
Evening event Friday 28 April 6.00 -7.30pm
Artist and writer Heather Marshall’s project stems from a 2018 meeting she had with Mull Youth Theatre who told her how they had held the Island’s first ever Pride event. Throughout her residency she has carried on this conversation, exploring the rich and beautiful stories shared with her about thinking you’re an outsider in your own community, only to find allies along the way.
Heather’s writing process involves immersing herself in a place and deeply connecting with the people in it. It’s important to her that the community feel that they have a stake in the work, that they can recognise it as something they’ve contributed to and want to come and see.
For Associate with Artists, Heather will be creating a tape art space in the gallery, where visitors can respond to stimulus, whether that's in words, tape drawings or abstracts. She will be installing quotes from her conversations to date and chatting to anyone who’d like to ask questions or share their own reflections on the themes of the project. During the week Heather will be hosting several ‘scratch’ performances of the play-to-date and we are looking for folk who’d like to participate – if that’s you please do get in touch – no previous acting experience required!
Associate with Artists: Isla Robertson
Thu 4 May – Tue 9 May 2023
Evening event Friday 5 May 6.00 -7.30pm
Isla’s How To Swim is an audio play about how much a place can mean to us, both when we’re local to it and when we’re visiting. Her work-in-progress sharing will offer visitors a chance to listen to sections of the soundscape (recorded on Mull) and to read extracts from the developing script which explores the drama between the two main characters, Graham and Kate, who discover that they have different visions for what should happen to a place special to them both.
As part of Isla’s week there will be an opportunity to take audio from the developing drama out with you on a walk to a beautiful place near An Tobar and listen to the soundscape in situ.
On Friday May 5th you’re invited to an evening round table with Isla at An Tobar. We’ll be discussing the experience of engaging with audio drama whilst in the outdoors and the content of How to Swim, which includes themes of renewable energy, rural tourism and loss.
Friday 12 May 6.00 -7.30pm - Come and hear ‘Island Duets’ by Verity Standen
Associate with Artists:
A month of Friday night early evening events
To celebrate the Associated Artists and their work Made-On-Mull, we’re trying something new at An Tobar - each Friday evening for the month we’ll be hosting a special informal sharing. You’re welcome to come and join us to meet the artists, chat about their work, enjoy the lighter evenings and perhaps a drink from our recently licensed bar.
Friday 21 April 6.00 -7.30pm - An open-mic poetry evening with John Kefala Kerr
Friday 28 April 6.00 -7.30pm - Join a scratch play reading with Heather Marshall
Friday 5 May 6.00 -7.30pm - A discussion on audio drama in the landscape with Isla Robertson