4th July 2020
Over eighty artists.
Two hundred and fifty works of art.
Most of which are for sale
Eighty Five artists have taken up the invite from the Society of Caithness Artists to join their on-line exhibition this year.
See the Exhibition HERE
Normally the Annual Exhibition which, for the last few years has taken place at Thurso High School and has became an established event in the Caithness cultural calendar attracts many visitors, both local and tourists.
As Chair of the Society, Ian Pearson explains, "this year we were looking forward to arranging the exhibition in a new venue at the North Highland College UHI but with the pandemic restrictions in place then we decided to continue to support artists by organising a similar exhibition online.
The Society has been pleasantly surprised at the large amount of artists that have submitted work which demonstrates the importance of the visual arts are in Caithness. We have not charged any membership fees this year nor are we charging commission. This is in recognition that artists are struggling with the usual outlets to sell their work being shut."
The exhibition will run from 1st July until 31st July 2020 and there are three hundred and fifty nine images to scroll though. The exhibition is divided into two main sections, with the 3D and sculptural section showing three images of each work. Plenty of familiar names will be recognised by regular visitors to the Society's exhibitions but there are some new "faces" who have never exhibited before.
Subject matter and media is as always a wide canvas and includes Caithness scenes, abstracts, portraits, animals and contemporary interpretations of social and political life. Professionals and amateurs are included as equals with the exhibition being arranged in alphabetical order of surnames. There is a wide age range of contributing artists from ninety years old to one of the youngest being Kayla Livingstone aged 12.
The majority of work is for sale and viewers are encouraged to make direct contact with each artists of interest as artists contact details are included on the website. As Ian explains, "the Society is keen to encourage active dialogue between an artist and all who appreciates a particular artist or art form. In this way we hope to encourage visual arts within Caithness to expand and develop in efforts to help the well being of our community"
"Several of the images in the collection have naturally been influenced by the World we are now living in" said Ian. He highlighted a few and referenced especially the work by Penny Irvine called "Shattered".
He continued by explaining that "this exhibition will have the potential to be viewed by a lot more than in person as it being on the website then accessible Worldwide"
The Society is fortunate to include two watercolours from HRH The Duke of Rothesay - one is titled "Caithness" painted in 2018, whilst the other is titled "Top of Glen Baddoch in Early April" painted in 2016.
See the Exhibition HERE
Picture
Old Gate, Back of Houstry - Oil paints on canvas
Artist - June Bartlett