Soillseachadh an Stòrr
Thursday 22 September 2005, 7.00pm, BBC2
NVA, the Glasgow based arts organisation, have been developing an ambitious environmental arts project over the last 5 years. The summer of 2005 was the time to put their ideas into practise.
The project: To illuminate the Old Man of Stòrr on the Isle of Skye and encourage members of the public to take part in a unique audio-visual arts installation as they walk the path to the Old Man of Stòrr in the middle of the night.
A bold ultra modern attempt to interpret the cultural and environmental significance of the Trotternish area of Skye we see this project unfold from the perspective of the local people as they tell us what the project means to them and why.
Our local contributors have some connection with the Storr one way or another. Sine Ghilleasbuig, Staffin was the instigator in getting the nva to come to Skye in the first place. As a consequence of seeing their Glen Lyon project on the television see thought that Staffin would be the ideal place to wrestle with issues of people, landscape and environment. Sine does feel a responsibility for the project to work because she contacted Angus Farquhar & nva in the first place.
Ann Martin, Kilmuir – again Ann was deeply inspired by the Glen Lyon project and has been helping and supporting the nva team in the 5 years it’s taken to develop this project. Ann also has a role to play during the event itself. She sings & performs on a cnoc half way between the Bodach and the forest, not an easy task as Skye’s weather patterns are notoriously erratic. However it is one of the most dramatic experiences of the event hearing someone sing Trotternish influenced songs in the open air.
Donald MacLeod – a retired Fireman who returned home to Staffin about 12 years ago, Donald is now a crofter and has his sheep out on the Storr. Donald’s relationship with the Storr is somewhat different to a bunch of lowlanders coming to install some lights and walk up at night-time, everything is on a practical level for Donald whether the shearing will get done at a decent time this year, dealing with his sheep etc…. He will leave the show to the tourists.
John Purser, Elgol – is involved with the project from a musical perspective. Angus Farquhar asked for John to contribute to the soundscape of the show – to which he does. John’s inspiration is cows. A rare creative adventure, we follow John as he’s recorded playing bronze age horns in a cave and up the Storr.
We also follow Angus Farquhar the creative driving force behind nva – Angus pops up throughout the programme keeping us up to date with how the project is developing. Things get a bit tense on the opening night when there is a big problem with the lights & buses have already left Portree.
The project is bold yet subtle – with Glen Lyon there were fires blazing everywhere – at the Storr everything is very subtle, the lights are low, the images are fleeting as you walk up through the forest. One could say the event is a metaphor for the delicate environment that is the Storr.
The programme was produced by Zebo Productions and funded by Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig.
For further information:
Sarah MacKinnon, Zebo Productions:
Tel: 0141 579 4050
