Throughout this year, three artists have been taking part in the first ever artists-in-residence programme on RSPB reserves in Scotland. The scheme, which was funded by the Scottish Graduate School of Arts and Humanities, allowed artists studying for PHDs in Scotland to work with different organisations across the country.
Through their work, all three artists have brought a new perspective to both our reserves and their wildlife, and creative ideas of how to introduce the sites to a wider audience. It’s been a fascinating experience to watch them work, and we’re looking forward to welcoming further students on the programme next year.
Two of the artists, Catherine Weir, Roseanne Watt, were based here at Mersehead, and their work will be showcased at an event on October 1: Lunation and Every Field, A Memory. For more information visit: http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-424304
You might have seen Catherine’s blogs from earlier in the year, in which she described her work as a digital artist, and her quest to get a picture of one particular bird! If you haven’t read them, you can see them here http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/mersehead/b/mersehead-blog/archive/2016/05/07/camera-obscura.aspx and here http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/mersehead/b/mersehead-blog/archive/2016/05/25/egretta-garzetta-or-the-little-egret.aspx.
But we thought you might also like to hear about the third artist in residence, who was based at Inversnaid in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
Luca Nascuiti’s a composer who uses recorded sound, often that of the sonic environment. He was interested in capturing ideas based around some of our current habitat work at the reserve, particularly the attempts to re-wild the area through the planting of trees, as part of the Great Trossachs Forest Project. He produced a two-part installation called Domestic.Green. which was on show at both the Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow, and at Inversnaid. Here’s what he had to say in a recent blog:
In February this year, I visited RSPB Scotland Inversnaid, and my introductory visit allowed me to get an overview of the place and the work being carried out in the area. RSPB Scotland is engaging in many areas of conservation of wildlife and I got to know the many challenges they are facing in trying to reintroduce wildlife. This involves careful planning and consideration to change the landscape into a more balanced ecosystem.
Picture of Luca
My recording sessions in Inversnaid were heavily influenced by this awareness. I walked the paths that tourists would walk on and listened to the impact urban planning has there. All along Loch Lomond the sound of road traffic on the other shore is the most significant perceptible source, especially in winter when the wildlife is asleep. This all changes in spring with fully sprung vegetation, green canopy and bird migrations - let’s not forget midges - creating a filter that keeps the sound of traffic a bit more in the distance. The more I walked the more I noticed slight changes in the soundscape based on my position in the land, the morphology of the area, whether I was along a path or on top of a hill. I started to imagine what the area would look and sound like once the woodland will be fully grown. RSPB Scotland is designing a new space for wildlife. It is a project that ‘brings nature back’ by creating something new.
A video preview of Luca’s work can been seen here https://vimeo.com/175928221 and his sound recordings can be heard here https://soundcloud.com/lqaz/sets/rspb-residency.