Entitled ‘Locating Lorne’, it exists to encourage people to visualise and explore ideas about the locality, identity and intrinsic qualities of the territory and places of their community, in this case North Argyll, informally known as Lorne.
'Locating Lorne’ will work with the following groups:
- people living in the area of North Argyll,
- organisations delivering culture and community services
in North Argyll,
- the North Argyll diaspora throughout the world,
- visitors to the area and
- keepers of archives and collections relating to North Argyll. Phase 1
Working with all of the above, Deirdre MacKenna will undertake a pre-production research phase in a ‘Project Studio’ located in the Rockfield Centre in Oban. Deirdre MacKenna will meet people to hear stories about and locate existing images which have become overlooked or forgotten. Working in the ‘Project Studio’ MacKenna will
· meet people who bring images and tell stories about the location of 'Lorne’; dialogue will be facilitated both casually, as passers-by visit the Rockfield Centre and attend other community events, and formally, at drop-in sessions and public events organised by MacKenna,
· format and display the images she encounters in her research. Phase 2
MacKenna will commission artists and writers to produce new works which, through the language of contemporary art and writing, will encourage people to engage in critical consideration of North Argyll,
Phase 3
the research and new artworks will be presented in exhibitions and events throughout Lorne and in other areas which are a relevant situation for considering the images,
‘Locating Lorne’ will generate three key outcomes:
Outcome 1
The first tangible outcome is a new online archive: this will be produced by MacKenna during the ‘Project Studio' phase when the images and stories will be uploaded to an online archive (bespoke website www.locatinglorne.net). The online archive will
· link source materials (interviews, images, references, texts), and new artworks to relevant locations on an interactive map, enabling people to virtually visit the actual location of historical events, and encouraging them to travel to relevant sites;
· inform the artists and writers who will make new artworks and texts,
· encourage people generally to consider their relationship with and ideas about the territory of North Argyll,
· be used as a tool by the cultural partners in the project as well as any others wishing to benefit from the content such as groups, schools and cultural tourism sector,
· enable people who contribute stories and images to follow the evolution of their contributions as they tour Argyll and beyond. Outcome 2
The second tangible outcome is a new collection of new artworks and texts produced to high technical, aesthetic and conceptual standards capable of thriving in local, national and international arenas. Outcome 3
The third outcome is intangible: more people will engage with contemporary visual art and contemporary critical and creative writing as tools for consideration of the locality, identity and intrinsic qualities of the territory and places of North Argyll. Phase 1 partners, archives and resources include
· The Oban Communities Trust: The Rockfield Centre: www.obancommunitiestrust.org.uk
· The War and Peace Museum, Oban: www.obanmuseum.org.uk
· Dunollie Museum, Castle and grounds, and the Hope MacDougall Collection. www.dunollie.org
· The Oban Heritage Hunters. The work is currently funded by Cultural Documents and the following generous group of sponsors which enable travel, accommodation and access to original sources of knowledge:
Highland Heritage, Argyll Safaris, Glenburnie House and Hazelbank Motors. https://www.facebook.com/ArgyllSafaris/
https://www.facebook.com/Hazelbank-Motors-Oban-904951519545696/
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=glenburnie%20house
