Note: The following reported item describes events that have not yet taken place and with the possibility that they may never actually occur.
The idea of a modern art gallery on the Isle of Skye in Scotland was to some an act of desecration upon an alter of natural beauty while to others it was an announcement that made credible the artistic eminence of Scottish Art. An intriguing act of novelty was to have access provided by the separate construction of a dedicated pier/landing stage to entice those wanderers of the open seas into the gallery’s welcoming arms.
Part of the reasoning behind such an enterprise was that tourism was perceived as never a 12 month wonder and evergreen attractions are required rather one’s that drop their leaves with the arrival of autumn.
A focus of recruitment of staff for the facility was the requirement for fluent Gaelic speakers to provide cultural authenticity in such a northern location. Not all existing gallery curators need therefore apply.
In part it was the access to extensive works within existing Scottish collections that ensured credibility of scope and scale of the venture. In particular access to the varied works of Joseph Crawhall (1861 – 1913) held by the Burrell Collection but seldom displayed was a noted feature of the current collection.
A unique feature of the venture was the focus on the techniques of artistic representation where teaching sessions of various levels of accomplishment are hosted throughout the year and where the skills of several of the resident community of artists find gainful employment in communicating their skills to an appreciative visiting client vase.
The new facility also provides a showcase for final shows of the various colleges of art in Scotland. This invariably attracts the talent scouts to spot the arrival of ‘new young things’.
It was ‘in the mix’ of the gallery that the very latest of technology would be available for what is described as the ‘Immersivism’ theme of the use of light and sound to provide sensory enrichment of a unique nature. The specialist infrastructure has the capability of acting as a global hub for commissioned artists with state of the art satellite communications.
When asked about the significant remoteness of the chosen location, the current director of Tate Skye commented
‘ We find that it is those who are indeed far travelled that are more receptive to the cultural themes on display here. Doing the rounds of galleries in large cities can be a hectic and draining experience. Here there is time enough to engage and appreciate.’
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