Wednesday 8 July
Atlantic Island Bird Song: Talk, Discussion and Guided Walk led by Seil Natural History Group.
This talk by Richard Wesley, Chairman of Seil Natural History Group, focussed on Bird Song and how we can learn how to identify different birds even if we can’t see them. We then applied what we learnt outdoors in the vicinity of Cullipool.
Richard is a former Countryside Ranger and Rights of Way Officer who is a keen ornithologist and lives at Balvicar on the Isle of Seil.. He founded the Seil Natural History Group in 2007 which now has 92 members and a great website at www.seilnature.spaces.live.com. The Group recently completed a Community Wildlife Garden at Seil Island Hall which was featured on the BBCTV Beechgrove Garden programme that evening.
Slate Sculpture Competition outdoors
The first ever Slate Sculpture World Championship was held above the shore on the way into Cullipool village. Three prizes of prints by Richard Childs and three children’s prizes were awarded by artist judges Bill and Angela Taylor.
One to One Writer Surgeries with Peter Urpeth, Hi-Arts Writing Development Coordinator.
This was a great chance for budding writers to have a one to one session to discuss their work with a professional writer.
Theatre Skills: Workshop led by Marion Sheridan.
This was a specially devised programme by Marion Sheridan who is an actor, director, producer and lecturer in theatre studies at the University of Strathclyde who has produced and directed several acclaimed productions in recent years. It was designed to assist those interested in drama to develop their skills and talents. This session featured developing your voice skills using particular theatre techniques and was of great benefit to those who wish to participate in drama on Luing or elsewhere.
The Atlantic Islands Suite: A new musical and poetry composition by Mark Sheridan and Norman Bissell featuring Margaret Bennett, Aidan O’Rourke and Lori Watson followed by an informal reception.
Another world first for Luing!
This was the world premiere performance of a new musical composition by Mark Sheridan responding to some of the Luing poems of Norman Bissell. Their fruitful collaboration has yielded a moving evocation of life on Luing and the other Atlantic Islands. Mark Sheridan on keyboards and (slate!) percussion and Norman Bissell’s recital of his poetry was joined by ace fiddlers Aidan O’Rourke and Lori Watson and the beautiful Gaelic voice of Margaret Bennett. It was followed by an informal reception at which the audience met the artists and discussed their work with them.
Part of the performance was filmed by BBC Alba for its Friday evening news programme and a full review of the show can be read on the Hi-Arts Northings journal at:http://www.hi-arts.co.uk/Default.aspx.LocID-hianewpgu.RefLocID-hiacg5005.Lang-EN.htm.
