Last year I had the honour of being selected as the Artist in Residence for the annual Tobar an Dualchais x ATLAS Arts residency to explore and create work inspired by oral recordings taken across Scotland over the last hundred years, housed within the virtual Tobar an Dualchais collection. The residency was in partnership with ATLAS Arts, who coordinate and run an engaging arts programme across Skye and Lochalsh.

While my residency came to a close earlier this year, the influence it has had on my practice has only just begun. I’ve tried my best to summarise some of my highlights in a short series of posts on my website. Here is Part 2: Pàirt a dhà.

Tha mi cho toilichte an obair ùr seo a shealltainn dhuibh! Chruthaich mi na h-obraichean seo fhad ‘s a bha mi air mhuinntireas le @atlasarts agus @tobar_an_dualchais. Tha am pìos seo air a bhrosnachadh leis an obair-fhosgailte a tha àbhaisteach ann am basgaidean ionadail ri taobh Siar Ros, far an do rugadh agus a thogadh mi.

‘Breugan’ or ‘Briagan’: Unwoven space near the top of the creel. West of Ross-Shire.

During my residency I discovered that there’s a word, 'Breugan' or 'Briagan', specific to Wester Ross where I grew up. ‘Breugan’ describes the open-work near the top of traditional ‘cliabh’. Another lovely translation, a Cliabh (pl. chléibh) is the Gaelic word for ‘a basket or hamper used in the Highlands for carrying burdens.’

So this is my take, where the open-work is woven with vegetable-tanned leather strips inspired by ‘breugan na chléibh’, designed to carry burdens. I like to think too that the open spaces allow for our more intangible burdens to enter and leave - a vessel I think we could all benefit from.