Stories of radical landownership in North Lewis

Stories of radical landownership in North Lewis

Stories of radical landownership in North Lewis

Produced in collaboration with artist Virginia Hutchison this project brings together narratives surrounding the community land buyout of the Galson Estate in 2007. Created during the COVID pandemic in 2020/2021 the project weaves together local audio archives and interviews and brings them into contemporary conversations surrounding community land ownership. With access and social distancing measures in mind the project has taken the form of a series of cast bronze artefacts temporarily sited in the landscape of North Lewis. Embedded with digital QR codes the artefacts link visitors directly to the audio works via mobile phone.

The Urras will be hosting a walk and talk session in April to visit the bronze artworks on site. The artworks –   a series of cast bronze objects moulded from cut peat – will be touring around the island and to the mainland later in the year before finding a permanent home. The artworks will become part of a living audio archive for the community, weaving in ongoing conversations, stories and recollections.

Credits

Released April 1, 2021

Many thanks to the Galson Estate staff and community.

Special thanks to Agnes and Frank Rennie, Lisa Maclean, Annie MacSween,      Iain Gordon Macdonald, Edinburgh College of Art, Richard Collins (Edinburgh University) and Blackbay Recording Studios.

Voice recording Excerpts:
Annie Macsween, Faclan 2020, A History with Heart and Soul – The Place-names of North Lewis, Ness Historical Society
Frank Rennie, Dùthcas 2020, The Changing Outer Hebrides – Galson and the meaning of Place

Virginia Hutchison is an artist based in Glasgow and the Isle of Lewis.

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The project was produced in conversation with artists Stephen Hurrel and Fiona Rennie.
mappingthesea.net    www.seismicsounds.net    www.sradagcreative.co.uk/buntanas

With support from Community Land Scotland and the Stove Network.