In Spring of 2006, Helmsdale Youth Club, known as HYP, began to plan events to make their mark as part of Highland Year of Culture 2007. One of the projects was to make some original artwork which would celebrate their own cultural heritage and which would also allow them to share their perspective on life in Helmsdale with the older members of the community and with visitors too!
They decided upon making four mosaic panels, which would be hung on a wall bordering the visitors' car park, in the heart of the village. These images would be based on four stylised views of the village, using the natural landscape as a backdrop, but incorporating symbols of the local historical and present-day culture. The designs were developed over the course of youth club meetings in the run up to the summer holidays. During the summer break, HYP members collected plates, cups, and coloured glass, all of which were frost-proof and could be used in the making of the mosaics.
As the autumn nights drew in, the youth club visited my studio during week-day evenings, to learn mosaic cutting techniques and to turn each of their drawings into glittering, textural, three-dimensional works of art!
Everyone enjoyed the experience tremendously and were amazed at how quickly their skills improved. The resulting work is excellent and full of lively interest: the longer you look, the more there is to see. Well done HYP!
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