Adult Learning offer a range of other evening classes, details of which can be found on their website www.learnshetland.com where you can also enrol online.

Music Technology

Pro Tools 101 – An Introduction to Pro Tools.

Introduction to the industry standard digital audio production software package. The course includes Pro Tools functionality; digital audio theory, recording, editing and mixing; MIDI sequencing and software synthesizers. Included in the course is the official ‘Pro Tools 101′ book and instructional DVD. Students are eligible to undertake the Pro Tools 101 exam to gain an industry certified qualification. Tutors: Fraser Mouat, Thomas Cockayne and Bryan Peterson.

12 week course from 14 September (Tuesdays, Lerwick) – more details

Cubase for Beginners

Learn to use Cubase software to record and edit digital audio and midi, apply effects, mix down tracks and produce your own CDs. Tutor: Fraser Mouat.

4 week course from 15 February 2011 (Tuesdays, Lerwick) – more details

Digital DJ’ing – An Introduction

The course covers software and hardware setup, loading music from an iPod or USB drive, beatmatchining, EQ use and set construction. Tutor: Fraser Mouat.

4 weeks from 11 January 2011 (Tuesdays, Lerwick) – more details

Graphic Design

Graphic Design for Digital and Print

The course covers an introduction to graphic design skills for digital and print formats, featuring practical exercises using pencil/paper and graphics software. Tutor: Jono Sandilands.

6 weeks from 20 September (Mondays, Lerwick) – more details

Creative Writing

Creative Writing – Beginners

The hands on leaner centred course covers creative writing techniques and how to employ them, such as looking at different ways to start writing and to access and develop ideas.  Tutor: Jen Hadfield

10 weeks from 13 September (Mondays, Lerwick) – more details

Creative Writing – Advanced

The course covers poems and short stories, developing and improving creative writing, increasing confidence and skills and preparing for publication. Tutor: Donald Murray.

10 weeks from 13 September (Mondays, Lerwick) – more details

Crafts

Creative Needle Felting

The course covers needle felting onto silk and other fabrics.  Needle felting is a creative process, which can be used to embellish a garment, scarf etc. Tutor: Mary Thomson.

5 weeks from 21 September (Tuesdays, Brae) – more details

The Process of Design

The course covers the whole design process, from sketchbook to final product. Tutor: Emma Blain

10 weeks from 14 September (Tuesdays, Scalloway) – more details

Portage: Finger Symbols from Shetland Arts on Vimeo. Film by Jono Sandilands www.jonosandilands.com.

Thanks to all the jewellers who took part in Finger Symbols for the use
of their work.

Portage: Finger Symbols from Shetland Arts on Vimeo. Film by Jono Sandilands

Vicki Ambery-Smith

7 August – 5 September 2010, incorporating the following talks and workshops with jeweller Alison Macleod:

• Binding Memories Workshop – 14 August
• Laminating Jewellery Workshop – 15 August
• My Work and Influences: Artist Talk – 17 August

Shetland Arts’ Bonhoga Gallery is celebrating finger adornment with its new exhibition for August. Finger Symbols, the second show in the Portage trilogy, featuring contemporary jewellery for the hands by both established and emerging makers, using inspirational and imaginative materials and methods of making. An invitation is extended to everyone attend the exhibition preview at 7.30 pm on Friday 6 August.

During 2008, Shetland Arts was awarded curatorial and programme development funding from the Scottish Arts Council to research and develop ideas for the exhibition of contemporary craft in Shetland. Two years of research has resulted in the curation of three exhibitions to be held during 2010 at Bonhoga Gallery.

Nora Fok

A circle is the perfect expression of infinity, continuity and connection; no beginning and no end; no turns or corners in between. The hole in the centre of the ring symbolises the gateway or door leading to things and events both known and unknown. With rings, lovers and wedded couples pledged their faith; kings and popes exercised their power; noblemen displayed their lineage, and merchants marked their goods. More than 200 rings by over 50 international jewellers can be viewed in this intriguing exhibition. Gemstones sit alongside silicone; records and cards are transformed into jewellery; and a ring depicting Venice can adorn a finger.

Fingertip ornaments, two fingered rings and decorative pieces that sit between the fingers as well as more conventional rings that suggest tradition, myth, and symbolism are on show. Mary Smith who has curated this exhibition, writes, ‘I have become fascinated by rings: their history, social importance and power; how they signify wealth, love, and loyalty to a sect or secret society; a statement of one’s individuality or merely enjoyed as objects of beauty. Unobtrusive, personal and enigmatic; rings still speak to us in a language that defies time.’

Rings from across the world are exhibited in a simple and minimalist way while others are displayed in window installations by Mike Finnie. The work sits alongside a specially commissioned film by Jono Sandilands and photographs by Chloe Garrick: both recent graduates who have returned to work in Shetland. The pure simplicity of Chloe’s photographs contrasts with the abstract adventures of the rings captured on film by Jono Sandilands that can be viewed on the Shetland Arts website (URL TBC) after 6 August. This is Shetland Arts’ first online exhibition – albeit an intriguing one!

Michael Berger rings

An exhibition catalogue, in DVD format, featuring information on the makers, commissioned essays and a copy of the film will compliment the exhibition. This can be purchased to use with the downloadable education pack.

Alison Macleod, a Glasgow based jeweller, will visit Shetland to talk on My Work and Influences at Bonhoga Gallery on Tuesday 17 August at 7pm. Alison will also hold a CPD session at Bonhoga Gallery on Monday 16 August.

Workshops with jewellers have been a feature of previous Bonhoga exhibitions and Alison will use binding, sewing and riveting techniques to combine precious and found objects to create large sculptural rings.  Another workshop will be held on creating jewellery by collage, repetition, layering and folding flat paper elements into sculptural bracelets, brooches and rings. The workshops will be held on 14 and 15 August in the learning room at Shetland Museum and Archives.  The workshops can be booked through Shetland Box Office on 01595 745 555.

Bonhoga Gallery is open 10.30 – 4.30 Tuesday to Saturday and noon to 4.30 on Sundays.

Contact Shetland Arts for more information

Portage: Finger Symbols, an exhibition exploring rings and finger ornaments, curated by Mary Smith can be seen at Bonhoga Gallery, Weisdale, Shetland from 7 August to 5 September.  The exhibition shows contemporary work created by emerging and established international makers and also features photography by Chloe Garrick and a film by Jono Sandilands.  The film can also be viewed online after 6 August 2010 and will be Shetland Arts’ first online exhibition.

The exhibition opening is at 7.30pm on 6 August and an invitation is extended to all to come along.

A DVD catalogue of the work by over 50 makers, essays and the innovative film of the jewellery will be available from Bonhoga Gallery.  This format was thought to be particularly appropriate for the theme of Portage – a considerable amount of information contained within a small object.

To accompany the exhibition there will be two workshops by Glasgow based jeweller Alison Macleod.  A ring workshop entitled Binding Memories will be held on 14 August and a Laminating workshop using laminated papers to create necklaces, bracelets, rings, etc will take place on 15 August.  Both will be held in the Learning Room at Shetland Museum and Archives and bookings can be made by contacting Shetland Box Office on 01595745555.  Alison will give a presentation and talk about her work in Bonhoga Gallery at 7pm on 17 August.  This event is free and an invitation is extended to all.

More information –  Alison Macleod Workshops

This year the Shetland Open is changing…

it will now take place as a biennial (every two years), with an exhibition by the prize winners in each intervening year. Each biennial will adopt a different theme.

Open 2010 (pdf) – More information and details of how to enter

Brooch by Alison Macleod

CPD EVENT: Monday 16 August 2010, Bonhoga Gallery, 4.30-6.30pm. An illustrated talk and workshop by Alison Macleod, award winning jeweller & graduate of Edinburgh College of Art.

More information – Art Plus CPD event 16 August 2010 pdf

Mirrie Lace fuses the craft of Shetland lace knitting with new technologies. Twenty-one knitters have been working with artists Nayan Kulkarni and Roxane Permar to develop Shetland lace pieces which will become part of the permanent light installations for Mareel, Shetland’s new music, cinema and education venue. Mirrie Lace forms a significant part of the project, Mirrie Dancers, conceived by the artists and commissioned by Shetland Arts. This exhibition offers the first public opportunity to see what this exciting new work involves.

The exhibition gives an insight into the experimental process undertaken by this diverse group of highly skilled knitters over the last year. It includes the knitters’ lace pieces as well as light projections, using the work of eighteen different knitters to create a light installation in the upper gallery. This work employs a unique system of LED lights designed and produced by Nayan Kulkarni and lighting engineer Duncan Turner. 

The knitters have been working with the artists since July 2009 and ever since they have been exploring new ways to use their knitting by taking part in a series of group ‘laboratory’ sessions called Lace Labs. In each Lace Lab the knitters came together with the artists to look at their knitted pieces through a prototype light projector that simulates the lights which will be used in the permanent artworks at Mareel. The Lace Labs provided an important opportunity for the artists and knitters to share their thoughts, ideas and to collectively consider the qualities of different patterns, materials and scale in combination with the light, as well as technical knitting issues. 

Mirrie Dancers is funded by the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and LEADER funding.

The exhibition runs until 1^st August.

The mini site can be found here:  Portage: Crossing Points Mini Site
And press release for more information: Digital Kists, Networked Necklaces and Long Distance Lovers

Crossing Points on twitter @CrossingPoints

Portage: Crossing Points (29 May – 27 June), Bonhoga Gallery, Shetland.