Entries are welcome from amateur, professional and student artists, aged 18 and over, who are linked to Shetland by birth, education or residency.

This year’s theme is Landscape.

In addition to the Shetland Open a Bairns Open will run concurrently in the Lower Gallery.

For information on how to enter work into the Open see:
Open 2012 Call for Entries details (PDF)

Public opening: 20 January, 5.30-7.30pm, Gallery talk: 21 January, 2.30pm

Shetland Arts is delighted to announce that the work of eminent local photographer Dennis Coutts will be showcased at Bonhoga Gallery for the first exhibition of 2012 on Friday 20th January. Dennis has been photographing Shetland’s society for over 60 years and his work is a fascinating catalogue of life throughout the islands. For this exhibition work has been selected from the 1960s and represents Shetland in the pre-oil era.

 The exhibition will appeal to anyone with an interest in the stories and characters from this period in Shetland’s history. While life was very different then, these stunning black and white photographs reflect a character of life in Shetland which is timeless and remains in many ways unchanged today.

Dennis worked as a commercial photographer from his studio on The Street, combining press photography with family portraiture, social reportage and his own interests in natural history and the landscape. Dennis’ incredible talent for photography – particularly portraiture – is highlighted by the quality of composition, at a time when the art of photography was quite different to that of the digital age today.

All the photographs in the exhibition have been hand-printed by Dennis’ son, John, using traditional darkroom processes and are for sale, mounted and signed by Dennis. This is a rare opportunity to obtain a traditional print from this unique archive.

Everyone is welcome to the opening of the exhibition on 20^th January from 5.30-7.30pm. Dennis will be giving a short talk about his work in the gallery on Saturday 21^st January at 2.30pm, which will provide an opportunity to hear some of the fascinating tales of Dennis’ life, career and the subjects of his work. The talk is free, no booking required.

What’s On @ Bonhoga Gallery 2012

Download Bonhoga 2012 Exhibition programme here (PDF)

The book, by international design expert and acclaimed style blogger Olivier Dupon, profiles Whalsay born textile designers Andrea Williamson and Jen Deschênes, along with over seventy other selected artists and designers. Andrea attended the launch with some examples of her work and was happy to sign copies for the many interested visitors.

The Gallery sold all but one copy of the book and have now restocked their shelves ready for more interested customers. The Shetland College has already purchased two for their Degree Course in Contemporary Textiles, and today a review of the book by Angela Hunt, Senior Lecturer in Creative Industries at Shetland College, was published in The Shetland Times. You can read the review here.

Weather-dependent, the Gallery will be open again at the usual times with our Christmas exhibition: “Cold Hands Warm Heart” – art and craft selected from Shetland and the UK: on Saturday or Sunday 10th/11th December.

If you need to contact the Bonhoga Gallery or have any queries please call the Shetland Arts office on 01595 743843.

Today is Mary Smith’s last day with Shetland Arts, exactly 18 years to the day she started. Mary started with one of our predecessor organisations, Shetland Arts Trust at the beginning of October 1993 as the Visual Arts Coordinator.

Mary’s contribution to the arts in Shetland has been huge and far reaching, but her focus and most significant contribution has been with out a doubt the setting up and subsequent operation of Bonhoga Gallery on the Westside. Mary arrived at Bonhoga in the October prior to its opening in April 1994. She saw the gallery through to its teenage years and led its establishment as the gallery you see today which enjoys an international reputation.

In recent years Mary has focused on the development of exciting plans for the next phase of Bonhoga, namely the Hatchery an ambitious plan to expand and develop current visual arts activity on the Westside in a sustainable way.

Shetland Arts will be a very different place without Mary. Staff gathered this afternoon to say goodbye and wish her well in her retirement, a larger thank you celebration is planned for November.

‘Blowup’ is an interactive performance environment designed for choreographed performances and public interaction.  The work consists of two large video projections in which video imagery of the performers or viewers is manipulated in real-time. These images are cut up, redistributed and distorted by the software so that parts of the body are projected larger or smaller than others depending on how fast they are moving.

It offers a fascinating way of exploring the body and its movement within a defined space. The workshop sessions will be led by choreographer and dancer Sue Hawksley  within the interactive environment.

There are three workshops available on Saturday 1st , Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd October from 5.00 pm – 7.30 pm.  They might be of particular interest to individuals/pairs or those who might wish to develop the ideas with existing groups (dance teachers etc) with a view to the group getting the most from the exhibition.  Alternatively, it might just be good fun.

Places on the workshops are free but are limited to just 6 places per session, so advance booking is essential.  Places can be booked on the Shetland Box Office on 01595 745555 or www.shetlandboxoffice.org

Last Saturday was the first in the series of readings for children at Bonhoga as part of The Illustrators exhibition.

Janice Armstrong, local author of The Grumpy Old Sailor and A Midsummer Foy, read to a group of children (and their grown ups) in the gallery surrounded by the wonderful illustrations from books by Julia Donaldson that make up the current exhibition.

More sessions will take place in gallery over the coming weekends (although not this weekend as there are too many amazing things going on at Wordplay and Screenplay). Sessions are free and no booking is required. Check here or the local press for dates and times of upcoming readings as they are announced.

an exhibition of drawings and paintings by Janette Kerr RWA @ Bonhoga Gallery 25 June – 14 August 2011.

Join Janette for an Outdoor Drawing Workshop on Sunday 26 June, 10am-4pm.
Book now on Shetland Box Office.