Artists will showcase their work in the Cabrach in an exhibition in Huntly this weekend
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THIS weekend, the two Moray-based artists who spent the summer of 2021 developing an arts project in The Cabrach will showcase their work.
Lynne Strachan and Mary Bourne delved into the history of the remote de-populated area just on the Moray side of the border with Aberdeenshire.
Their work uncovered the stories of families who lived there, the farms and businesses they ran, the reasons they left and the memories they still hold.
The future of the area is in flux with the coming of wind farms which are changing its character.
The project's aim was to find ways for people to reconnect with each other through arts activities and to get out and enjoy the stunning scenery and wildlife in the area.
Over the summer they explored the area on foot - alone, together and guided by people with local knowledge.
Mary said: "There was a lot of chatting along the way with people we met on our walks, as well as with participants at the events we organised - a silver jewellery workshop, a metal casting workshop and photography and sketching walks."
Since then Lynne and Mary have been developing artwork in response to what they have learned.
Lynne said, "The work has been influenced by the materials people have left behind which are slowly being reclaimed by nature, as well as by the personal items that would have carried away when they left.
"We have been experimenting with fabrics, glass, cast iron, copper and silver to develop works that will hopefully bring renewed attention to areas that have been lost or forgotten.
"Working with Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Northlands Creative and Vanilla Ink Jewellery Workshop has given us the opportunity to experiment with new materials and learn complex processes from these highly knowledgeable teams."
The exhibition, The Cabrach Reconnections, promotes the Cabrach further afield as a fascinating place and encourages people to come and enjoy it.
It will be on show this Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 4pm at Battlehill Lodge - formerly the Battlehill Hotel, or Hill Hotel, Battlehill, Huntly, AB54 6HX.
