This Saturday, May 15th, Artist-in-Residence Paul Topen will be placing a chair made from jesmanite in the sea at Ullapool  to examine the effects of time and weather on the material.

Paul Topen, designer and modelmaker, was selected by the pupils of Ullapool and Gairloch High Schools to work with them on a 40-day residency project in which they have  been looking at new materials and the processes of making, using the theme of ‘Time’ as a vehicle. Ullapool and Gairloch pupils have also been working on designs which have included a series of clocks. Part of the project is for the maker to create a new piece of work in response to the area and the residency and the jesmanite chair, designed by the artist and the pupils, is the result Jesmanite is a stable but versatile plaster–like resin which has immense possibilities for artists and designers. Paul has impregnated the material with iron filings to increase the weathering effect.

When sufficiently patinated by time and the Ullapool tides, the chair will be removed from the sea and will go on display, with a short film of the event, in a craft exhibition which will tour Highland Council galleries in Wick, Thurso, Inverness and Kingussie in the autumn/winter. The exhibition will include, along with some examples of the pupil’s work, two pieces by other artists working in new materials or techniques.  Fabiane Perrella has produced the ‘Ulla-stool’  which is made of a material reminiscent of human skin and Ruth Chalmers has made an electro-formed silver bird. The exhibition will also include work from two other craft residencies which are taking place this spring in Caithness and Lochaber.

Paul's previous creations have ranged from wooden corsets and plastic remote controlled frocks to glass dresses that were smashed on stage. He has won numerous awards for lighting and furniture design.

Paul also lectures at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.

The Craft Residency project is funded by the Scottish Arts Council and the Highland Council

For more information please contact Cathy Shankland, Exhibitions Officer, the Highland Council – ECS.