Silver Seed, an exhibition by Anya Gallaccio at Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute, will run till 30 September 2005. 

The spectacular nineteenth century Gothic house, Mount Stuart, was born out of the vision and personal passions of the 3rd Marquess of Bute, and over the years has expanded and developed its themes according to the interests of successive family owners. For Gallaccio the context was both an inspirational and overwhelming starting point; it was challenging to add anything to the environment, which was already saturated in detail. Her intention was to explore the possibility of intervening in a discreet way –- to make something new, but to work within the existing ethos and in the original spirit of how the place came to be.

While the house and gardens have been designed and decorated using scientific themes such as botany and astronomy, they also function as spaces of fantasy and daydreaming. The interventions that Gallaccio has proposed, whilst simple and straightforward, are potentially places to drift and imagine. Inspired by the eighteenth and nineteenth century planting of European and North American conifers within the gardens, she has created a huge silver tree on the eastern edge of the Victorian pinetum. A series of silver gelatin prints of microscopic images of conifer seed are exhibited in the gallery and selected loaned glass and bronze sculpture is placed in the main reception rooms at Mount Stuart alongside the permanent collection, including a bronze and silver tree purchased for Paisley Museum by The National Collecting Scheme for Scotland.

The exhibition has received support and assistance from Scottish Arts Council, The Henry Moore Foundation, Paisley Museum and Art Galleries, National Collecting Scheme for Scotland, Thomas Dane and Galatea Contemporary Art.

Through the visual arts programme, Mount Stuart Trust aims to promote and facilitate interest in the contemporary visual arts and bring exhibitions of international standard to Bute and Argyll. To create potential for a wider audience and new perspectives, it utilizes the context of Mount Stuart and the island of Bute as an exciting opportunity for public artwork and provides inclusive educational opportunities. 

 For further information please contact: Mount Stuart, Rothesay, Bute PA20 9LR
T: 01700 50 3877 E: contactus@mountstuart.com  W: www.mountstuart.com
Gallery open daily 10am-6pm ADMISSION FREE
Ferry and train information: www.calmac.co.uk/summer-bute-timetable