The launch of the Macphail Centre’s community art project Passing Places/Aite Seachnaidh will be celebrated in Ullapool on Thursday 25 January 2007, as part of Highland 2007, the year Scotland celebrates Highland culture.
Passing Places/Aite Seachnaidh has involved over 100 local people using digital photography, printmaking and painting to create a breathtaking walk through the places we live in but usually pass by. Whenever you drive on a single-track road in the Highlands you use passing places – this exhibition gives you an insight into those things you might miss if you just drive on.

Ullapool artist Eleanor White, who led the project said, “If you live in or visit the Highlands you will have experienced driving on a single track road. The Passing Places sign is an iconic one, a simple square turned on its head. This shape gave us the format to base our images on both individually and collectively. The initial photography workshops gave people the opportunity to explore the landscape. Around 360 photographs were gathered and 124 were selected and developed into paintings that make up the exhibition. The project was enormously successful. Success was judged by the enjoyment of the workshops and the expectation of seeing many parts come together as a whole community exhibition.” Workshops were open to people of all ages, whether they felt they had artistic skills or not. Participants ranged from complete beginners to established artists who live and work in this community.

 Macphail Centre Coordinators; Chris Brotherston and Fran Harrison who initiated the project, said, “We are so excited! The launch party on Thursday evening will be the first time all the participants have seen the finished piece and we think they will be amazed and delighted at what they have achieved. Eleanor White has been an inspirational artist and has brought out creative talents that people didn’t know they had.”

After the launch Passing Places/Aite Seachnaidh will be exhibited at the Macphail Centre and Ullapool Library until February 16th, and will then tour to other venues in the Highlands and further a field.

Passing Places/Aite Seachnaidh is supported by Highland 2007, The Highland Council, Leader+, the Macphail Centre, Scottish Natural Heritage and Ullapool Tourism & Business Association.

Further information from

Chris Brotherston & Fran Harrison
Macphail Centre, Mill Street, Ullapool.
Tel 01854 613336. Email: macphail.centre@ullapoolhigh.highland.sch.uk  

Eleanor White
Bridge House Art, Moss Road, Ullapool
Tel 01854 612281. Email: bridgehouseart@ecosse.net