On Tuesday 15th January 2008, the public are invited to attend the official opening of artist in residence Karen Rann’s art installation – ‘Presence’. The opening takes place at Ness Bank Church on Tuesday followed by a piped procession to the installation at St Andrews Cathedral.

The installation acts as the culmination of the well received artist residency project ‘The Other Side of Air’ which has been in the city (Inverness) over the past nine months.

The artist in resident Karen Rann is an established artist having worked extensively in the UK and also exhibiting and performing in Hungary, Romania, Germany and Japan with her artwork encompassing installation, sculpture and performance. Karen creates installations and events on a large scale using unusual materials that are unique to their location, of which is the case in the residency in Inverness.

Presence was developed in a response to working with varying local community groups, schools and the Ness Bank Church, St Mary’s Church and St Andrews Cathedral in the early stages of her residency. Karen explains the initial stages of the residency, “The residency began by exploring the theme of Spirituality with primary school children. Using the differences between how we feel on the inside and how that differs from ‘outside’, we talked about finding space and peace within ourselves for reflection, and thinking about others, and how that differs from taking joy in the world around us, in colour, space, being with people and having fun.”

Influenced by each group and the city itself, Karen and the groups involved worked on a series of ‘snapdragons’ style origami shapes to explore the theme as when both flat and folded they have ‘interior’ and ‘exterior’ spaces.

“We created colourful, wacky, fun designs for the outside, and using warmer colours, created gentle, precious interiors. The second part of the process was to write ‘inner messages’ to people special to us. As I was hanging this display, I found one folded in a post-it note tucked in one of the storage boxes, it was written by one child for another: “you changed my life” ” said Karen.

Also being showcased at Tuesday’s launch will be the work of an established local photographer Fin Macrae. His work will also be exhibited at St Andrews Cathedral and emphasizes the theme “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. The initial conversations Fin had with the artist Karen Rann about the project influenced the theme of his exhibition, “It made me think about the way we all have a public face and if asked "how are you?" will always answer "fine". The way we can all be guilty of judging by appearances (for good and for bad) and first impressions are something I find challenging and this is something I wanted to explore a little with this work”. The exhibit offers some thought provoking images which are not always what they seem at first glance.

The residency project series has been a fresh approach in the arts community of the city, and its popularity will encourage similar future events. All projects were well received in the local area, highlighted by Susan Christie, Project Director of ‘The Other Side of Air’; “We've been amazed by the phenomenal enthusiasm & support for the project. It's been lovely to see so many people embrace the idea and get really excited about it!”

‘The Other Side of Air’ was facilitated by Inverness Riverside Churches Association with three 12 week residencies exploring ‘arts and spirituality’ in the broadest sense. The project was also supported by the Scottish Arts Council Partners Scheme, Inverness City Partnership, The Methodist Trust and Highland 2007. The residency is the first in Scotland to link a group of churches and artists to create three residencies.

The first was centred upon the Merkinch Area with artist-in-residence, Liverpool-born Del Whitticase designing a powerful and awe-inspiring artwork ‘SYSTEM’ for Trinity Church. The second artist in residency was undertaken by Geoff Broadway whom challenged artists and the residents of Inverness to explore aspects of spiritual life in contemporary society through dialogue and creative means creating his piece ‘SMALL WONDER’, a sound and light installation.

This Tuesday’s opening will begin at 6.30pm at the Ness Bank Church, with the piped procession starting at 7.15pm. This is followed by a gathering at the neighbouring Old Boys School where mulled wine is served.

‘Presence’ will be viewable to the public from 15th January to the 2nd February at St Andrews Cathedral every day from 7.30am – 6.15pm and at Ness Bank Church 5pm – 7pm.