This Saturday, 19th July, the Pier Arts Centre in Orkney will be hosting ‘Gunnie Day,’ to celebrate the life and work of Gunnie Moberg. Family, friends, acquaintances and those who simply admired her work are invited to see the current exhibition of her photographs, Three Island Groups, and if they wish, to bring or send a memento to the Pier Arts Centre for inclusion in a special display that will reflect the quiet and profound influence that Gunnie could bring to friendship, conversation and to the act and art of seeing.

Gunnie Moberg was a remarkable artist and photographer, Swedish by birth but as close as anyone to being an adopted native of the Northern Isles. Her subjects – the land, life and people of Orkney, Shetland and Faroe – were represented in ways that were not only strikingly new and important but also popular and accessible. Whether they were produced to a deadline for national papers, or slowly refined through repeated observation and in particular through the many projects she shared with her friend the writer George Mackay Brown, her images quickly became central in the cultural self-awareness of these distinctly individual northern places.

Not only her photography but her personal beauty, her quiet charisma and great enthusiasm for life: and no less, her unstinting hospitality, made her important in the lives of very many people, of all backgrounds and interests. These qualities express themselves in her photographs, in the books and exhibitions, but perhaps most particularly in the extraordinary archive of photographs of almost every artist and writer who visited Orkney over thirty years as guests of the St Magnus Festival. “People tend to the brightness of her nature,” as Mackay Brown once wrote. Her early death, late last year left many grieving. It is no surprise that the invitation to contribute to this Orkney celebration of her life, her work and friendship has been so widely and so sincerely welcomed.

Neil Firth, Pier Arts Centre Director said ‘We are very pleased to have this chance to contribute to a celebration of Gunnie’s life. The tour of Three Island Groups, which has travelled to Denmark, the Faroes and Shetland, ends with its showing here in the Pier Arts Centre and having discussed with her family what might be done to celebrate Gunnie’s life locally, we hope that the day’s activities will bring a focus to the many ways in which people have expressed their high regard and affection for Gunnie, whether as a life long friend, or admiring acquaintance.’

A wonderful variety of personal reflections has already been submitted to the gallery including photographs, paintings and other artworks, written messages and poems. These and other contributions will all be displayed on the day and can be submitted by sending or delivering to the Pier Arts Centre before Saturday 19th July or can be brought along to the gallery on the day itself.

As part of the many contributions that will be on display, a short film has been brought together and edited for the occasion by Mark Jenkins. The film is a personal reflection inspired by Gunnie’s garden and the ‘housebooks’ that she kept. It includes comments from some of the people locally who knew Gunnie along with images of Gunnie herself and her work.

The exhibition Three Island Groups’ focuses on Orkney, Shetland and Faroe – three island groups that were very close to the artist’s heart and will continue until August 2 along with the short film.

Further to the exhibition of mementos at the Pier Arts Centre on Saturday, there will be a gathering at the Stromness Hotel organised by her family and friends as their contribution to the day. A ‘toast to Gunnie,’ will be raised at 12.30pm to which everyone is warmly invited.