|
In 1981 an exhibition of old photographs of Pittenweem entitled Pittenweem Yesterday was presented, in aid of Lifeboat funds, at Kellie Lodging in one of the village’s oldest houses. The response locally was overwhelming and three artist’s then living in Pittenweem planned to establish a Pittenweem Arts Festival the following year. It aimed to show high-quality exhibitions of visual arts and include evening performances of drama, music and poetry. In July of 1982 the first Royal Burgh of Pittenweem Arts Festival took place. Invited artists of note exhibited in the few public venues we had access to; residents were encouraged to open a room in their house to display artists’ work. A number of workshops and demonstrations of tapestry weaving, pottery and dance were also included. Our first invited artist was Ian Hamilton Finlay with his exhibition Diamond Studded Fishnets based on fishing boats and boat names. He entitled our first Festival A Pittenweem Fancy using the old terms “fancy” meaning a celebration. Reported as on “outstanding Success” in the various press reviews, we surged forward to make the festival an annual event. In 1983 The Ring-Net by Will Maclean was shown in the Scout Hall, looked after by some of the older fishermen who demonstrated net-making at the same time. The Old Town Hall in Cove Wynd at that time was kept entirely for out theatre and music events and also a few tea-dances and evening French Bistro events. In 1984 with Dr Hew Lorimer our then patron, the Pittenweem fishermen invited us to join the annual fishing Gala event, usually on the first Saturday in August. The Gala was a memorable happening with all the fishing fleet decorated in bunting. Each boat carried a “fisher lassie”, after the skipper’s daughter. The boats took visitors and disabled children in convoy around the May Island and back. In 1985 the Festival began to invite a personality to open the combined festival and Gala. That year Sheena MacDonald, journalist and broadcaster, welcomed visitors from a rostrum erected at the edge of the harbour by the fish-market. When the boats returned from their trip, each boat first landed their fisher lassie who wore the name of the boat on a sash over her “posh” evening dress. Sheena then presented the Cup to the winner. A one-man play about the arrival of St Fillan, specially written for the Festival by Tom McGrath, was performed in St Fillan’s Cave. St Fillan arrived by small fishing boat and, dressed as a monk, clambered up the ladder, accompanied by a small boy playing a fiddle. In the Granary that year an exhibition of photographs by Oscar Marzaroli was shown. In Kellie Lodging The Smoke Box by Keith McIntyre, illuminated only by the light of smoking fish, was made into an installation. Press articles were more numerous now and in 1982 the Scotsman devoted a colour section to the Festival. Artists shown at the Festival include Keith Brockie; Dorothy Stirling; Richard Demarco; Robert Callendar; Elizabeth Ogilvie; Joan Eardley; Lil Neilson; Jurek Putter; John Bellamy. Visiting Poets include Norman McCaig; Ian Crichton Smith; George Bruce and poet laureate Edwin Morgan. Reinhard Behrens who made the burning galleon (see photo) was the invited artist in 2000. He has lived and worked in Pittenweem for about 20 years. In 2005 we added Philip Reeves to our prestigious list of celebrities and in 2006 we welcome the return of Will Maclean. |
|
|
Home
|
Programme cover, poster, flyer design by Neil Aitkenhead, |
|
© Copyright Pittenweem Arts Festival