ISLAY LEGACY
Silk cyanotype hanging scroll, printed nocturnally with moonlight on the August 2023 Blue Moon in Scotland, with 3228 hand sewn ‘seed stitches’, representing each inhabitant of Islay. Backed with mulberry paper, mounted on wooden dowel with celadon glazed ceramic ends, 90 x 120 cm, Autumn 2023.
Islay Legacy is a bespoke fabric hanging scroll comprising a 120cm cyanotype on silk with stitched embellishment.This work pays homage to the workers on the island that have contributed to the development of the whisky industry and the growth of Islay over the centuries. Referencing ancient global paper maps, and Japanese scrolls adorning alcoves in tea houses, Islay Legacy is a contemporary interpretation of each of these inspirations. Each stitch on the silk depicts clusters of where people gather and inhabit the island.
Decorative stitching was also functional in traditional Japanese embroidery styles dating back to the Edo period (1615 – 1868) when it was used by the working-class farming and fishing communities to make stronger more practical workwear. A worn-out piece of cloth was sashiko stitched with thread to preserve the garment, allowing it to be passed down through generations of workers. This silk-stitched artwork printed with blue moon light references the life and legacy of Islay, reflecting the interwoven relationships between the distilleries and the community.
PORT ELLEN DISTILLERY
In a landmark moment for Scotch Whisky, Port Ellen Distillery, on the world-famous whisky island of Islay reopened this Spring more than 40 years after it closed. The re-envisioned distillery features ultra-modern design with an unobstructed line of sight through the transparent glass stillhouse to the stunning coastline of Islay, across the bay to Carraig Fhada lighthouse. At the centre of this rebirth are two new pairs of copper pot stills that will produce the first Port Ellen in over forty years. The Phoenix stills, recreated as an exact replica of the original stills from 1983, will run alongside a smaller set of Experimental stills, to allow for innovation to flourish from inception.
I am deeply grateful to both QEST and Diageo for the opportunity to create this body of work, to Clare and Ewen at Hearts & Feints for commissioning the work, to Willy and his team for a seamless install, and to Ali and Emily at Port Ellen Distillery for their enthusiasm and sensitivity.
*The making of this artwork was made possible by the support and advice of Jan Breckenridge.