Original and Local

About a gazillion years ago – okay, maybe 15 or 20 – I went to my very first Perth Festival of the Arts concert.  It was Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra with the amazing voice of Sam Brown as his support.  What started off as a staid, toe tapping event ended up with everyone dancing in the aisles and the roof almost lifting off of the City Hall.  It was unlike anything my young indie / pop heart had ever experienced and was the dawning of my now wholly eclectic taste in music, theatre and the arts.  My motto is you will never know how much joy the arts might bring you until you go along for the ride.

A few years later my uber arty friend Lizzi was on the committee and I buddied her along to many an opening night and art exhibition.  Her passion was wrapped up in ArTAY and she’d spend hours with Hugh from Frames trying to figure out how to level the floor of a giant tent as it strode across the cobbles road at the side of the Café Quarter.   Of course, nowadays the Horescross Plaza offers the perfect location for the ArTAY tent and this wonderful four day Art exhibition has grown in both size and reputation since those early days.

For me, and many other art lovers in Perthshire and beyond, these eleven days in May bring to the forefront the amazing breadth of artistic talent that spreads across Scotland.   It was originated in 1972 which means it is now in its 45th Year.  This makes it one of the oldest continuously running arts Festivals in Scotland.  To see it gather in Perth City Centre, displayed in all its glory across the venues of our Small City is real testament to the volunteer committee and the Festival’s long-time organiser, Sandra Ralston.

Here’s what Sandra said: “It started as an opera and classical music festival in the early ྂs and now covers all artforms. We hope that when the brochure hits the doormat or the twitter feed that there will be something in the programme for all the family. The bottom line for the Festival is top quality and we really strive to bring to Perth shows that you may not see at other times of the year.”  

What I love about anything like this – Southern Fried, The Enchanted Forest, Perth Show – is that it really does feel as though it belongs to us.  This year, for the first time, the committee has commissioned two local artists to produce original work that will be premiered as part of this amazing 45th Festival.

Helen MacKinnon is a Perth based composer and gave up her successful Charity Chief Exec career last year to follow her dream of composing full time.   Since then she has enjoyed a world premiere for her choral work My Voice in the stunning backdrop of Oxford’s Christ Church Cathedral, conducted by Matthew Cheung Salisbury and was recognised for her music by renowned film composer Ennio Morricone as part of the Florence International Choir Festival last year.  

Having seen her press and growing reputation, Helen was invited by the Festival to compose a piece of music for the Festival Service at St John’s Kirk. She decided on a sacred choral piece and using a small part of a psalm from the bible has created a beautiful piece of music that follows the character and rhythm of the words.

Helen will join the 16 strong choir in singing at the Festival Service in Sunday 22^nd May at St John’s Kirk where they will be accompanied by Perth Youth Orchestra.  She had this to say:

“To have been invited to compose for the Perth Festival is a real thrill and I am honoured to have my work showcased in such a beautiful and prestigious service.  I was asked a little nervous about singing but doing it with the choir members and the PYO settled me – safety in numbers afterall.

Since I decided to launch myself as a composer, I’ve been trying out lots of different musical styles but I have to say, writing for voices is something I really enjoy.  I’ve written a few psalms for competitions but this one really jumped out at me.  The theme is ‘Sing A New Song’ which seemed particular fitting and I’ve written in a few dramatic moments that will make a real impact in a building as spectacular as St John’s Kirk.”

Helen isn’t the only local artist to have produced work for the Festival; Georgia Crook an artist based on the banks of Loch Tay works with many mediums but is currently specialising in the use of combined paper and willow.  

She was invited by Hugh Goring, ArTAY director to create a piece of work that would be showcased in the ArTAY marquee during their four day exhibition.  Hugh had seen Georgia’s work elsewhere and gave her an open brief that has resulted in a 5 foot sphere suspended from the ceiling of the ArtTAY tent on Horsecross Plaza.

Georgia is interested in how art, nature and human beings come together and she had collected pieces of driftwood from the floods earlier in the year.  The resulting piece has used the driftwood, willow and paper to bring together beautiful, raw sculpture that highlightsthe natural chaos of the world in which we live.

Georgia does a lot of work to commission but has never been available to work with ArTAY in previous years so this has been a wonderful experience for her.  The piece has been created on loan for ArTAY and will move to Flanders Mess nature reserve near Stirling after the event, allowing other to enjoy the work.

Georgia had this to say: “I’m normally very busy at this time of year so I’ve never had the opportunity to be involved in ArTAY. I’m so grateful that this has been possible and I have loved being involved in such a fantastic event.  Perth Festival of the Arts is such a great festival and to be part of it is a real thrill.”

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See Georgia’s piece in ArTAY from Thursday 19^th to Sunday 22^rd May.

Hear Helen’s piece played at the Festival Service in St John’s Kirk on Sunday 22^rd at 11am.

Helen MacKinnon - WEB | Georgia Crook - WEB