Flight Into Fantasy
Pedestrians passing art.tm in Inverness were given the chance to experience a unique form of flight recently. As part of the 'Year of the Artist' celebrations the Highland's premier arts venue displayed a special form of video installation. Beamed on to the front of the gallery's Bank Street premises was a work by artist Pernille Spence entitled 'I look up... I look down'. The video installation, followed a parachutist in freefall and explored notions of flying, falling and the human desire to escape our gravitational pull. Art.tm director, Gordon Rogers said: "It is a public art work that's touring Scotland, it's been to Dundee and Edinburgh and we were it's third showing. "It was projected into the big arch window so that it was visible from the street." The film features a parachutist in freefall, with isolated moments where the performer appears to be flying with instinctive control, then moments of falling out of control followed by terror or ecstasy. Mr Rogers added: "They looked like they were flying and tumbling, it was beautiful falling through and tumbling through the sky, it's quite dreamy." The piece was composed in response to the 'Give Me One Good Reason' campaign which asked high profile people in public life to give a reason why the arts are important.
Cash Boost
The Scottish Executive handed over a major cash boost to the bid by Inverness to become European City of Culture in 2008. Deputy Minister for Sport, the Arts and Culture Allan Wilson announced the £100,000 handout to help cover the costs of preparing the Highland Partnership's bid. Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the local enterprise network are in the steering group behind the bid to win the title. Mr Wilson made the announcement as part of an additional £3.5million funding package for the arts, sport and heritage. He said: "The Executive applauds the new confidence and determination which have inspired the council, HIE, the local enterprise network and their partners to seek to develop a Highland bid for designation as European capital of culture 2008. "Therefore we're pleased to offer the partnership our support towards the costs of preparing the bid to the extent of £50,000 for this year and last." Highland Council was delighted with the news as the bid could incur some expenses in the short term - although winning the title would more than make up for the initial outlay.
Cadadh Clansmen
A successful Ross-shire entrepreneuse promoted her latest business at the recent Scottish Fair in Aviemore. Mary Buchanan sold off her former business, Slioch Outdoor Equipment, which she ran in Poolewe for 17 years, to pursue her venture, Cadadh. The company, which handmakes 17th century style Highland porcelain dolls, was to have been publicised in the United States last September but that was cancelled after the terrorists attacks. The fair attracted a large number of big and small names to the Highlands. Mrs Buchanan spent last winter teaching herself how to craft dolls. She said Cadadh, a Gaelic word used to describe an old type of tartan, was the result of her wanting to do something totally different. "I make everything myself, apart from the swords and dirks, which are made by an armourer based in Ayrshire who normally makes full size weapons. There are two types of customers for the product: one are people who collect them, and the others are Americans who are interested in clan heritage and history."
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Scottish Pub of the Year
A Highland pub has scooped the prestigious Malt Whisky Bar of the Year award. The Uisge Beatha Lounge in the Drumchork Lodge Hotel, Aultbea, landed the award ahead of stiff competition in the 5th annual Scottish Licensed Trade News Awards. The award marks the culmination of years of hard work for owners Frances Oates and John Clotworthy, who took over the lodge three years ago. The partners recently described themselves as delighted and thrilled with the award which they collected from comedian Fred McAuley at a ceremony in Glasgow's Hilton International Hotel. Ms Oates said: "We're delighted. It was a brilliant ceremony." The bar owner put the prize down to the bar's ability to attract a young clientele. She commented: "I would suggest it's down to the type of people we're aiming at - a younger market. "A big majority of our customers are younger people and we've been really successful down those lines. Ian Craig, senior business development manager, representing award sponsors Glenmorangie, said: "Uisge Beatha won the award in the face of stiff competition from some of the best bars in Scotland. "We were impressed by the obvious pride they take in the range of malts in stock and they are always on the lookout for new ones, though with over 300 in stock, there aren't too many they don't have." Bar manager at Uisge Beatha Lounge - Gaelic for water of life - Jeanette Blackley said: "We're all delighted. We hadn't been building our hopes up too high, but we are very happy."
'Trojan Horse' Fort
Archaeologists began a dig recently that could produce artefacts from 2,000 years of Scottish history and uncover the remains of a 700 year old fortress built by an English king to keep the Scots under control. One of the primary aims of the excavation in the grounds of Linlithgow Palace is to look for evidence of a lost fort, or peel, erected by Edward I in 1302 and destroyed by Robert the Bruce after the Battle of Bannockburn. The fort was also the scene of Scotland's own "Trojan horse" incident in which a small number of Scots jumped from a hay cart to slaughter the English garrison. Settlement in the area dates from Roman times and Scottish and English monarchs regularly fought over the site, which was vital to the control of the country. Nick Bridgeland, inspector of ancient monuments with Historic Scotland, said the dig could turn up everything from Roman artefacts to 14th century fortifications and the remains of a 19th century glue factory.
Suits Golfers to a Tee
A Scottish golf caddie has developed the ultimate tee for budding golfers to help them hit the ball in a straight line. Inventor Duncan Bayne, from St Andrews, designed the plastic Projetta Tee after watching novice golfers spend their entire round of golf in the rough. The revolutionary tee claims to send the ball flying straight down the fairway no matter how wildly the club swing. It is inspired by the "plant" shot in snooker, where one ball, touching another, is struck to send its neighbour forward in a straight line. Mr Bayne said his tee worked by placing a cone shaped striker between the ball and the club to produce the same effect. He said no matter which angle the face of the golf club hit the tee at, the ball would always go in a straight line. And he said while the tee would never be allowed in competitions, it would be ideal for new golfers frustrated by losing their ball at every drive.
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