Eighteen challenging new works of contemporary applied art have been purchased for collections in the McManus Galleries in Dundee and Aberdeen Art Gallery where they are currently on show.

The McManus Galleries has chosen to specialise in glass and ceramics, and their six new purchases are included in ‘Reflection’, an exhibition of new works, which is on until 28 August 2005.

At Aberdeen Art Gallery they have added a further twelve works to their contemporary metalwork collection. 

The works have been purchased with funding from the National Collecting Scheme for Scotland, which is operated by the Contemporary Art Society, and provides match funding for purchases by partner museums to enable them to extend collections. The current phase of the scheme was launched in April 2003 and runs until March 2006 with funds from the National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council.

Convener of Leisure and Arts in Dundee, Bailie Charles Farquhar, said “We are only halfway through this brilliant new scheme.  It has certainly allowed us to expand our horizons.  In the past we only purchased works by Scottish artists and craftspeople and we are still keen to buy and commission work by Scottish practitioners.  However, the NCSS has encouraged us to broaden our approach, taking on a more ambitious, international aspect.”

The six new craft purchases in Dundee include one ceramic piece, A Tutti Frutti Bubble Pyramid, 2004, pebble-glazed earthenware, by Kate Malone.  The majority of the funds have been spent on developing the glass collection.

The largest craft item is the dramatic and colourful Streetwise II, 2004, a glass tableau by Alison Kinnaird, well known for many years as one of Scotland’s leading glass artist.  In 2002 she received a Scottish Arts Council ‘Creative Scotland Award’ which enabled her to develop techniques for introducing colour into her work and resulted in her major piece ‘Psalmsong’ which will go on display at the Scottish Parliament later this year.

Annie Cattrell, who studied sculpture at Glasgow School of Art, works in glass but definitely sees herself as a fine artist.  Her Capacity, 2000/01, depicts a pair of lungs.

Pieces have also been acquired by three of the UK’s leading glass artists: Colin Reid ‘s Untitled, R1198, 2003, a piece of kilncast optical glass resembling an underwater cavern, Bruno Romanelli’s Recollection of a Time IV, 2004 and Rachael Woodman’s Chosen 1, 2004, an innovative piece of blown cased glass, purple over white, with gold leaf. 

The contemporary metalwork collection at Aberdeen Art Gallery has been developed over the past 15 years and currently has around 75 pieces of British metalwork.  The collection emphasises the city’s strong historic connections with silversmithing.

The new purchases which are currently on display include: A Silver Organism and A Small Propagation Project by Junko Mori, a bowl by Vladimir Bohm, three spoons and Billy by Simone Ten Hompel, Artery Series brooch by Dorothy Hogg, Aqua Posey VI by Hiroshi Suzuki, copper vase by Hiroki Iwata, copper vase by Toru Kaneko, Palaces of the Night II pin and In the Gardens of Arqua Petrarca Series bangle by David Watkins and patinated silver bowl by David Huycke.

Aberdeen Art Gallery, Schoolhill, Aberdeen AB10 1FQ is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday 2pm to 5pm. Admission is free.

‘Reflection’, New Works for the City Collection, is on at the McManus Galleries, Albert Square, Dundee until 28 August 2005.  Opening hours are Monday to Saturday 10.30am to 5pm and Sunday 12.30 to 4pm.  Admission free.