The 'Pushing the Boundaries' exhibition is reviewed on behalf of craftscotland by Caroline Ednie.

One of the most striking first impressions of  Pushing the Boundaries - a touring exhibition of new work by the Scottish Basketmakers Circle - is the smell.  Not a full-on or in-your-face one but a gentle almost imperceptible waft - of freshly cut willow wood, which quietly draws the viewer into this small yet substantial exhibition.  This olfactory note strikes just the right chord for a show which aims not only to challenge the possibilities of basket weaving, but also to celebrate the versatility and vitality of willow as a medium. 

Its with good reason that the willow is writ large in Pushing the Boundaries, for the exhibition is essentially a companion piece to the Big Willow project which took place during May in the Brahan Estate, culminating in Patrick Doughertys remarkable sculptured willow pieces.  It would be satisfying to see the Big Willow included in some way within the context of the exhibition, however, the show is currently Big Willow-less.  But plans are afoot for Ross-shire based photographer Fin Macraes images of the event to accompany the tour, so hopefully this will materialise in due course.

Still, Pushing the Boundaries is quite capable of standing on its own, mainly due to the diversity - and even bio-diversity - of the works on display.  For as well as the prevailing willow pieces such as Lise Bechs basket pods and Trevor Leats sculptural Strip the Willow, Mary Butcher has experimented with looping techniques using loopy tube washing line.  In a similar vein Jaimie MacDonald has chosen to weave plastic film containers and in doing so has succeeded in exploring the conundrum of incorporating man-made, even waste, materials within a real, traditional craft framework. 

As the title would suggest the exhibition sets out to challenge the quaint folksy notion of basketry.  Whereas Butcher and MacDonald have gone down the route of reinterpreting the craft form via unorthodox materials, the majority of the makers involved have taken the traditional, functional and ordinary willow and re-imagined it in extraordinary ways.  The results are often unexpected and at times thrilling.

Lizzie Fareys woven willow wall paintings are quite talismanic in their effect and Julie Starks Shellform, a bold conch-like sculpture using living willow (and the main source of the willow waft) is a powerful presence both in formal and sensory terms.  Maggie Smiths Willow Explorations are intriguing, however the accompanying text gives little away some more information in general might have been helpful.  Still, Anna Kings unusual ensembles of willow with the likes of reindeer hair, grasses and kozo paper offer up some clue as to their raison dtre via their exotic titles, such as Inky Pinky and Whim Wham and Kilted Sausages.  It transpires that the inspiration was an old SWRI cookbook belonging to Kings mother. 

Perhaps the most boundary pushing series of works on show is Tim Johnsons experiments with crushed chalk and scorched willow paintings.  Through a process of improvisation incorporating traditional weaving techniques fixed and bound in crushed chalk, Johnson has created pieces that have the aura of an archaeological find, yet that also resemble a digitally processed photograph.  As a result this places the traditional concepts of weaving very much within a bang-up-to-date twenty first century context. 

The Scottish Basketmakers Circle may conjure images of a cosy, cottage craft but on the strength of the experimental and often bold work presented her, a major re-think of any preconceived ideas may well be on the cards.

Pushing the Boundaries is on at Gracefield Arts Centre, 28 Edinburgh Road, Dumfries from 10 February until 17 March 2007.  Opening hours Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. 

To celebrate the opening of the exhibition on Saturday 10 February, between 2 and 5pm they are holding Weave and Wine for everybody, whether new to working with willow, have worked with it previously or are more experienced, to learn and exchange skills, knowledge and techniques of weaving and working with willow in the company of exhibitors and Scottish Basketmakers Circle members. Exhibitor Anna King will be giving a gallery talk at 3pm and introducing works and discussing contemporary practice. All this over a glass of wine. The event is free.
 
Anna King will be delivering a craft master-class on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 March 2007, 10am to 4.30pm. Pushing Your Own Boundaries offers participants the opportunity to experiment with unfamiliar materials, to look at different structures, explore spatial relations and containment and appreciate past traditions and build on it. The cost is 60 (50 conc) and includes basic materials, tea and coffee throughout the day. For further details and a full course outline please contact Gracefield Arts Centre Tel: 01387 262084 e-mail: HelenV@dumgal.gov.uk

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