Australian artist's new exhibition at Strathnaver Museum inspired by 'cruelty and injustice' of the Clearances
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Strathnaver Museum in Bettyhill is next Friday set to launch an exhibition by an Australian artist as part of the Highlands and Islands Climate Festival.
The museum will be showcasing Australian sculptural artist and metal worker Barry Smith’s new body of work entitled “Betrayal and Loss”, which has been inspired by his frequent visits to north Sutherland.
Based in Maleny, Queensland, Mr Smith transforms salvaged materials and objects into artwork reflecting themes of peace, stillness, social justice and the environment.
His new exhibition is based on ‘Letter XI’ – one of a series of letters contained in author Donald Macleod’s book Gloomy Memories – a personal account of the Highland Clearances.
Born in Rosal at the end of the 18th century, Mr Macleod depicted the events he witnessed during the Strathnaver Clearances, which took place from the early to mid 19th century.
During this period thousands of families were removed from inland straths to new lots along the coast to make way for more lucrative sheep farming.
Rosal, home to 13 families farming 50 acres of arable land, was one of the largest of the 49 townships cleared in Strathnaver. Cleared between 1814 and 1819, it became part of Rhiloisk Farm, the tenancy of which was held by the infamous Patrick Sellar, factor for the 1st Duke of Sutherland.
Letter XI explains how some of those removed looked to take up fishing, but with no experience and often inferior equipment this was an especially perilous enterprise.
In one year, Mr Macleod claims that "upwards of 100 boats" were destroyed along the 30-mile stretch of coast from Portskerra to Rabbit Island, often with loss of life, leaving families in increasing deprivation.
He further writes that those obliged to take up fishing could often only afford second-rate equipment, cast off as useless by experienced fishermen. They had to make do and mend with whatever resources they could lay their hands on.
Mr Macleod goes on to state that, although £210,000 was spent by Sutherland Estate on improvements to roads, bridges, inns and manses, this was primarily of benefit only to the gentry and clergy.
Of the vast sum expended on improvements, only £500 directly benefited the small tenantry through the making of a harbour.
Artist Barry Smith said: “The exhibition is inspired by Donald Macleod’s account of the cruelty and injustice of forcing those removed during the Clearances to become fisherfolk.
"The works reference the hardships faced by families forced to the edges; and the great loses sustained on destructive seas along perilous rocky shores."
Strathnaver Museum manager Fiona Mackenzie said: “We are delighted to host Barry’s new body of work in our recently opened Annex building.
“The themes Barry explores in his work relate not only to our past, exploring the hardships of our predecessors during what was a traumatic period in our history, but also to our future through his reuse and reclamation of resources."
Members of the public are invited to attend the launch of the exhibition on Friday, September 1, from 7pm. The exhibition runs until September 30.
Copies of Donald Macleod’s Gloomy Memories can be purchased at the museum.
To read more about Barry Smith, click here and here.
