Support teacher turned artist to showcase work in Bonar Bridge exhibit
A former support teacher who left the classroom to follow her lifelong passion for art is preparing to showcase her latest work in Bonar Bridge this weekend.
Saddhavati Monahan, from Culeave, Strathcarron, will present Scribbles, Fragments – Voices of Friendship and Belonging at the Old Icehouse on Saturday and Sunday, November 8 and 9.
The exhibition forms part of the former Tain and Alness teacher’s final major project for a master’s degree in Fine Art with Falmouth University and follows a reflective “Art Walk” held last weekend along the Kyle, where participants joined her to draw and talk together about connection, belonging and stillness.
“In my final major project Scribbles, Fragments – Voices of Friendship and Belonging I have been exploring the connections between people, place, community and friendship,” Ms Monaghan said. “In a fractured and polarised world connections and community feel ever more significant.”
Her work brings together sound, drawing, photography and found objects collected during walks and conversations with two communities close to her – the Gym Ladies group that meets at The Hub in Bonar Bridge, and the Highland Buddhist Community in Inverness.
“Walking and conversation as art practice is at the root of the work,” she explained. “There are fragments of conversations in an interweaving sound piece as well as moments in time captured through found objects sourced whilst walking.
“There’s also a series of drawings made with movements of the body whilst walking, alone and with others, and documentation through photography.”
The exhibition has been supported by the Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust, which provided the historic Old Icehouse as a venue.
“I am delighted and grateful that the Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries have kindly allowed me to use the building known as the Old Icehouse to share the work in this upcoming exhibition,” she added. “This perfectly located building has its own story, and provides the perfect setting and space for the artwork within the cultural heritage of the Kyle.”
The inspiration for Ms Monaghan’s art journey began in Ullapool with Eleanor White of Bridge House Art before studying Fine Art through UHI in Taigh Chearsabhagh, North Uist and Elgin, completing a BA before progressing to her MA at Falmouth.
She previously co-ran the Highland Ecology Centre in Strathconon with her husband Jim, and has lived in the Kyle of Sutherland area since 2000. Her two adult sons live abroad, in the USA and New Zealand.
The exhibition runs from 11am to 4pm next weekend.