Previously I have said that human activity is my primary focus. But that is not the whole story. To clarify, it is the place in which people, including myself, are located that is the anchor for my work. That to me is the essence of a residency. So at the Ness of Brodgar, it is the archaeological site that encompasses the archaeologists, and my artist’s residency. Everything also links back to the human activity of the Neolithic people, and although we can never be certain what they were doing and why, they were extremely productive in terms of building and making artefacts – just like we are today.
First painting completed. Looking across the site towards the Loch of Harray, with a couple of diggers, and some random creatures.
Drawing of the day: the Oyster Catcher on the spoil heap now has a friend.
And that is the end of my first week on site. More next week…
The first part of the day was spent putting up pictures to advertise the Artists in Residence, in the hope of sales – directing people to my website at karenwallis.co.uk. This was followed by a trip into Kirlkwall in search of a piece of red carpet for the world premiere event, showing my film on site. There was no conclusive success but a possibility for adapting something.
Back on site in time for a couple of drawings. Catching up on progress in Structure 12.
A final drawing of kit being put away into the barn at the end of the day.
Weather permitting, back on site for a full day tomorrow.
Today they began an extension to Trench J to investigate more of Structure 5 and the building on top of it. The top soil was cleared before the morning tea break – and a tour of the trench followed.
Then began the more delicate work of scraping down to the archaeology.
Over in Structure 12 they have begun excavating a hole caused when the drain fell in – and have begun to find some exciting things.
Of course it doesn’t look that exciting to the uninitiated – but watch this space…
i am waiting for an improvement in the weather to finish my first painting.
Looking out across Structure 12 towards the Loch of Harray. The full extent of the landscape is now visible because, due to Covid regulations, there is no viewing platform for visitors. In the drawing the sun is shining on the site and the strip of green field, but there are big mildly threatening clouds beyond the loch.
My seat is in a sheltered corner where Structure 12’s supervisor created some seats for his team to work out of the wind. He has welcomed me into his ‘office’ where this afternoon I began a painting of the same view, which if the fine weather holds I will finish tomorrow.
There is a very big drain, discovered in Structure 8 in 2019, which this year they will be investigating in Structure 12. The drain appears to run underneath all the structures and is therefore likely to be earlier than any of them. I shall follow the progress during my time here.
I have so far failed to capture the sound of the resident Oyster Catcher who regularly flies overhead calling – but too swiftly for me to turn on the recorder. I will keep trying…
After last year’s cancelled dig, we are all very glad to be back. However, things are strictly limited in order to comply with Covid rules. There is only a small team on site working in a much reduced area of the trenches. Visitors are able to watch the work in progress but there are no guided tours. So human activity is quieter and the birds are noisier.
The weather was grey with occasional showers but work continued throughout the day in Trench J, with a visiting Oyster Catcher during the tea breaks.
Tomorrow I will try and record the Oyster Catcher’s calls to go with my drawing, and maybe do some reflective writing about this year’s changes.
If anyone is in Orkney and planning to come to the site, please visit the Ness of Brodgar website for details.
Money is obviously tight for everyone this year but if you would like to support my residency and the dig you can buy prints (£25) and books (£10) through my website at karenwallis.co.uk
