Creating curiosity

Creative canvas

Some paint on canvas, others on paper. I chose something different. I opted to do my painting on a concrete rendered wall.

Having your own bus shelter and funeral bier store (plus bier!) is rarely high on people’s wish list for a building. Not something you see people raving about on Grand Designs.

However, my Small Mission Hall came with both. I loved their quirkiness. They are cool and inspiring additions to my building design project. In my mind (at least), they also had an intriguing potential for a future art project.

Ideation

I had an idea and knew someone who might be interested in doing an unusual collaboration, so I reached out to them. Nothing ventured and all that…

I was excited when they got back to me, and they were also interested in the concept of working on this fun little project with me.

Check out the fantastic work of graphic artist Anthony Burrill – I may not have running water or heating yet in the building, but I do have one of Anthony’s pieces on the wall for inspiration!

Creative collab

I had used some of Anthony’s work in the past when I made a Letterpress interior for my vintage VW Camper.

This proposal, however, was something quite different. It was for some site-specific art in the wilds of the Outer Hebrides.

First things first, I needed to produce a full-scale stencil. Anthony did the design for this, as getting the typography right was vital.

I then produced the full-size stencil. Cutting it all out by hand was a blast from the past. Good old scalpel, cutting mat and straight edge to the rescue.

The stencil was a guide for the hand-painting of the piece. The individual letters were all hand-cut out. It was important to have this human connection as part of the process.

Art attack

As part of my repurposing ethos, the paint was a leftover donation. Not sure they envisaged it being used for this as its final application, mind you.

Then, of course, you need the weather to be on your side. Fortunately, a sunny weekend finally appeared – it was time to get out painting!

Words in the wild

The final result has been met with some interest and curiosity locally. I was asked what it was supposed to mean.

Like most art, it can be interpreted in multiple ways. I really love its combination of intrigue, ambiguity, typography and word play.

It reminds me of this quote that’s equally true when applied to the way in which we view or interpret art.

‘We do not see things as they are.
We see them as we are’
The Talmud

I have asked some locals what they thought about it…

I read it to mean we are here and it’s time for change; we are the ones in control of the way we decide to lead our lives.

My wife read it to mean aliens are coming, and it’s a warning by you

My daughter read it as a religious meaning, but also that it’s our time, and so we need to turn into the road now

Others simply thought that it was just words. What does it mean to you?

Cool Comment

My favourite comment so far, I overheard from a passing cyclist completing the Hebridean Way as I was just finishing the actual painting itself.

As they were riding past, I overheard them simply say to their cycling companion, ‘You are here, it is now… that is true’

When the weather changes to be more rainy, the colour of the rendered wall darkens to give the work a bolder, more contrasty appearance. I love the way its appearance is responsive and changes with the local climatic conditions.

I’m pleased that it’s inspired these different interpretations; it’s obviously doing its job! It might even be becoming a bit Instagrammable (if there is such a word). Various passers-by have stopped to take a photo when they spotted it on their journey.

Feel free to tag me on @SmallMissionHall and Anthony @AnthonyBurrill if you’re on Instagram with your pictures…

I also created an ‘Easter Egg’ version that is a bit more punk, distressed, and grungy, which is destined to be hidden, never to see the light of day.

Not everything has to make sense. Sometimes in life, the best things never do

Forgotten something?

This was all an idea I had knocking around inside my head for a while. No, I have not forgotten about the main project, the building itself.

If you like or value this in any way, please feel free to like, share or otherwise let me know.

Hey, you could even go crazy and Buy me a Coffee if you wanted.