Whisky for Girls

Apr. 01.

Whisky Theme Art Exhibition @ Feis Ile

By whiskyforgirls | Posted in EVENTS, NEWS, Whisky for Girls |
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Whisky Festival Art Exhibition in

Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle (the Columba Centre Islay)

Whisky for Girls (& guys!) are hosting a whisky themed art exhibition for the duration of the Islay Whisky Festival. The exhibition runs from Saturday 18 May to Saturday 8 June.

Entrance to the exhibition is free and the exhibition is open when the Gaelic College is open. The Ionad Chaluim Chille Ile, the Gaelic College, is just outside Bowmore on the road to Bridgend. Drive up the hill past the power station and the Gaelic College is the lovely building on the left over looking Loch Indaal.

We are lucky to bring you the work from amazing painters, photographers & glass workers.

We have the unusual work of Ernie Button who hails from Phoenix, Arizona http://erniebutton.com/?portfolio=vanishing-spirits-the-dried-remains-of-singlemalt-scotch

I asked Ernie to tell us some things about himself and his work ~

1) How did you get into this line of work ~ I don’t mean the dishwasher thing, I mean in the beginning. Were you arty in school?

I’ve been a creative person my whole life. Even with a full-time job I always find time to be creative. I got into music during my high school years which quickly transitioned into writing. I’ve always taken pictures but didn’t start pursuing a fine-art career in photography until I was out of graduate school in the mid to late 1990’s. My wife is a fine-art painter and a teacher so it helps to have someone to share the joys of the creative process with.

2) Are there drams that lend themselves better to this type of photography/art?

I have found that the Speyside Scotches tend to produce these lines more consistently. Other Scotches still produce these lines, just not with every glass. (Keep in mind, this is not a judgment against any whisky, it’s purely an observation from an art making perspective. It says nothing about a person’s favorite whisky and the tastes that a person prefers. I have found that people become very defensive about their favorite Scotch / Whisky ).

3) How do you colour them?

Once the glass is dry I tilt it on it’s side and use a variety of lights, flashlights and colored gels to ‘enhance’ the lines attempting to bring them to life.

4) Do you have a favourite?

Often times, it is the next one that I make.

Any other snippet of information that may be of interest to your public!

Dr. Howard A. Stone, Ph.D, currently at Princeton University works in fluid mechanics. I have been corresponding with him for the past several months about what causes these rings. He was able to explain some of the basic mechanics of how fluids dry for me. However, he is continuing to investigate if there are any unique properties in Scotch Whisky that contribute to the way in which they dry. Science and art; both very fascinating to me.

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We are also lucky to have the lovely Islay influenced work of Dietmar Finger from Germany http://www.fingerpainting.de/

Dietmar told us some things about himself and the inspirations for his work

1) Yes I was arty at school. When I studied Design I even gave sketch and render classes to my classmates.

I am drawing since I can remember.

2) 2000 I was on Islay for the first time. Since then I am coming back constantly.

One main reason was and still is our lovely landlady Moira Leitch, but also so many other friends I have made since.

In 2011 I did spend 6 weeks in a cottage at Laggan Bay to let my body catch my soul and to finish a childrens book.

3) I am inspired by colors mainly, I guess. In the end this is what we see. Light and colors. This I want to capture in a painting.

Ideally there is also some drama involved. Then there is perspective and composition.

4) Currently I love to work in watercolor. This works great to a certain size.

Bigger paintings, like the cars I do (see www.autokeller28.de ) I prefer to do in Acryl.

Whatever medium I use I hope I will find a looser style soon.

5) I got into whisky when I toured Scotland in 1992. We stayed in the wonderful “Pannanich Wells” hotel in Ballater. The owner served me this awesome whisky. The first whisky after being incredibly sick from whisky about 12 years earlier ( my 1st bad experience with alcohol).

This whisky “healed” me.

When Bruichladdich re-opened in 2001 (on my very birthday!!) I ordered a little Blood Tub, which my son and me bottled in 2008.

These bottles are a treasure in our cellar…!

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We also have a great Islay artist, none other than the inimitable Jane Taylor herself! http://islaywhiskydistilleryprints.co.uk/

I asked Jane a few questions about her work, whisky influence and whisky drinking! ~

1. Ive been interested in ‘art’ since I was a child.

2. Got into dramming living on Islay -so much choice!

But I’m intrigued/amazed by the fact that islay has not one but 8 brilliant distilleries -what an Island!

3. Images are chosen when thinking about what works in the composition for the design

4. The most exciting thing about my work is that moment when an idea for a painting is decided on and drawn out ready to start.

5. A dram will be taken after, but seeing as you’ve suggested ‘during’ I might give it a whirl!!

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We are also very pleased to showcase the great photography of Konrad Borkowski who lives on the Isle of Jura http://www.ephotographica.com/

1) When did you first become interested in photography ?

1) properly in 1999, but thought about it at primary school.

2) What attracts you to shoot a particular image?

2) it can be a lot of things, it depends on what and for whom I’m shooting: it could be the uniqueness of the moment or the subject, its character, the quality of light, but also the inexplicable, the juxtaposition in the scene – an individual sense of beauty.

3) When did you come to live in Jura ~ what attracted you there?

3) 2005 – you could pretty much use the above answers to that question, add unspoilt wilderness.

4) Do you have a favourite image?

4) I have two:

a) Islay – Ardbeg snow covered whisky barrels

b) Worldwide – ‘Dream Catcher’ – the fisherman on the Mekong River in Laos- both unique and difficult to repeat.

5) What attracts you to whisky?

5) unique taste, the fiery character, the fact that it does not give me a hangover, the stronger and peatier the better – love cask strength.

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We also hope to bring you the amazing glass work of Heather Scott, an Islay girl from Ardbeg who now lives in Edingurgh ~ https://www.facebook.com/hide.artglass/photos_stream

and the interesting and unusual photography of Bowmore Distillery Stillman, Philip Gray ~ https://www.facebook.com/PhilipGrayPhotography

Everyone is invited to the Whisky for Girls (& guys) Art Exhibition for the Feis Ile in the Gaelic College.

All works are for sale and commissions will be taken if the work you like are sold before you make it to the exhibition.

We look forward to seeing you ~

Slàinte!

Tagged: Islay Whisky Festival Art Exhibition

Mar. 07.

Islay Drams Avert War……

By whiskyforgirls | Posted in NEWS |
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ISLAY DECLARES WAR ON BRITAIN

David Cameron was in Downing St, when his phone rang.

“Hello prime minister,” a heavily accented Islay voice said, “this is Lucci speaking over here in the Bowmore bar, Islay, we are sick of high petrol prices, food prices, and I do not like a lot of your policies, so I am calling to tell you that we are officially declaring war on you”.

“Well then,” David replied. “This is indeed important, how big is your army?”

“Right now”, said Lucci after a moments calculation “There is myself, big brother Alistair, Donkey, my next door neighbour, and all of the bar staff”.

David paused, “I must tell you Lucci I have 70,000 men in my army, waiting to move on my command”.

“Wow”, said Lucci, “I will have to call you back”.

Sure enough, the next day Lucci called again.

“Mr Cameron, the war is still on, we have managed to acquire some infantry equipment”

“And what equipment would that be?” David asked.

“Well sir, we got two combines, a bulldozer, three big tractors, and two Clydesdales”. The prime minister sighed “I must tell you Lucci that I have 3,000 tanks and 1,200 personnel carriers, also I have increased my army to 100,000 since we last spoke”.

“All right,” said Lucci “I’ll be getting back to you”.

Sure enough, Lucci rang again the next day.

“Mr Cameron, the war is still on. Duncan McGillivray has made us a helicopter out of old machinery from Bruichladddich, and we’ve put a couple of shotguns in the cockpit. Also, Tosh Philco and the bar staff from Duffie’s have joined us”.

David was silent for a minute, then cleared his throat.

“I must tell you, Lucci, that I have 500 bombers and 200 fighter planes, and since we spoke, I have increased my army to 2,000,000 men”.

“2,000,000 you say” said Lucci, “I’ll have to call you back”.

Sure enough, Lucci called back the next day. “Mr Cameron, I’m sorry to have to tell you we have had to call off this war”.

“I’m sorry to hear that”, said David. “Why the sudden change of heart?”

“Well”, said Lucci, “we sat down over a few beers and a few drams into the wee hours of the morning, and came to the conclusion that there’s no way we could feed 2,000,000 prisoners”.

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Probably a true story ~ ably recounted by Mr John Gallagher.