Deborah Beeson NRpotato

Media Release Let there be light Artist and school students set to use humble potato to create light Forget flower power, think potato power! In a special event on 21 June, Deborah Beeson, Artist for All Seasons in Huntly, and senior school pupils from the Gordon Schools are set to harness the power of the humble potato to create light.

Following her earlier “vegetable” events for her Deveron Arts residency – she created an apple installation in the central square at Halloween and hung the tree with sprouts at Christmas Deborah will now put the potato centre stage.

Deborah said: “The brief for the Artist for All Seasons in Huntly is to make work that marks the changes in the seasons in the rural town. When looking at how to mark the summer I wanted to find a plant that grew throughout the summer and could be the focus of a number of projects following it from seed to harvest.”

She added: “The potato is grown in fields around Huntly and is part of both the local economy and landscape.

It also has the benefits of being an excellent sculptural material and can be used to generate power.”

Deborah has already planted 200 potato plants in pots in the garden behind Huntly’s Brander Library which she will tend over the coming weeks. Now, working with pupils and teachers from the Science and Art departments at Gordon Schools she will create an installation in Huntly’s main square using over 400 potatoes into which will be woven strips of copper and zinc to create an electric current. In the middle of the installation will be a small lighthouse containing an LED bulb.

The aim is to use potato power to light the bulb.

Deborah is looking forward to working with both science and art departments at the school.She said: “Science and art are often seen as distinct areas and yet there are many links between them.

There is a lot of art in science and vice versa. I am looking forward bringing together the scientists and artists to create this special event.”

She added “I hope that the event will raise awareness with both the school pupils and the wider community of how important sustainability is for our future. The rural economy is sustained by a delicate balance between cultivation and habitation. As towns across Scotland expand this balance will become more difficult to maintain. Also, as we look increasingly at where we get our fuel I hope that this event will inspire people to look creatively at sources of green energy.”

The potato installation will be created during the day on Thursday 21 June 2007. The same evening will see the screening of Money Go Round, a short film by Böoeller and Brot, who are currently doing a three month artists residency in the town with Deveron Arts. Celebrated internationally, they have previously shown work at the Cannes film festival, Böoeller and Brot, are making a film, featuring primary school pupils, which will have its premiere screening on Friday 6 July 2007. Money Go Round will be shown in the Huntly Hotel at 7.30pm ENDS Deborah Beeson’s residency is supported by the pARTners fund distributed by the Scottish Arts Council Lottery fund.

Issued on behalf of Deveron Arts by New Century PR. For further information, images and interviews contact: Lesley Booth

0779 941 4474

lesley.booth@newcenturypr,com

Notes for Editors Film Listing Thursday 21 June 2007 at 7.30pm Huntly Hotel

Money Go Round First Scottish showing of a recent film by internationally acclaimed German duo Boeller and Brot.

Entry Free

Further information 01466-794494

Deveron Arts Under the leadership of curator Claudia Zeiske, Deveron Arts has become a catalyst for contemporary arts in the rural community of Huntly in Aberdeenshire. Through its “the town is the venue” programme, where arts production and presentation takes place in existing spaces (rather than specified buildings) it is committed to working with local people while ensuring artistic excellence is maintained. Deveron Arts through its artistic programme embraces culture as a whole and aims to be an agent for change in contemporary arts development in the rural/remote context. Huntly as a town is conceived not only as a venue and a place for artists to live, work, exhibit and perform, but also as a centre for communication and the exchange of ideas for all involved: the community, the artist and Deveron Arts as the ‘producer and curator’. The organisation’s creative vision recognises the need to produce high quality work and positive models of experimentation both within the area and through promotion nationally and internationally. Deveron Arts works with annual themes of both local and global relevance that are emerging from the community. For fiurtther information visit www.deveron-arts.com