Looping and Linking

Looping and Linking A creative response to the life and work of Angus McPhee 10 Feb–26 May 2013

Looping and Linking: A creative response to the life and work of Angus McPhee

Image: Manchester Museum Herbarium

What to See Free Admission Manchester Museum Be sure to take a closer look at the tree outside the entrance to the Museum. You will discover a combination of artwork and poetry – both visual and audible – as well as information about the project. Further information on the Looping and Linking Herbarium Tours can be found in the ‘Get Involved’ section of this booklet.

Looping and Linking is a community project by Manchester Museum and Whitworth Art Gallery. The project has evolved from Close Knit, a monthly knitting programme inspired by the patterns discovered in the archives of the Gallery of Costume, Platt Hall. By developing themes of knitting and weaving, Looping and Linking focuses upon men’s wellbeing and draws inspiration from the life and work of Angus McPhee.

Whitworth Art Gallery Examples of Joanne Kaar's woven pieces are on display in the cafe at the Whitworth Art Gallery, a chance to examine the technical skills and procedures used in the Looping and Linking project. Also on display in the Textile Gallery is work by Tadek Beutlich who also uses natural fibres in his work.

Image: Angus McPhee, as portrayed in Angus – Weaver of Grass, Tim Neat Image: Joanne Kaar

Image: Lucy Burscough

The Story of Angus McPhee Angus McPhee (1916-1997) grew up in a remote crofting community on the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides. After World War II, Angus’ developing mental illness saw him committed to a psychiatric hospital – a place where he would stay for the next fifty years.

Image of Angus McPhee: Tim Neat

During his time at the hospital, Angus chose not to speak. He preferred to spend his time outdoors creating woven grass work. Angus would weave the grass compulsively, hanging his designs from trees in the hospital grounds. It was the process of making that was the most important thing to Angus. The objects he created were often extraordinary pieces of clothing, intricate and sturdy, twisted and looped.

Angus’ unique creative skills came to the attention of art therapist and curator Joyce Laing during the 70’s. She saw how special Angus’ work was and exhibited it in Scottish galleries as well as internationally.

Following changes to mental health policy and the structured closure of psychiatric hospitals, Angus was discharged to live near his sister on South Uist in 1996. Returning home fifty years later, and despite being almost blind, Angus continued to weave grass until his death in 1997.

Angus’ Legacy Last year, Angus' story was translated into a stage play by the Horse and Bamboo theatre company.

The company commissioned Caithness artist Joanne Kaar to produce copies of Angus’ woven pieces to be used as costumes in the production.

Whitworth Art Gallery invited the company to perform the play as part of their Arts for Health programme and Joanne to work for a week as artist in residence at the Gallery. The play was performed at Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Inspired by the play and Angus’ life, the community group ‘Out in the City’ worked with Joanne Kaar to produce their own woven grasses. They went on to work at Manchester Museum’s herbarium with poet Tony Curry and visual artist Lucy Burscough to create the work on display at Manchester Museum and Whitworth Art Gallery.

Responding to work in the textile collection at the Whitworth Art Gallery, the group studied the technical aspect of Angus' woven designs. These skills were developed by studying the nature of grass at Manchester Museum herbarium and culminated in the art and soundscape installation outside the entrance. More artwork and examples of Angus’ techniques can be seen on display at The Gallery Cafe, Whitworth Art Gallery.

There will be a second tour of the critically acclaimed theatre show ‘Angus – Weaver of Grass’ between August and October 2013.

For more information, visit AngusMcphee.blogspot.co.uk.

Image: Whitworth Art Gallery, Textile Collection

Get Involved Urban Naturalist Artist Lucy Burscough, who was directly involved with the Looping and Linking project, will be delivering a workshop on natural twine bird houses.

Sat 23 Feb, 2–4pm Manchester Museum Book on museum@manchester.ac.uk or 0161 275 2648, £3 Sat 9 Mar, 2–4pm Whitworth Art Gallery Book on whitworth@manchester.ac.uk or 0161 275 7450, £3 Looping and Linking Herbarium Tours Curator of Botany at Manchester Museum, Rachel Webster, will be delivering these free tours along with members of Out in the City.

Book on 0161 275 2648, free Thurs 14 Feb: 11.30am–12.30pm Sat 16 Mar: 1.30–2.30pm Wed 17 April: 11.30am–12.30pm Sat 11 May: 1.30–2.30pm Manchester Museum

Whitworth Art Gallery The University of Manchester Oxford Road Manchester M15 6ER

Manchester Museum The University of Manchester Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PL

t: 0161 275 7450 e: whitworth@manchester.ac.uk w: www.manchester.ac.uk/whitworth

t: 0161 275 2648 e: museum@manchester.ac.uk w: www.manchester.ac.uk/museum

@WhitworthArt

@MCRMuseum

Mon – Sat 10am – 5pm, Sun 12 – 4pm

Tues – Sat: 10am – 5pm, Sun, Mon & Bank hols: 11am – 4pm

Admission free

Admission Free

Cover image: Lucy Burscough

www.healthandculture.org.uk www.horseandbamboo.org