The Art of Sylvia Wishart
– the lamp in the seaward window –
A PAC Education Resource
Sylvia Wishart, From a Window, Rackwick, c 1960s, oil on board, © estate of the artist
P2 pupil’s response to Reflections - schools workshop 2009
The Art of Sylvia Wishart – the lamp in the seaward window This resource is designed to provide a simple and effective guide for teachers to organise a productive and meaningful visit to the gallery for their pupils. The activities described in the booklet take as their main focus the work of Sylvia Wishart (1936-2008) and were originally developed to accompany the exhibition The Art of Sylvia Wishart – the lamp in the seaward window shown at the Pier Arts Centre (27 August-5 November 2011). The activities use the visual imagery and thematic ideas in her drawings and paintings as a stimulus for developing creative use of core curriculum subjects and have been developed with the Curriculum for Excellence in mind. This resource has relevence to aspects of the experiences and outcomes for: Expressive Arts, Social Studies, Literacy and English, Health and Wellbeing. All of the activities, both gallery-based and follow-up, are designed to encourage pupils to work together in groups as well as individuals and to stimulate discussion and debate, investigation and research. Visits can booked by contacting the gallery on 850209
Introduction: Sylvia Wisahrt was born in 1936, growing up in Stromness during WWII and the post war period. She was actively curious about art from an early age and enjoyed the rather formal, if elementary, drawing exercises provided at school by the geography teacher. Later, she became aware of Ian MacInnes (1922-2003), who as an art student, following war service, returned to Orkney each summer to paint. She dogged his footsteps, and on windy days would often be seen holding down his easel. MacInnes was to provide further encouragement when he was appointed as art teacher at Stromness Academy while Wishart was still a pupil there. He provided materials and exhibiting opportunities for her, yet at age 17 she left school to take up work in the Post Office. MacInnes persevered and Wishart entered Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen in 1956. She was awarded a post-graduate year in 1960. She spent a period teaching in schools in Stornoway and Aberdeenshire, before returning to Orkney, where for four years she was an itinerant art teacher. In the late 1960s she received a Scottish Arts Council grant that allowed her to concentrate for a period full-time on painting. She returned to Gray’s in 1969 to lecture in the drawing and painting school, spending summers and holidays working in Orkney. From 1969-1976 she produced a series of drawings for local agricultural merchants, J&W Tait Ltd for reproduction as promotional calendars for the company. During this period she occupied the upper part of the buildings which now house the Pier Arts Centre’s permanent Collection. She was a close friend of Margaret Gardiner OBE (1904-2005), the Centre’s founder and patron and served many years as a Trustee. In 1984 she retired from teaching, returning permanently to Orkney where she continued to draw and paint until her death in 2008.
Sylvia Wishart, North House, Rackwick, 1966, oil on board, © estate of the artist
Sylvia Wishart’s career was governed by three particular places—the valley of Rackwick on Hoy; her harbour front house and studio in Stromness; and Heatherybraes, her Outertown home and studio where she was based from the late 1970s onwards—each had a profound impact on her artistic development and set the direction for her individual approach to the subject of landscape. These locations not only provided a visual focus—the abandoned crofts and dramatic wildness of Rackwick; the pattern of buildings and harbour activity in Stromness, the views from the Outertown to St John’s Head and Hoy Sound—but equally, they stimulated a deeper curiosity and inquiry that remained with Wishart throughout her life. Sylvia’s work is characterised by many qualities—the subtle palette of colour; the selection and arrangement of detail and the reserve with which this is Sylvia Wishart, Harbour Window, 1973, oil on canvas, © estate of the artist conveyed, the choice of compositional view point, the ability to see beyond the visible, offering understanding and insight to familiar landscapes. All expressed with clarity of vision and an understated self assurance.
Sylvia Wishart, Reflections II, c 1987-92, mixed media on paper, © estate of the artist
A Visit to the Gallery and tour of the Exhibition Before you visit: If you are planning a visit to the exhibition, pupils can be encouraged to think about some aspects of what they will see in advance. The main themes involved in the exhibtion are: landscape, seascape, pattern and texture, wildlife, still life, weather, light, seasonal change and architectural structures. Sylvia Wishart, untitled, c 1990s, mixed media on paper, © estate of the artist
At the Gallery: A short introduction to the exhibition will be given by a member of the gallery staff. Following this, pupils can use the self-directed activity sheets to further explore the exhibition. The sheet on page 10 can be printed off in advance of the visit (pencils and clipboards can be provided by the gallery.) This activitiy can be carried out in small groups or as an individual activity. This booklet also contains several suggestions for activities that can be followed up in the classroom The activities are suitable for all ages – and can be adapted according to age group. Activity 1: Autograph Book Activity 2: Calendar Activity 3: Acrostic Poem Activity 4: Ship-in-a-Bottle Activity 5: What do you think? critical writing Activity 5: Reflections—gallery-based activity (sheet to be printed off page 10)
Activity No 1: Autograph Book One of the earliest works in the exhibtion is a small pen and ink drawing that Sylvia Wishart made in a friend’s school autograph book. The views of Hoy, St John’s Head and Hoy Sound first recorded as a young girl would remain with Sylvia, re-emerging as the central feature of her work from the late 1970s following her move to Heatherybraes, her home and studio at Outertown, Stromness. Activity: Each pupil can construct a simple book in which their friends can draw a picture and then date and sign it.
Sylvia Wishart, untitled sketch, 1952, ink on paper © estate of the artist
Activity No 2: Calendar In her early career Sylvia Wishart was greatly supported by her close association with J&W Tait Ltd. William I Tait, the Managing Director of the Orkney Agricultural Merchants, commissioned Sylvia to provide a series of drawings that could be reproduced as a calendar. From 1969 through to 1976 she provided over 40 drawings, each revealing her perceptive observation and measured use of line and tone. While the themes of the calendars are essentially architectural; piers, mills, churches, castles and farms, the resulting drawings expose subtleties of light, carefully chosen viewpoints and perspectives that are characteristic of Sylvia’s work. Activity: Working in small groups, pupils can select a theme eg farms or boats and each make a detailed line drawing. If appropriate they can work directly from the classroom window or from photographs. The drawings can then be scanned or photocopied and assembled into a calendar. Sylvia Wishart, Old water pump, Northside, Birsay, 1971, pen and ink, © estate of the artist
Activity No 3 : Acrostic Poem ‘I remember writing an acrostic poem, in the mid-1960s, possibly for her birthday. A copy of it is somewhere in my house; I have spent an hour this morning looking through manuscripts and typescripts for it, in vain. I remember the general drift of it, and that was enough to build a new boat on an old keel.’ Salt in the wind, incense of heather and peat. Your green valley Lies tilted to the Atlantic, an overset jar. Very small fields Invaded by rushes, the noust boatless. Ancient hills stand about the lost ceremonies. When will people come back to Rackwick? I see it must happen — Shoal and sheaf conspiring to Honour the ancient tryst, And from the lifted jar of this valley Ripeness Touching and blessing the mouths of new crofters, new fisherfolk. (George MacKay Brown from catalogue essay, Looking North West & South, 1992)
Sylvia Wishart, untitled, c 1960s, crayon on paper, © estate of the artist
Activity: Pupils can write an acrostic poem either using their own name or that of a friend or member of their family - the subject of the poem could be a favourite place. Pupils could also draw or paint a picture of their chosen place.
Activity No 4: Ship in a Bottle Sylvia Wishart, ship-in a bottle detail
In the foreground of Sylvia Wishart’s paintings there are often several objects set out on the window ledge or on the table. One of her favourite is the ship-ina-bottle. Activity: Pupils can make a simple version by either drawing or painting a ship on a paper, and carefully rolling it to insert into a plastic bottle Further investigation and research by pupils could find photos of sailing ships and find out how model ships are really made to fit into a bottle. Other areas that could be explored are Stromness Museum and the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Activity No 5: What do you think? Activity: Let pupils choose one of the artworks in the exhibition and write a short description of the work and what they think about it.
Alive Human Natural Abstract Cold Smooth Shiny Bumpy Intricate Bright
Delicate Angular Circular Upright Enclosed Solid Bold Plant-like Light Weathered
Textured Gestural Worn Hollow Tense Harmonious Incised Cut Pitted Rough
Chiselled Bumpy Smooth Flat Coarse Uneven Shiny Sharp Reflective Bright
Pupils’ responses to Reflections - schools workshop 2009
Here are some words to help
Activity No 6: Reflections
Sylvia Wishart RSA (1936-2008), Reflections, 2004, oil and mixed media on paper, 107x194cm © estate of the artist
Sylvia Wishart lived in the Outertown, Stromness where, for many years she painted the Orkney landscape from her window. She was interested in the many changes— big and small—that took place throughout the year: the light; the weather; the wildlife and the seasons. Activity: Find the painting illustrated above—use the back of this sheet to write down your ideas and thoughts. Why do you think the painting is called Reflections? How many things can you see in the painting? Make a list of some of them What time of day and time of year do you think she used to inspire this scene? What things in the picture tell you this? What else can you discover by looking at the painting? Back at School: You can make a drawing or painting of a view from the classroom or from another favourite window at home or from a friend’s house.
Sylvia Wishart, Watchful, 1964, oil on board Š estate of the artist
Open Monday-Saturday 10.30am-5.00pm 28-30 Victoria Street Stromness KW16 3AA 01856 850209
The Pier Arts Centre gratefully acknowledges the exhibition’s main sponsors
The Pier Arts Centre is a registered Scottish Charity No SC014815
Admission free
www.pierartscentre.com