An Lùnasdal - August
Abair Samhradh trang! It's been an incredibly busy Summer, with Community Participative Street Theatre & Spectacle, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig's Family Week & Gaelic Graffiti Art for the EU International Minority Language Festival, our Kelpies at Belladrum & Gaelic Rap! Thèid agaibh blasad a fhaighinn dheth gu h-ìosal - here's a quick taste of all the action below:
Ariel's Gaelic Graffiti Artwork for International EU Minority Language Festival Tosta
Mar phàirt de Sheachdain nan Teaghlaichean aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, bha e na phribhlèid mhòr aig Ariel pìos mòr ealain a chruthachadh dhan Fhèis eadar-nàiseanta seo. As part of Donostia / San Sebastian 2016 European Capital of Culture, and Scotland's Gaelic College Family Week, Ariel delivered bilingual Circus Skills workshops and created a special Gaelic Graffiti Artwork for a shipping container, which forms the 'cultural cargo' sent out as part of the Tosta Festival to Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Galicia, Friesland & the Basque country.
Titled 'Mionchànan, Miann Mòr', Minority Language, Big Desire/Dream/Ambition - a play on words with 'mion' meaning 'small or mini' and 'mòr' meaning 'big' in Gaelic, the piece was collaboratively devised with participants of the Family Week workshops, and over an additional three days by Ariel. Tha Ceannard a' Cholaisde, Boyd Robadsan, ri fhaicinn còmhla ri Ariel gu h-ìosal. Ariel is pictured with Principle of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Boyd Robertson.
The artwork is currently situated on the vacant land earmarked for the development of the first new Highlands village in many years, Kilbeg Village, beside Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, with this fact certainly playing a part in Ariel's development of the artwork and the following poetic blessing came to mind...
Mo bheannachd air Bhaile ùr na Cille Bige
'S air an obair uile ann is uime,
'S e mo ghuidhe gum bi a' Ghàidhlig ann cho beò
Gun leath i air feadh a' bhaile mar an ceò
Is gum bi an sluagh ann daonnan misneachail 's a' fàs
Is sìth agus soirbheas nam measg gu bràth.
Blessings to new Kilbeg
and all the work there and around it,
I pray that Gaelic will there be so alive
That it will spread over the village like mist
and that the people will always be courageous and growing
with peace and success in their midst forever.
I have to admit it does sound a good bit better in the original Gaelic!