Lead Artist - Edinburgh's Hogmanay Torchlight Procession
Working with Underbelly, one of Scotland's leading producers, Ariel was deeply honoured to work from late June to December as Lead Artist on a national project to commemorate the closing of the 2018 Year of Young People as part of the traditional Hogmanay Torchlight Procession events on the 30th of December 2018. Ariel worked with over 288 children and young people at 15 workshops across the length and breadth of Scotland, as well as training 14 young artists from Scotland's regions. The work involved creative consultation sessions with children and young people to decide a symbol to represent their region, as well as a creative artwork session learning wicker and wire sculpture as well as spraypainting and stencilling techniques to produce woven Saltire hearts. Working with the Young Artist on the design of the woven wicker sculpture to represent each region, Ariel then worked with Geoff Forest, a master of wicker art, creating the 14 sculptures. These sculptures will be placed in the shape of a heart and set alight at the heart of thousands of torchlight bearers forming the outline of Scotland on the 30th of December in Holyrood Park, adjacent to the Scottish Parliament. The sculptures were displayed for a week prior to the event on The Royal Mile, a long road in Edinburgh's World Heritage Old Town, leading from Edinburgh Castle to the Scottish Parliament.
Travelling throughout Scotland and engaging with many various aspects of each region's history, heritage, culture & architecture, has been a profound and deepy meaningful honour for Ariel, particularly as a returning member of Scotland's Clearances Diaspora.
A range of images are below & full information on the #ScotArt project is here.
The official launch of the artworks with the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Ms Fiona Hyslop, at Edinburgh City Chambers on The Royal Mile received extensive media coverage in the following outlets, with other Press and TV links below:
Edinburgh Evening News, The Times, The Scotsman, METRO, i, Daily Record, The National
Online coverage:
The National - https://www.thenational.scot/news/17317281.capital-torchlight-finale-celebrates-success-of-scotlands-next-generation-of-artists/
Press and Journal - https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/1636198/sculpture-celebrating-grampians-heritage-is-unveiled/
Edinburgh Reporter - https://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2018/12/scotlands-heart-is-captured-in-art-by-scotlands-young-people-scotart%EF%BB%BF/
Edinburgh Live - https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/greyfriars-bobby-sculpture-go-display-15574551