Author: Cathbad

Cluaran Craft Club

From hot metal working (with Simon Lidwell S.A.U. artist)

Many years ago Wordsmithcrafts ran a “Medieval Craft Club”

Over time interest in it grew, and all sorts of plans were cooked up. Some of these plans involved actual cooking and one day we might publish some of the photos of feasting. We made lantern shields for parades, tried bowl turning, and blacksmithing – among other things! All the crafts had a heritage connection, but the aim is to not just make replicas but also to be inspired to create new things.

The time has come to revisit the craft club idea, so after Easter we will be running specific workshops.

We will also have general craft club sessions. We will ask for a £5 contribution to cover workshop overheads. Participants will be able to discuss and start “pay as you go” craft projects using Wordsmith Crafts tools and materials.

Participants are also invited to bring their own projects and use the time to “get around too it”, as well as share knowledge and skills.

If you are short of cash, but have time, we can work something out. If you’d like to become a Cluaran member and help this project develop – get in touch too!

Events

Tales From the Longhouse

Back in Lockdown “The Viking Storyteller” and “Cathbad” got together to run evenings of stories. Three storytellers told a story each in a virtual longhouse.

People dressed up for the occasion, or even built forts from boxes. Whilst people were staying at home to stay safe the walls of their houses were dissolved and people were able to gather in one place.

They decided not to record any of the stories, in order to emphasise the live and unrepeatable nature of the event. Some examples of their storytelling, from rehearsals or other live events can be found here:

The Viking Storyteller (often going by the name “Olaf”) can be seen telling stories here:

https://m.facebook.com/TheVikingSkald/live/

If you are interested in a story about stories – here is a sweet one for you.

More info here:

Tales From the Longhouse

Events Workshops

Jewellery Workshop

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cluaran/781774

This summer we took part in the Kirkcudbright Arts and Crafts trail. This is a great open studio event, and for those who don’t have studios in Kirkcudbright (like us) there is a temporary artists camp set up in the town centre.

During the event we were approached by a member of the public whose wife had recently died. She was a silver smith and he wondered if we had a use for some of her tools. All he wanted in return for this gift was a donation to the MND Scotland charity.

Therefore, as artists, we decided that rather than just giving what we could afford we would donate a workshop sharing our skills in order to raise awareness and cash for MND.

You can take part in the workshop if you buy a ticket here:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cluaran/781774

You can find out more about MND Scotland on their webpage (and donate directly).

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cluaran/781774

Arts Installations

Research and development

Some snapshots from us using the Wordsmith Crafts CIC studio to develop skills.

Events

Barrhill

Post author By Cathbad
Post date 12/09/2022
No Comments on Barrhill

Two days of the land of legends in Barrhill woods.

We have created a storytelling area, a craft workshop, and a challenge of games.

Ogma’s challenge

This weekend we have mostly been working with children. Brought by their those who look after them, they have been introduced to ways of being human which inform the legends of heroes.

Lugh’s workshop

Their wits are challenged with the games and their patience and ability to learn tested. They can learn dexterity and team work using traditional skills to make friendship bracelets. In the storytelling tent they can use their imaginations to enter worlds where we learn to live.

Levarcham’s lair

Most of all, they have had fun.

Events

Scottish Archaeology Fair 2022

Post author By Cathbad
Post date 06/09/2022
No Comments on Scottish Archaeology Fair 2022

Well we made it! Despite a torrential downpour during set up the team managed to pitch the Iron Age camp.

During the day the public encountered an inquisitive Roman. He was very curious about the state of the roads. He had travelled far with his marching kit, but what would the locals think of him? (And his gifts)

One of the Novantae was making armour, who knows? Perhaps the wire rings he was linking together will survive a thousand years in Carlingwark loch. Hopefully the memories of making that the public gained will last a lifetime too.

From further west, a Selgovae crafter helped bend wire to another use. She crafted copper alloy rings with people. She also told tales from the Iron Age to entertain and expand the minds of all those with ears for listening.

Next weekend we will be in Barhill woodland for the final outdoor event of the season.

Tags Archaeology Scotland, Carlingwark Loch, Castle Douglas, Iron Age, scottish archaeology, Scottish Archaeology Fair, Viking, Wordsmith Crafts

Arts Installations

Catken

Post author By Cathbad
Post date 01/09/2022
No Comments on Catken

One of our community engagement tools is a large skin boat.

It was made one summer on the banks of loch ken as a community art installation. People dropped in (walking, driving, and boating) to take part in early medieval crafts and to help build the boat.

This was funded by Catstrand, and the loch was loch Ken, so the finished boat is called Catken.

She is in the workshop just now for some much needed repairs. Hopefully we will have her on the water again before the end of the summer! Before that she will help interpret the Archaeology of Carlingwark Loch this weekend in Castle Douglas as part of a land based display though.

Events

A Viking Holiday

Cluaran has argued that the sea is a means to travel rather than a boundary. So, when not visiting Scottish Schools to introduce Scots to the Norwegian heritage of Scotland, our members sometimes go to Norway.

This year was a special year, as the west coast of Norway was celebrating the “Rikssamlingen” or “Forging of the Nation” by Harald Fairhair.

It is said that some of those who were not over keen on this left in their longships to find new places to settle, like Scotland, Iceland and anywhere else the sea reaches.

You can read more here in an article we were kindly sent by a Norwegian friend:

Events

Whithorn !

Post author By Cathbad
Post date 24/08/2022
No Comments on Whithorn !

As part of the year of Scotland’s stories celebrations, Kråkå and Cathbad ‘moved in’ to the roundhouse at Whithorn. During the day they worked at textile and metal working tasks, as well as the ongoing necessities of simply living

Then in the afternoon and evening they told stories…

Arts Installations

Characters on Nithbank

If you come down to Deer park in Dumfries today you are in for a special treat. Along with the Cluaran boat we have characters fished out from the Nith as it flows through time (and the imagination!) This is part of the Nithraid organised by the Stove Network

As well as talking to them you can also imagine a character for yourself – and use it to tell a story.

Here are some questions to think about:

Just in case the google form isn’t working, you can find it by following this link

If you can’t be by the river Nith in person, you can still join in. Use the idea of the river to travel through time. What stories would you tell if you were standing there? What stories would you want to listen to, or do you want people to research. What would help turn the places you live in into a home, rather than somwhere you are passing through?