Tartan Weaving Mill and Exhibition

I visited the Tartan weaving mill to as part of my research for the Aberdeen Weavers Competition.

The Tartan Weaving Mill occupies the building which used to be the Castle Hill reservoir, The main water supply for the occupants of the Royal Mile.

     

The mill is surprisingly large inside with five storeys to explore. Now run by Geoffrey Tailor Kiltmaker, the mill exhibition shows the whole process involved in tartan production from shearing sheep, to making a kilt.

There are working looms and the atmosphere of a busy factory which was extremely  interesting to see in comparison to the smaller (but just as mighty) machines we use at Gray's School of Art. 

Journey to "Another World"...

Took a trip to Edinburgh's Dean Gallery, where there is a exhibition showcasing the Surrealism  movement and bringing together masterpieces by René Magritte, Pablo Picasso, Alberto Giacometti ,Joan Miró  and my ultimate inspiration and favourite member of the surrealist movement Salvador Dalí. 

© Salvador Dali, Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation, DACS, London 2006

Rene Magritte, Le Temps Menaçant [Threatening Weather] − Scottish 
National Gallery of Modern Art, Purchased with the support of the 
Heritage Lottery Fund and The Art Fund 1995© ADAGP, Paris and DACS, 
London 2010. 

After previously visiting The Institute of  Salvador Dalí in Paris in late September 2010 I found the Deans positioning of Dali's work in the exhibition very successful, giving Dali's work some context to his position in the surrealist movement. From the early beginnings of surrealism in the famous Dada movement to the unbelievable viewpoints and perspectives of Rene Magritte, the exhibition was unbelievably inspiring and it has to be one of the most interesting exhibitions I have visited in a Scottish Gallery and most certainly the best exhibition I have seen in 2011 so far..... 

M x