Strathnaver Museum
Source: https://www.strathnavermuseum.org.uk/4997-2
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:32
Strathnaver Museum
Joanne B. Kaar, Strathnaver Museum 2024 Artist in Residence, concluded her residency with the opening of her much-anticipated Shipshape exhibition in June. Over 2 days visitors had the opportunity to meet the artist, discover more about Joanne’s artistic process and enjoy the opportunity to have a go at woodcut printing.
Following the conclusion of Joanne’s artist residency the woodcut printing kit used during the project has been donated by Strathnaver Museum to Branching Out, an initiative run by North Sutherland Community Forest Trust (NSCFT).
Joanne, a research based visual artist, was one of three Artists in Residence tasked with finding inspiration from the diverse objects in Strathnaver Museum’s Collection. Inspired by ‘Grace’, Strathnaver Museum’s community boat build, Joanne worked with the boat building team at Borgie Cabin to record and preserve traditional boat building techniques and tools.
Traditional wooden boat building is listed on the ‘endangered’ list of crafts by Heritage Crafts, an organisation tracking traditional craft skills on the verge of extinction in the UK. Joanne’s work explored the tools, techniques and words surrounding wooden boat building as a creative response to the problem of how to record intangible cultural heritage.
All materials required to produce woodcut prints are included in the resources box from pre-cut woodcuts to blanks for folk to create their own designs. The resources will be available to use during Branching Out sessions and 6 woodcut tool kits will be available to be borrowed to work with at home.
Fiona Mackenzie, Strathnaver Museum said: “We are delighted that Branching Out will be receiving the woodcut printing resources used during Joanne B. Kaar’s artist residency as a continuing legacy of the project. During the project Joanne worked closely with the crew building the Grace at Borgie Cabins and with the local school children so it is wonderful that what’s been learned from Joanne during the project will continue to be practiced with the community now and into the future.”
Shipshape will be on display until the 26
th
July in Strathnaver Museum’s Annex, Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Joanne has produced a series of prints available to purchase with all income from the prints going to the museum to support community heritage activities such as the continuation of the community boat building project.
Branching Out runs fortnightly out of Borgie Cabins on a Tuesday from 1pm to 5pm please visit the North Sutherland Community Forest Trust Facebook page for details. If you’d like to find out more about ‘Grace’ and how you can get involved in the next stage of the project please contact Strathnaver Museum.
The Artist in Residence Programme was funded by Museums Galleries Scotland, The William Syson Foundation, the Children’s and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund and has received £5,755 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Joanne B. Kaar, Strathnaver Museum 2024 Artist in Residence, concluded her residency with the opening of her much-anticipated Shipshape exhibition in June. Over 2 days visitors had the opportunity to meet the artist, discover more about Joanne’s artistic process and enjoy the opportunity to have a go at woodcut printing.
Following the conclusion of Joanne’s artist residency the woodcut printing kit used during the project has been donated by Strathnaver Museum to Branching Out, an initiative run by North Sutherland Community Forest Trust (NSCFT).
Joanne, a research based visual artist, was one of three Artists in Residence tasked with finding inspiration from the diverse objects in Strathnaver Museum’s Collection. Inspired by ‘Grace’, Strathnaver Museum’s community boat build, Joanne worked with the boat building team at Borgie Cabin to record and preserve traditional boat building techniques and tools.
Traditional wooden boat building is listed on the ‘endangered’ list of crafts by Heritage Crafts, an organisation tracking traditional craft skills on the verge of extinction in the UK. Joanne’s work explored the tools, techniques and words surrounding wooden boat building as a creative response to the problem of how to record intangible cultural heritage.
All materials required to produce woodcut prints are included in the resources box from pre-cut woodcuts to blanks for folk to create their own designs. The resources will be available to use during Branching Out sessions and 6 woodcut tool kits will be available to be borrowed to work with at home.
Fiona Mackenzie, Strathnaver Museum said: “We are delighted that Branching Out will be receiving the woodcut printing resources used during Joanne B. Kaar’s artist residency as a continuing legacy of the project. During the project Joanne worked closely with the crew building the Grace at Borgie Cabins and with the local school children so it is wonderful that what’s been learned from Joanne during the project will continue to be practiced with the community now and into the future.”
Shipshape will be on display until the 26
th
July in Strathnaver Museum’s Annex, Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Joanne has produced a series of prints available to purchase with all income from the prints going to the museum to support community heritage activities such as the continuation of the community boat building project.
Branching Out runs fortnightly out of Borgie Cabins on a Tuesday from 1pm to 5pm please visit the North Sutherland Community Forest Trust Facebook page for details. If you’d like to find out more about ‘Grace’ and how you can get involved in the next stage of the project please contact Strathnaver Museum.
The Artist in Residence Programme was funded by Museums Galleries Scotland, The William Syson Foundation, the Children’s and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund and has received £5,755 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.