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The Ice House

THE Ice House, Helmsdale's monumental deep freeze, was once a store for salmon and later a coal-fired fish and chip shop.

Now the vaulted chamber plays host to the last in a series of three double-sited works, marking the end of two years as Timespan's artist in residence and youth arts curator for Ruth Macdougall.

The final "response" to the Ice House comes from Chilean artist Yael Rosenblut and Scottish artist Anne Brodie, working primarily in video and photography.

Anne's previous life as a salmon farm worker on the west coast of Scotland has informed the intimately observed images and sounds she has drawn from Helmsdale's smokehouse, where she has been working closely with the owners, Sandy and Alexander Cowie. Coming from a long line of fishermen, father and son represent the current layer of Helmsdale's once rich fishing industry. Both men feature significantly in her work.

Anne is originally from Paisley but is now based in the south of England.

Yael is from Santiago, the capital of Chile, and on her first visit to Scotland she has chosen to engage with one of the most iconic strands of Scotland's traditional imagery, the Highland dancer. Working with Helmsdale's newest generation of dancers, she has sought to create a collective portrait of youth and heritage.

Their exhibition will run in Timespan from tomorrow (Saturday) until August 2, with a related installation of further work in the Ice House on Saturday and Sunday between 2pm and 5pm only.

This exhibition is the last significant project of Ruth's two-year residency, which ends on July 31.

Published on Thursday 2 July 2009 by David Mason
Last edited on Thursday 2 July 2009 by David Mason