John Edgar Ballast: Bringing the Stones Home

This exhibition echoes departures, voyages, journeys and arrivals. The sculptures by John Edgar are inspired by the story of emigrants leaving their homeland, the voyage through unknown seas and the arrival in a new land. John connected with his Scottish roots during a visit in 2005. He collected stone from historic quarries in Scotland, and created these sculptures which echo the land, the Saltire and the compass. Stone was traditionally used as ballast on boats, keeping them stable on a journey. Like the emigrants on board these boats, the stones left Scotland for New Zealand. Here they were altered, both physically and culturally, and returned to Edinburgh for exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland in 2009. The stones have now returned to New Zealand, completing the cycle.

PUBLIC EVENTS

Saturday 17 March, 1pm
Sculptor John Edgar gives a gallery talk about his Ballast project.

Saturday 31 March, 1pm
A poetry reading and talk from Dinah Hawkins, who is collaborating with John Edgar on a publication for Holloway Press, and whose poems are part of his Ballast exhibition.

Saturday 7 April
The Gallery will be closed for Easter and opens again on Wednesday 11th April.

Saturday 21 April, 1pm
Dr Rosalind McClean, the University of Waikato, is part of an international team studying Scottish migration and legacies in New Zealand. Her research delves into gender, religious and migratory issues of the Scottish diaspora of the nineteenth century.

All exhibitions and events are free and take place at the Gus Fisher Gallery unless otherwise noted.

(Closed Easter – 6 to 10 April)