Scottish Craftmakers provide new perspectives on Biodiversity

In a unique exhibition in Edinburgh, delivered in partnership by craftscotland and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, six Scottish craftmakers present work at the RBGE John Hope Gateway Gallery until the 20 March in ‘Conserving Ecologies: Craft and Biodiversity’.
The exhibiting craftmakers Fiona Byrne-Sutton, Georgia Crook*, Caroline Dear, Rachel Elliott, Anne Murray and Jenny Pope produce work in a range of disciplines from ceramics to willow weaving.
Each has successfully reinterpreted and combined traditional techniques to create work that sensitively reflects the need to conserve both our natural and craft ecologies.
From ceramic planters designed specifically for the growth habitats of plants traditionally perceived as weeds; through to an installation woven from locally sourced hair moss, craft works are exhibited alongside RBGE staff’s responses to issues of Biodiversity.
Said Emma Walker, Chief Executive craftscotland : “This exhibition offers visitors a wonderful opportunity to experience craft and biodiversity in new ways, celebrating the extraordinary world we live in”.
It is supported through funding from Creative Scotland, whose Director of Creative Development, Venu Dhupa, said: “Mediums such as willow weaving and ceramics are both sustainable and ethical and are a splendid illustration of the enduring links between our natural ecology and our creative ecology.”
On Saturday and Sunday19/20 March 12.30 pm - 3.30 pm, at the Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway, there is to be a ‘hands-on’ craft workshop.

* Georgia Crook operates from Tombreck, Lochtayside. She is a artist/craftsperson who uses mainly ‘small woods’ and ‘fibres’ such as willow, cords and paper, occasionally incorporating clay & stone into her work.
Her intention is to explore the action, beauty and diversity of nature. She aims to present her work in a way which would draw the onlooker closer to the material, the landscape and heritage from which it comes.

Pictured here is one of the Botanic's exhibits