Taigh Chearsabhagh to host
Donald Ferguson retrospective
The 1st of May sees the opening at Taigh Chearsabhagh of ‘Taobh an Iar’, a retrospective exhibition of the exceptional creativity of the late Donald Ferguson. The exhibition, extending to both Gallery 1 and 2, is accompanied by a full colour publication illustrating his development as an artist.
Sophie Morrish, a tutor on the LCC BA in Fine Art at Taigh Chearsabhagh where Donald studied, says of his work: ‘From early on the subject of Donald’s work was indivisible from the love of his native environment and culture of the Outer Hebrides, the progression of his creative output reflecting his close involvement with the land, natural history and the traditions of crofting.
‘Never one to be easily pleased by his achievements, Donald was known to burn paintings that didn’t convince him. It was as though their continuing existence would have interfered with the clarity of his development. He was a highly self-critical artist with exacting standards, standards that were driven forward by his integrity and commitment to his work. Whilst this makes the task of curating an exhibition frustrating, we can be assured that any works that have survived from this period, are possessed of some aspect that interested or revealed potential to him.
‘The American realist painter Edward Hopper, (1882-1967), famously asserted, “If I could say it in words there would be no reason to paint” – If we imagine this the primary characteristic of some hitherto undefined legion of artists, Donald Ferguson would surely have counted among their number.’
As Rory Macneil of Barra says: ‘This exhibition is a small gesture of thanks to Donald for all he gave to his friends and the communities of which he was a part. We hope it opens the way for his work to be appreciated by others who did not have the privilege of knowing Donald, and for them to reflect on whether Donald does not deserve wider recognition among predecessors like McTaggart and Eardley.’
Arts Officer, Andy Mackinnon says: ‘Taigh Chearsabhagh is proud to be able to present this definitive exhibition and accompanying publication to celebrate Donald’s creativity. The task of collecting and cataloguing Donald’s work from the many admirers of his painting from all over Britain was only made possible with the assistance of Mary Clare Ferguson, Rory Macneil, Julie Brook, Sophie Morrish, Margaret MacLellan, Norman MacLeod and the overwhelming generosity of the lenders of the work.’
The exhibition runs till the 26th of June.
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