Mailboats

This collaboration between sculptors and poets in Orkney and Shetland is inspired by a scene from Michael Powell's film The Edge of the World. A similar project was conceived in 2002 by Doug Robertson and we would like to pay respect to the artists involved and ask their indulgence as we, unwittingly, sail in their wake.

The mailboats were launched from Skerries, Shetland on August 9th 2008 - Track the sightings! A catalogue, including the poems is currently on sale. This page was last updated on the 15th of February 2009.

From left to right: John Cumming, James Sinclair, Yvonne Gray, Morag MacInnes, Laureen Johnson, John Aberdein, Alison Flett, Mike Finnie & Colin Kirkpatrick

From left to right: John Cumming, James Sinclair, Yvonne Gray, Morag MacInnes, Laureen Johnson, John Aberdein, Alison Flett, Mike Finnie & Colin Kirkpatrick

The idea for this collaboration is simple: a poet writes a poem linked to the theme of Mailboats and the paired sculptor creates a 'vessel' to carry the poem. Prior to the 'launch' of these freighted wonders, there will be an exhibition in Orkney and in Shetland. The collaborative pairings are:

Orkney: Shetland:

Read the Reviews

"The latest incarnation of the project is this elegant booklet, which inevitably foregrounds the poetry, though the artists' contributions are well represented in photographs...Each pairing of poet and artist was obviously a fruitful and stimulating exchange...A truly fine bulderation, in all."
'Playing with wind and tide', Nigel Wheale, The New Shetlander No. 246, Yule Issue, 2008 (Read the full review)

"It was lovely at the readings this summer to hear folk reading their own poems because there was such a diversity of voices."
'Mailboats booklet launched', Orkney Today, 27th of November 2008 (Read the full review)

"An old sixareen lay on one side of the hall and there were several other boats suspended at different levels above us - the perfect setting for poems about islanders, boats and the sea."
'Viking Summer', Yvonne Gray, Two Ravens Press, 25th of August 2008 (Read the full review)

"...providing links and encouraging the exchange of ideas between people in the two island groups, in the process of developing new work."
'Orkney writers in Shetland readings', The Orcadian, 14th of August 2008 (Read the full review)

"...encapsulates our northern imagination: crafted, venturing, rooted, oceanic."
'Encapsulating our northern imagination', JA, The Orcadian, 19th of May 2008 (Read the full review)

"Within the scope of the idea, the possibilities are tantalising and have yielded some remarkable writing...Let's hope that when this poetry finally sails into the briny blue yonder it's found at the other side by word and art lovers, hauled in and treasured."
'On the Poetry of Mailboats...', PB, The Orcadian, 19th of May 2008 (Read the full review)

View the Creative Process

September 2008

August 2008

  • 18th August 2008 - Mike - Here are pics from the Orkney exhibition and the Shetland poetry reading & exhibition (44 pics added)
  • 13th August 2008 - Roxane - Luis Strachan (age 6) found eight of Roxane Permar's Mailboat messages at the remote Birrier Cove between Aywick and Vatster, Yell, Shetland. His is the first sighting! Roxane is as delighted as Luis and his young brother Ethan (age 4) who shared the find. (1 pic added)
  • 13th August 2008 - John - A work in progress. (1 video added)
  • 10th August 2008 - Mike - A great launch day... (26 pics added)
  • 9th August 2008 - James - Weel bairns, fur sikkin a fine day fur wir launch, hey you a look. (4 pics added)
  • 4th August 2008 - Colin - Mailboat by Colin & poetry pamphlet, Hours, by Yvonne on display in the Shetland Museum (1 pic added)

June 2008

May 2008

  • 25th May 2008 - Mike - Almost complete - the box is finally finished after many coats of varnish, the contents are almost complete and the first sea trials have been held. When it's afloat the box will have a shoal of little coloured fish around it and two carved soapstone fish are inside. (6 pics added)
  • 24th May 2008 - Frances - Getting there...just the memory stick to complete, the bouancy foam to pump inside, the canvas to seal & deck to fix down! Its taking over my life! (3 pics added)
  • 22nd May 2008 - Alison - Mailboat Scribblings (2 pics added)
  • 19th May 2008 - Colin (1 pic added)
  • 19th May 2008 - Frances - Some more pics. (8 pics added)
  • 17th May 2008 - Mark (2 poems added)
  • 13th May 2008 - Yvonne - Matins is one of seven poems I'm working on just now. They're linked to the canonical hours & the idea of marking each of them with something to be celebrated or lamented. (1 pic & 1 poem added)
  • 12th May 2008 - Mike - Progress continues - Laureen has completed some poems and one is being stencilled on the outside of the box. (2 pics added)
  • 11th May 2008 - Roxane - I have a few more drawings and photomontages from the work towards our boat. (7 pics added)
  • 4th May 2008 - John C - Here are a couple more pics. (2 pics added)
  • 4th May 2008 - Yvonne - A piece of work in progress. (2 pics added)
  • 2nd May 2008 - John H - I've attached three images of a prototype mail boat for the web page. (3 pics added)

April 2008

  • 24th April 2008 - Morag - Here're two versions of a poem for John Cumming's mailboat that I'm working on at the minute. (1 pic & 1 poem added)
  • 21st April 2008 - James - Here is the stuff I've written so far for the project, see what you think. (4 poems added)
  • 20th April 2008 - Mike - The 'boat' has evolved into a box to be found, to be opened and to tell its own story. (3 pics added)
  • 19th April 2008 - Laura - I have just returned from a 2 week workshop so really looking forward to getting stuck into making our vessel - hope it floats!! (3 pics added)
  • 18th April 2008 - Frances - Vessel for John Aberdein's poem based on Inuit canoe used by John Rae. (5 pics added)
  • 4th April 2008 - John C - Here's the initial prototype. (1 pic added)