Mailboats - Shetland
This page was last updated on the 18th of August 2008. For all the latest pictures and scribblings, use this link to View the Creative Process.
Laureen Johnson - Poet
Laureen Johnson is from Voe, Shetland. She has written plays, poems, short stories, a local history book, and a short novel, Shetland Black (2002). Her work appears in the New Shetlander magazine, and in other publications, most recently Riptide from Two Ravens Press, and the GMB Writing Fellowship's A New Orkney Anthology. Her poetry pamphlet Treeds was published in 2007 by Hansel Cooperative Press. She currently co-edits the New Shetlander together with Brian Smith.
Laureen writes a great deal in the Shetland dialect as it is spoken today.
Mike Finnie - Artist
"I paint, mainly in waterbased medium and my inspiration comes from the light, sea and landscapes of the Shetland Islands and from travelling in the Middle East.
Normally I'm an architect but when I have time I also make jewellery and sculpture using natural materials found in the Shetland environment. Soapstone, slate and shell are combined with silver in contemporary jewellery. Stone and rusty iron from beaches form garden sculpture. I make occasional willow baskets and traditional Shetland Kishies using Shetland Oats.
Indecisiveness seems to be resulting in the 'boat' incorporating most of these materials – flotation might be a problem."
View the Creative Process
18th August 2008 - Mike
Here are pics from the Orkney exhibition and the Shetland poetry reading & exhibition:
10th August 2008 - Mike
A great launch day... View Mike's pictures of the launch.
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.
View a picture of the 'Work in Progress' View a picture of the 'Work in Progress' View a picture of the 'Work in Progress' View a picture of the 'Work in Progress' View a picture of the 'Work in Progress' View a picture of the 'Work in Progress'
12th May 2008 - Mike
Progress continues - Laureen has completed some poems and one is being stencilled on the outside of the box.
View a picture of the 'Work in Progress' View a picture of the 'Work in Progress'
20th April 2008 - Mike
The 'boat' has evolved into a box to be found, to be opened and to tell its own story.
Stunning blueprints of a sixern cover the box, inside and out and it will contain the poem and other appropriate messages on a range of materials including lead from the roof of Belmont House (quantity much reduced for buoyancy), copper and bits of an old shed door from Yell.
View a picture of the 'Work in Progress' View a picture of the 'Work in Progress' View a picture of the 'Work in Progress'
