Orkney’s Barony Mill, the last working watermill in the islands and the only place in the world still grinding bere barley, is set to be the unique setting for a special exhibition by local makers and artists this September.
The exhibition, titled Old Grain. New Eyes, will showcase a varied collection of works by over a dozen Orkney creatives - all inspired by the mill, its traditional processes, and the beremeal it produces.
Built in 1873, Barony Mill is operated by Birsay Heritage Trust, a registered Scottish charity. The mill, which is central to efforts by the trust to maintain and promote Orkney’s bere-growing heritage, is a popular destination for visitors, local schools and the wider community.
But it’s also a key Orkney food and drink business in its own right, grinding beremeal that’s used in a growing number of local products, in addition to being a popular ingredient with home bakers.
Katie Woolfrey, from Barony Mill, said the art exhibition was a first for the mill, giving Orkney artists and makers the opportunity to respond creatively to this iconic Orcadian institution.
“Bere has been grown in Orkney for thousands of years, and the mill itself has a long history, so we thought it would be nice to invite the local artistic community to look at Barony with a completely fresh perspective – hence the exhibition title, Old Grain. New Eyes,” she explained.
“We wanted the artists and makers to be inspired by the mill, bere and milling in their own way, without being prescriptive about what they created. The result is a really varied collection of work, including painting, textiles, pottery, stone carving and more.
“It’s all going to be displayed within the mill, which creates a wonderful contrast between the contemporary works and the traditional setting of the building.”
The exhibition will be free to visit from 9am - 11am daily throughout September. From 11am onwards it can also be seen as part of a guided mill tour, with standard tour admission applying. Tours run every 45 minutes from 11am to the last one at 3.30pm.
The artists currently confirmed for the exhibition are:
- Jane Glue
- Helen Galland
- Sheila Fleet
- Ingrid Grieve
- Catherine Ann
- Rosalind Johansson
- Thomas Foreman
- Kenneth Woolfrey
- Cindy Campbell
Katie said the mill was waiting on final confirmation from a handful of other local artists and makers.
She added: “We’re hoping the exhibition will give people who already know the mill a reason to see it differently, as well as perhaps bringing in people who wouldn’t ordinarily think of visiting a working mill.”
Find out more about the Barony Mill and visit the official website.