B L N F S H D T C M G P R A O U E I Q
poem by Aonghas MacNeacail and sculpture by Helen Denerley
During the two decades that Aonghas MacNeacail (poet) and Simon Fraser (artist) worked in schools, the process of investigating trees via their lore and stories helped inspire active response for the children. Whilst the children of an Aberdeenshire primary school created a mural in their refectory, others made other forms of art, confirming the Tree Alphabet as useful means to creative involvement.
Soon after Aonghas died in 2023, the opportunity arose to display something of his poems on the Tree Alphabet outdoors. This provided the chance for the children at the local primary school to respond to some of the stories and facts of trees through painting on slates.
In due course, Rob, Aonghas's son, with a background in sound design, brought some 'tree voices' to be heard outdoors via QR codes, bringing the gaelic of the poems to life in an outdoor context
gaelic of the Duir/oak poem of Aonghas chanted by Rob
Meanwhile, Helen Denerley's Tree of Life at Dundreggan suggested the means to explore 'positive space', a feature of Helen's work in which the solid elements of iron in her sculptures enclose the empty, yet critical 'speaking' spaces that add imaginative dimension. These spaces help integrate recycled metal, wood, slate and other potential materials into the means to test further exhibition and tree trailplans
introduction | exhibition material | outdoor trails | calendar | tree fests
