ANGUS MCPHEE - Weaver of Grass


ANGUS MCPHEE or MACPHEE was a crofter from Uist who spent almost 50 years in a Highland psychiatric hospital. During this time he chose not to speak - instead he wove a series of incredible costumes out of grass. These he hung on trees in the hospital grounds.

This blog follows the progress of HORSE + BAMBOO THEATRE as they develop and tour a show about Angus....

Monday 23 May 2011

Back home - via Pittenweem

So, a breezy crossing of the Little Minch enlivened by the company of dolphins leaping through the waves, and then on to the Art Extraordinary Gallery in Pittenweem, where Joyce Laing's collection of extraordinary art is based. The collection is the home of almost all of Angus McPhee's surviving work, where part of it is permanently on display.

Loz and Joyce Laing in front of work by Angus McPhee
Joyce welcomed us warmly and, after a cup of coffee and a discussion about how fragile the pieces by Angus now are, and our own exploits on Uist, we retired to her home and Loz recorded Joyce reading short passages from her book. These extracts we plan to incorporate into our theatre production; although the piece is essentially visual, with music, we will probably use short pieces of spoken text to link scenes and create an underpinning narrative.

Loz listens to a playback of a recording of Joyce reading from her book
Meanwhile I'm back at Horse + Bamboo, catching up on the news and describing our adventures in the Hebrides. Today Roger Hutchinson generously sent me a draft version of his soon to be published book on Angus, and having it in my hand I'm now very much looking forward to reading it. 

We've also had a look at Joanne B Kaar's version of events last week, and to see more photographs of the work we've been undertaking, have a look at Joanne's own blog here.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks to Joanne B Kaar (communicator extraordinaire)I have a copy of 'Angus McPhee Weaver of Grass' in New Zealand - much appreciated - a wonderful production and story Joyce.

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