SIXTEEN - Craig Easton
31st July - 5th September [extended from 30th August]
The Scottish Maritime Museum (Irvine)
Photographer Craig Easton conceived this project following his engagement with first-time voters in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. It was the first - and as yet only time – sixteen-year-olds were given suffrage in the United Kingdom.
This strand of a larger project comprises of a series of 15 portraits focussed on the Western Isles - Barra, South Uist, Harris, Scalpay, Lewis, Orkney Mainland, Shetland Mainland, Yell and Unst. These were made on large format and are presented as diptychs with hand written commentary from the young people on what it is like to be sixteen today, their hopes and their fears, and the project aims to dispel any myth about island life being insular or in young people not having outward facing opinions and aspirations.
The ensuing portraits and the sixteen-year-olds candid testimonies reveal whom and what they really care about, and as well as exploring landscape and language in the Scottish Islands, it also looks at how social background, gender, ethnicity, health, education, location etc. all influence what young people think they can achieve in life.
Works also feature in the windows of Vanilla Joe's and Grassroots on Montgomery Street near close to the Maritime Museum and also at The Boatshop, Harbour St, Irvine KA12 8PY.
Please note at the Linthouse building of the Maritime Museum, normal entrance fees apply.
Talk: Craig Easton - Artist Talk
6.30pm Thursday 19th August
Livestreamed on Facebook
View the Virtual Exhibition here
Download Exhibition Handout
Everything Flows is a specially curated coastal exhibition trail, programmed by Street Level Photoworks in partnership with regional venues and supported by EventScotland as part of the Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21.
The Scottish Maritime Museum
6 Gottries Road, Irvine KA12 8QE
Open Daily 10am - 5pm
#YCW2021 #everythingflows21
Images: © Craig Easton