Vanishing Point - Paintings by Jeanne B Rose

This Saturday (8th December) sees the opening of a new exhibition at the Orkney Museum, Tankerness House, Broad Street, Kirkwall.

‘Vanishing Point’ is a collection of paintings by Stromness artist Jeanne B Rose. These artworks and 3D VR work, were the result of the Ness of Brodgar artist in residence scheme.

Numerous artists have been artists in residence at the Ness of Brodgar’s summer excavation.

2018 included artist Jeanne B. Rose from Stromness via Long Island, New York. Since 2011, she has been a volunteer for the Ness archaeology and assisted for a number years with the annual Orkney archaeological Dig Shop.

This summer, she was a bridge between two worlds by painting portions of the excavation that by summer’s end, disappeared or where digging had not resumed.

Jeanne said: ‘A large portion of my summer paintings focus on the rectangular shapes left from gathering the samples from the sondage, or earth test pit. Because of this fascination, I worked more closely with the micromorphologist and digital archaeologists and have a much greater understanding of their work. This large earthy swadge that went across both Trench T and P, was mostly removed after the final samples were removed by micromorphologist, Jo McKenzie. But I loved the word sondage. Visitors will leave knowing more about how the sampling is accomplished and what kind of information it provides archaeologists.

‘With my curiosity ignited, I became enamoured with even more words specific to this site’s needs and worked to engage the other volunteers to either give or write their favourite funny word along the bottom of the 11 foot painting I created. So, 100 words later, the visiting volunteers and site archaeologists had contributed to the painting.

‘Along with digging, the site uses all new methods of recording information.  I also became excited about the 3D work that has been done with objects and buildings by Hugo Anderson-Whymark and by Jim Bright who was working with 3D photography.  For this exhibition, Jim has put his digital archaeology skills to work with the artwork, so there are 3D and virtual reality moments in the exhibition.

‘There is more than one painting on display, for like the archaeology dig, there are many behind the scenes stages to creating a piece of artwork and being influenced by an experience.’

On Saturday 8 December, Jeanne and other writers from the day of a Renga ( a genre of Japanese collaborative poetry) workshop led on the site by Yvonne Gray will be present throughout the day to sign the first renga written on the site.  Details from the paintings created on site are the images behind the words. Profit from the sales of this book go to support the Ness of Brodgar Trust and are specially priced for the exhibition.

‘Vanishing Point’ by Jeanne B Rose runs from the 8th December 2018 until 2nd February 2019. The Orkney Museum is open Monday to Saturday, 10.30 to 12.30 and 13.30 to 17.00. Admission is Free