Air Seachdain na Gàidhlig, le taic bho Mhaoin nan Tabhartas Beag (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), lìbhrig Freya NicLeòid bùithtean-obrach mothachail ann an co-bhann le Colaiste MhicAmhlaigh (CIC) ann an Eilean Leòdhais.

Thug iad sùil air a’ cheangal eadar fuaim, buadhan agus obair ealain ann an cànan dùthchasach nan Eilean. Mar thoradh air a seo, chaidh mapa fhaclan a dhèanamh le faclan Gàidhlig a bha a’ freagairt air na fuaimean a bha na h-oileanaich a’ cluinntinn an àrainneachd an tuathanais.

Thairis air na trì làithean, fhuair na com-pàirtichean eòlas air na leanas:

A’ bruidhinn mun deidhinn fhèin sa Ghàidhlig (Is mise…)

Faclan Gàidhlig le fuaimean an tuathanais (splais, gag-gòg, mè mè, strùpag)

Dealbhachadh phostairean fiodha

Ag obair le diofar sheòrsan aodaich agus fiodh

A’ clàradh fuaim le microfòn is fònaichean-chluais

Ag aithneachadh àiteachan leis na fuaimean air gach làrach

Bha am pròiseact air leth soirbheachail le com-pàirteachadh uabhasach math bho na h-oileanaich agus luchd-obrach an tuathanais. B’ e amas a’ phròiseict gum deidheadh rudeigin a chruthachadh a sheasadh gu bràth ann am fiodh agus concrait le Gàidhlig aig a chridhe, agus chaidh seo a choileanadh. Leis gun robh diofar stèiseanan ann dha na h-oileanaich, cha robh uallach orra fuireach anns an aon àite. Bha e uabhasach sùbailte oir bha cuid a bha nas cofhurtail leis a’ chlàradh agus cuid eile a bha nas fheàrr air an obair ealain. Airson trì làithean, bha an t-seada beò le obraichean ealain agus còmhradh sa Ghàidhlig, agus bha feadhainn ann nach robh cleachdte ri bhith a’ bruidhinn sa Ghàidhlig. Bha e neo-fhoirmeil agus fhuair iad cothrom feuchainn air na h-innealan a bha aca.

Bha na nithean càilear agus furasta an làimhseachadh, a thug air falbh duilgheadasan sam bith aig com-pàirtichean fa-leth a thaobh tàlant, sgrìobhadh agus còmhradh. Bha iad brèagha agus tarraingeach, a bha feumail do dhaoine aig a bheil feumalachdan a bharrachd, a’ toirt cothrom dhaibh a bhith a’ faighinn eòlais air cuspair air nach robh iad buileach eòlach. Bha e cudromach gun robh teatha, cofaidh is briosgaidean ann ’s gum biodh iad uile cofhurtail. Bha e math gun robh obair ann a thaobh teicneòlais fuaim cuideachd, a’ toirt cothrom do dhaoine rudeigin eadar-dhealaichte fheuchainn. Feumaidh cùisean a bhith gu math furasta do na com-pàirtichean. Bha a h-uile càil air leth soirbheachail agus chòrd e ris a h-uile duine a bha an sàs.

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On Seachdain na Gàidhlig, with support from the Small Grants Fund (Bòrd na Gàidhlig), ‘Feuch Seo / Try this, Feel this’ was a Gaelic sensory workshop as part of an ongoing project by Freya Macleod in collaboration with Macaulay College (CIC) on the Isle of Lewis.

They explored the connection between sound, print-making and the senses through the indigenous language of the islands. This process resulted in a woodblock printed word-map made up of Gaelic onomatopoeia that students had recorded in the farm’s landscape.

Through the 3-day programme of activities, the students were offered the following experiences:

Gaelic language introduction (learned how to say “I am…/ is mise…”)

Gaelic language words relating to the sounds of the farm (eg splais, gag-gòg, mè mè, strùpag)

Graphic Wood-block poster design & layout (is mise posters)

Collaborative Fabric creation using same wood-block technique (Final piece)

Sound recording using microphone and headphones

Geographical map identification by mapping the sounds related to each location

The project went incredibly well, with extraordinarily high levels of engagement from the students and staff members at the farm. The desired outcomes were originally Gaelic and design orientated, to co-create a word-pattern that would be installed as physical, permanent sculpture later down the line of this project (concrete and wood). With the multi-station format, a participant didn’t have to stay on one activity for long, if they weren’t enjoying a particular element. Some preferred going for a walk with the microphones, while others were very in to the printing. It was flexible. For 3 days, they created a creative, vibrant shed space as an open, friendly environment where neither the art nor the Gaelic came across as intimidating. Rather, it was a social opportunity for people to just hanging out, speak a bit of Gaelic (many had never spoken a word in their lives) and having fun with the tools that were in the room.

Tactile objects are a great method to level the playing field in a creative language workshop – so that a level of required dexterity / skill in drawing / writing / talking / painting are removed. They were visually stimulating, and almost acted like ‘play objects’ at times, which works really well for those with additional educational or social requirements to engage with an unfamiliar topic. Creating a ‘buzzy’ atmosphere with music and tea, coffee and snacks is important to make people feel at home in a workshop. Having a sound-technology element was great for people with a technical mind, allowing them to flourish creatively but in a different way. Making things VERY simple from the participants’ point of view is essential. The workshops were very much enjoyed by all who took part.