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Artist Statement:
I’m from the Isle of Lewis,
the Outer Hebrides of
Scotland. I was brought up
here and have returned to make
my art here.
For me landscapes create
memories, and nature
influences emotion.
Moods are the source of my
themes - Pleasures from
puddles, streams, moss
cushions, luscious grass or
...
Further Information
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Artist Exhibitions:
2007- Two-person show, with
Calum Angus Mackay, ‘Suathadh
Dileab’, An Lanntair,
Stornoway,Lewis
2006- Solo Show works on
paper, Seallam, Isle of Harris
1986-2004 17 Group Shows
within Scotland
1992 Solo Show of drawings and
prints, Ifjusagi Haz, Pecs,
Hungary
1992 Two-Person Show with Mary
Morrison, An ...
Further Information
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Artist Galleries:
2005- Solo show Seallam, Isle
of Harris
1986-2004 17 Group Shows in
Scotland
1992 Solo Show of drawings,
Ifjusagi Haz, Pecs, Hungary
1992 Two-Person Show with Mary
Morrison, An Lanntair,
Stornoway
1996 Solo Show, works on
paper, Dunedin Gallery,
Edinburgh
1996 Summer residency and
exhibition at Scottish
Sculpture ...
Further Information
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Collections:
Coming Soon!
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Commissions:
2006 Sculpture on the theme of
home, made for Mac tv Ealtainn
arts documentary
2000- 2003 Collaboration with
architects Sutherland and
Hussey, artists Jake Harvey,
Glen Onwin, Donald Urquhart,
engineer David Narro. An
Turas, made for Tiree Art
Enterprises.
1998 Site-specific sculpture
installation, commissioned by
Eolas TV Company
1995...
Further Information
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Reviews for Sandra Kennedy:
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WITH only two days left on display, any art island lover who hasn't yet visited the current exhibition in An Lanntair gallery should certainly do so.
A collaboration between two highly acclaimed Island artists, 'Suathadh Dìleab: Touching Inheritance' features the works of Callum Angus Mackay from Achmore and Sandra Kennedy of South Lochs in a stunning and thought provoking show detailing personal memories and a look back into the past of island traditions and landscape.
Graduating in Fine Art from Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen as a sculptor, Kennedy has moved from works in the round to those on the canvas and her brilliant abstracted pieces on display within this exhibition are a testament to the wealth of artistic talent which resides in the Western Isles.
With works concentrating more on mood than theme, Kennedy admits that her paintings are often linked with her childhood on the island; memories and the experience of being in a place at a particular time, and this can be illustrated through two examples - 'Bruadar Samhraidh' (I dream of Summer) and 'Samharadh mar Phàisd' (Summer Like a Child).
Both works exemplify Kennedy's emotional childhood memories through the bold use of colour alone. The glorious bright yellow sunshine shades which practically fills the canvas in 'Bruadar Samhraidh' hints at the aching for light and sunshine often felt throughout the Island's dark and wild winter months.
Whereas 'Samharadh mar Phàisd', with a variety of vibrant green shades, graduating to a lightened, whispered cloud filled sky, brings to mind the endless summers of youth, days spent lying within the machair grasses staring up at the clouds passing by above.
This is what is perfect about Kennedy's large oil works - that although abstracted, a great sense of emotion and presence of what the artist is trying to convey can be felt by any viewer, regardless of their knowledge or appreciation of art.
Kennedy's are works which feed the imagination, even when proving challenging of interpretation by the viewer. 'Nead an Fhithich' (Where Ravens Nest) and 'A-Muigh' (Outside) are two canvases that are perhaps abstracted beyond recognition to the viewer, yet both are so filled with glorious colour that instantly capture both the attention and imagination of their audiences, inviting the eye in for a closer inspection and revelling in their carnival appearance.
Another work which displays such an explosion of colour is 'Canach' (Bog Cotton), which gives a similar feel of Monet's 'Waterlillies' series when viewed, although is far more abstracted and distorted. With paint dashed heavily across the canvas there is a real sense of delving deep into the landscape through this piece, with seemingly multiple picture plains to be explored.
Foremost, the bog cotton itself is detailed, whites and creams placed deliciously across the canvas echoing the reality of such billowing plant flowers. These sit upon a second plain, various greens of the moorland scenery, before unfolding to reveal a deeper plain, blue and watery below harking to the boggy landscapes upon which such cotton grass thrives.
'Air a'mhòinteach' (Out in the Moor) and 'Feamainn Air a'Chladach' (Seaweed on the Shore) are a further two works of Kennedy's exhibition which, despite their abstraction, can be deciphered by those with a memory, a reference of knowledge of such scenes.
Again what is most striking about both is the bold, flat blocks of colour, shade and tone used to build up each composition.
In 'Feamaninn Air a'Chladach' we see the seashore as fabulous rich orche directly neighbouring vibrant turquoise and ultra marines, whereas 'Air a'mhòinteach' presents a dark, unyielding dark brown - a peat brown - revealing the very essence and make up of the Island's moorlands.
Kennedy is an artist who sees in colour, feels in colour, and above all, expresses in colour. Using such strong, bold, contrasting and undiluted shades and tones she creates works that are filled with emotion and intrigue.
Eilidh Whiteford, Stornoway Gazette
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