Community art
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FORRES has a new space to showcase the talents of local artists and craftspeople.
The Wee Gallery at the town hall is now open and features the work of Andrea Turner, The Wee FIBees, Senga Ross and Diane McGregor.
Forres Town Hall is run by Forres Area Community Trust (FACT).
FACT development manager Debbie Herron said: "We want to give another dimension to what the hall and town centre has to offer by encouraging people to come along and see the gallery. We plan to change the exhibition every two months and will use a range of themes."
FACT and Wee Gallery curator Nahed Gadalla agreed on the opening theme title, 'Halcyon Summers'.
"Hearing FACT's vision to transform a tired corridor at the town hall into a vibrant art gallery displaying the vast talent of our community was inspiring," explained Nahed. "I quickly offered to volunteer and was thrilled then to be asked to establish what has now become our own gallery!"
Nahed has worked as a professional set designer in London's West End theatre, as well as commercially for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. The art history and classical studies honours graduate enjoys "creating" in wood, paint or textiles or performance.
She said: "I also thrive on enabling others to express their own creativity. The Forres area has a rich history of photographs, crafts, paintings and sculpture so when FACT took on the management of the town hall, we felt it was an ideal opportunity to build our cultural heritage in a welcoming and engaging space."
She added: "We invite artists and crafters to contact the FACT office - I chat to them about their work and inspiration then view their work. I then catalogue the information and pull themes together for a cohesive exhibition.
"Halcyon Summers started when Forres In Bloom (FIB) secretary Sandra Maclennan mentioned the wonderful collages the WEE FIBees have created for new signage in Forres which is an example of community at its best. FIB volunteers serve to make Forres a beautiful place and so the theme grew, drawing in Andrea's vast paintings of river banks and woodland, Senga's well-worn boots and Diane's moss-like felt work."
The Wee Gallery is open from 10am-1pm, Monday to Friday and 10am-noon on Saturdays.
