Dol Fodha na Grèine
This painting commemorates nineteen islanders ; Angus Gillies, Murdina Campbell; Donald Maclean; Murdo Campbell;Alexander Gillies; Malcolm Macleod; Donald Maclean; Alexander MacDonald; John Macleod ; Donald MacDonald; Murdo Maclean; Angus Macleod; Donald Macleod; John Murray; Norman Morrison; John Gillies; Donald Smith; Donald Macleod; and Murdo Macleod.
In October 2014 Eachdraidh Nis commissioned me to create artwork to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of WW1. My painting was to include local soldiers and sailors and also some family members- the reference photographs used were from the remarkable book "Dol fodha na Greine'.
The painting is in oils, on a 4' linen canvas and took three months to complete over the winter. The process was deeply moving; I knew that most of my twenty two subjects had died tragically young, including those who drowned in the Iolaire disaster. I kept to my original composition, with a black house and the Iolaire on the horizon beneath a fiery sky. Falling poppies were added to the foreground.
As the painting neared completion, I realised I wanted to honour my subjects in a more personal way, so started painting single subjects as well. I ended up with eight individual portraits, also in oils. Their stories were powerful; a beautiful young woman Chirstina Campbell, had lost four brothers and her father by 1920. The last painting shows three poppies in a field of fire.
I count myself as very lucky to have had the chance to contribute artwork to the project.
The paintings are on permanent display in the cafe area of the museum, on the Isle of Lewis. They were exhibited at the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, June 2015
Fios
The leaves will turn frosty
And fall to the ground
The heather will fade
From wild purple to brown
The sea will turn stormy
And wild horses will rear
But it won't be my home
Any more
The sun will shine down
On every stone home
And the birds will sing songs
That we'll never know
My heart will grow lonely
And I'll miss you so
But it won't be my home
Any more
The days will grow longer
Without you by my side
And I'll know our memories
Will have to suffice
But I'll look to the waves
And think of you
Because my heart belongs
In Lewis
Kathleen Smith, aged 15
An Cogadh mor
Thainig comhstri gu iadach
Eadar Breatainn'sa Ghearmailt;
Thog iad cabhlaichean-cogaidh
'S chuir iad feachdan fo armachd.
Ged bu dluth iad an cairdeas
Righrean Deorsa s' An Ceusar
Bha mi -run agus gamhlas
Aig an dithis dha cheile
Bhiodh sinn cruinn air ar gluinean
Trath 'sa mhadainn 's ard fheasgar
Ar cinn crom sinn ag urnaigh
Nach robh truaighe fa-near dhuinn
Chaidh na h-oig-fhir a spealadh
Mar gu sgathadh tu eorna;
Dh' fhagadh miltean nan laighe
A' sileadh na fala 'san lopair.
Cha chaula 'n Ceausair no Deorsa
Acain nan leointeach 's ann trainns;
Is chan fhac iad an leir-sgrios
Rinn fasach air ear-thuath na Fraing.
Ceithir bliadhna de dh'urchaill
Dh'fhag muilleanan sinte marbh;
Eisd ri caoineadh an t-saoghail
'S iad a'
caoidh nan gillean a dh'fhalbh
'S cha robh aoigheachd no iolach
Air bord na h-Iolair 'sa Chaol;
Cha robh aire nam balach
Ach air tilleadh gu Eilaean an Fhraoich
Fhad's bha 'n Iolair 's na seoidn innt'
A' seoladh gu sabhailt le Sith
Chaidh a glacadh measg Bhiastan;
Agus bhris i fo ruit a' Chuain Sgith
Oidhche fhuar na Bliadhn' Uire
'S na cairdean a' feitheamh nan sonn;
Chaill da chiad dhiubh am beatha
A' snamh ann an sruth-dhubh nan tonn
Bhis na ceangall fon tughadh
'S dh'fhalbh a' chonn bhar an iarna
Chaill sinn crionachd nan teaghlach
Thoir dhuinn furtachd a Thighearna
Thoir dhiunn misneachd a Thighearn agus Sith.
Bardachd, Calum Ferguson
