Every few weeks we bring you stories about life in Orkney, its history and archaeology, artists and designers we admire – and the inspiration behind Ola Gorie’s unique jewellery.
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The first fortnight of August is a time of celebration in Orkney. Across the parishes of the Mainland, and on several of the outer isles, agricultural shows fill parks and community halls. They’re the highpoint of the summer for both exhibitors and audiences.
Seeing beauty in unexpected places, and turning glimpses of nature or history into elegant jewellery, is one of Ola’s hallmarks. It’s a talent possessed in abundance by Orkney photographer Rebecca Marr. Find our more in our blog.
For a few days at the start of July, Orkney was at the top of the news agenda across the UK, and mentioned in reportage everywhere from the USA to Australia. The word on everyones lips? Orkixt.
We spoke to David McNeish’s whose play Thora, will receive its world premiere at The Orkney Theatre on June 16th. Thora was the mother of our St Magnus, a major influence for Ola Gorie Jewellery.
In our last blog we wrote about some of the best-known sites in Kirkwall. We suggested how you could get a glimpse of what makes Orkney special in just a day, without leaving the town centre. Now we’re going to take you round some of the lesser-known spots of the town. You might call it secret Kirkwall.
Thinking of visiting Orkney? We recommend a two-week stay: one week for the Mainland, and one for the outer isles. What’s that you say? You’re only here for one day? Never fear: we have put together the perfect guide for how to do Kirkwall in one day.
Harry Berry on Hoy moor, courtesy of Hoy Heritage Trust Harry Berry has one of the most fascinating biographies of any Orkney artist. For a start, he wasn’t born here, but in Peckham, south London. In 1920, aged 15, Harry joined the Royal Navy, working his way up to the rank of chief petty officer.
In a world where possessions are often treated as mere trinkets, disposable and interchangeable, there is something undeniably captivating about jewellery. Here, we explore the delicate art of jewellery maintenance, a task that demands patience, attention to detail, and a touch of love.
Bryce Wilson was born and grew up in Stromness, and was one of the post war generation who left Orkney to study down south. Amongst his contemporaries at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen were painter Sylvia Wishart, sculptor Ian Scott, and none other than Ola Gorie.
Our final Year of Stories competition drew a bumper bunch of entries. As well as our winner, Katrina McGhie, we’d like to share some stories that were only a whisker behind in our affections. Here is a lovely emotional memory from Jess Eve, about her father, and the wonderful gifts he brought back from his fishing holidays in the Highlands. Lovely photos too!
Congratulations to Katrina McGhie, winner of our November Year of Stories competition. As this is the last of our monthly competitions, we decided to give an extra special prize of a £300 voucher – and it is now on its way to Katrina, just in time for Christmas!
In recent years Laura Drever has emerged as the most original and accomplished landscape artist now working in Orkney. Her works are immediately recognisable as capturing something essentially Orcadian.
To celebrate Ola's 85th birthday on Thursday 27th October, we present a photo album of candid snaps from all the way back in the 1930s, right up to summer 2022.
Congratulations to Kay Foubister, our September Year of Stories winner. Our theme was ‘History and Heritage’, and Kay’s story weaves her own personal memories through a much more ancient past.
'We had a small traditional Scottish wedding and chose Ola Gorie Stroma rings to symbolise our marriage.
The rings remind me of the tide, which we think is a good symbol for our marriage: constant and unstoppable yet a reminder that life has its ups and downs.'
On the third Sunday of August, a unique event takes place in the island of South Ronaldsay. As the tide ebbs from the Sands o Wright, young boys furrow the beach with miniature ploughs, striving to achieve the most even and regular dreels.
Are the puffins watching back, out of those apparently big mournful eyes, with their streak of Cleopatra-like eyeliner? Probably not, but it’s almost impossible not to think of them as little bird people, such is the appearance of character their faces and behaviour give them. Their Orkney name, Tammy Norrie, sounds like a particularly cheery uncle.
2022 is the Year of Stories in Scotland, a celebration of the tales that thread through our history and way of life. In Orkney, stories define who we are, even more than the rest of Scotland. That’s certainly true here at Ola Gorie.
Art is meant to be seen. Or at least that’s what we tend to think nowadays. We live in a world saturated with images, where almost everything seems to be done for public display and consumption, whether in an art gallery or on Instagram. But what about 5,000 years ago, in the Neolithic? How did people think about art then?
By Nick Card and Anne Mitchell
For this week's blog, we welcome special contributors N...
