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.
Blog
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...
There’s one time of year when there is undoubtedly magic in the air, of a very human kind. The St Magnus International Festival is a ten-day wonder of music, theatre, literature, and creative activity of every variety. Its roots go back more than fifty years, and a firebrand English composer…
As the philosopher said, ‘Sometimes the smallest things take up the most space in your ...
After hardly leaving Orkney for the past two years, the thought of going to central Lon...
Ola Gorie Jewellery is a genuine Orkney family business. As we approach Mother’s Day, Ola’s daughter Ingrid Tait offers some thoughts about growing up with a pioneering jeweller as a mum and her experience of being an integral part of the 'Ola Gorie Story'.
Mention the word ‘flow’ to anyone in Orkney, and the chances are they’ll think you’re talking about Scapa Flow. The Flow, as we usually call it, is the spectacular natural harbour at the heart of the Orkney archipelago.
Ola Gorie’s Luckenbooth collection is a rare thing. Most of Ola’s designs are entirely original, or at least bold new creations based on fragments of manuscripts or enigmatic archaeological discoveries. But Luckenbooth is different. Yes, Ola dedicated all her creative imagination to making it special.
