EVENT:
SATURDAY 22 - SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER 2022

VENUE: Outdoors @ Tomnahurich Bridge, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5TD

Parking at the Torvean Car Park

FREE ENTRY​  |  OPEN 7 - 9PM

To celebrate 200 years of the Caledonian Canal, Bridging Water will light up the old and the new Tomnahurich Bridges in Inverness. You are invited to join us for this free outdoor event which will include a new commissioned light projection from artist Sadie Stoddart (developed in collaboration with Graeme Roger, Wildbird) and an artists' film programme displayed on the new control tower, plus refreshments and a drop-in exhibition.​

Sadie Stoddart’s new projection, ‘Follow the Fairies’ on Tomnahurich Bridge uses disjointed phrases and builds on her past work developed during lockdown 2020. It looks at the local folklore of Tomnahurich cemetery, otherwise known as the fairy hill. The esker towers over Inverness and became a cemetery in the 19th century but has had traditional Highland stories of fairies and seers for far longer. Most famously the Brahan Seer (also known as Coinneach Odhar) made a number of prophecies about the hill in the 17th century including the building of the Caledonian Canal, stating that:

“The time will come when full-rigged ships will be seen sailing eastwards and westwards by the back of Tomnahurich.”

The artists film and documentary programme is themed around waterways, and features works made by local and international artists/filmmakers including Marco Dessardo & Nicola Gear, Fabiano Marques, Sherrill Mason, Mary Somerville, Veronica Vossen and Mike Webster.

Circus member Nicola Gear is the skipper of the Loch Ness Barge and the Bridging Water film programme features a few specific works shot along the Caledonian Canal and on board the barge as part of an artists’ residency programme she hosted in 2011.

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Moored between the new and old Tomnahurich Bridges, the Loch Ness Barge - a historic Caledonian Canal dredger, will also showcase artwork made in collaboration with young people from communities along the Great Glen this summer during our Inland Navigation project supported by Historic Environment Scotland. Aboard the boat there will be an interactive canal heritage display from Scottish Canals' heritage officer Chris O'Connell and a retired Tomnahurich Bridge keeper Ron Ross.

Free, all welcome - wrap up warm as this event is outdoors!