10 August 2021

Back in May, I put some of my current paintings up, for view, and the positive feedback from that endeavour nurtured a focus on developing some more ideas. Such activity has been a vital means of lifting my spirits and preventing much overwhelming emotion, this summer. As I reflect, take stock, my memory and flashbacks call to last summer... Oh, an altogether different time for me... The sad outcome was inevitable... Drifting back to the present season, it is so reassuring to be able to simply explore the delights of colour ideas or composition and shapes in "en plein air" sketches, for much larger paintings. There I am in my prime element, sort of convincing my self that there is a way of coping with the pain of one's grieve... But sadly no... Not yet... My raw grief... It is still there... Then, of course, I am aware that all around us there so many people struggling to come to terms with the brutal reality of losing a loved one. Such shared experience brings people together.

We still face worrying times and a genuinely uncertain future, despite the wishful thinking that punctuates all news broadcasts. Humour that is the fundamental means that people deploy to address such times of crisis and uncertainty, makes no appearance. Even poor leadership get the butt end of jokes. However this pandemic period we are existing in simply does not engender any laughter or light reference at all. How on earth could it? Then there are the related issues and confusion. Much as I would welcome a trip off my beloved island - it is over eighteen months since I ventured anywhere - But no, I am going to stay as close to my own home as I can be, until I feel it is safe to stray back to the wonderful urban worlds. A couple of days ago I received my bus pass, that little perk of turning sixty! I have already been planning it's use around the island. A very local "staycation", never straying very far from my base.

Now, to end on a positive note, of uncharacteristic "own trumpet blowing", I must flash up the wonderful "MI FHEIN IS MACKINTOSH/ART ON FIRE, programme about the once great Glasgow School of Art, that is being broadcast on BBC ALBA, on Monday night (9th August 2021), at 9pm. It will be available on the iPlayer for 30 days after the broadcast. This most emotional programme was directed by Calum Angus MacKay. I was delighted to have been invited, among other former students from the islands, to make my contribution to it. I have been rather involved in the campaign to rebuilt this outstanding building, since the second ripping flames were put out, on 15/16 June 2018. This is the very beautiful and special formative place where so many of us grow and developed as creative people. It was quite simply a most magical place, and this programme gives a flavour of what it still means to us. I was privileged to have a full preview yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 4th August). I am sure it will impress everyone who sees it. I hope many of you will take the opportunity to experience this unique presentation, of the very fond and most personal expressions and regards for this greatly loved institution.

KB

10 August 2021

 Well, it is so very odd to see yourself on a television screen. There, I was, last night, speaking with an authority, my own vivid memories of a much loved space. I was both honoured and delighted to make my contribution to the brilliant and beautifully crafted documentary 'Mi Fhein is Mackintosh/Art on Fire', directed by Lewis filmmaker, Calum Angus MacKay, which was broadcast on BBC Alba, last night. A credit to all involved with its production.

The master stroke here was to have a group of GSA Alumni, former and current students from the islands, relate their personal, special and highly emotional feelings for the Glasgow School of Art. The most magical place, known affectionately as 'The Mack', designed by architect, artist and designer Charles Rennie Macintosh, where their creative imaginations were to grow and develop. Each account, in this documentary, is detailed and articulate, each is beautifully visual, as one might expect from individuals with keen artistic senses. Certainly a unique picture emerges of a place greatly loved, and now sadly missed, by all fortunate to have studied there. The interest in rebuilding this iconic gem of architecture remains strong and it is potentially huge. This could well be the beginning of a positive and pro-active campaign to deliver the many questions, long since requiring answers. This would be an excellent outcome from the film.

For my own part, I have already been involved in some of the discussion to date, many of my feelings and opinions have been voiced and written. My online comments in the immediate aftermath of the second fire, on Friday 15th June 2018, formed a personal viewpoint which was published on the STV online news page, on Monday 18th June 2018. That was a great honour, the article was accompanied by two photographs of me, as a nineteen year old, in the ' Henrun' loggia, on the top floor of 'The Mack', and the article was indeed the start of the memories that were flooding into my mind. I do regret that, for this film, I was not yet confident enough to let my memory flow to camera in Gaelic. Reviving any ability in Gaelic, has been high on my 'to do'/'must do' list since I returned to live on the island, in January 2017.

13 May 2021

I am sharing my Kenneth Burns Artworks website, to spread my recent selection of works around. These pictures are small - indeed pocket sized, extracted form a pile of little sketchbooks, which I use as journals every day. Drawing, the action of making an initial mark of expression, and pulling it, and pushing it, and generally manipulating it, to create a line, or tone, or a shadow, and then further moving it around to make a satisfying or recognizable image is so vitally important to me. I simply love drawing. I do believe that drawing is the earliest and most fundamental means of human expression. Writing evolved from ancient hieroglyphs, which were in fact drawings, stylized depictions. So making marks, drawing and writing are all means of expressing ideas. Some drawings can be very complicated and sophisticated, these explain detailed designs of our, buildings, crafts, vessels or machines. Drawings are tools of our civilization. I like to describe how my paintings evolve from simple quick sketches, even doodles, that initially plot an idea, or a visual stimuli that captures my interest. I like to have drawing and painting materials with me and close to hand, at all times. Folk frequently ask me if I... am painting at the moment...? I am sure they mean painting a large piece of work. The answer to this is that I am constantly envisaging paintings, and there is always a painting on the go at some stage of completion. For me the fun element of the work is the discovery of a location of interest and then the exploration of getting to know it and learning all about it. Certain special locations find me returning, over and over there is always a new aspect to discover.

This collection of little drawings and paintings, are the elements of the progression and development of much larger pieces. I call them my working drawings, though one or two can stand for themselves as complete works. I brought this collection together in a response to the kind suggestion of some of my dear and valued friends, whose support has carried me through a very sad year. You will know who you are and I hope how highly I regard you all.

I hope those of you have not yet seen these drawings, sketches and little paintings, will like what you see. KB May 2021

On turning 60

 

Turning Sixty. What is the real significance of this age.

So what happened, actually it sort of crept up on me... I turned round and... there...I'm Sixty, already. The 6th of May my birthday, and like many others, the date that I marked events and assessed where I was at and where I heading. It was right on me at last. I have been aware, so much of life has rushed past and prior to this birthday, I was actually enjoying the challenges and aspects of life that we think will go on forever. Who really does the arithmetic of ageing, when just getting on with living is a natural progress. But it wasn't a dread of reaching this age, that caused me any anxiety, we all learn in early formative years that the things we dread most often prove to be of little concern, after all. It was the fact that, for once, I had very little knowledge or idea of quite how I was going to even mark the day let alone celebrate my sixtieth birthday. A significant moment for reflection and self appraisal. Most important was another mile stone and major first happening. This was my first birthday without the supportive love of my Dear Mother, and I suddenly felt overwhelmingly vulnerable. I knew that there would be many moments of very strong emotions. Then the wonderful kindness of people I value as friends and family began to come through. I stopped looking back and feeling sorry for myself, this was always a happy day, in my life, full of fun, laughter and the good things of life. It was, like all birthdays a celebration of living. Exactly what I had been brought up, by my late parents, to believe. The day was most enjoyable, even if the weather was being awkward and unlike spring. I got lovely messages and cards from kind people, and I began to really understand the importance of maturing and enjoying the beautiful aspects of life and the benefits of age. Life must be shared and enjoyed with other people.

KB, in reflection of my 60th birthday.

22 February 2021

I am in the process of creating a "new body"of art work, mostly drawings and paintings, inspired by the simply awesome landscape that surrounds me and stimulates my thoughts, hopes and ideas... There is indeed still life beyond the surreal situation, of being locked down in the oppressive restrictions of isolation and social distance. Caused by this hateful pandemic! Self motivation and a clear focus, will I hope assist me in his endeavour, to rise above sadness and see through the tears. Though this has been a time of challenging personal grief and, of course, an overwhelmingly depressing and sorrowful period for the whole world. I feel we might all need to relearn or revive our social interactive skills. As an artist, I am no stranger to solitude or isolation, the very work I do is carried out in a private lone space my "studio". But my personality and natural being thrive on social interaction, I need people and I am stretching my patience, like so many others. But there is a light on the horizon, I got my Covid 19 vaccine last Saturday, and Spring will be starting next Saturday. So good to be alive. KB

Holocaust Memorial Day

 

Today, the 27th January 2021, is Holocaust Memorial Day, the 76th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, a symbolic moment whose date now serves as the annual commemoration of the Holocaust. Each year it becomes more crucial for us ALL to remember what happened, in these death camps, because as time passes the number of survivors becomes fewer... The importance of commemorating such a huge event in the human experience is to learn vital lessons of love and unity and prevent the ignorance and evil that cause such murder and genocide...We ALL need to consider and reflect on the issues.

We certainly seem to be surrounded with sorrow, and would that that were not true. People refer to this current era of pandemic trauma as "strange times" or "the Covid crisis", and there is a lot of frustrated desire resume a conception of normality. Now is that the normality that existed over a year ago, before we learned of this Coronavirus (?). Sadly, horrendous things have happened over the past year. The awful reality of over 100,000 lost lives... it is unbearable enough to grieve the loss of one loved one. Then the circumstances of dying with this virus, the lack of dignity and the isolation, a total horror... No, we cannot go back, we have collectively suffered too much, and must soon begin the process of healing.

On a very personal level these recent weeks living in this new order of redefined social restrictions has been extremely challenging. I enjoy the company of other people, the very notion of "social distancing" is a clumsy oxymoron. So at a time when, in raw bereavement and in real need of beloved company, I am actually in extreme retreat and self isolation. So how does one approach this in a sane and positive way? Well...I did two things at the beginning of the month to "manage" the situation. The first was to limit the need for venturing out for food shopping, which has the spin-off benefit of requiring advance planning of meals and menus, and a subtle control of the old diet. The second thing is more enjoyable, it involves taking the calendar or diary, and marking of all the special events, anniversaries and occasions and actually celebrating or marking them in your own special or private way. So for example a friend or relative is having a birthday, sadly you cannot meet up or party, so send them a letter, email, card or give them a special telephone call. Recently on what would have been the birthday of a very dear friend who sadly passed away three years ago, I went for an appropriate walk and did a little sketch in special honour of that person. In such ways I intend to make re-connections with people, places and events past and present.

This is the time of year, to "make new beginnings", indeed round about this time in January, ancient civilizations believed it to be an important moment in the natural cycle of life - the time when the sap begins to rise in the trees. This is when trees, shrubs and bushes begin to go into bud and a light green aura seems to glow. The day light hours are getting longer and I long to get out into the fresh air and start turning the soil and planting the earth. There is a future on our horizon...

3 January 2021

 

I would like to wish everyone, A Happy New Year. Let us hope that our situation steadily improves as the days get longer and spring replaces winter. This has certainly been an unprecedented festive season for us ALL, as the ongoing challenges of the restrictions to combat the coronavirus pandemic bite into our lives, in every way. We have become increasingly weary of the frightening gloom of the daily news, and we are constantly aware that our whole life psyche must require adapting and changing in order to accommodate yet another viral threat. Indeed over the last few days, there has been much reference to the awfulness of the year just past, but surely a year is only a measurement of time and not in itself the cause of good or bad. In the earlier months of 2020 the weather, for instance, was actually quite pleasant. Think how truly horrible the first Lockdown would have been, were we to have had to queue, for our food shopping, out in the cold, wet and wind. It was the awfulness of the pandemic itself that was so totally unbearable...people dying and the feeling of helplessness. It was, all of that, that we wanted away from. Sadly the change over to 2021 has not been the sudden switching on of a light. No, it is going to take a long time, to resolve things and recover. Of course for this very reason, the usual fire of seasonal optimism and expectation, was largely extinguished this time round. While we must accept and go along with the restrictions, it is absolutely vital, we must do whatever it takes not to let ourselves or people we know and care about become lonely or stranded in isolation. Keeping contact with each other by telephone or on social media, is a life line to many people.

Now being very much a "people person", I certainly did miss all the old traditions that accompany the happy socializing, of our festive season. These traditions relating to the celebration of the new year are very ancient and refer to the natural cycle of life. It was symbolic that, from the dying embers of the old year's fire, emerged the sparks to ignite the bright flames of the new year's fire. It was deemed essential and therefore a good omen to keep the fire, if lite, burning from one year to the next. Hence the origins of the carrying of coal from one house to another, at "Hogmany". I always associate this time of year with huge crackling fires, great food, wonderful company, with lots of music and laughter. In our home the fire was very much at the centre everything. This year there was no enthusiasm to have a living fire burning. Instead I had two very large church candles burning near the fireplace and at the changing of the year, "The Bells", I lite fresh candles from the old ones. But this evoked an overwhelming and unexpected flood of emotion of what had passed and in effect was being left in 2020. This is also the traditional time to remember people, to forgive and atone, and to tidy accounts and make payments. Not to bring anything that are unresolved, forward into the start of the new year is a universal feature of a new year celebration.

So far three dawns have heralded fine crisp days, with amber clouded skies of blue above and a glistening frosty ground. I gingerly tread cautious steps on my walk along the shore. The gentle action of the tide is a natural calming and reassuring essence. With my mind and emotions thus stimulated I am ready to face the day. At the start of a year I have always tried to put into place some sort of "resolution" or thumb nail proposal for the longer hours of day light. I need and want to immerse myself in my garden. Getting close to that cycle of nature, planting things, nurturing them and encouraging them grow can enrich anyone's life, and it does. There is something very wonderful about getting the soil of the Earth, under your fingernails. I must be a crofter after all! Let us hope, that as we carry forward the current challenges we will do so with spirits raised by brighter and stimulating days. Staying safe and staying healthy.

Some thoughts on the New Year, Sunday 3rd January 2021. KB.