Learn more about the fabric that made Grantown
One of Scotland’s historic linen towns is the fitting host of a touring exhibition of new uses for the country's oldest fabric.
Y/Our Linen Stories returns to the Highlands, this time to the Grantown Museum starting today and running until Sunday.
The pop-up exhibition includes a ‘Thank you’ to all who shared their stories at the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore during last year’s tour.
In 2018, Our Linen Stories explored key locations with important links to flax and linen in Scotland, highlighting historic connections and celebrating contemporary design and sustainability, while gathering local linen stories as it toured.
Those stories now inform and enhance each stop on the Revisit Y/Our Linen Stories tour.
Exhibition curator John Ennis said: “Grantown was one of the original Highland Linen New Towns and the museum’s car park actually sits on the former linen bleach field.
"There couldn’t be anywhere better for an exhibition of contemporary design inspired by our country’s linen heritage.
“We are very grateful to the Highland Folk Museum for hosting us last year. This time at Grantown we’re focusing on material innovation and sustainability, both in Speyside and internationally, from a Dutch flax chair to Scottish-made flax skis.”
Grantown Museum manager Dan Cottam added: “We are really excited here at Grantown Museum to have the opportunity to celebrate the town's linen heritage in such a tangible way, reflecting on the importance of linen in history while exploring its contemporary uses and seeing some brilliant examples of design today.”
Emerging from the 2018 tour to Speyside is The Curragh Project proposal to construct a traditional Spey boat using innovative flax fibre materials.
The Grantown display includes a home-made curragh, one of the oldest types of boat in the world, last seen in use in the 18th century on the Spey.
As part of Journey in Design’s commitment to platform Scotland to the world, Y/Our Linen Stories is included on the ICOM (International Council of Museums) interactive map for International Museum Day on Saturday.
The exhibition opens from 2.30pm to 4pm today and from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
While admission and curator talks are free, visitors can sign up via Eventbrite. At noon on Saturday the exhibition joins with colleagues globally in celebration of International Museum Day.
