a north light ~ cynosure (7 July 2007 - 10 November 2007)

This re-launch exhibition brings together the Pier Arts Centre’s Collection along with new acquisitions and commissions, as well as the work of featured artists, in a celebration that explores their points of interconnection against a backdrop of light and colour.

The Collection has at its core the 67 works gifted by Margaret Gardiner to Orkney in 1979 and represents a key moment in the development of 20th century British Modernism. The Collection now contains 117 works.

The recent participation of the Pier Arts Centre in the National Collecting Scheme for Scotland has made possible the acquisition of contemporary works that give a 21st century perspective to the Collection.

In addition, the works of featured artists, from near and far, explore and extend the various threads that weave through a north light ~ cynosure: interconnection and orientation, light and colour – themes that are reflected in the Centre’s northern outlook, in its Collection and in its new building.

The word cynosure is derived from the ancient name for the constellation containing the North Star and is used to describe anything that provides a navigation point or that is a focus of attraction.

Artistically the Pier Arts Centre aims to offer a reference point and to present beautiful artworks.

To help navigate the exhibition, works from the COLLECTION, our recent ACQUISITIONS and works from FEATURED artists are identified through this colour key.