Bulter Award organisers appeal for applications from craft-makers

Local craft makers are being invited to create work inspired by her poems for the 2017 Rhoda Bulter Award.

Mrs Bulter, who died in 1994, was one of Shetland’s most significant dialect writers.

This year the competition is for an art wall-hanging, using materials and techniques such as collage, tapestry, weaving, wool, felting, printing, knitting or whatever feels appropriate.

People can choose one of three of Mrs Bulter’s poems to use as a basis for the art-work. The poems are Fragrance, Gjaan fir da Airrents and Ebb Draemin.

The sons and daughters of Mrs Bulter and her late husband Dennis present the award and judge the entries.

On behalf of his brothers and sisters, and speaking in dialect, John Bulter said: “Da competition is intended ta inspire an excite fok aboot Shetlan an da Shetlan dialect. A piece o art, suitable fir hingin on a waa, gies immense scope for fok ta explore dir senses an provides great opportunities for creativity ta blossom.”

He went on to explain the choice of these particular poems. “We felt dat da poems provided a very wide range o possible inspiration on different levels, an wi different senses. Dir’s enormous scope fur interpretation an translation intae a unique piece o art.”

The competition is administered on behalf of the family by dialect promotion group Shetland ForWirds.

The group’s convener Davy Cooper said: “It’s raelly worthwhile fir wis ta be involved wi celebratin someen it wis, an continues ta be, a vital pairt o wir language an cultural heritage.”

The closing date for entries, which must be no bigger than 750mm x 750mm (30 x 30 inches), is 31st August. It is hoped to exhibit a selection of the entries at the Shetland Museum and Archives.

For further details and information about the competition rules contact info@shetlanddialect.org.uk or ring Mary Blance at Lerwick (01595) 694104.

The relevant poems will be found on the Shetland ForWirds website at www.shetlanddialect.org.uk