Posted 04 Aug 2021, by Kate Cowcher
In May 1967, a painting of men cutting down trees arrived in Dunoon, the small seaside town on the Cowal peninsula, in the west of Scotland. The painting was by the Tanzanian artist, Samuel J. Ntiro, and was posted from Dar es Salaam by Ntiro himself to T. G. Henderson, Argyll County Council s Director of Education.
Ntiro s painting,
Chopping Wood, had been bought by the renowned writer Naomi Mitchison for a council-funded initiative called the Argyll Collection. Mitchison had founded the latter in 1960 during her time as Argyll County Councillor, when she lobbied Henderson for funds to acquire modern art for Argyll s schools. Mitchison believed that children in rural Scotland, many of whom lived several hours from major museums, deserved to have access to modern art, to inspire creativity and pride.
Campbeltown Courier
Updated: 30/04/21, 1:30 pm
Dr Kate Cowcher, centre, with St Andrews alumni and project research assistants, Meredith Loper, left, and Elikem Logan, right, with modern African artworks at Lochgilphead High School in 2019.
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Date Time
Significant art works rediscovered in rural schools
Dr Kate Cowcher (centre) and St Andrews alumni and project research assistants, Meredith Loper and Elikem Logan, with modern African artworks at Lochgilphead High School, March 2019.
An overlooked collection of modern African art in Argyll and Bute schools has been rediscovered by academics at the University of St Andrews.
New research reveals that they are by some of the continent’s most notable modernist artists; together they provide a range of insights into the interests and concerns that pervaded the era of independence.
The collection, which belongs to Argyll and Bute Council will now go on public display.
In Pictures
Dr Kate Cowcher (centre) and St Andrews alumni and project research assistants, Meredith Loper and Elikem Logan, with modern African artworks at Lochgilphead High School, March 2019. An overlooked collection of modern African art in Argyll and Bute schools has been rediscovered by academics at the University of St Andrews. New research reveals that they are by some of the continent’s most notable modernist artists; together they provide a range of insights into the interests and concerns that pervaded the era of independence. The collection, which belongs to Argyll and Bute Council will now go on public display.