Revivals

by Alexander Stevenson, 14 Aug 2009

Since the interview with Katie MacKinnon, I have been developing a ‘guising’ costume from her description; embellished using the common island dress of century ago as depicted in the island photo-archive. Having created a costume I then strode forth (with great trepidation as the costume seemed pretty menacing) to cause imaginary havoc!
I quickly realised that although the costume itself is pretty simple and harmless, the response I had from people was generally that of panic and fear! The tourists were intrigued but only felt at ease once they knew I was re-enacting some faux-historical event, at which point they lined up to watch or kindly stayed to onside to let me photograph. This only worked so-so and thus I took to guising in secret- ‘guise-bombing’ you might call it. Where I would strike out across the island finding quieter locations or abandoned vehicles, casually set up my camera, take off my waterproof, slip the sack over my head, set the timer, and run over to pose for the shot. This seemed to work very well and I am still creating a collection of images of the guising character stealing tractors, trailers and an old plough, and running about menacingly in the woods. There are no police on Eigg, and I wonder if this sort of behaviour would be tolerated back in inner-city Glasgow?
The images I have posted alongside this article were strongly influenced by the photographer Meatyard, who of course has the last word on Halloween masks.

The inter-Island games is tomorrow (regardless of the weather) so I am hoping to document the activities. So far I am imagining that scene out of Father Ted where they go to “Fun-Land” and there is a cat spinning on a record to stare at, and a bench you sit on that is hoisted up by a crane.
In truth though it should be more Highland games than fete. With caber tossing and tug of war, but with wellie tossing and egg & spoon chucked in for fun. It’ll be another excuse for a big booze-up too, on which I’m backing the home team to win out-right. I heard that no one on the island could lift the caber that they cut from the forest yesterday, so they were talking about cutting a few feet off the end! I also heard some malicious suggestions to have one caber left out in the rain to make it heavier for the other competing islands, and dry out the Eigg caber in one of the sheds. But even this sneaky advantage probably won’t allow my artist’s build to muster enough strength for the caber toss.

I am soon to round up the recordings for the audio guide, in favour of more physical artworks and working on the play with the school. I have heard a rumour about a mythical cloak that lives in one of the forestry sheds. It is said that it was woven from mackerel netting and embedded in it are the hundreds of whiskey miniatures. I am hoping to go in search of this mythical garment (though expecting it to be a disappointing rag if I find it!) to photograph with a piece of head-wear I am working on. Very Lara Croft.

There is a couple of interesting trends coming through in the conversations. For instance there is a sense that people come to Eigg from all over the place, but once here they take on the identity of a modern Eiggach (though it takes generations to be called “Eiggach”). One of the questions I have been asking: “Is Eigg a very Scottish place, or is it more multicultural?” has been met by every islander stating “Both”, but agreeing that the culture of the island does not change to accommodate incoming cultures, but rather shifts to assimilate them, and the result islanders all point to; is Scottish.