Field Visit
Date 27 April 2009
Event ID 612606
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/612606
Sixteen strips of text and two blank strips are integrated into full-length glass panels forming the entrance to the Scottish Poetry Library. The vertical strips lean towards the entrance.
According to the artist, the strips suggest trees or bookends.
The original Scottish Poetry Library was opened by Tessa Ransford and her husband Tom Hubbard in Tweeddale Court in 1984. The present building, opened in 1999, was designed to incorporate public art. Spaces were identified, then a group of artists was invited to discuss how to fill them.
Text Intervention (read from outside the building) represents one verse from a 17th century Gaelic poem, 'Rug eadrain', alongside Scots and English translations. In it, the poet addresses the Marquis of Argyle, asking him to restore the poet's patrimony.
The poem was selected by the director of the Scottish Poetry library, Tessa Ransford.
The English version is by Derick Thomson, the Scots version is by Neil R. MacCallum.
Inscriptions : Strip on inside of glass pane nearest the door (coloured letters on black strip): CREANDO PENSAMUS [a quotation from St Columba]
Strips on outside of glass panes, from left to right:
(1) (black strip): IT IS NOT GOLD NOR OTHER TREASURE
(2) (clear strip): THAT YOU WILL GET FROM ME IN SPECIAL
(3) (clear strip): IT IS NOT TRIBUTE NOR GIFT OF CATTLE
(4) (coloured letters on black strip): BUT THE CHOICEST OF OUR HARD WROUGHT POEMS
(5) (clear strip): NI H-OR NI H-IONMHUS EILE
(6) (white strip): [fragments of old writing]
(7) (black strip): DO GHEIBHA UAIM DAIRIDHE
(8) (black strip): NI CANA NO COMHA CRUIDH (crosses over the 9th strip)
(9) (white strip): [fragments of old writing]
(10) (black strip): ACHT ROGHA AR NDANA DHEACRUIGH
(11) (black strip): IT ISNAE GOWD OR ITHER TREISURS
(12) (black strip): [blank]
(13) (black strip): ARGYLE IN SPEICIAL WINS FRAE ME
(14) (white strip): [fragments of old writing]
(15) (black strip): I GIE NAE NOWT AS YUISSLESS FAIRINS
(16) (black strip): BUT BRAW POEMS ALANE FOR YE
(17) (black strip): [blank]
Signatures : None
Year of unveiling : 1999
Unveiling details : Building opened by Alistair Darling, MP in June 1999
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0306)
