As a historic hub of learning and leisure, New Lanark World Heritage Site and Double Take Projections are delighted to present ‘Shining Lives: Fortunes of Fate’, a spectacular immersive sound and large-scale light installation illumination projecting images onto New Lanark’s building facades this Autumn.
‘Shining Lives: Fortunes of Fate’ will tell the story of The Fortune Ship Highlanders, beginning with their ill-fated voyage from Skye to North Carolina and travelling with them to a new life at New Lanark Cotton Mills.
In 1791, a ship called The Fortune was sailing from the Isle of Skye to America. On board the ship were Highlanders who were planning to emigrate to America. It was driven back to Greenock by a terrible storm, which damaged the mast, and the passengers were put back ashore. Many of these people came to New Lanark. It was difficult to find workers for the mill when it first opened, because it was in the countryside and mill working didn’t appeal to many people who had worked on the land.
Soon after, David Dale advertised for more workers from the Highlands and Islands. He wanted to let people know that they had no need to emigrate, because families could get jobs and homes in New Lanark. He promised to build more houses and these were finished in 1793. As a result, many Highlanders came to live in New Lanark. It is thought that Caithness Row, one of the first housing blocks in the village, was named after the first Highland residents who settled in the village.
Journey through this story of ‘Fortune & Fate’ at the Shining Lives exhibition and watch as the 230-year-old iconic mill buildings bring to life characters who chose this path. The mill buildings act as the display surface for the historic images & video footage on a grand scale. Augmented by a soundtrack, lighting and living history the exhibition will echo the lives of the these individuals and how they started their new life at New Lanark Cotton Mills. Through this innovative event, the tangible and intangible heritage of New Lanark will be combined to capture imaginations and provide a unique interpretation of this famous site.
The artwork will depict a number of characters retelling this story, reflecting how they lived and worked at New Lanark over its existence as working cotton mill. The exhibition will exhibit the development of the regions industries, music and other social activities engaged in and how all of this impacted upon lives of these people.
Border Biscuits community fund are sponsoring the event, Tina Cunningham, Border Biscuits Community Support Director commented: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the New Lanark Trust’s innovative Shining Lives project which will bring to life the storied history of the New Lanark World Heritage Site in a way many people may not have seen before.
“We are committed to funding projects that benefit the people of Lanark or the town as a whole and this is a great example of one that fits into both categories. We are excited to continue our close relationship with the New Lanark Trust through this project and are looking forward to seeing the finalised Shining Lives creation.”
The Shining Lives exhibition incidentally coincides with New Lanark’s new Autumn exhibition, “Snapshots of a Lost World: the Decline of Scottish Industry” which takes place from the 14th September – 27th October 2019.
The exhibition displays a Historic Environment Scotland (HES) photography exhibition, ‘Industry and Aesthetics’, which explores emotional responses to photographs of abandoned industrial spaces as a jumping off point to explore reactions to New Lanark’s decline as a working mill, and living village. The exhibition takes you on a journey of its past, present and imagining its future and overlaps with the Shining Lives exhibition in many ways. Make a whole day of it, explore New Lanark, visit the Snapshots of a Lost World exhibition before enjoying Shining Lives: Fortunes of Fate.
Shining Lives: Fortunes of Fate
Dates: 11th – 13th October & 17th – 20th October 2019 (13th and 20th October 5pm exclusive)
Timings: Timed entry from 6:30pm, every 15 minutes. Last entry 9.15pm.
Price: Adults £15 Children £10
Early bird : Adults £12 Children under 12 £6 Children Under 2 FREE (until the 15 August 2019)
Tickets can be booked online or directly at New Lanark.
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