AIM - THE PET CEMETARY

Mike Inglis

AIM - THE PET CEMETARY

Edinburgh College of Art

Research output: Non-textual form › Artefact

Abstract / Description of output

A short film and installation with and about Stephen Finlay who made the Cullen Pet Cemetary an outsider art environment of international interest about which little is known outside of the local community.

Original language	English
Media of output	Film
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2022

Other files and links

project overview - authors website
CULLEN PET CEMETERY – OUTSIDER ART ENVIRONMENT MAKER : STEPHEN FINDLAY (born 1928) Retired, former forestry worker and refuse collector MATERIALS : BEACH STONES, SHELLS, PAINT, TYPOGRAPHY, WILDFLOWERS LOCATION : The Pet Cemetery can be found by going east past the harbour, along Portlong Road nestling in the shelter of the steep brae on the shoreline path. OSGB36: geotagged! NJ 5136 6745 [10m precision] WGS84: 57:41.6539N 2:49.0555W According to SPACES the online archive of Outsider Art Environments the definition of this term is “customarily used to refer to immobile constructions or decorative assemblages, monumental in scale or number of components. Art environments may be interior or exterior, and typically include elements of sculpture, architecture, bas-relief assemblage, and/or landscape architecture. Such composite works, produced additively and organically without formal architectural designs or engineering plans, owe less allegiance to folk, popular, or mainstream art traditions and the desire to produce anything functional or marketable, and more to personal and cultural experiences, availability of materials, and a desire for personal creative expression. ….. Studies of individual sites usually reveal the labours of a single, passionate worker (an artist in our eyes, but not always in those of the creator), typically—but not always—begun in the later years of their lives. “ I have been searching and researching Outsider Art Environments for many years now. I have enjoyed many rich and rewarding visits to some incredible sites in often quite different places from rural forests to people’s family gardens. The inventiveness and creativity of these makers and places is a wonder to behold. While walking and exploring the coastal villages of Moray over the months of my AIM residency I was both astonished to find CULLEN PET CEMETERY. Like many outsider art environments its known locally as a touching and interesting place but in terms of an OUTSIDER ART ENVIRONMENT it has international significance. It fits with every aspect that defines such a place in terms of place, materials, maker and purpose. It is a complex pathway of flagstones and beach stones which weave organically around the site and connect the dozens and dozens of animal graves, each individually constructed and personalised for the various animals interred there. It is a place of raw beauty and the Pet Cemetery is a very spiritual and peaceful place, a fine addition to this coastline and often overlooked county. ENGAGEMENT : FILM /INSTALLATION /FRIENDSHIP Wanting to know more about the maker Stephen Findlay I arranged through facebook and local pals to meet him and ask if he would be interested in recording a short interview. So began the most personal and deepest engagement of my residency. Slowly I have gotten to know Stevie, a shy, gentle and kind man. Unexpected as it was I have also made a very good pal. The short interview has turned into a much longer (ongoing) film piece and I film with Stevie each time I am resident in Moray. This short interview (an extract of the full film) and cabinet installation gives you an insight into the character of this man who in so many ways exemplifies the character of the people of Scotland’s North Eastern coast. To learn more about outsider art and Stevie check the website kindhumansmoray.com

Cite this

@misc{ee8992af32594a35b03927bea6b7a6ba,

title = "AIM - THE PET CEMETARY",

abstract = "A short film and installation with and about Stephen Finlay who made the Cullen Pet Cemetary an outsider art environment of international interest about which little is known outside of the local community.",

author = "Mike Inglis",

note = "28 Aug 2022 ",

year = "2022",

language = "English",

}

TY - ADVS

T1 - AIM - THE PET CEMETARY

A2 - Inglis, Mike

N1 - 28 Aug 2022

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - A short film and installation with and about Stephen Finlay who made the Cullen Pet Cemetary an outsider art environment of international interest about which little is known outside of the local community.

AB - A short film and installation with and about Stephen Finlay who made the Cullen Pet Cemetary an outsider art environment of international interest about which little is known outside of the local community.

UR - https://kindhumansmoray.com/2022/10/25/stephen-finlay-cullen-pet-cemetery-project-outcomes-thoughts/

UR - https://vimeo.com/749162391

M3 - Artefact

ER -

AIM - THE PET CEMETARY

Abstract / Description of output

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this