Joanne B. Kaar’s Shipshape exhibition, which explores the techniques and tools used in traditional boat building, is now open in the John O’Groats Mill’s Kiln Gallery. 

Created for the Strathnaver Museum, the exhibition is the culmination of Joanne’s 2024 Artist Residency part funded by Museums Galleries Scotland, The William Syson Foundation, the Children’s and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Inspired by ‘Grace’, Strathnaver Museum’s community boat building project Joanne worked with the boat building team to record and preserve traditional boat building techniques and tools.

Joanne’s artwork explores the shapes and structures emerging from clinker-built boats, recording the names of tools and techniques in her work and helping to preserve the valuable intangible cultural heritage associated with boat building.

Joanne has produced a series of prints available to purchase with all income from the prints going to the museum to support community heritage activities such as the continuation of the community boat building project.

The exhibition will run until the 12th of July, when the Grace will sail to John O’Groats for it’s annual Fun Day.