Research-action – the journey to i: towards the well at the world’s end
The Pursuit of Fidelity (detail) Waterfall on the Isle of Mull 1997 – 1998
Gelatine Silver Print © Alexander and Susan Maris
Join Alexander and Susan Maris as they walk from Schiehallion, the centre of Scotland, to Iona, the final destination of the ancient Road of the Kings, as the first in this new series of performances, events and exhibitions.
– – – –
On Tuesday 1 May this year, Alexander and Susan Maris will set out on their journey called ‘The Well, at the World’s End’.
This work continues their research into the cultural memory embedded in Scotland’s terrain; the route has been indicated by narratives which thread through the Marises practice, including Scottish mythology, story-telling, the Road of the Kings, journals of Findo Gask (the pen name of Alexander’s father) written between 1982 and 1987, and insights into Scotland’s terrain learned through return visits to specific locations for over 20 years.
The route will commence at the Schiehallion Well onwards over 150 miles by way of Fortingall, Fortingall to Innerwick, Innerwick to Tigh nam Bodach, Tigh nam Bodach to Bridge of Orchy, Inveroran to Loch Tulla and Loch Dochard, Loch Dochard through Glen Kinglas to Inverawe and on to Taynuilt and Airds Bay, Airds Bay to Baile an Deòir to Barguillean, Barguillean through Glen Lonan to Loch Feochan, Loch Feochan to north Loch Spelve on Mull, Barrachandroman, Lochbuie and Carsaig, Carsaig to Pennyghael, Pennyghael to Bunessan, Bunessan to Pottie and on to Iona and the Well of Youth at Dun I.
On the Full Moon of 30 April 2018, Maris will collect from The Well of Schiehallion, one ounce of water. This will be carried in a silver flask to Tobar nah Aois (Well of Age / Eternal Youth) on Dun I on Iona, where on the following New Moon it will be combined with the waters of that sacred spring.
– – – –
Alexander and Susan Maris would like to share parts of the Journey with others and welcome company – please find out where to join them by clicking here.
Please follow the development of The Journey to I as one part of The Well at the World’s End here.
Find more info about Alexander and Susan Maris here.
– – – –
In the meantime, we suggest that the following sources can provide insights to the diversity of beliefs about this myth-laden territory:
The John Muir Trust is active in protecting Schiehallion, and is a great source for information, people and knowledge – click on this link to learn more about The Fairy Hill.
We’re looking forward to Karen Rann‘s exhibition ‘The Great Lines’ of beautiful works which reify the physicality of the terrain for us… …The Great Lines runs from 19 April to 29 April 2018 at the Alan Reece Galleryin the The John Muir Trust Wild Space Visitor Centre in Pitlochry.
The Scottish Pilgrim Routes Forummight be the most active agency currently providing organised walks in the area.
Walking World provides fascinating insights to how the routes evolved, explaining that before refrigeration, there was only one way to get fresh meat to market and that was alive. The drovers were trusted with enormously valuable cargo; they had to keep their herd of cattle, sheep, geese healthy and under control. They also had to deal with the financial aspect of the transaction at their destination. Some of the earliest banks were set up by drovers.
Because of their status they could also be entrusted with human charges; the offspring of the wealthy were sent to the city in the safe company of drovers. Drove roads are marked by their width and their orientation from the stock producing lands of Scotland, England and Wales towards the big towns and cities where the fresh produce was needed.
A trace of this can be found in an old For Argyllpost way back in 2009 and you can keep up with the network of organisations and individuals committed to developing routes for off-road pilgrimage travel across Scotland. In mainstream media, a recent Guardianarticle explores what it calls “a new boom in pilgrimage which has seen the re-establishment of ancient routes and the growing participation of people on a spectrum of belief from religiously devout to committed atheists”.
Ainmean-Àite na h-Albais the national advisory partnership for Gaelic place-names in Scotland and provides useful resources in reading the landscape.
And, if you want to explore some of the recently approved ‘Core Paths’ in north Argyll, go to the Argyll and Bute Council Core Path Plan, or read some of the recent historical documents that demonstrate what’s involved in making decisions about positioning the pathways.
– – – –
The Well at the World’s End has been made possible with funding and sponsorship from Argyll Safaris, Glenburnie House, Hazelbank Motors and Cultural Documents, in partnership with The Rockfield Centre.
