OK, so a Guirean couldn't win at the
X-factor. But who cares now that Niall Hippy
has (allegedly) bagged a massive £1000 cash
prize at the Engage Scotland Awards in
Embra's very spaideal National Galleries of
Scotland?
Guireans fans may remember the infamous
cardboard box produced last year by the
Western Isles Association for Mental Health
in conjunction with Dundee's Art Angel
project, and promoted at a singular evening
(featuring a live performance by the Dun
Ringles) in An Lanntair.
Well, some clearly deluded arts
establishemnt types decided it was worth
a prize, and The Hippy travelled to the
Galleries to divvy up the takings with his
Dundee collaborators on 30 June this
year. Read on for the Hippy's first hand
(if not entirely true in respect of the
cheque) report from the scene:
"...while there was talk of a cheque
being passed around, and the various
award-winners being photographed shaking
hands over one, it is not entirely clear
what happened to ours; at least, I never saw
it... Possibly there was only one cheque
and many people photographed receiving it.
I stayed out of that bit.
The media mostly decided it was either too
wet, too weird, not weird enough, or not the
G8; at least, only two journos turned up,
though apparently the Scotsman said they
would print a photo if someone gave them
one. <relief>
At any rate, the event went broadly as
planned ... but no-one had told me in
advance how it was planned. Once we
arrived, rather wet, and lightly daubed with
paint from wet artwork, we were greeted by a
series of earnest ARTS people with much
makeup and/or distant stares according to
gender. They seemed to greet me with
special and disturbing enthusiasm, perhaps
on the
grounds that they had never met a Hebridean
before, or perhaps a Guirean, I don't know.
I still doubt that they'd listened to it, so
probably the former...
We were all given blank nametags and a pen,
in case people needed to know who we thought
we were ... many people decided to leave
that out and represent themselves in body
instead. Being a little doubtful about my
body, I chose to compromise. (pic attached)
Some time thereafter, I found myself on
stage in front of the biggest
audience I've ever had (about 120) - as the
sole and only live act in the entire event
... everyone else had made dvd films or
presentations.
On the grounds that I looked very lonely up
there with only MC Brian Morton (of Radio
Scotland I think) for company (and he
remained studiously at the other end of the
stage, sheltering behind a lectern), my pal
Kevin from Dundee (an ex-boxer turned poet),
bounced on after me to read the only piece
he had with him; which took rather less time
than getting the microphone on.
Still, there you have it. After about
six hours of it we
got the hell out of Edinburgh before we
dissolved in the rain. I imagine someone
brought the cheque, but I was too tired and
confused to think about such things. (Oh
aye, yus, I'm sure - Ed)
Postscript to which: This evening, I have
been informed by someone who was at a Health
Board type meeting yesterday that some
visitors from the Scottish Executive had
seen the box, and were enthusiastic; one of
them had even been in the audience. Which
makes me think ... do you think we could get
the Parliament for Midges of Rock 2006?
Interesting thought. Best lock
me up before the next one hits.
Prev
Discussion
Send
Replies to My Inbox
Recommend
First 