I’ll quote for the Pier Arts Centre publicity for the ‘Roots’ exhibition,
“A dialogue between Ukrainian and Scottish mythology
12-20 June 2026
This exhibition didn’t begin at a gallery or a workshop; it began when Ukrainians were forced to flee the war in their country and found sanctuary in Orkney. While finding their footing in these islands rich in myths, they couldn’t help but notice the similarities between Scottish and Ukrainian folklore.
Over the past few months, the artists dived back into the stories from their childhood while also exploring the myths and folklore of their new home. Though different on the surface, Ukrainian and Scottish mythologies have quite a lot in common
The exhibition is part of Refugee Week Scotland 2026
Open Tuesday-Saturday 10:30-5. Admission Free
#PierArtsCentre #
The artists involved are Nataliia C. Alina Filatova. Alona Petliarska. Svitlana Valentiienko.
That caught our attention, both being folk with a liking for mythology and tale-telling and an awareness of the plight of those who have to leave, to live.
Mike is of Scots descent. In Scotland, a major movement of the people was due to the Clearances, when many didn’t leave Scotland but had to leave their land and start walking….
I’m the child of Irish emmigrants to England in the ’50’s, with a strong awareness of the thousands who crossed the Western Ocean to America during the Famine, when it was a case of leave, or die.
Also, I was at school with girls whose parents had fled Eastern Europe to escape from the Nazis. Even then, in the 1960’s, one Ukrainian lass was constantly trying to raise awareness of the plight of her native land. The Ukraine has been a pawn in a game for far too long.
It’s a small exhibition, but powerful in its effect. Before leaving the building I sat down to check that all the pictures I’d taken had ‘worked’ and realised how much it had stirred me up – thinking of the past, my family, families having to move to live.
The connections found to be between the folklore of different lands I believe to be because folklore and mythology are usually woven by the peasants who have similar concerns in their lives, and it’s usually the peasants who have to leave.
And now – I’ll present the images that had such a strong effect on me.
*********
Then
Stromness Books & Prints has moved! Only across the road and along a bit. I risk being trite, but I’ll say it anyway….the end of an era.
Here are some of my previous ramblings about it
We were in Stromness to see the exhibition in the Pier Arts Centre, so thought we’d check out the ‘new’ bookshop too
It’s light and airy, with lots of room to browse or sit and look out at the garden and harbour
Then
‘In The Windows’ at Northlight Gallery
A bit fuzzy…rainy windows!
Then
…to Flattie in a Teacup for lunch, which is a pleasant place to be. The food was fresh and tasty, and the young man behind the counter was friendly and helpful (Mike has allergies). All v. good
