Reading Forms: A Site Specific Project at Innerpeffray Library May 2nd-31st 2025

Scotland’s first free public lending Library; Innerpeffray Library, was the location of a Site-specific project; ‘Reading Forms’. A series of printed textile sculptures displayed new configurations of the functional archival tools used to study the rare books at Innerpeffray. Narratives printed across the forms discussed ideas of perspective, place and relevance.

Working with historic locations, museum settings and venues with collections, I create site-specific work, beginning by studying the history, architecture, plantlife, folklore and various layers of information within a site. In researching and developing this material, new visual narratives emerge and are developed into printed textile and paper artworks works, responding to the site. The work intends to draw visitors into these well-trodden places, to explore and experience its history, through a new lens.

Reading forms began with a VACMA award and an extended self funded development period. Following this research and development, including a sharing event of this work in April 2023 supported by Innerpeffray Library, I was awarded Creative Scotland funding to complete a site-specific exhibition of this work.

With Libraries disappearing from our national landscape, ‘Reading Forms’ set out in part, to address the importance of these resources and their potential as evolving creative community spaces.

Visit the Innerpeffray Library website here to find out more about this incredible piece of Scottish history.