‘Scalpay: Last of the Fishermen’, a documentary by Johan Hallberg-Campbell. Opening Reception: Friday March 26th 2010, 6pm-10pm. Exhibition Date: March 23rd-April 29th 2010

‘Scalpay: Last of the Fishermen’ is a documentation on a remote island in the Hebrides of Scotland. Having left Scotland, whenever I return, I notice change. This is something that intrigues me as Scottish person. The changes are happening very quickly, Scotland has finally opened its doors to the rest of the world. I had noticed how the small Highland town of Inverness (my hometown) had taken on a different dynamic. It has become a very diverse community with the influx of Eastern Europeans, mostly Polish. My interest in the town strengthened. I began shooting a long term photographic project, delving deeper into the two cultures that are merging in this place near Loch Ness. At that time I also begin to think about “Old Scotland”. Growing up I heard much about Scalpay; my father was born there, he left before he was five. The island was like a fairy tale to me, far away on a distant planet, stories of crofts, religion and fishing.

I decided to go to the Island to document the people living there. I was told that there had not been a birth in seven years, the Gaelic speaking Islands fishing tradition is fading away, and the people of old with it. The last corner shop closed in 2007, the pre-school also shut down that year. The primary school has two or three pupils and there is no High School. Over the years the population has dropped to 300. The young leave to seek work. To me this Island symbolizes a Scottish way of life that is disappearing, like many other places in the world! How it was a 100 years ago, ‘The Last of The Fishermen’.

Please join for the Opening Reception. Regards - Johan