gold leaf laid on water

homage to Shelagh Wakely

Camden Arts Centre, August 2014

A corncrake in Charlotte Square

An installation by Thomas A Clark for Edinburgh International Book Festival, 9-25th August 2014

Organised by Scottish Poetry Library in collaboration with RSPB.

“…But how can I forget the glory of that scene ! on the nights in which I have stood in Queen Street, or the opening at the north-west corner of Charlotte Square, and listened to the ceaseless rural corn-craiks, nestling happily in the dewy grass.” - from Memorials of his Time, Henry Cockburn, 1856

A recording of the corncrake's call was installed in Charlotte Square during the book festival and played every evening between 7 and 9pm, perhaps the first time the call had been heard in this vicinity for two hundred years.

Crex crex, Crex crex, Crex crex, Crex crex

In Scotland, this shy bird is now confined to a few locations in the western highlands and islands. The installation gives a glimpse into an earlier Edinburgh, before the building of the new town, as well as being a late apology to the corncrake.

"a sort of living doubt" - John Clare

photograph by Andy Hay
drawing by Laurie Clark

Before the traffic, the corncrake !

Passing Place

by Loch Linnhe, Ardgour

photograph by Norrie Maclaren

Roger Ackling (1947 - 2014)

With Roger in Japan 2005


if the light of the sun
is focused through a lens
it will burn
intently
giving off smoke
leaving a dark
mark of intention
sunlight on wood


                      (from Yellow & Blue)


photograph by Takaya Fujii

la linea gialla

yellow & blue

at its upper limit
the mountain pansy
viola lutea
rooted in uncertainty
is blue and yellow
briefly



to remember it
is to visit it
again in thought
to lean
closer in
briefly



glamour stands scrutiny
the world is sonorous
spacious and chromatic
fragrant, formidable
responding to the touch




Yellow & Blue
Thomas A Clark
Carcanet Press 2014

£9.95 available from
www.carcanet.co.uk


Cover Photograph
Buttercups & Harebells by Laurie Clark

the dawning of the day

Thomas A Clark
The Dawning of the Day
two-colour screenprint
edition of 50
24 X 90cm

£150/270 (unframed/framed)

www.inglebygallery.com