Clotted Hope in the Black Isle
Clotted Hope in the Black Isle | Munlochy in the heart of the Black Isle | Nov 2007
Clotted Hope in the Black Isle is a site specific installation celebrating the theatrical man made setting of a clottie well in Munlochy in the heart of the Black Isle. The overhwelming effect of an item of clothing abanden, hanging in the trees is forboding but curiously postive in its collective clotted showing of hope.
The Clootie Well is a remnant of an ancient tradition once commonly found in Scotland and Ireland, of holy wells to which pilgrims would come and make offerings, usually in the hope of having an illness cured. The tradition dates far back into pre-Christian times, to the practice of leaving votive offerings to the local spirits or gods in wells and springs. With the arrival of Christianity, the practice was simply adopted to the new circumstances.Pilgrims would come, perform a ceremony that involved circling the well sunwise three times before splashing some of its water on the ground and making a prayer. They would then tie a piece of cloth or "cloot" that had been in contact with the ill person to a nearby tree. As the cloot rotted away, the illness would depart the sick person. The site today is a haven of goodwill messages for loved ones.
