Introduction to the exhibition

As I embark upon the stewardship of one of Scotland’s most eminent and honourable artists-run organisations, it is my privilege as President to welcome you to the annual exhibition, which celebrates new art in Scotland, 2007. The primary function of the SSA is to directly serve the needs of Scottish artists and promote the work of new, challenging young artists, alongside established talent. The Society ‘to furnish the interests of Art’ was founded in 1891. Proudly democratic, this radical Society has been recognised as the central focus of contemporary art in Scotland ever since. It has been said that there is scarcely an artist of note in Scotland whose work has not first been seen in the SSA annual exhibition. Every year the elected committee gather together to select as many examples of contemporary artists’ work as possible and across all art forms and media. Every year a compromise has to be reached, mostly because of space restrictions. This year it was decided to take a break from the usual invited international element and instead focus on the enormous wealth of talent and creativity within the membership and open–submission. There was the usual overwhelming and eclectic submission to draw the exhibition from, but importantly in the tradition of nurturing a new generation of artists, the emerging talent of Scottish art colleges is also on show, two artists having been selected from each. One gallery has been set aside this year for prints and smaller framed works and another has been adapted to show the moving image works. What does it take to keep a democratic, independent organisation going on this scale? This is a Society which enjoys no revenue grant from officialdom. It demands careful judgement on the part of existing members in deciding for, or against, the election of new applicants and it demands at the very least an unusual resilience and determination by the artists themselves. From the public considerable imagination is required in coming to terms with the avant-garde activity. From the elected Council the weighty responsibility is required to keep alive ‘the more adventurous spirits in art’ through this remarkable Society. The SSA in 2007 continues, in the spirit of its founders, to show the controversial, the unexpected and the best of current Scottish Art.

Elaine Shemilt President