When a call came for ideas to commemorate the Covid pandemic in Shetland I knew instantly anything I proposed had to include the use of glass. Windows had been so significant during that time. We were joined and separated by them simultaneously. People looked out and in longingly, nearly together, but not quite.

I read through Christina Inkster's thorough research into what the community would like to see and the ideas inspired me to attempt a project that had an outdoor element to it. 

The symbol of The Tree of Life is universal and appears across the world. The knitted version has a similar shape across the Nordic regions in lace and stranded knitting. Its a popular lace motif in knitted baby shawls and gives its name to many patterns. I then thought to combine the two and knew that Cheryl Jamieson of Glansin Glass could help me realise the piece. 

Encasing the hand knitted wire trees in glass gave an interested effect. Cheryl worked hard to minimise air bubbles, we found copper wire to be the best for colour and for maintain gin the integrity of Cheryl's kiln.

 I also wanted to acknowledge the role that democracy played in our response. I reflected on the role that our political representatives played - we looked to them for guidance in our time of uncertainty. There can be debates about politics but locally, as a system, it worked well with unprecedented conformity to imposed restrictions on movement, education and employment.

I would create plaques which would be donated to all the Community Council areas in Shetland. As  some have constituents across more than one island, I would make enough that all occupied islands had one too. This meant I needed to make and distribute 21 complete plaques. 

I also wanted to alter the image in some way and chose to place a gold circle over the lace. I chose a circle as for me it represents life, death, the sun, the moon, wholeness and hope.

When I think of Shetland, I think of the whole of Shetland. Projects I have done over the years where I have travelled to most of the populated islands have strengthened this for me. We are interdependent. To bring the commnunities together I investigated flying a flag from the Lerwick Town Hall. I wrote and received permission from the Convener of the Shetland Islands Council to fly the flag from the Lerwick Town Hall and chose the 29th May as the most appropriate day as it is the anniversary of the lifting of the first lockdown in Scotland - a time when we could meet again in small groups outside. I thought, like the World Wars, it was better to commemorate the end, or the beginning of the end, the light at the end of the tunnel, rather than the beginning. 

I considered the appropriate colour for the flag, would Shetland Blue work? Would yellow be good? In the end I decided on white as it is the colour associated in the west with peace and surrender. I am very grateful to Linsey Nicolson of Art Machine for sorting out the graphics for the flag. I didn't realise it but flags are HUGE! I can't remember exactly but I'm sure it was around 4m long!

I was driving down from a visit to Cheryl in Unst one day, pondering the project when I realised that the flag would be so much more meaningful and effective if the printed gold circle was actually gold leafed. At that time the flag had been ordered but I didn't know what size the circle would be. I ordered gold leaf and waited nervously til it came. I can't recall the exact diameter but thankfully it was possible to gold leaf it on both sides. 

I am very happy I did so as it looks much better, has more meaning and adds a handmade element to it. 

When projects are commemorative, the meaning is deeper and the responsibility greater to get it just right. I am happy with the final result. At this point I didn't know how the leaf would stand up to the potential battering it could get flying for the Town Hall mast.

Whatever project I do, I always love to include a participatory element as I love running workshops and sharing the design and making experience. To this end I also designed a new way of lining lace to create functional objects. This ran parallel to the knitting of the lace wire trees.

 I ran workshops in my Shedio to knit Tree of Life Lace Coasters. These workshops were some of the most profound I have led. The pandemic experience was so varied among everyone and the quiet focus on the knitting project gave a chance for some deep sharing of that experience. 

I also ran the workshops online to widen access by giving folk a chance to take part without travelling.

I debated with myself about the best way of displaying the plaques. I invited the Community Councils to choose a building in their area. I would have loved them to be hung in a window of that building but I knew that drilling holes in window frames and walls might not be popular, so compromised with wooden stands. 

I ask Cecil Tait of Paparwark Furniture to design and make stands and I was delighted with the finished result. He totally understood the brief and delivered quality stands that displayed the plaques at the best angle to catch the light. He also added his signature planing to give them an interesting shape. 

The morning of the 29th May was bright and breezy. The Town Hall flags are raised at 8.30am. A small crown had gathered to watch it being raised for the first time. The gold circle shone in the sun and the flag unfurled perfectly! JJ Jamieson and Liz Musser captured it on film as they were commissioned to record and create a film of the Remembering Together commissions. Niamh Wylie had been following the commissioned artists to capture the projects which were recorded in a book, launched later in the year. The previous 2 and following 2 photos were taken by Niamh. You can find out more about the other artists and projects commissioned.

Remembering Together was delivered by Greenspace Scotland at the request of the Scottish Government. Shetland Arts and the Shetland Islands Council enabled and managed Shetland's participation. 

Fittingly, the heavens opened and the rest of the day was wet. I dreaded taking the flag home and drying it out and storing it so I was delighted when the stewards at the Town hall informed me that there was no need as they would take care of the flag and store it in their Flag Room. 

A Commemorative Book was distributed across Shetland with photos and essays about the projects.

Remembering Together was delivered by Greenspace Scotland at the request of the Scottish Government. Shetland Arts and the Shetland Islands Council enabled and managed Shetland's participation. 

I'm delighted to let you know that the gold leaf did stay on. The flag design went on to inspire me in 2026 when I was honoured to be the Shetland Wool Week Patron. I used the design to create my crown.

Here is me and my lass, Ola on 29th May 2026.

You can find out more about the Remembering Together project at www.shetlandarts.com