With less than 6 weeks before the event in October 2024, Marliese Richmond was commissioned to develop a mini-exhibition to be displayed at Viljandi Heritage Festival. On a behind the scenes tour of the collections held in Perth Art Gallery, Marliese was inspired by historic hand-printed posters and exotic birds from the natural history collection. Using contemporary technologies available at Perth Ideas Centre, Marliese laser cut-rubber and wood to make prints, and digitally tessellated her designs to create vivid patterns.

The work produced for the mini-exhibition in Viljandi, Estonia has now been developed further for a display in Perth Museum. With additional print designs incorporated, Marliese had the designs printed onto fabric and wallpaper, ensuring that the original wood and vinyl print quality was preserved.

The intention behind this exhibition was to share the variety within Perth’s craft sector. Craft can have heritage links and often focuses around preserving culture and tradition, but it can also be curious and adventurous, with opportunities to be innovative and inventive. As the exhibition was conceived to be on display in Viljandi, Estonia, the goal was to demonstrate this variety in relation to Perth – to bring together the richness of the heritage within Culture Perth and Kinross’ extensive collections, the tools available for creative research and development for makers and businesses within Perth Ideas Centre, as well as showcasing one of our local makers who was up for the challenge of combining these elements into her work.

Marliese had free creative reign within this commission; her only task was to celebrate the collections, use the facilities available in Perth Ideas Centre, and let her creativity and craft skills lead the way. The finished exhibition shows five individual designs which completely meet the brief. The display shows the designs as wallpapers in the main cabinet, where there is also a Victorian taxidermy bird display to demonstrate the kinds of birds which inspired the designs. Marliese also reupholstered a chair and stool in one of the designs to show the versatility of the pattern in action.

Marliese Richmond of Three Bears Prints said:

“The process of creating these designs has had a hugely positive impact on me as an artist. It has given me the confidence to routinely describe myself as a ‘Printmaker and an Artist’. Previously, this area of my life, although very important to me, always felt like a side-line or a hobby. It is now firmly part of how I identify myself. Artistically, it provided a wonderful opportunity to experiment with different technologies and materials, particularly mastering laser cut woodcuts, based on vector versions of my drawings. I have learned how to create works that are large scale as this has been what was required as part of the project brief. It has been so pleasing to see my designs printed up on beautiful silk wallpapers, a medium I have never used before.“

“On a personal basis, it has also has given me a huge boost – I do not just feel more confident as an artist, I feel more confident as an individual. I know that I can set myself ambitious goals and with planning and commitment, I can achieve them. I have really enjoyed working as part of a team to make this exhibition happen, and to see real experts in action. I feel so rooted to my local community, and love having a relationship with staff working in Perth Ideas Centre, Perth Museum and Perth Art Gallery. More than anything though, I feel so proud to be able to share this exhibition with my family and to show my daughter that with hard work, you really can achieve your aspirations.”

The display can be found on the first floor of Perth Museum. With thanks to Marliese Richmond, the Collections and Exhibitions teams at Culture Perth & Kinross, and Perth Ideas Centre.