Hag exhibition, Dunfermline

We are lucky in Dunfermline, having a changing programme of special displays at the Carnegie Galleries. The latest installation is HAG - knowledge, power and alchemy through craft. The exhibition brings together the work of 13 Scottish female artists, each embodying the transformative power and wisdom often feared, misjudged and suppressed by history. Women who defied convention and lived outside prescribed norms were often dismissed as "hags" or "witches" and banished to the margins of society. The exhibition seeks to reclaim the term "hag" from the earlier derision and present the skills as a symbol of strength.

Each of the contributors has dedicated years to mastering their medium, revealing knowledge and a profound relationship with the materials they shape and transform. Pictured right is a piece by Jo McDonald, who sources discarded books and changes them into sculptures. Another item that caught my eye was a dress woven from locally foraged plant materials, by Caroline Dear. An exhibition of this nature is always going to be a case of hit and miss. Pleasingly, more than half of the artworks appealed to me and I was glad I had made the effort attend. Nicole also found the material interesting and it was a nice little weekend trip into town.