In a month as sleepy as January, where everyone is still recovering from holiday chaos and adjusting to the new year, it’s important to make time for a little adventure. In the Macon Arts Alliance’s latest show, “A View From One Eye”, viewers get to take a step inside the city streets, bustling waterfronts, and breathtaking landscapes of Scotland—all without having to book a ticket across the pond. “A View From One Eye” is a love letter to Scotland, an homage to the people, architecture, and landscapes that make the country come to life. Husband-and-wife duo Kimberly & Michael Gillies provide a slice of Scottish life through a brilliant combination of photography and mixed media, allowing viewers to see the country through each artist’s eyes.
Tell us a little about yourself. Who are you, and what do you do?
KIM: Artistically I find peace and creativity within myself as a photo enthusiast. I have a love for creating whether it’s whipping up a tasty dish, assembling flowers for a wreath, or photographing my husband as he works. I enjoy watching Michael work and often capture him as he works on his art.
MIKE: I am a mixed media artist and art educator. Kim and I both grew up in a military family (Army) and traveled extensively. We both love traveling and sharing our artistic creations together. I have lived in Europe, parts of Asia and in many states throughout the U.S. growing up. Ironically since that time I have not moved around too much and have lived in the Middle Georgia area for the last twenty-three years. Currently I am the (AP) Art Instructor at Howard High School (And) I am a part-time Art Instructor at the Macon campus of Middle Georgia State University where I teach Studio Art.
What are some of your favorite stories or experiences from your time in Scotland?
KIM: Quietly observing the Scots is probably my favorite part of the trip. To watch the Scottish people, interact with one another and how they truly enjoy life among their breathtaking landscapes was such a humbling experience.
MIKE: One experience, (not necessarily a favorite story-but one I am willing to share) occurred while in the inner-city of St. Andrews where we were having coffee at a small café. We decided to enjoy the air from the coastal breeze near the water, so we got a table outside (no umbrella). The area of the city had cobblestone streets and Kim got a couple of great shots there. One of the photos, titled: “Side by Side”, is a photograph of an older couple walking together holding hands.
She had just taken this photo when a sea gull (numerous gulls were present that day) happened to relieve himself from flying directly overhead. I will always remember that!
On a better note, St. Andrew’s and the eastern coastal regions of Lothian and Fife are very beautiful, teeming with wildlife, cool breezes in the summer and are parted in my memory as one of my favorite places to work and to visit on the trip.
Were there any specific techniques or artistic choices you utilized for “A View from One Eye”?
KIM: As I photographed, my objective was not to interfere with the moment that I was trying to capture. (I even told Michael I needed to be a Ninja…. to complete the task incognito)
MIKE: Yes, I chose to concentrate more on the elements of where we were than on direct perception. I wanted to attempt, in my own way, to represent the color, land water and varied elements of weather in Scotland. Most of my works in the exhibit are mixed media landscape drawings or are a combination of washes, paint or ink Applications.
I also completed a small oil painting while on-site in Dundee, Scotland; However, I was not satisfied with it and so it did not make it into the exhibit. I wanted at least one oil in the show from Scotland and so I contacted a former (MGA) student who happens to have a piece from her collection which I created in (2023) while in Scotland to show in the exhibition.
Road to Auchtermuchty #2 was created in Dec., (2023) on our first trip (honeymoon) to Scotland as a couple.
This was my first experience seeing the small town of Muchty’ as it is often referred to in Scotland. Auchtermuchty is a small town in the Fife region of Scotland which was once known for its large weaving industry and as a manufacturer of wool. My father’s family is from this town.
Walk through your artistic process for “A View from One Eye”. What was an average day like while working on this series?
KIM: In Scotland we traversed the countryside from starting points from the following cities: Edinburgh, Dundee, Perth and Inverness. Each city provided us with the ability to take day trips to other cities and towns by rail or bus. More often-than-not we started off with a Scottish breakfast (Michael’s favorite!) while we “people watched” and sometimes, Michael would sketch or journal the prior day events.
We would decide on an adventure from our ‘bucket list’, pack up and head to the bus or rail station. Once at our location for the day we would explore the area on our own. I would photograph whatever caught my eye while Michael scoped out his spot to paint or draw and this occurred in the elements as well, a rainy day was not an excuse but was considered a challenge for both of us to get what we could out of each day. After our return to the hotel, Michael would often finish a painting or start a new work with on-site drawings. Often, I would filter through my photographs and make edits as necessary to my favorites.
MIKE: Most days were not completely planned out. We did not rely on a guide; we had specific places we wanted to go and then places of interest that we wanted to explore. It was important to mix our days and take advantage of where we were on any given day. When in Edinburgh, which was the first part of the trip, it was important to go to the galleries and museums. We visited the Royal Scottish Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery and The Scottish National Gallery. Similarly, while in Stirling, Scotland we visited the Smith Gallery and Stirling Castle. In Perth, Scotland we visited The Perth Museum of Art which had a lovely exhibit of the Scottish Colourists, as well as more contemporary and Modern Scottish painters. While in Dundee we visited the Contemporary Museum of Art and went to Arbroath and St. Andrews on day-to-day excursions from Dundee.
Our last visit was to Inverness and a short drive to Loch Ness. We visited the Inverness Art Gallery and had a great visit with a small picture gallery and collector of Scottish Fine Art who was very knowledgeable about art and the area.
Are there any future projects you’re working on or are planning to work on?
KIM: Michael will be retiring from public school teaching this May. In June, we will be going out to Montana for another painting/photography excursion before returning home. Currently Michael is teaching part-time at Middle Georgia State University in Macon and is pursuing a full-time position after retirement at a college or university. As for myself, I just completed an event planning certification in hopes to put those skills to good use later while I sharpen my photography techniques.
MIKE: Most of my time for the remainder of this year (2026) will be devoted to my Art students and my teaching. However, I am looking at more regional and national exhibitions to show and other competitive scholarship and artist residency opportunities in the coming new year.
What keeps you motivated to create, and how do you stay inspired?
KIM: My husband is my greatest motivator; he is always positive and encourages others. It brings great joy to watch him in action and to see how others respond to him. Our shared Christian faith is a foundation for staying inspired through our creativity and is always present as source and guide.
MIKE: I have a passion for creating and building with my hands. For me, I am motivated by a lot of factors, but I am often inspired by art history, motivated at times by current events and by nature and its creative design. I love the feel of art materials in my hand and the potential to create marks. Sometimes those marks are more intentionally abstract in meaning and at other times they are more representational. Mostly I am inspired by the process and the action involved in its creation.
“A View From One Eye” is available to view at the Macon Arts Gallery until Friday, January 30th.