Skailin: a funeral for shame

SKAIL (scots)
noun
1. a scattering or dispersal
verb
2. (transitive) to scatter (a collection of things) or spill (something)
3. (intransitive) (of people) to disperse

Skailin: a celebration, a way to let go

“Over the last few months I’ve been working with a variety of groups to explore perceptions of shame and the impacts of rejection.

For the finale of the project I gathered the most shameless people I know- my beautiful pals- and led a funeral procession through Kelburn Garden Party followed by hundreds of festival goers.

We carried a coffin that had been covered with thousands of tiny mirror tiles, each one placed by a queer, disabled and/or neurodivergent person who had joined us over the course of the project to share their thoughts on shame.

And instead of burying that coffin and our shame we held it high, glistening in the sunlight and danced”
Heather Marshall, lead artist.

Supported by Hidden Door, EVOC and Kelburn Arts LTD
Nae shame in Failure workshops took place at Hidden Door Festival 2025.
Art for Anxiety workshops took place at Out of the Blue and LGBT Health and Wellbeing.