Spring Fling 2009 Launch

Here is Mike Russell MSP, Minister for Culture opening the 2009 Spring Fling Taster exhibition at Gracefield Arts Centre last friday. He announced his intention to visit studios over the weekend saying "The map in the programme confirms the reality of Spring Fling. It is a remarkably rich programme which gives access to some of the best artists and craftspeople in Scotland in their own studios – and, of course, to their diverse but very exciting work. Dumfries and Galloway has a wonderfully wide offering in terms of the arts and the open weekend makes it all easily available. Don't miss the chance to take part in this ever-growing annual event."

As a committee we were very proud that Mike Russel was willing and able to launch this year's Spring Fling and we hope that all participants and supporters are too. Do call into Gracefield to see the show if you can, or to the Stranraer Museum when it moves to that venue in April. More details on that to come.

In the image above some of your committee resplendent in the colours of their respective Spring Fling routes. From the left Maggie Savage, Natalie Vardey (Studio 55, Red Route), Kay Ribbens (Studio 59, Yellow Route), Bella Green (Studio 2, Orange Route), Kate Anderson (Studio 57, Red Route), Hazel Campbell (Studio 49, Red Route) and Andy Priestman.
What's that I hear you cry? I missed out some of the committee members' studio numbers? Actually a number of the committee are members of the Spring Fling Open Studios Association but this year are not involved in opening their own studios over the Spring Fling weekend. They are still however dedicated to Spring Fling and in keeping the Spring Fling Scotland's premier annual art and craft open studios event and for this we are all very grateful.

The First Time! - by Phil McMenemy

Well, its approaching and becoming ever more tangible! As this is my first experience of being a participant in the Spring Fling everything seems rather otherworldly and unreal – every step of the way is a bit of an adventure and refreshingly new, from the regular email updates and news to the experience this week of collecting all my signs!! Wow, I’m really doing this thing!
I also took the opportunity to help out and deliver some of the SF brochures to places who are helping us spread the word of the event, this in itself was a nice experience. Next week sees the official launch of the ‘taster’ exhibition something I am both excited about and rather nervous of. I have to wear something red, hmmmm, it’ll have to be my Julian Cope T shirt and my famous red hat!

Phil at home in Laurieston with his two sons.

I am starting to think more definitively about my Gallery and the stock I hope to have ready for the SF weekend – this also seems rather daunting and scary so I’m hoping to glean advice from experienced campaigners over the next few weeks – be prepared!
I have also been fortunate enough to have spent time in the outdoors with my camera and have truly enjoyed it, as always. This is my ‘work’ now – it seems a strange thing to say. I find all aspects of my ‘job’ thoroughly engrossing and wonder where the time goes. I feel I have so much to do – all good!

Recent news from me is that I have been deep in conversation with writer and poet Mary Smith – we have met and discussed the possibility of undertaking a joint venture together. This has gone well and we have come up with a lengthy option list of subjects to consider. I have long been aware of and have held an admiration for Mary’s work for quite some time, so this new approach to collaboration is something which has certainly excited and given me added focus.

My website continues to develop as new work is updated and given an airing on a regular basis, the ‘Gallery at Laurieston’ continues to attract visitors, who are most welcome, and continues to be open on a regular basis on each Sunday. There’s more work to be done – better continue the struggle.

Until soon, Kind Regards

Phil McMenemy – Studio 44 Red Route

www.pmcphotography.co.uk and www.pmcphotography.blogspot.com

Minister for Culture to help launch Spring Fling 2009

This is an invitation to the preview of the Spring Fling 2009 Exhibition and the official launch of the Spring Fling 2009 brochure at Gracefield Arts Centre, 2 - 4pm Friday March 20th. Pink fizz and strawberries. We are delighted that Mike Russell MSP, Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution, is able to come and join us.

Please flag this up in your diaries and try and come. This will be a good opportunity to get together before May, break the ice for new participants and pass on any tips, and to meet and greet press and all our guests

PLEASE would this year's participants come wearing the colour of your route. This will be a great way for guests and press (and newcomers) to identify you and will be visually really stunning if everyone complies. It is in our best interests to make an impact in everything we do and we envisage a sea of brightly coloured folk, quaffing pink fizz, creating a buzz and generally being fab ambassadors of the event.

We all hope that as many participants, old and new, will be there. Please support the committee, Gracefield, and the Arts team in this. We could not have got this far without them.

This week Spring Fling has been mostly. . .

LAMINATING!!!

Bella was hard at work all day sorting, counting and laying out all the brochures and leaflets that Spring Fling participants require for their own mailing lists and marketing schemes and then adding to those piles the necessary car parking signs, studio number and arrow signs along with the instructions for where signs can and cannot be attached come the weekend of May 23rd to 25th.

Last week Amanda was on sole laminating duty, today Hazel and Hannah finished that job, the laminators are now being allowed a well earned holiday. This is all being done so early so that participants will be able to collect their signage and brochures and leaflets this coming Thursday and Friday when they bring in their work for the Taster Exhibition. It certainly makes us realise yet again just how organised and forward thinking the Art and Craft Development Officers based at Gracefield have been for the last 7 years.

The Spring Fling Taster Exhibition opens at Gracefield Arts Centre on Saturday 21st March for any of you that would like a snap shot of the delights that will be on offer at Spring Fling Weekend as all the participants will be represented.

Spirit of Air

Running from Saturday March 6th through to Saturday April 18th Lizzie Farey's "Spirit of Air" exhibition is currently at Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries before touring to a number of venues across Britain. This solo show is an exhibition of new large scale expressive willow works which is the culmination of a twelve month Creative Development award from the Scottish Arts Council.

Using willow, birch, heather, bog myrtle and many other locally grown woods, Lizzie's work has developed from strong traditional baskets through to the very expressive organic sculptural forms for which she is well known and these new wall based "inscriptions" that the current exhibition highlights so well. Having taken part in Spring Fling since it's inception Lizzie's studio, number 50 on the Red Route, is in a converted barn, part of a small cluster of studios at Lochdougan House near Castle Douglas which is also home to fine artist Bea Last and potter Hannah McAndrew.

Sculpture Workshops

Lucianne Lassalle - Studio 29 on the Blue Route - Born in Paris, she has traveled widely working and exhibiting in Canada, USA, Europe, London, and the South East and South West. Recently she moved to Dumfries Scotland and will be exhibiting for the first time at Spring Fling (sharing studio space with the potter Jason Shackleton).

As well as being a full time sculptor, she runs 6 weekend workshops a year working from the model in clay. These are informal classes studying a life model, each student working at their own pace, class sizes between 8 and 12 students. Workshops are suitable for all students from absolute beginner to the more experienced.

Lucianne is also running a residential workshop in Tuscany 18th - 27th June 2009......

A Residential Sculpture Workshop and a Taste of Beautiful Tuscany, Italy!!
At 'La Meridiana' an International Ceramic Centre and 15th century farmhouse in the Tuscan hills. Clay studios, kilns and equipment, good food, wine and company
"The workshops will be focused, creative and intensive, for students to gain a good working understanding of the human form. We will work in clay directly, making clay sketches from the model and then working on a longer pose for more in depth study. There will be flexibility for students who wish to move from direct representational interpretation to creating their own expressive or abstracted interpretation of the human form."

Please contact Lucianne for more details or see her website under Workshops and Courses (linked via her name above)

Mosses, Waters, Slaps and Style

From March 7th to 29th this year Hazel Campbell will be having a solo exhibition at the High Street Gallery in Kirckudbright entitled "Mosses, Waters, Slaps and Style". Her forth exhibition with the gallery this show will feature mostly landscapes with a few inclusions of brightly coloured flower studies amongst them.

Hazel Campbell has developed her own vigorous style of painting which exudes life and vitality and she draws endless inspiration from the Galloway countryside in which she lives. Increasingly Hazel's work is developing in a less representational direction which she will be keen to discuss with visitors at Spring Fling.

Studio 49 on the Red Route of the Spring Fling Hazel's studio is set in the converted stable beside a typical Scottish back garden and is a welcoming and vibrant place to visit. During the summer Hazel runs popular painting schools which are tailored to meet individual needs. If you would like to know more visit her website.

If you can't make it to the gallery a full catalogue is available from the High Street Gallery.