Residency Opportunity at Wigtown Book Festival

Spring Fling Artist Residency Programme at Wigtown Book Festival 2009

Deadline for Applications: 9am on Wednesday 1 July 2009

Spring Fling Open Studios invites applications for an artist residency at Wigtown Book Festival from 23 September to 4 October 2009. The artist will then be expected to present their artwork in Wigtown during Spring Fling 2010 (29 to 31 May). This means that the residency guarantees participation in Spring Fling 2010 for the successful artist.

Spring Fling is the most successful open studios event of its kind in Scotland and a major tourist event in Dumfries and Galloway (www.spring-fling.co.uk).
A decade ago Wigtown became Scotland's National Book Town. Since then this tiny town has been transformed into a distinguished literary capital, while its book festival has grown into one of the autumn's biggest national arts gatherings (www.wigtownbookfestival.com).

The residency is an opportunity for an artist based in Dumfries and Galloway to live and work in Wigtown for 12 days in the lead-up to and during Wigtown Book Festival 2009 and to create artwork inspired by the town and/ or the Wigtown Book Festival. For more information visit: www.spring-fling.co.uk or email colin.tennant@dumgal.gov.uk.

On your bike

Above are the hardy souls on the Spring Fling bike ride on the first day of Spring Fling. There were 17, inc myself, from the KM rally at Barnsoul. There would have been at least 6 or 12 more if the weather had been kinder. Much interest from the Rally folk; the weekend organiser even cancelled his own ride to come with us.

Visited Rodney Holland (27), Ruth Jones (25), Silvana McClean (24), Robert Leighton (28) and finished with Jason Shackleton and Lucianne Lassalle (29). About 35 miles Barnsoul back to Barnsoul. Packed the The Green Tea Room (Moniave) for lunch - too cold for the tables outside unfortunately. Much favourable comment especially Rodney Hollands's inpressive long wooden chain. On a bike you don't tend to buy much on the day (especially chain saw carvings!) but many took cards & notes for a return 'visit'.

We (the local CTC Group) have organised this SF ride for the past 2 years; last year Eskdale and the one before around Dalbeattie, Palnackie & Rhonehouse. Numbers this year were greatly boosted by attendees from the KM Barnsoul rally, but with publicity we could get more out locally.

It was a good day, despite the poor weather.

Regards
Mike Gray

More from Studio 17

"Just a quick note to say how much Catriona and I enjoyed our Spring Fling! We had over 160 people through during the weekend, and it was a really good experience. Some of the best bits though was just folk coming in and talking about their memories, telling stories." Jean Aitken (sharing with Catriona Taylor in Studio 17). More about this studio experience here.

Getting Ready Collection from the Orange Route

It was a busy year preparing for Spring Fling this time around and here are the pictures to prove it....

Heather Blanchard at Studio 8.............

Diane McBain at Studio 10, the Wee Byre Studio....

Margeret Walty at Studio 6....."This one's me trying to finish an Alphabet commision for Hong Kong while also trying to reach my target of 40 paintings for Spring Fling; the mood at the moment is rabbit in headlights!" The second picture is 'Orchid Dragon'.

Lucianne Lassalle Clay Modelling Workshops

New workshop In July!

Study the Model in Clay
Workshop with Lucianne Lassalle
17th, 18th, 19th, July
10.00 - 4.00

Cost : £150 for Tutoring, life model and lunch
Modelling stands & tools provided
Clay £10 a bag (you can bring your own if you wish)

At: Wallaceton Village Hall
Wallaceton, Dunscore Dumfries

To book please send a cheque to Lassalle Art & Design Ltd.
Laurieston house pottery, Wallaceton, Dunscore, Dumfries DG2 0TG

To be sure of a place book ASAP!
There are a couple of spaces still available for the August 19th - 23rd class contact me for details 01387 820472

The workshops will be focused, creative and intensive, for students to gain a good working understanding of the human form, Looking at basic structure and proportion, we will work directly in clay, 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 check my website for future courses www.luciannelassalle.co.uk/workshops.htm

Lucianne was exhibiting at Studio 29 on the Blue route

From Studio 22 on the blue route

Post Spring fling report from Kathleen Woods, painter at Studio 22 on the Blue route....


I had the best Spring Fling ever.

Approx 350 visitors came up Shinnel Glen over the three days and it was lovely being able to discuss the work with them. They were all lovely people and knowing that they were there especially to see the Open Studios was a great thrill. Happily the sun shone on Sunday and Monday so the garden was well used too. My daughter Diane helped make the teas and coffees and didn’t stop baking for two days so that was also a huge success.

I had been working hard with a big help from a friend to get the garden more than tidied up for the weekend and put the finishing touches to it on the Friday. I absolutely love it and after being here for four years it now feels like home.

All in all it really gave me the incentive to keep doing what I love. Painting.