Spring Fling Open Studios

Spring Fling Blog Moves to Website

2010-12-07T22:36:00.002Z

www.spring-fling.co.uk

From now on the Spring Fling news and information will all be held on the Spring Fling website making just one place for you to visit to get all your Spring Fling related news. Pop in there and see us soon. Updated news story titles will appear in the "news" box on the left hand side of the home page with a link to the full article.
Thank you for your support and best wishes.

Deirdre Nelson Residency

2010-10-02T12:32:00.003+01:00

The Spring Fling residency at Wigtown Book Festival is drawing to it's close this weekend. If you want to catch up on how Deirdre is getting on visit her blog or read her Tweets just follow the links.

Bea Last: Marking Time

2010-09-13T20:11:00.005+01:00

Study from sketch book. 25 x 56cm. Pencil and wash on cartridge paper.

Gracefield Arts Centre is opening on Friday September 24th from 7 till 9pm.
The new works by Bea are inspired by the space she inhabits and journeys through and she will be showing finished work along with sketch books which show her creative process.
Bea will be "In Conversation" with Colin Tennant about her work on Thursday 7th October from 7 - 8 pm. Place for this are free but you would be highly advised to book to save disappointment. To book your place contact Gracefield Arts Centre on 01387 262084.
The exhibition is open until November 6th.

Kate Anderson Exhibition Opening

2010-09-12T20:41:00.004+01:00

The fourth weekend in September is a busy one for Spring Fling members as at least three are having exhibition openings over the weekend. For art and craft lovers that means there is no shortage of venues to visit and fine art and craft to enjoy.

Kate Anderson, mosaic artists has been a strong member of the Spring Fling Open Studios committee for the past few years and will be much missed on her retirement this AGM.

With her background in both sculpture and painting Kate now works with both traditional and experimental techniques to interpret and realise her ideas. Do visit her exhibition at the Mill on the Fleet between September 26th when there is an exhibition opening at 2pm and the end of the exhibition on October 31st.

Pots and Paintings by Andy Priestman

2010-09-12T17:24:00.003+01:00

The Wigtown Book Festival this year is a very busy time. If you are in the area for the festival then do make the trip out to Minniwick at Glentrool to visit the workshop and studio of Spring Fling member Andy Priestman.

This is a real gem of a place to visit and well worth the effort. Andy is a potter and abstract painter and both these strands of his work will be on display. You will also be able to see the stunning three chambered wood fired kiln that he recently rebuilt in which his pots are fired. The exhibition is on from September 25th to October 3rd.

Pots stacked in the wood fired kiln before the firing.

Deirdre Nelson in Residence at Wigtown Book Festival

2010-09-06T19:50:00.004+01:00

Deirdre Nelson will be in residence during the Wigtown Book Festival as another collaboration between the Book Festival and Spring Fling. The festival this year runs from 24 September to 3 October 2010 http://www.wigtownbookfestival.com/ and will be showing the results of the residency in Wigtown during Spring Fling 2011 (28 to 30 May).
Selected for the Jerwood Contemporary Makers prize in 2008 Deirdre has completed residencies at Cove Park, IASKA International Artists Residency in Western Australia and St Sirius Arts Centre in Cork, Ireland.

Deirdre says that "Hand work and craftsmanship provide both direction and context in her work which is often inspired by social history, texts and place. Her textile work employs a variety of techniques and materials fusing traditional textile skills and contemporary reinterpretation through photography and digital manipulation."

The studio will be at Glaisnock Guest House, North Main Street, Wigtown and a Meet The Artist event happens at 7pm on September 25th. Hope to see you there.

Spring Fling News

2010-08-29T17:42:00.002+01:00

Firstly watch out for the newly redesigned and revamped website for the Spring Fling, this should be live within the next week, more about that when it arrives with us.

Secondly applications for Spring Fling 2011, May 28th, 29th and 30th, will be opening shortly, this will be on the website and we are encouraging on-line applications wherever possible to help conserve funds and cut down on administration work.

Finally the residency with Wigtown Book Town and Spring Fling will this year has been awarded to textile artist Deirdre Nelson. Deirdre will be in residence during the festival in Wigtown which runs from September 24th to October 3rd. Call in and see what she is working on when you visit the Book Festival this year.

A Royal Visit

2010-07-18T20:10:00.004+01:00

Artists and crafts people were among those invited on wednesday July 14th, to The Easterbrook Hall in Dumfries to a civic reception for HRH Queen Elizabeth and HRH Prince Philip. Natalie Vardey, jeweller and Chair of Spring Fling Open Studios and Hannah Mcandrew, potter were two of just seven people representing the creative industries. Natalie said that she was very honoured but felt a weight of responsibility to be representing the hundred members of Spring Fling Open Studios in such a small but significant group.

Pictured here at The Easterbrook Hall are Michael Lloyd - silversmith, Hannah McAndrew, Natalie Vardey and Anna Campbell - Depute Lord Lieutenant of The Stewartry.

Residency Project With Wigtown Book Town

2010-06-21T18:45:00.002+01:00

Applications are invited from artists for a Spring Fling residency project in Dumfries & Galloway, inspired by Wigtown Book Festival (24 September to 3 October 2010). The residency will run for 12 days in the run-up to and during the festival, with the successful artist returning to Wigtown to show work produced during the residency at Spring Fling 2011 (28 to 30 May). The successful applicant will receive a fee of £2,500, to include materials and travel costs. Accommodation and studio space will be provided free of charge. The artist will also be given a free pass to Wigtown Book Festival events. For more information, or to request a copy of the brief, contact Colin Tennant, visual arts officer for Dumfries & Galloway (01387 262084 colin.tennant@dumgal.gov.uk)

Deadline for applications is 9am on Wednesday June 30th 2010.

2010 - a brief review

2010-06-11T09:25:00.004+01:00

Hi, again

Well thats it for SpringFling for another year - the work now begins for 2011!
I sincerely hope that this years event was successful, enjoyable and fun for: all the participants, those who work tirelessly behind the scenes and most importantly for those visitors who turned up in their numbers for this years event.
News in from Calum Stirlings 'Hyporbaric Empyr' installation at Craigieburn (see images attached to blog) reports that the work was a resounding success with well over 100 visitors for the opening night of the residency. Owners of the Craigieburn gardens, Janet and Andrew Wheatcroft, thought more visitors attended the gardens than might ordinarily be expected throughout the season! A special mention also goes to Grace for her lovely Dim Sum which she lovingly prepared for attendees to go along with the wine!
Overall, a great and successful residency - congratulations and gratitude go to Calum, Janet and Andrew and those involved in the event.

Spring Fling by bicycle

2010-05-29T21:16:00.002+01:00

Undaunted by the grey day and the rain the intrepid participants of Spring Fling cycle tour today are pictured here as they visited the studio group of Bea Last, Lizzie Farey and Hannah McAndrew at Lochdougan House today.

Happy Fling Weekend

2010-05-28T20:40:00.003+01:00

Well here we are on the eve of Spring Fling 2010. I bet there are still a few putting finishing touches to their cleaning of workshops and displaying of their work. To all, be you the artists and craftspeople taking part or the visitors from far and wide that we are looking forward to welcoming, have a wonderful Spring Fling weekend, I hope the sun shines and you all have a great time. Hopefully there will be some mid Fling pictures and stories to tell here over the weekend and beyond. Pop back soon to see. Best wishes all!

Cream Teas in Kirkcudbright

2010-05-27T18:26:00.002+01:00

If you are coming to Spring Fling this weekend then you might like to know about the RSABI (The Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution) Cream Tea happening on the Sunday of Spring Fling (30th May) in Kirkcudbright Lesser Town Hall.
A great chance to enjoy some delicious homemade scones, local jam and cream, teas and coffees, and all for just £3 per person.
The RSABI Cream Tea is open between 2pm and 4pm, and all in aid of RSABI, Scotland ’s charity helping those who have depended on the land.

Update from Adam Booth and Hannah McAndrew

2010-05-25T21:37:00.002+01:00

Adam Booth and Hannah McAndrew, both winners in the 2010 Craft&Design Selected Awards. You can find them at studios 43 and 21 respectively at this years Spring Fling.

Update from Andy Priestman

2010-05-24T20:31:00.002+01:00

You can find Andy Priestman and his three chambered wood fired kiln at studio 9 in the west region of this years Spring Fling.

Update from Val Macadam

2010-05-23T18:03:00.002+01:00

This picture of calm and tranquillity in my studio belies the chaos in pretty much ever other corner of my house, garden and head! Only a few wee jobs left to do- finishing (umpteen) drawings (I’m obviously not a Mastermind as I’ve started and not finished them), mounting, framing, hanging, typing, printing, labelling, tidying, dusting, hoovering, weeding, planting, baking…..! Lucky I’ve got help- although clearly not from my feline friends snoozing on my desk! Mind you, I am beginning to get excited!

You can find Val Macadam at Studio 36 in the south region of this years Spring Fling.

Update from Mark Ranshaw

2010-05-22T17:32:00.002+01:00

Well, not long to go now - but pressure is good! I worked for over 25 years as a graphic designer and tight deadlines were a constant feature. I like working to them, it ratchets up the energy levels, which can have a beneficial effect on the quality of the work. I’m pleased with the way the work is going; you can always wish for more time to produce that elusive masterpiece but that’s a lifetime’s quest! The most important thing to remember is to leave time for tidying up the studio, freshening up the decor and generally making it an attractive space for Spring Flingers to visit.

You can find Mark Ranshaw at Studio 38 in the south region of this years Spring Fling.

Ceilidh Update

2010-05-21T21:12:00.002+01:00

Preparations for the Spring Fling Hog Roast and Ceilidh are underway tonight as Rhonehouse Village Youth Group are working their creative wonders on these bright and fun strings of bunting to decorate Castle Douglas town hall with next weekend.
The ceilidh starts at 7pm, music is by the brilliant Two Left Feet, tickets are £10 which includes the hog roast or a veggie option. Tickets available from www.thebooth.co.uk

Update from Christine Smith

2010-05-20T22:24:00.004+01:00

Are you 'ready for Spring Fling'? seems to be the most commonly asked question these days. How to answer when a little scream is going on inside. No-oh, but the question is beginning to focus my mind.
Last weekend I made a start on the major Spring Fling - Spring Clean with a good clear out of the shed to make it look less like a rubbish dump and more like a well organised store for useful bits and pieces. What looks like a back yard needs to be transformed into a self respecting courtyard displaying finished pots.

Meanwhile I still have enough work piling up for several kilns. Whether I will actually get the new bigger pieces finished or not is a matter of looking at the calendar and wondering how it happened that time started speeding up. From past experience it is also good to have a variety of work underway and at different stages, so that there is some interesting work in progress to talk about. I have to fit this in somewhere but I am not at all sure when. This all makes for a tricky Spring Fling count down, and it may just be that what will be will be and no, I will never be ready for Spring Fling, but I'm trying.

You can visit Christine Smith at studio number 33 in the south region of this years Spring Fling.

Update from Helen Hastings

2010-05-19T21:30:00.003+01:00

Hi everyone!
I’m one of the ‘homecomer’ artists – I was the Gracefield potter more years ago than I care to recall - and I am thrilled to be sharing studio space with Bella Green at Eskdalemuir. Nowadays I live in the Scottish Borders and I make felted ‘neckscapes’ For Spring Fling I’ve been working on a new ruckled style of neckscape that that I will be calling the ‘Iapetus’ range after the ocean that disappeared some 400 million years ago when Scotland and England came together in a tectonic crunch and created the Southern Uplands.

Jobs that I have to do this week are to make, make, make and then make some more. Next week I will organize labels and display, take photographs of the best work and distribute the last of the leaflets. Final week I will be helping Bella prepare the studio. I hope you all have a great Spring Fling – artists and visitors – and I am only sorry I will not be able to visit everyone else’s studio.

You can find Helen Hastings at Studio 66 in the east region of this years Spring Fling and read more about her and her host for Spring Fling, Bella Green in Dumfries and Galloway Life's April issue.

Update from Ed Baxter

2010-05-18T20:04:00.001+01:00

No panic all is ready ( see my nose growing )..... but about there, just waiting for the framer to finish the last 4 big prints then I can plug the gap in the wall!
I have had to be ready as I am running a photo course this week and out on the river giving casting instruction nearly all next week.. Long may it rain this weekend. This is a photograph of me loading up some software ready for my course.

You can find Ed Baxter at Studio 61 in the north region of this years Spring Fling.

Update from William Spurway

2010-05-17T18:49:00.002+01:00

The pressure is on. Not that long to go now especially as I am teaching as well and I know I'm supposed to be clearing the studio, repainting the walls and cutting the grass, but I am caught up in a series of paintings with so many ideas and images running through my head that I simply don't want to stop!

I was lucky to receive a research grant to travel to Finland at the beginning of the year and came back with my head full of images and the bright white light of a Finnish winter. Painting delicate silver birch trees in snow are proving tricky but will be worth it if I can pull it off, dark dark firs standing proud against a blue sky add drama if I get the tone right. I've been doing some printmaking too - reflections on water, an old and ongoing interest of mine.

Been speaking with Ewan McClure who is sharing the studio with me for Spring Fling about how we are going to show our work. Will we put out our paints and sketchbooks and inspirations? I think so, but this also takes thought and organisation. Looking forward to it though - meeting regular Spring Flingers as well as welcoming new people to my studio. Roll on 29th May.

You can find William at Studio 83 in the east of the region in this year's Spring Fling.

Spring Fling Residency Launch

2010-05-15T19:21:00.001+01:00

Glasgow-based artist Calum Stirling has drawn on his experience with sculpture, video, sound, moving image and architectural intervention to create Hypobaric Empyr, a new work to be shown during Spring Fling weekend. The work will be launched at Craigieburn at the official opening of Spring Fling 2010, from 6pm to 9pm on Friday 28 May, to which all are warmly invited. To get there take the A708 out of Moffat for around two miles (postcode DG10 9LF).

There will also be a free bus leaving Glasgow (from outside the CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, G2 3JD ) on Friday 28 May at 5.45pm. This will arrive at Craigieburn Garden at approximately 6.45pm and will return to Glasgow at 11pm. If you would like to reserve a place on the bus please email allisonmgibbs@gmail.com in advance.

Apdate from Anna Wright

2010-05-15T16:23:00.003+01:00

Bluebirds.

I am producing a collection of illustrations based on animal collective nouns, ( a flamboyance of flamingos, a gaggle of geese etc), I am also trying to sort out some new prints and cards. However I am not very good at multitasking so I am surrounded by reminder notes and telling myself to remain calm at all times.... but all great otherwise, looking forward to it - hope the sun comes out!

A Flamboyance of Flamingos

You can find Anna Wright at Studio 55 in the nother region of this year's Spring Fling.

Update from Jeremy Carlisle

2010-05-14T19:31:00.005+01:00

Much needed painting of studio has been happening and a huge tidy up, which feels good. I can now see walls and parts of the floor which hadn't been visible for ages and how the space might work at the end of the month. Weather permitting I have been painting outside since February. Although it has been cold there have been bright clear, still days. Winter and early spring colours have a lightness and clarity that is special. When the weather is wet and wild the car becomes a mobile studio and I often head for the coast to observe and paint the unfolding drama of sea and sky.

You can visit Jeremy at studio 12 in the West region in this year's Spring Fling.

Update from Amy Winstanley

2010-05-13T19:42:00.002+01:00

Using the fresh green colours of the May landscape to create a couple more paintings before I pack up all my hard work so far to venture southwest for Spring Fling. Looking forward to my first time at Spring Fling and as a Homecomer.

You can find Amy at Studio 81 in the East region of Spring Fling 2010.

Update from Phil McMenemy - Studio 29

2010-05-13T10:55:00.011+01:00

'Red Reflections'

'Fragment'

'Evening Stakes'

Rhiannon and I - Spring Fling photoshoot

Hello everyone, thanks for calling in on the Spring Fling blog

Well its now mid-May - how did that happen? The early part of the year seemed to rather drag its heels but the last couple of months have absolutely flown by.
Nerves and anxieties are now definitely in full-flow, though one hopes that all the year long work that we artists put in will see us in good shape for the SF weekend. My anxieties have been given a rather unexpected and troublesome boost with the recent news that the print company I use are on a fairly lengthy shut-down due to relocation! Yikes, all my planning out of the window for my printing needs. A few deep breaths and some hasty workings out mean that everything still should be OK for the big weekend. I do hope so.
I have been busy titivating one of our outdoor storerooms to convert into a small sales gallery which I hope visitors will come and view - its neither the Tate Modern nor the National Portrait Gallery buts its ours and I think 'in keeping' with the spirit of the Spring Fling Open Studios event.
This year has seen me co-opted onto the Spring Fling committee - what an eye-opener! The work of the committee and in particular Event Co-ordinator Rhiannon is mind-boggling in its volume and challenging diversity. I congratulate you all, its been good to help out in my own small way!
The event remains high on the local media agenda and I was again lucky enough to be invited to take part in a photo-shoot to highlight the Fling by the very readable DG Life Magazine, see image above.
I do hope people can take the trouble to come and visit this years event to acknowledge all the artists work, visit wonderful Dumfries and Galloway and most importantly to meet artists, view fabulous and diverse art work and have some fun!

Finally I would like to pass on my congratulations to two of our Spring Fling artists who have receieved national acknowledgements and accclaim for their brilliant, brilliant work - Adam Booth - Studio 43, Adam won the Gold award in the Wood and Metal section of the Craft & Design Magazine Selected Awards and Hannah McAndrew - Studio 21 who won Silver for her work in the Ceramics section of the same publication. Well done and congratulations to you both!!!

Regards
phil

You can find Phil McMenemy, Studio 29 at The Gallery at Laurieston, Laurieston or by visiting his website http://www.pmcphotography.co.uk/

Update from Kathleen Woods

2010-05-10T21:12:00.005+01:00

I have been trying to tidy up my studio and just seem to be moving things from one place to another!! I have been working on the ‘Watercolour on Velum’ pieces (one of the paintings in process to follow that through, beginning, middle and end).

Also just bought all the plants for the garden and hope the heat breaks through soon. We will have teas, coffees and home baking on offer with donations going to help with the Wallace Hall Academy Haiti Fund.

You can find Kathleen at Studio 58 in the north region of this year's Spring Fling

Update from Suzanne Stuart Davies

2010-05-10T17:45:00.004+01:00

I'm not sure how blogs work and am struggling with 'error reports' and technical troubles with the computer after two weeks away in Assynt and Wester Ross.
So – cross with the computer when I will need to use it to sort out information – statements, labels for work and such – organising for Spring Fling starts this week.
However – lots of work ready – paintings, books and some crafty cushions - and new work arising from recent trip will hopefully be started and on show.
I have been preoccupied, even more this year, with the changes taking place in rural areas and marginal lands – my work reflects these concerns – there are fewer traditional buildings being repaired, less tin huts to admire! There will be no cattle in our surrounding fields this year – the lovely pedigree Ayrshire heifers which enjoyed the high summers pastures have given way to lonely sheep.

So the painting that is on show in the Taster exhibition at Gracefield 'just a small gathering now', while celebrating the agricultural traditions of Dumfriesshire, also indicates underlying worries about the effects of globalisation on our local landscapes.
In the very North West of Scotland, a little crofting still continues and some of the stone buildings remain with their painted roofs – and sky, sea and mountains always exhilarate! So there will be work in progress which celebrates the wilder lands of Scotland.

You can find Suzanne at Muiryhill Bothy, Studio 64 in the north region in this year's Spring Fling.

Update from Urpu Sellar

2010-05-09T10:32:00.007+01:00

Sunday morning 9th May, I still have my morning face on.

To panic or not to panic...
The time of year when artists can be observed in their natural habitat is approaching fast. It'll soon be Spring Fling. I always get worried if things run smoothly, are on time - especially if ahead of time and I wonder what I have forgotten. So far looking good... The biggest problem will be to clear enough space to fit in some people. Ash clouds allowing, Mother will be visiting us over the Spring Fling. It was my idea. "Sure, come during the Spring Fling, it's good fun!" Well, she is fit (former Olympic swimmer ('52) I'll have you know!), very good at organising, tidying, cooking, making coffee, talking to people. She gives wonderful foot massages. She thinks she's coming for a for a holiday.

You can find Urpu at Studio 17 in the West region of this year's Spring Fling.

Update from Isabell Buenz

2010-05-06T19:27:00.003+01:00

Like probably everybody else I am busy with getting the studio ready for the Spring Fling. The work takes up a lot of mine and my partner's time but we're hoping "The Aquarium" will look great for it's first opening to the public since we've bought it a couple of years ago. Between painting and scrubbing I manage to do some of my art work as well, mostly extending my range of paper stilettos, greeting cards and calendars for next year. I am very much looking forward to the Spring Fling event and a well deserved break afterwards.

You can find Isabell at Studio 11 in the South Region in this year's Spring Fling.

Update from Kate Anderson

2010-05-03T18:32:00.004+01:00

I have been working hard to complete one of the projects that can be seen at Studio 14 this Spring Fling. I was commissioned by Sulwath Connections to design and make two panels for the new outdoor classroom at New Abbey Primary School, an Eco-School I have worked with before. Following several 'in school' projects about the Night Sky in partnership with writer Liz Niven and a visiting planetarium from the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, I got going on the panel. One is based on lunar activities and one on nebulae and they combine mosaic with extracts of poetry by the children. www.sulwathconnections.org

I will be showing the processes I use in several commissions including a piece to be made for an exhibition at Lichfield Cathedral next year to celebrate the 400th year of the King James Bible.

I wish everybody a wonderful Spring Fling!

You can find Kate at studio number 14 in the South region in this years Spring Fling.

Wigtown Spring Book Weekend

2010-04-29T22:25:00.002+01:00

This weekend sees Wigtown Book Town hosting it's Spring Book Weekend. There are events for children of all ages, with authors including Alan Temperley author of Harry and the Wrinklies, Simon Puttock and Lari Don along with a paper making workshop.
The adult programme sees visits from Ted Cowan, Dr David Clark and Michael Ansell. A full programme is down loadable from the Book Town website.
Spring Fling and Wigtown Booktown will be collaborating during the Spring Fling weekend this year, 29th to 31st May when Wigtown will be hosting "Place, Identity Memory" an exhibition archive of artists books made by artists from all over the world and curated by Iris. This will be held in The Hut at Reading Lasses Bookshop, 17 South Main Street, Wigtown.

Saturday at Stranraer

2010-04-27T18:04:00.003+01:00

A great turn out at Stranraer Museum this last saturday for the opening of the Spring Fling Taster Exhibition there. Our very warm thanks go to all those who took the time to attend and of course special thanks to our special guest Marion Brewis, Lord-Lieutenant for Wigtown who took a collection of excitable artists quite in her stride. Thanks also to Ken Pearson of Ken Pearson Photography who provided the photograph above and also one for the local press.

Stranraer Taster Exhibition Launch

2010-04-23T18:11:00.003+01:00

Saturday April 24th sees the launch of the Spring Fling Taster Exhibition at Stranraer Museum. We Spring Fling members would like to invite all participants, supporters and all those interested in the event to join us from 2pm for the launch of this exhibition which will be opened, we are very pleased to say, by Marion Brewis, the Lord-Lieutenant for Wigtown.
Do feel free to call into Stranraer Museum which is in The Old Town Hall, George Street, Stranraer to meet some of the artists and craftspeople involved in this years Spring Fling, to partake in strawberries and pink fizz and to browse some of the work produced by this region's many talented artists and craftspeople.

SF 2010 Photo Shoot

2010-04-18T17:11:00.005+01:00

On a sunny afternoon this week you may, if you were lucky have caught sight of this gathering in Kirkpatrick Durham village. This year Juliet and Alan who live in the village have organised Spring Fling tours with a difference, they are offering tours over the weekend from the comfort of a motorcycle side car. To help promote this with the help of Dumfries and Galloway Life Phil McMenemy, Hazel Campbell and Spring Fling's own Rhiannon Batten got into the 1950's swing for a photo shoot with DG Life photographer Phil Rigby, pictured below.

The sidecars will each take one passenger and the tours have no set charge but donations are being given to the National Autistic Society and the Greek Cat Welfare Society. For more information contact Alan on 07887 821613.

Look out for the results of the afternoon photo session in the June issue of Dumfries and Galloway Life out in early May. Thanks to all involved, including Lochside Theatre for helping with the props.

Success for Spring Flingers

2010-03-25T20:59:00.005Z

These happy Spring Fling artists were photographed outside the Royal Scottish Academy building on the Mound in Edinburgh, last Thursday night, 18th March. They were attending a Salon Evening organised by the Friends of the RSA to publicise the work of exhibitors.

From left to right, they are- Jennifer Watt, Silvana MacLean, Patti Lean, Denise Zygadlo, Gill Shreeve, Bella Green and Dougie Muego. Not present, but also exhibiting, were-Hazel Campbell, and Sam, Nancy and John Chinnery.

All these artists were successful in having their work selected for the recent annual exhibitions of premier Scottish Arts Societies held at the RSA. Their work was shown at the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolours, the Scottish Society of Artists or Visual Arts Scotland exhibitions.

Fierce competition comes from artists from all over Scotland for places at these prestige
shows. It is a mark of the quality of the work produced in Dumfries and Galloway and by Spring Fling artists that so many successful artists were selected from within this region.

Well done to all!

Launch Event

2010-03-21T15:21:00.008Z

Guest of Honour Alex Fergusson MSP and Spring Fling Chair Natalie Vardey

The well-attended Spring Fling brochure launch and taster exhibition opening event (held at Gracefield Arts centre, in Dumfries, on 12 March) was hailed a massive success by members of the Spring Fling committee. Special thanks must go to staff at Gracefield for the care and skill shown in hanging the collection of works on display - no mean feat!
Following nibbles and pink fizz, visitors and contributors perused the collection of works made by artists and makers participating in this year’s Spring Fling weekend, taking in six rooms of displays and soaking up the atmosphere of the launch experience.
Spring Fling Chair, Natalie Vardey, cordially welcomed everyone to the event and introduced Alex Fergusson, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament and MSP, as guest of honour. Mr Fergusson spoke of his interest in and respect for the work of the region’s artists and makers and the contribution they make to the cultural diversity of the region (as well as to the region’s economy and tourist industry). Mr Fergusson also relayed personal experiences of his own and his family’s experience of enjoying Spring Fling first-hand.
For those who missed the launch, don’t panic! There’s still time to catch the taster exhibition, which will be running at Gracefield until 8 May. A second taster exhibition will also be running at Stranraer Museum from 24 April to 5 May and we hope to include some images of the Stranraer launch at a slightly later date (to which all are invited, incidentally, at 2pm on 24 April)…

Spring Fling 2010 Taster Opening

2010-03-07T11:31:00.003Z

This coming Friday, March 12th from 4pm till 7pm Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries will be hosting the launch of Spring Fling 2010 with the opening of the Taster Exhibition to be held there until 8th May. We are very pleased to say that the guest of honour at the event will be Alex Fergusson MSP and Presiding Officer for the Scottish Parliament.

This is a great opportunity for participants in this years event to get together before the weekend itself and of course to see a taste of what will be on offer at the studios over the Spring Fling weekend. Every participant in this year's event has submitted work to the exhibition so if you are planning to visit some studios over the weekend this is an ideal opportunity to see what takes your fancy and start to plan your route. The beautiful new brochure will be available at the opening on Friday so if you haven't already got your copy do come along and collect one. It is very different from previous years and I think you will all agree does Dumfries and Galloway proud.

Spring Fling Brochure 2010

2010-03-01T21:08:00.003Z

Here it is! The Spring Fling 2010 brochure has arrived with us. Participants can collect their copies to distribute later this week when they deliver their work for the Gracefield and Stranraer Taster exhibitions.
In these images of the brochure in production you see Peter who oversaw the printing of this years brochure at Stewart's in Livingston. Start to finish a massive 30 hours but a beautiful job very well done as I am sure you will agree.

Pop into Gracefield for a copy if you are near or visit the website to download a digital copy.

www.spring-fling.co.uk

Morag Muego - Love Tokens

2010-02-15T19:35:00.008Z

Morag Muego has a new solo exhibition called Love Tokens at Castle Douglas Art Gallery. the "love tokens"of this title, are in fact, the paintings themselves.

A love token can be described as something given as a sign of affection, and each piece of work celebrates something that the artist has seen, heard, remembered or experienced with love or affection and wants to share.

This allows a very wide range of subject matter, including landscape, figure and abstract work. The style of the paintings also varies, as each idea is allowed to speak with it's own voice.

This exhibition space has given Morag the opportunity to work on a much larger scale and several of the pieces have been made with the Castle Douglas art gallery in mind. These large panels are full of intense colour and simplified shapes - some are filled with the clear light and shade of the Mediterranean, others with softer, more mysterious forms.

Morag trained at Glasgow School of Art and works from her studio in Dumfries. She will be in the Castle Douglas gallery throughout the exhibition time and will be happy to talk to visitors. She is also taking part in Spring Fling Open Studios, Venue 76, May 29th - 31st and has another exhibition later this year in the Gracefield Cafe Gallery.

The exhibition runs from Tuesday 2nd March until Saturday 13th March and is open daily from 10am till 5pm, closed on sundays.

Do Your Bit

2010-01-26T17:15:00.003Z

It's that time of year again for all Spring Fling participants, and supporters too of course, to start spreading the Spring Fling word. Of course your SF committee through the fantastic aid of your Spring Fling coordinator Rhiannon have already started planning and activating the marketing campaign for 2010 but you need to play your vital part too.
Through each individual participant SF can access a huge potential audience with not too big an effort on your part. Are you a member of an arts organisation? The National Glass Society / Scottish Potters Association / Axisweb / craftscotland / Applied Arts Scotland / Visual Arts Society? Most of these organisations to name but a few offer the chance for members to put "what's on" listings in their newsletters and on their websites. Those organisations that produce a newsletter are always on the look out for articles about what their members are up to, why not tell them about your Spring Fling experience or why you have decided to participate this year and send an image with it. It's exposure for yourself and for the event. Happy promoting everyone!

Digital Photography Courses

2010-01-10T10:20:00.003Z

Spring Fling 2010 participant Ed Baxter is running a series of digital photography courses for 2010 from his studio in Thornhill.

"Learn how to create better photographs, with your digital camera, from a lifelong professional photographer. You will be based in a working studio using all the equipment and facilities along with shooting at local locations. You will be encouraged to be more creative in your approach to the work. The emphasis will be on how to get the most out of your digital camera using natural and artificial lights. There are two levels of courses available, the basic introductory and the more in-depth intermediate courses."

For more information see Ed's course website http://www.photosws.co.uk/

One To Watch

2009-12-23T20:13:00.002Z

Spring Fling selection panelists, Washington Garcia Gallery, have been named one of The List's "Hot 100" Scottish people or organisations to watch.

One of Glasgow's most impressive contemporary art operations expanded this year, basing itself in Eastvale Place and hosting a series of exhibitions by emerging and established artists. Highlights included Use History Autonome, the first solo exhibition at Washington Garcia by sculptor Nick Evans, a former GSA student; the first Scottish exhibition by London film artists Shezad Dawood and a new body of work by Mark Briggs, winner of the Washington Garcia Residency 2009.

Spring Fling Christmas Party 2009

2009-12-17T19:55:00.002Z

Huge thanks to the main schemers and organisers of the Spring Fling Christmas party who were Hazel Campbell and Lizzie Farey pictured here during the preparation last friday afternoon. Held in Rhonehouse village hall all members of SFOS were invited to bring a pot luck Indian meal and meet other members and Gracefield Arts Team staff.

Good food, a good quiz - all SF questions of course, and a great guess the crafts person that was the baby in the picture competition, an A5 piece of art work swap and great company. How much better can it be? Lizzie Farey, on behalf of the village hall committee offers "especial thanks for the very generous donation towards our Village Hall roof repairs and new lighting. A brilliant example of Spring Fling's impact on local communities!"

To Rhonehouse Village Hall we say thank you for having us.

Spring Fling 2010 Accomodation

2009-12-14T19:39:00.008Z

Room 2.

Ed Baxter one of the Spring Fling 2010 participants who will be showing at Studio 61, and Jane offer superior B&B at Bank House, Thornhill. Bank House in situated in a central position in Thornhill, with 3 letting rooms. These are individually decorated and styled for your comfort where you will be treated to the luxury of a high quality breakfast served in the privacy of your room. Please see....http://www.bankhousethornhill.co.uk/

"Dodge" photography

Ed will be exhibiting photography and paintings at his studio in Bank House.

"Hurricane Hamish over Hightae" Acrylic on canvas

2009-11-24T22:03:00.002Z

This coming friday, the 27th November from 3pm till 7pm, saturday from 11am till 5pm and sunday from 10am till 5pm there is an exhibition and sale of work by three Spring Fling Open Studios Association members Phil McMenemy, photographer, Hannah McAndrew slipware potter and Amanda Simmons, glass artist. This will be held in Phil's gallery at Woodbank House, Laurieston, near Castle Douglas. Drinks and nibbles on the friday. All are welcome to visit and browse the work and chat to the artists and makers.

MMV Art Painting Course.

2009-10-19T18:22:00.001+01:00

Painting The Nude.

A two day life painting course led by Dougie Muego DA
at Gracefield Art Studios in Dumfries.
Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th November from 9.30 – 4.30 each day.
The cost is £85/£75 concession and places are limited, so please book early to secure a place. Contact Dougie on 01387 279888 to book. Please make cheques payable to MMV Art Limited. In the event of insufficient numbers, cheques will be returned.

This is an opportunity to try life painting in a small group with appropriate support or a chance to revisit it for the more experienced.
The model will pose from 10.00 – 12.30 and from 1.30 – 4pm with an hour for lunch and short rest breaks.

Dougie studied drawing and painting at Glasgow School of Art and has long experience of working from the figure. Morning coffee is included. Morning coffee is included - participants can buy lunch in the Gracefield cafe or bring their own if preferred.

Public Art Commission Call for Submissions

2009-10-16T18:31:00.001+01:00

Spring Fling 2010 Public Art Commission, £4,500

Deadline for proposals: Monday 23 November 2009

Spring Fling , Scotland ’s premier open studios event, will take place across Dumfries and Galloway from 29 to 31 May 2010. As part of the event, the organisers are looking to commission a one-off public art work, ideally involving sound and/ or light.

Further details of the brief will be available next week on the website www.spring-fling.co.uk.

To register interest, or request a copy of the brief contact Colin Tennant, Visual Arts Officer for Dumfries & Galloway:01387 262084 or email: colin.tennant@dumgal.gov.

Urgent Announcement for Spring Fling 2010 Applications

2009-10-01T19:08:00.000+01:00

URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Due to a change in the application system this year, and the launch of an online application facility, some people seem to have genuinely missed the deadline for applying to Spring Fling 2010. The committee has, therefore, decided to extend the deadline from today (Thursday 1 October) until 9am on Monday 12 October. Applications can either be made online at www.spring-fling.co.uk or by post (to request an application form by post please contact Rhiannon Batten or Colin Tennant at Gracefield Arts Centre, on 01387 262084).

Spring Fling Residency Launch

2009-09-29T21:40:00.002+01:00

Photograph copyright Angus Bremner

Sarah Jackets and Chris Helson launched their residency at Wigtown Booktown last friday night and it runs until Sunday October 4th.
For the launch the festival’s artists in residence invite you to join them in The Hut where they are showing two extraordinary video works. Helson and Jacket’s Wigtown residency begins with Mordechai Vanunu’s banned performance of “I Am Your Spy”, mailed out of Israel hidden in a hollowed-out copy of Hunter S Thompson’s Kingdom of Fear. Then we get to The Heart of the Matter as Graham Greene’s assistant spy answers a theological question.

Photograph copyright Angus Bremner

Call into Wigtown to visit the rest of the fabulous festival and call in on the first Wigtown Book Festival Spring Fling Artists in residence.

Spring Fling Artists at Wigtown Book Town

2009-09-25T19:54:00.005+01:00

Spring Fling Artists in Residence.

Chris Helson and Sarah Jackets are at The Hut at Reading Lasses.

This year Wigtown Book Festival are delighted to welcome their first artists in residence, a collaboration with Scotland 's premier art and craft open studio event, Spring Fling. During the festival multimedia artists Chris Helson and Sarah Jackets will be creating work to be shown during the final three days. They plan an intriguing residency and invite you to the Hut to explore ideas and enter "The Exchange Library of Significant Books". Launch Saturday 26 September 7pm; Exchange Library or Significant Books, 2-5pm daily. Installation 2-4 October 11am-6pm.

Spring Fling artists Wigtown bound

2009-08-07T13:14:00.001+01:00

Heralding an exciting new collaboration between two of the biggest arts events in southwest Scotland, it was announced this week that Dumfries and Galloway-based multimedia artists Sarah Jackets and Chris Helson have been selected for a Spring Fling artists' residency project which will take place in Wigtown, Scotland's National Book Town, for 12 days in the lead-up to and during Wigtown Book Festival 2009.

Spring Fling, the annual artists open studios weekend, takes place every May bank holiday weekend across the region (next year’s event will take place from 29 to 31 May). Wigtown Book Festival, which takes place from 25 September to 4 October this year, has grown into one of the autumn's best-loved arts gatherings. With potential for much connection between the audiences of both events, it is hoped that the artists’ residency project will help enhance this relationship and prompt visitors from outside the region to return to Dumfries and Galloway more often.
The 12-day residency will culminate in a new piece of work to be shown during the final weekend of the Wigtown Book Festival 2009, in an open studios-style environment in the Hut at Reading Lasses bookshop. The results of this will then be shown in Wigtown during Spring Fling 2010.

The selected artists, who are based in Carsluith, have been working together on a number of arts projects for the past seven years and are interested in exploring the construction of spaces and peoples’ relationships to those spaces.

“It's a fascinating residency and we are very much looking forward to engaging with the people of Wigtown, Spring Fling and Wigtown Book Festival," said Chris.

For more information about Wigtown Book Festival, please visit http://www.wigtownbookfestival.com/.For more information about Spring Fling, or to sign up for a brochure for next year’s event when it becomes available, please visit http://www.spring-fling.co.uk/.

Residency Opportunity at Wigtown Book Festival

2009-06-14T12:13:00.003+01:00

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

2009-06-11T08:20:00.002+01:00

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

2009-06-11T08:14:00.002+01:00

"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.

2009-06-11T08:14:00.001+01:00

Getting Ready Collection from the Orange Route

2009-06-04T10:55:00.011+01:00

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

2009-06-04T10:51:00.002+01:00

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

2009-06-04T10:34:00.004+01:00

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.

From Studio 21. . .

2009-05-28T21:35:00.004+01:00

Sculptor Jennifer Watt from Studio 21 on the Blue Route sent these lovely images from the weekend to the Spring Fling blog.

Doesn't this sum up the feeling at the end of the Spring Fling weekend! Thanks Jennifer.

Report from Studio 57

2009-05-27T21:23:00.006+01:00

Every time local papers mention me in connection with Spring Fling they put me down as a ceramicist so sometimes I get highly technical questions I can't begin to answer I must let them know I'm a crazy mixed up medium - hopper for next year.

Anyway had about 226 visitors, several returnees from previous years which is always good, and those who did wash up at my doors were very engaged with what was going on. The door didn't blow off as in a previous weekend, and some lucky punters raided the rhubarb patch, and got to sample home-made rhubarb and ginger hooch, but that's another story.

I felt the level of commitment from visitors was very high. That's all I'll shut up now,all best wishes, Kate Anderson

PS Did anyone spot Bertie in Kate's garden?

From Studio 17. . .

2009-05-27T18:07:00.005+01:00

Our byre at studio 17 on the Green route has been open this weekend for Spring Fling's first collaboration between an artist (my friend Catriona Taylor) and a poet (me). The idea for the installation was sparked by poems I wrote after I found a love letter tucked into the stones of the byre. Catriona and I researched the lives of the bothymen, who travelled from farm to farm as itinerant, seasonal workers. These were people who left very little trace - there is little documentary evidence of who they were - often their lives were not even recorded by the census.
Catriona made an amazing installation inside our haybarn, a flickering, candlelit space, where great translucent canvases swing in space, and the lives of the bothymen are captured in a series of simple wooden boxes, lined in shreds and layers of wallpaper, etched with their graffiti. Words from my poems and from the love letter are worked into prints and even painted faintly on the battered limewashed walls of the barn.
Catriona’s family and mine all turned to and helped, and had great fun (even trying to put up a gazebo in tipping rain while clearing up the preview party and bottle feeding the abandoned lamb just as the first visitors arrived - early). And it's made us clear up the garden, which probably wouldn't have happened, so thanks Spring Fling!
We've been inundated with lovely people visiting, talking and sharing ideas - thank you all!

From Jean Atkin

Post Spring Fling Pictures from Studio 1

2009-05-26T18:21:00.004+01:00

Gill Shreeve at Studio 1 on the Orange Route has sent us the photographs taken over the weekend and says:
"My visitor figures over the 3 days were 143 - need to attract another artist/maker to Moffat area to create more of a cluster.
The positive side is that I was able to talk at length with everyone who wished to. I had Greek, Italian and German visitors to my studio as well as from Worcestershire, Yorkshire, Ayrshire, Edinburgh and Glasgow, an ex professional punk band lead singer and a composer and viola player with the BBC Symphony Orchestra!"

During the event. . .

2009-05-24T20:50:00.003+01:00

Studio 50 in the sun, willow weaving demonstrations with Lizzie Farey.

Studio 59, Kay Ribbens' fabulous hats being tried out and bought by visitors today.

Naomi Lethbridge's Preparations

2009-05-23T21:39:00.002+01:00

Naomi Lethbridge doing her preparations for the weekends events. Pop in to Studio 11 on the Orange route to see how she has been getting on and what she has on display at her studio this year.

Qucik last minute pre Fling thoughts.

2009-05-22T22:00:00.005+01:00

Hazel Campbell Studio 49 on the Red Route

Radio stars of Spring Fling have included:

21 May – Colin Tennant of Gracefield Arts Centre talking to Bruce McKenzie on West Sound.
22 May - Radio Scotland interview with Natalie Vardey.
Radio Scotland interview (Macauley & Co) with Hazel Campbell.
22 May - South West Sound Friday news bulletins interview with Hazel Campbell.

A huge thank you to them for telling the world about this fabulous weekend that is on our doorstep.

Studio 50 has some of Lizzie Farey's art in the woods, watch out along the drive on the approach to studio 50 on the Red Route to see some willow in the woods.

We have had the sad news that Steven Higginson studio 13 on the green route won’t be able to make it this weekend, as he has been taken ill. Spring Fling wish him a speedy recovery and are very grateful to his brother for stepping into the breach and helping to show Steven’s work in his absence

Finally for the time being though do email your pictures of the weekend to us if you are participant or visitor as we would love to show them on the blog, Robert Leighton in Studio 28 on the blue route would like to emphasize that all Spring Flingers are welcome to use our garden for picnics or just to take time out, he has a large garden ( approx 4 acres) with lots of space to relax, even a small lochen but he advises parents to keep their children supervised especially by the water.

MMV Art Current Exhibition

2009-05-20T20:14:00.004+01:00

Dougie and Morag Muego, studio 16 on the green route, have an exhibition currently running at Hullabaloo Restaurant in, Dumfries this goes until the 2nd June. Dougie is showing six paintings of Mediterranean fishing boats there, which he specially made for that show. There are new ideas in these paintings, which are richer and more concentrated than those at his recent show at Kirkcudbright. It enabled him to push his ideas about colour a bit further. The paintings have a cheerful look to them and were made after visits to the south of France in 2007 and 2008. The boats come from the ports of Nice and Villefranche and some from fishing harbours on the Italian Riviera.

Morag is showing paintings on themes related to ideas, feelings, memories and relationships. Her “landscapes” are landscapes of the mind, pictorial maps which chart unseen and intangible worlds.
She uses a vocabulary of favourite motifs placed against strong colour fields and uses the subtlety and richness of oil colours to create mood and atmosphere in them.

McGill Duncan Gallery supports Spring Fling

2009-05-19T20:15:00.007+01:00

Before we opened the Gallery in 2007 we enjoyed touring round the region visiting all the Open Studios for Spring Fling. There were so many delightful surprises down country lanes and farm tracks. We have lived in Galloway for over thirty years but Spring Fling gave us the chance to explore the region in an entirely different way. The studio trails often took us to unexplored corners. We both have fond memories of driving along the Solway coast through Rockcliffe on a particularly hot and sunny Spring Fling weekend, eating ice cream, chatting to artists, buying art and genuinely feeling at the end of the day like we had been on a holiday. The reality was we hadn’t ventured more than a few miles from our house!

Last year was a very different experience. It certainly didn’t feel like a holiday as it was our first year being open as a Gallery during Spring Fling. It was a very busy weekend for us in Castle Douglas and what was fantastic about it was the fact that we got so many visitors from far and wide who appreciated our gallery and loved the art that we had for sale.

Some of our most memorable ‘Spring Fling’ customers were from Vancouver, Canada. If we remember correctly they had heard about Spring Fling through an article about artist Lizzie Farey and her work with willow in ‘Homes and Antiques Magazine’. Reading the article made them book a holiday in the region to coincide with Spring Fling. They arrived at the gallery by bus as they hadn’t hired a car and we gave them directions to Rhonehouse. We went through the maps in the Spring Fling brochure and told them they could walk to Lizzie’s studio via Hazel Campbell’s studio.

Rebecca Callis porcelain jugs.

Another couple from London came at the end of the day to collect their art purchases from us and their car was quite literally packed with all their finds from their tour round the Spring Fling studios, there were bits of willow sticking out the parcels in the back of their car! They had had a fabulous day complete with a cream tea in Gatehouse and were going back to London with happy memories of Galloway and many treasures for their home.
This year we are showing work by painters David Sinclair and Jonathan Mitchell with Porcelain tableware by Rebecca Callis, along with work by many of our regular gallery artists. We are also selling tickets for the ‘Spring Fling Ceilidh’ which promises to be a great night out in Castle Douglas!

Zoe Blamire

Kate Anderson has been. . .

2009-05-17T21:52:00.005+01:00

The Garden of Cosmic Speculation

. . . completing two little screens in hand-painted ceramic and smalti, (a temperamental material!) . I took a break to re-visit The Garden of Cosmic Speculation on Sunday while the sun shone, and then back to work on Monday cleaning and preparing a local historic floor to be returned to after Spring Fling and restored in places. A hectic but interesting week!

Portrack.

You can visit Kate at Studio 57 on the Red Route of the Spring Fling this very weekend coming!

The Myth of Place

Dougie and Morag Muego

2009-05-17T21:38:00.009+01:00

Dougie and Morag Muego are at studio 16 on the green route of this year’s Spring Fling at MMV Art, Heathhall Business Centre, Dumfries. Their studio is perhaps untypical of most, but nonetheless ideal for their needs. “We have a wonderful fresh, modern workspace, close to the town, which has very easy access and good facilities. It’s a treat to use and a great place to welcome visitors in. Although we have been mainly working on paintings recently, our IT suite has proved good at handling the digital processes when we’re involved in screenprinting, photo etching and photography. It’s been a great help with the teaching side of the business as well. For our first Spring Fling, both of us have been fortunate in having separate adjacent exhibition spaces. This has allowed us to clearly display our individual ideas. Dougie is showing a range of still lives and landscapes as well as figurative work.

while Morag has been producing larger paintings and has added monoprints and screenprints made after visits to the Cairngorms and Sutherland.

Like everyone else in the Fling, we are working flat out to finish mounting, framing and presenting our new work and the days are too short and too few!
You can see more of our work on our website at:- http://www.mmvart.com/

This week in the Gracefield Office. . .

2009-05-17T21:26:00.007+01:00

Colin and Rhiannon in the office at Gracefield Arts Centre.

The past week has largely been spent tying up the final push of press coverage and advertising for Spring Fling. Another thing we’ve been planning to do this year is to commission a photographer to take some specific images of the event that we can then use to publicise various elements of Spring Fling in future (as well as providing a record of the 2009 event). We put this out to tender last month and the job has gone to Angus Bremner (http://www.bremnerphoto.co.uk/) whose work many of us recognise from the stunning images he shot for last year’s Wigtown Book Festival programme. Angus is based in Edinburgh but his parents live just outside Castle Douglas so he does quite a bit of work in the region and is a big fan of Dumfries and Galloway .The other big job has been getting some publicity material designed for Tim Taylor’s residency in Kirkcudbright and sending it out to the Spring Fling mailing list and local organisations. We’re pretty pleased with the result (see picture attached), especially given the distraction of working at Gracefield while the building is undergoing a big refurbishment. Just as the final countdown to Spring Fling began, a team of builders arrived - bearing hammers, drills and anything else that bangs, whirrs or clatters - and started orchestrating a symphony of disruption around our desks. What this picture (sent earlier), which was taken a few weeks ago, doesn’t show is the electrician currently up a ladder re-wiring the ceiling lights above our heads and the flock of confused quilters who wandered through our office earlier this morning having misguidedly taken a scenic route from Gracefield Galleries to the Café Bar.

By Rhiannon Batten, Spring Fling coordinator extraordinaire!

Jason Shackleton Studio 29

2009-05-16T20:19:00.009+01:00

On thursday this week I was able to spend the day with Jason Shackleton, studio 29 on the Blue Route at his pottery in Laurieston for a glaze firing of his kiln. I spent about eighteen months working as an apprentice to Jason and have since been making my own pots from my own studio. The time I spent with Jason was invaluable and I still have an enormous amount to learn from him hence I was back there this week. This kiln is huge and holds a good eighteen months worth of Jason's highly decorated slipware and majolica pottery and takes him around three days to pack before the firing. It was built at a time when the pottery was employing a couple of other potters and at that time it was being fired between four and six times a year. This particular kiln was first fired on 13th May 1984 making it just 25 years since that initial firing.
Around three tons of wood are used over the 14 hour firing the flames from the wood licking over the pots in the chamber to give them their characteristic wood fired finish.

An eight foot long firebox on the kiln means that wood which arrives in eight foot long bundles need not be cut making one less job, saving lots of time and meaning that the wood doesn't need to be handled as many times during the process. The photo above is quite early on in the firing with the two lower fire boxes being gradually built up with a deep bed of embers before the top door is opened and wood is fed into the top section too.

Visitors over the Spring Fling weekend will be able to feast their eyes on Jason's fabulous display of pots and tile panels in the two display areas within the pottery as well as being able to enjoy Lucianne Lassalle's sculptures and the kiln shed and the orchard - remember to allow plenty of time to be able to take it all in.

The subject matters that Jason works with on his predominately functional pots have included the atomic bombs, space, an ongoing interest with predators and sea creatures which stems from spending time in the Bahamas as a child. He likes to take a simple idea and see how far he can run with it in a random direction saying that unless you can work in a progressive manner you get tired and then you get tired pots and it will show.

For example wouldn't supermarkets love it if fish grew in oblongs so that they would be ready to stack one of the results is in the photo above. Or the Boomerang Squid of course then you don't have to go out to try to catch them as they come straight back to you.

So a five day wait now for the kiln to cool and then the unloading can begin. All being well, the firing seemed to go very smoothly and according to schedule so fingers crossed it's a good one, the results will be there in their newly finished glory for all to see at the Spring Fling weekend. Pop along and see for yourself.

By Hannah McAndrew, Studio 50 Red Route.

Lisa Hooper in Port William

2009-05-15T10:20:00.004+01:00

Lisa Hooper is an artist printmaker based in Port William. She can be found in Studio 61 on the yellow route throughout Spring Fling (photo above by Euan Adamson). Here follows a slice of Spring Fling life by Lisa.....

With Spring Fling approaching fast and a busy summer ahead I seem to be flitting from one thing to another – one minute printing labels and cards, the next finishing frames and cutting mounts - seldom, at the moment, managing to squeeze in much creative work. This week, I have a couple of chaps coming to do woodcuts with me for the day on Wednesday, and on Saturday I have three women coming to do batik on paper, so I’m also having to keep the studio clean and tidy which is a bit of a discipline! The workshops will be a prompt to have a think about my demonstration during Spring Fling, which is likely this year to include doing some batik on paper for the first time. I’ll be trying to think of a fairly short but productive demonstration so that visitors see as much as possible of the technique whilst also allowing me to produce something of quality which I can perhaps use on greetings cards for instance.

This year there should be quite a buzz at Seymour House as, following on from last year’s one day experiment with teas, two of our neighbours will again be occupying the kitchen and offering cakes and hot drinks (proceeds to a local charity): this year on the Saturday and the Sunday.

I’ve been very fortunate this summer with my exhibiting opportunities, which means that I am now thinking two or three exhibitions ahead of Spring Fling! In June I have a solo exhibition at the Rockcliffe Gallery in the Baron’s Craig Hotel, followed by almost continuous exposure right through until October. Last week I was offered a stall in the Art Marquee at the annual British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water in August, which although I’d been hoping it would happen, came as a bit of a wake up call. So, I started yet another list of works and set about finding a B&B for four nights. I’m now doing evening shifts making 300 cards featuring birds….

In spite of all these distractions, I’ve been working on a new piece featuring a fox (perhaps to go with all my hares!) and I’m just starting out on a woodcut of the neighbours’ gardens in Port William (featuring fish floats, lobster pots, a boat, a washing line and – why not? – the washing machine as well). But don’t hold your breath for that one….

Lisa

www.hoopoeprints.co.uk

Committee "meeting"

2009-05-12T20:38:00.007+01:00

This sunday your dedicated Spring Fling Open Studio committee along with the key Gracefield support stars were mainly falling in streams, falling in bogs and generally enjoying the sunshine and the amazing beauty of the Galloway hills.

Andy Priestman, committee member but this year not participating in the Spring Fling event suggested that we should have a committee hill walk and that he would be happy to lead us as he has walked the Galloway hills for years now and knows them well. I have to say we could not a have had a better guide or for that matter he couldn't have booked better weather for us.

The glorious sunday coincided with Rebecca's birthday. Rebecca had brought cake with her. At the top of the Buchan when we stopped for lunch Natalie unveiled another birthday cake topped with candles and Rhiannon pulled a bottle of fizz out of her rucksack. There is nothing quite like a well earned luxurious lunch in the sunshine at the top of a hill with the most fabulous views.

Spring Fling was discussed as were many other topics and it was fantastic to get together for pleasure rather than just business and without the strict agendas we usually have at the SFOS meetings.

At Andy's house afterwards there was . . more cake! Are you sensing a theme for the day here? Look what fun and great cakes you could be having, remember this when there is next a call for committee members!

A small post from Urpu Sellar

2009-05-08T21:27:00.006+01:00

Birds' Eye Point of View

Urpu Sellar is at Studio number 56 on the Red Route of this year's Spring Fling. A self confessed non-blogger she says about the run up to this year's event:

"I AM panicking about the Spring Fling though. Now and then. Usually four in the morning, wondering if I have enough stuff - the right stuff, will anybody come this year, where shall I put all the junk from the exhibiting area, will the cat be fed up with visitors, pack her bags and go... that sort of things. Last year's experience was very good. I enjoyed meeting all the people, all very nice."

Punk Rook

Using ceramics and mixed media Urpu uses recognisable animal shapes and gives then human qualities in a tongue in cheek manner. Visit her website at www.urpusellarceramics.co.uk or even better visit her studio during the Spring Fling.

Thief

John Clark and the Dumfries Howff Club

2009-05-07T13:27:00.005+01:00

Unaccustomed as I am to blogging I thought I’d give it a bash and relay some info ‘closet bloggers’ or ‘fellow flingers’ might find interesting. Like many artists I have a dual occupation and juggle my workload between my gallery in Dumfries and my role as an independent financial adviser. Although my gallery is still ticking away after nearly 11yrs, I find it difficult to let go of financial services as most of my clients are personal friends. Tempting though it is to seek the quiet life, if there is such a thing, I would not want to ‘jump ship,’ and leave my clients in a state of confusion especially in this particular climate.

What’s all this got to do with the Spring Fling you ask? Not a lot but in an odd way having nearly 35 yrs in sales / advising does give some ideas that can stimulate interest and ultimately procure sales. The joy of painting on its own doesn’t pay the rent and I do sometimes look at how to make the purchase of original work more appealing and affordable.

Although I undertake some contemporary work, the bulk of my painting is representational landscapes of Dumfries & Galloway. I much admire those brave souls who can work ‘in-situ’ and paint the great outdoors. Wind, rain, daft dogs and mad cows, have made me embrace digital photography. For health and safety reasons this provides me with a quick exit strategy and sometimes additional imagery I had not bargained for! So it is, I return to my cosy studio and transform hopefully the digital image into something that is rewarding both financially and aesthetically. I had a look on Phil McMenemy’s site and the photographic images are truly stunning. I’ll have to get my self a good set of hiking boots!

This being my second ‘Spring Fling’ I thought I’d try, as always, to put some fresh paintings into the gallery. I must remark the ‘Taster’ was very well presented, diverse and ‘inspiring!’ Last year, a painting I put into ‘the taster’ sold just prior to the handing in day and this year I enjoyed a similar experience with ‘The Homecoming Ellisland,’ being purchased by the Dumfries Howff Club.

As the Dumfries Howff Club do a lot of work in promoting Scottish Literature in schools and the local community, I gave some thought as to how I could raise a bit of money for the club via a print run of the ‘Homecoming’ painting. As some of my gallery income is derived from Ltd Ed prints, I proposed to the club I would offer the profit from the first twenty prints to help offset the cost of the original with a further 25% on sales thereafter. Not surprisingly the club accepted my offer and without exception all the committee members and the manageress of the Globe Inn (the exceptionally talented Jane Brown) ordered a framed print on the night of my presentation. Not a bad start and it’s early days, but if advance orders are fulfilled the cost of the original will be recouped by the club by early summer.

The original painting of ‘The Homecoming Ellisland’ was handed over by ‘moi’ to the newly elected president, John Caskie at the AGM held recently at the Globe Inn, official meeting place of Dumfries Burns Howff Club. The painting was received enthusiastically by members and appropriately a framed print was presented to Maureen McKerrow for her excellent work over the years.

If the club take up my suggestion of networking the ‘special terms’ being offered to ‘Burnsians’ via the web they could enjoy additional income for many years to come. The place where the original will eventually be put on public display has yet to be decided but the fact Burnsians will be able to view it hundreds of years hence gives me (a Howff Club Member) a little buzz. Although income will be tempered a little on sales of this particular print I am happy in the knowledge money is being channelled into a very worthwhile cause.

Hopefully additional interest will be stimulated in my website leading to sales of other work and commissions. Oddly enough although I have been involved with sales all my life this is the first time I have ever ‘sold a painting’ in this manner. It was an enjoyable experience and one that I might revisit if it proves worthwhile. It will be interesting to see how things develop?

Best wishes to fellow ‘Flingers’ - John Clark
To view the painting/print in question just log in to http://www.landscapesgallery.co.uk/

SFOS Committee Members Updates.

2009-05-06T17:12:00.004+01:00

Here are a few updates from some of your Spring Fling Open Studios Committee members just to get a feel for some of the things they are up to at the moment. More to follow soon so watch this space.

Having come back from Glasgow Art Fair slightly disappointed, then back from London rather confused after talking to some of the gallery owners there, I was really delighted to hear that I had won the Plein Air prize at Paisley Art Institute which is a week in a studio in BURGUNDY !! Brilliant!! We are going in the middle of September. Definitely feel much more enthusiastic!

Best wishes Hazel Campbell - Studio 49 on the Red Route.

Having participated in every Spring Fling to date I am now having a year off. One of the downsides of the event for me has always been the envy invoked by Spring-Flinging visitors' accounts of their visits to other studios. So this year, though I will have my own studio open as usual on the Saturday and Monday, I am very excited at the prospect of spending the Sunday seeing Spring Fling from the other side.
Jo Gallant

Lizzie Farey - Studio 50 on the Red Route - has been recently appointed as a Specialist Advisor for Crafts to the Scottish Arts Council. Definitly good to have someone from the region there.

Spring Fling Open Studios Committee members at their post Christmas meal.

Don't forget if you are a Spring Fling Participant and have a story to tell about your Spring Fling 2009 preparation do let us know. Or have you visited Spring Fling in previous years? Tell us about it.

The Bakehouse Studio in Langholm

2009-05-05T16:33:00.005+01:00

Julie Dumbarton is an artist based at Studio 7 on the Orange route. The Bakehouse Studio is Julies' working studio. Situated in Langholm , it was previously a bakery, but was left unoccupied for over 13 years after its closure, until Julie discovered and fell in love with the building in 2004. "I’ve tried to keep the character of the old building - the old oven remains, along with the first aid kit and, of course, the baker boys bike! Retaining its previous life has been really important to me, whilst also nurturing it to a new focal point of Langholm. " Mike Day from the Scotsman newspaper took the above picture of Julie in her studio for the magazine.

Recently Julie held a 6 week painting course that was targeted at people who had no experience of working with oil paint, to give them an idea of working in a professional studio. "I had 19 people who all completed a painting of high standard, this all came together in a show in the studio. We had a huge turnout, I even involved them with hanging the work to give them an idea of what's involved in putting on an exhibition. The whole experience was a great success."

"I spend so much time in my studio it was such a nice change to open my doors and have such a nice group of people to enjoy the experience of painting with. Not just the highs but working out difficulties and learning about patience and how an image evolves through a process. Its been a great experience for me."

"The bakehouse is such a great old building, many of the people
who came to paint had stories of when it used to be a bakery years ago,
saying it had the best warm rolls for miles around."

Some comments from the participating students:

"I have just loved the whole experience and discovering the delights of creating a picture that i love. Thank you for such a great experience and finding the delight of colour and being able to do a picture I'm delighted with. " Jean Miller

"I've really enjoyed these classes, I was so out of my comfort zone but today i finished a painting I'm really pleased with and would love to do more". Ann Dalgliesh.

"This will be an exciting spring fling for me. I am selling really well at the
Morningside Gallery in Edinburgh and had great sales too at the House for an
Art Lover exhibition and The Red Barn in Cumbria. I'm exploring elements in
my paintings that I always have in my work in finer detail. I have loved
painting poppies and sunflowers in landscapes and this year I have been
invited to Chelsea to paint some of the gardens and plants that are
built in a short time."

Julie has some exciting work commissions coming up; she has been commissioned to paint a piece involving local schoolchildren to celebrate their school as it is under threat of closure.

You can see many more paintings at Julies website.....http://www.juliedumbarton.com/index.html

Kirkcudbright WASPS Residency.

2009-05-03T10:10:00.004+01:00

This year for the very first time Spring Fling Open Studios Association in partnership with WASPS (Workshop and Artist's Studio Provision Scotland) are hosting a residency in Kirkcudbright. This project is to help celebrate the conversion of two buildings in the heart of Kirkcudbright into artist's workshops which will build on the town's growing artist's community. As many working artists will appreciate it is not always straightforward to find a suitable space in which to conduct an arts or crafts based business and this new initiative from WASPS will provide space for a number of such businesses.

Tim Taylor has been selected from over thirty applications from current WASPS artists around Scotland to come to Kirkcudbright for a ten day period and to create a work in response to his experience of the town. Tim who is a sculptor and installation artist intends to explore the natural and cultural heritage of the town and in particular the artistic and maritime history. Tim's work has been shown internationally and he has worked as a visiting lecturer at Edinburgh College of Art.

Maggie Savage a member of the SFOS Committee says, "Tim's proposal offers a particularly appropriate experience for our Spring Fling visitors. His work as an installation artist will complement our range of artists and makers and, by being on site to talk to visitors over the weekend, Tim will provide us with an opportunity to not only be inspired by the work on view but also to find out more about the concepts and processes behind the work. His proposal is also symbolic of the opening of the new Wasps studios. The creation and installation of artwork created during a residency on the site of the new studios will mark the beginning of a transition from unused buildings to creative spaces which will soon provide artists and makers with the opportunity to explore and produce new and exciting work of their own."

We look forward to welcoming Tim to the region and hopefully he will be able to contribute to this blog soon. His work will be available to see over the Spring Fling weekend, May 23rd to 25th in the new WASPS buildings in Kirkcudbright.

Spring Fling Taster in Stranraer

2009-04-28T09:17:00.005+01:00

The Spring Fling 09 taster exhibition travelled to Stranraer at the weekend and can be seen at the Stranraer Museum until 16th May. It looks fantastic in the upstairs gallery space with a great range of work from Spring Fling 09 participants.

Stranraer Museum

The Old Town Hall, George Street, Stranraer, DG9 7JP

01776 705088

Open weekdays 10am to 5pm and Saturdays 10am to 1pm & 2pm to 5pm

The exhibition opened with pink fizz and strawberries by Meg McColl, a great supporter of the Arts in Dumfries and Galloway, and who used to run a gallery with her husband.

Some of the work is displayed in beautiful 'museum' grade cabinets; below is a huge slip trailed jug by Jason Shakleton (Studio 29 on the Blue route).

A sculpture by Jennifer Watt, dancing through the paintings (Studio 21 on the Blue route).

Many thanks to everyone at the Museum for putting on a wonderful show and supporting Spring Fling.

Textile Art in Castle Douglas Art Gallery

2009-04-21T22:34:00.007+01:00

“Connection” is the new exhibition by textile and mixed media artist (and Spring Fling participant), Maggie Ayres, showing at Castle Douglas Art Gallery, adjacent to the library, from 21st April until 2nd May.

Maggie was born and brought up in Dumfries and Galloway and returned to the area about four years ago with a new focus on her developing artwork.

Maggie says, “I have a particular fondness for this venue; I love the space and natural light. And not only is it conveniently placed for my husband to nip across the road with fresh coffee, but it is also the place of my first solo exhibition 2 years ago. I'm really looking forward to it”.

Maggie constructs textile pieces from both natural and hand-dyed silk fibres, loosely woven cottons and soft felted wool. She applies a variety of stitching and acrylic paint to add further texture and depth.

Maggie is taking part in the Spring Fling open studio event and can be visited at studio 48 on the red route.

For more information, visit http://www.maggieayres.co.uk/ and http://www.spring-fling.co.uk/

Maggie will also be showing her work "Connecting the Threads' at Farfield Mill in Sedburgh (http://www.farfieldmill.org/), near Kendal in Cumbria, running from 18th July to 31st August.

'Magical' Mystery Tours

2009-04-13T10:50:00.002+01:00

If you’re feeling adventurous, why not sign up for one of our new Magical Mystery Tours?

These three different day tours leaving from Dumfries on 23rd May, from Newton Stewart on 24th May and one from Castle Douglas on 25th May. They will start at around 10am, finish at around 4pm and take in five different studios along the way.

The surprise is that you won’t know which ones until you’re on the bus!

Tickets will cost £10 for adults, or £8.50 for concessions. For more information, or to book a place, please call 01387 262084 or email rhiannon.batten@ dumgal.gov.uk.

Spring Fling Fling

2009-04-13T10:35:00.004+01:00

Whether you’re a dab hand with a dashing white sergeant or you’re a ceilidh virgin, all are welcome at the Spring Fling Fling, an evening ceilidh which will kick off at 8pm on Saturday 23 May at Castle Douglas Town Hall. With music by Two Left Feet, one of the finest ceilidh bands in the land, and songs from Damsel Jam, as well as Sulwath Brewery at the helm of the bar, good times are guaranteed.

Tickets cost £7.50 (adults) and £6.50 (concessions) and are available from The Booth or at the McGill Duncan Gallery (231 King Street, Castle Douglas).

Spring Fling at B.C.T.F News Flash

2009-04-06T19:33:00.004+01:00

Update from the British Craft Trade Fair today is that Amanda Simmons has received the Highly Commended award from Bluefin who presented the Award For Excellence with the criteria being based on design, innovation and creativity.

Spring Fling at B.C.T.F

2009-04-06T08:14:00.006+01:00

This week three of this year's Spring Fling participants are exhibiting at the British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate. This show is open from the 5th to 7th April at the Great Yorkshire Showground and is open to trade buyers only and it represents "the best of British makers."
Natalie Vardey's (Studio 55 on the Red Route) beautiful, unique and collectable is on display along with new additions to her Spirit Level range made with silver and acrylic and designed to play on the interaction of light transference and reflections, some with moving parts and others with an illusion of movement.

Amanda Simmons (Studio 33 on the Purple Route) is exhibiting her kiln formed and engraved glass at the show. Her display shows a range of both wall based cameo pieces and large engraved bowls. Amanda's current work is influenced by the rhythms and patterns of her local landscape which she is translating through diamond point engraving, angle grinding and fibre paper into her glass.

Hannah McAndrew's (Studio 52 on the Red Route) slipware is also at the trade show where she is displaying her new Harlequin Range which she feels particularly emphasises the individuality of her work as each piece is treated to a slightly different surface pattern but because of the nature of her work the pieces will all still sit happily together as a family.

Spring Fling 2009 Launch

2009-03-29T16:27:00.004+01:00

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

2009-03-16T20:31:00.006Z

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

2009-03-14T19:39:00.001Z

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. . .

2009-03-10T20:56:00.006Z

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

2009-03-07T17:08:00.005Z

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

2009-03-05T08:56:00.007Z

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

2009-03-01T18:03:00.008Z

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.

Saratoga - A mosaic by Kate Anderson and Peter Howell

2009-02-20T09:11:00.004Z

Mosaic artist, Kate Anderson (on the Red Route) has just finished a large mosaic piece in collaboration with another Dumfries and Galloway artist, Peter Howell and is to be exhibited at the annual Arts Festival in Saratoga Springs.

"At the beginning of November 2008 work began on the first mosaic collaboration I have been involved with. I had met the equine painter Peter Howell and his wife Jo some years ago. They like me live near Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway. We talked about the possibilities of making a piece together based on one of his racing compositions, but work commitments got in the way for both of us until last year.
With a world-wide reputation for being a top equine painter, Peter Howell has for thirty years exhibited his work annually at the Arts Festival in Saratoga Springs. His style relates to the French Impressionists, in particular Toulouse Lautrec, Monet and Degas, especially in his use of reflected light, and the perfect connection between horses and landscape that it creates.

A lot of discussion went into how we could interpret and adapt elements of his original sketches. Peter was new to mosaics and so the fact that in painting, as he put it, ‘one can push and shove the masses about easily and make tonal changes to suit’ unlike in mosaics, was important. Colour contrasts and co-ordinates cannot be experimented with as you go along! Used to mixing his own pigments he was faced with the challenges in using vitreous glass, but recognised the similarity of cutting individual shapes to represent directional brushstrokes. As he saw it and as many of us might agree, ‘there are mysterious elements at work in placing areas of these different cuts in close proximity to each-other.’

Over 6,500 pieces of vitreous glass were cut. I was anxious to maintain vertical as well as horizontal tension in the piece as, unlike most of my own semi-abstract compositions this one has a strongly horizontal middle ground, with horses and visitors stands set against the striped pavilion. We aimed for good directional structure to give a varying reflective dynamic to the whole. So the small square pieces in the sky halo the background trees and bring the eye in to the centre, while larger organic shapes retain maximum colour in the foreground, and support the horizontal cuts on the horses’ bodies. In the grouting stage the tone of the grout was crucial. Shapes could have easily become fragmented had it been too light, and we needed cohesion in the detailed design.

We finished work in January 2009 and ‘Saratoga’ (measuring 41 by 54 inches framed), was sent to America in February to be shown at this years’ festival after a detour to a gallery in Miami. Saratoga the place may conjure thoughts of a battle in the American Revolution, or names like Diamond Jim Brady of the 1890’s, and John ‘Old Smoke’ Morrissey who brought racing to the town originally, (a politician who was head of a New York gang called the ‘Dead Rabbits’!). By the 1800’s the racetracks and casinos were as popular as the mineral waters. ‘Everything seemed possible in a place where Romance draws dreams in indelible ink’, as Heywood Hale Broun wrote. To me it is encapsulated in the light and shade of Peter’s paintings and the experience of working together on this piece."

House for an Art Lover Exhibition

2009-02-18T20:51:00.006Z

Heather Blanchard a painter on the Orange Route is exhibiting at the House for an Art Lover in Glasgow, opening on the 24th February. Heather has spent the last 20 years concentrating on her painting, mainly in oils, following a successful career as a textile designer and teacher.

Her work is influenced by the dramatic light changes and strong patterns seen along the Solway Coast and the Hebrides. She has had many successful exhibitions in Essex, Suffolk, Shropshire, Wales, all over Cumbria and now in Scotland; including successful exhibitions at Upfront Gallery Unthank, Courtyard Gallery Appleby, Gossipgate Gallery Alston, Pinfold Gallery Bowness on Windermere, Off The Wall Gallery Corbridge, Pennel Gallery Peebles, Rockcliffe Gallery and Farfield Mill Sedbergh.

The Art Lovers' Cafe

House for an Art Lover

Bellahouston Park
10 Dumbreck road

Glasgow

G41 5BW

Tel.0141 353 4770

http://www.houseforanartlover.co.uk/

Gallery open daily from 10am - 5pm

Exhibition starts 24th February through to 7th April

Julie Dumbarton, another Orange Route artist is currently exhibiting at The Art Lovers Cafe until 23rd February.

Visual Arts Scotland Exhibition in Edinburgh

2009-02-11T18:53:00.016Z

We are pleased to announce that 9 of our Spring Fling Open Studio '09 artists were accepted for the Visual Arts Scotland Open Exhibition, held this year at the City Arts Centre in Edinburgh.

Hazel Campbell
John Chinnery
Nancy Chinnery
Bella Green
Lucianne Lassalle
Hannah McAndrew
Christine Milne
Jennifer Watt
Elizabeth Waugh

2009 Annual Visual Arts Scotland Open Exhibition of Visual and Applied Arts
City Arts Centre, 2 Market Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1DE
open 31st Jan to 19th March. Monday to Saturday 10-5 Sunday 12-5

http://www.visualartsscotland.org/

Hazel Campbell

Hazel has lived and worked in Galloway for most of her adult life, and through attendance at painting classes over a number of years she has developed her own vigorous style of painting. She has a loose, bold approach, working mainly in oil and gouache, using local Galloway countryside as a stimulus for landscape painting. Still life and flowers are also subjects, and like the landscapes, are being treated in an increasingly broad manner.

John and Nancy Chinnery

John and Nancy run Lynwood Carvers and Gilders, a traditional workshop based in Southern Scotland. Lynwood keep alive the traditional crafts of carving and gilding, producing beautiful pieces in much the same way they would have been made two centuries ago. They employ all the classical techniques to create fresh designs as well as more traditional pieces. Over the years they have worked on jobs for the House of Lords, Stirling Castle, Glamis Castle and other historic buildings, private commissions and the antique trade.

Bella Green

Bella’s main expressive element in painting is colour, it is her passion. She loves its emotive power to communicate all shades of feeling. She enjoys decoratively reorganising the facts of things seen through both still life subjects and landscape to make compositions freed from direct observation. She aims for balance and simplification of forms, unexpected juxtapositions of imagery and playful placement of shapes which may evoke visual narratives.

Recurrent themes are inside/outside; views through windows and doorways and tabletops with objects. such as vessels, flowers and articles with personal associations such as her tango dancing shoes. She likes to use different degrees of representation such as graphic elements contrasted with modeled forms, as well as multiple viewpoints to create visual tension. She works mainly in oils because of its richness and versatility but will use any medium which will suit her purpose.

Lucianne Lassalle

Lucianne will be showing at Spring Fling for the first time this year. She works directly from the figure with a variety of clays but mostly stoneware. "I build up the sculpture using clay slabs and modeling the clay as I go, sometimes I also use a mould of a previous piece to get the basic form. None of my work is from life casts it is all hand modeled I am interested in the craft of interpreting the figure in my own way not in copying it".
Lucianne is currently in the process of exploring new materials and making methods. The content of her work is changing too looking more deeply into human relationships, what does it mean to be human, responding to what’s going on at the moment in the socio/political/world arena.

Hannah McAndrew

"I love clay. I love the feel of it in my hands, wedging it into the correct consistency for the job I am about to do, the smooth fluidity of it on the wheel, the ease and satisfaction of turning a foot ring into a pot that is at just the right stage of leather hardness. I love the way my pouring slips stick to a leather hard pot and the way the excess runs off like cream while the trailing slips sink gently into the freshly applied base layer. I love the way my sgraffito tool runs cleanly through a layer of semi-dry white slip to reveal the deep red of the clay body underneath. I love the potential for creativity and the fact that the pots that I make can in turn be used to make and serve food and drink."

Christine Milne

Christine's landscapes shift evocatively between abstraction and observation, small jewels of half remembered light and form. Her work is represented in several collections, including the Scottish Academy, and the Italian Institute in Edinburgh.
The ferocity with which a storm wave explodes against an ancient but ever receding sea cliff. Myriad sparkling streams slowly exposing the skeletons of the mountains and joining to carve the valleys to the sea. Christine's paintings are created in much the same way as water creates our landscape,with its intricate patterns and textures, shared at every level, from mountain ranges to a pebble on a beach.

Jennifer Watt

Jennifers' work is mostly inspired by nature and is executed mainly in British hardwoods. Recently she has been working on a series called New Beginnings. They are all inspired by birth in its many forms, whether it is a chestnut opening to reveal its glossy inner shell, a seedling pushing through the ground or the birth of a baby child.
At the same time she continues to work on figurative pieces. "The interactive movement of the human form holds endless fascination for me as does the bond between mother and child and the tenderness that exists between them. These are my inspirations and aspirations."

Elizabeth Waugh

At 79, Elizabeth works with as much enthusiasm and energy as she ever has and still follows her great love and fascination of human and animal forms in her creative endeavours. She finds that her desires to experiment and further her creativity or to exhibit widely are not in any way marred by her age.
Elizabeth’s work, usually built in plaster and then cast in bronze or bronze resin in small scale strictly limited editions, is mainly figurative and includes both human nude and animal forms. Elizabeth was brought up and still lives in close contact with animals and aims to incorporate the diverse character; movement and general ‘feel’ of the different species from which she works.
She aims to produce sculpture, which is tactile in nature and is always pleased when she sees people touching her work.

Spring Fling artist at Burns Light.

2009-01-25T18:23:00.006Z

Today marks the start of celebrations for Scotland's Homecoming year.In Dumfries today 10,00 people were expected to gather for a procession of lanterns through the streets of the historic town to gather at the Whitesands for a fire show featuring a wicker sculpture of Tam O'Shanter to be fired on the night. Local willow artist Trevor Leat has been working on the giant Tam O'Shanter sculpture along with fellow artist Alex Rigg.

Trevor has been a part of the Spring Fling since it started and is renowned for his work using natural materials and a number of different weaving techniques. From baskets and hampers to coffins and enormous sculptures for fire festivals and concerts in particular the figure central to the Wickerman music festival.

For the Spring Fling weekend Trevor will open his studio in the village of Auchencairn and will be exhibiting and demonstrating alongside jeweller Natalie Vardey who ups sticks to share Trevors studio for the weekend.

Post number 1

2009-01-19T18:33:00.002Z

With only 124 days to go till the biggest weekend of the year in the Dumfries and Galloway arts calendar this is the first posting on the Spring Fling's blog. Throughout the year the aim is to keep you informed as things happen in relation to Spring Fling, from images of work being created, studios being feverishly tidied in preparation, interviews with participants and visitors to the countless cups of tea being drunk across the region.

Hopefully this blog will evolve as we go along, any suggestions you may have, please let us know and we will do our best to include them in the blog.