Morag Muego - Love Tokens

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.