Kate Anderson has been. . .

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

A small post from Urpu Sellar

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

Textile Art in Castle Douglas Art Gallery

“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.

The First Time! - by Phil McMenemy

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

Phil at home in Laurieston with his two sons.

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

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

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

Until soon, Kind Regards

Phil McMenemy – Studio 44 Red Route

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

Spirit of Air

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

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

Mosses, Waters, Slaps and Style

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

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

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

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