Deirdre Nelson in Residence at Wigtown Book Festival

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!