A Gallery In Galloway

I was asked to write a short article for the Dumfries and Galloway Fine Arts Society magazine (if you click on the article it will enlarge so you can read it) about running the gallery.

I had to stick to my word limit but once I started there were so many aspects of this job that I could have written about.

In the end I chose to concentrate on telling the story of my first art purchase and our long connection to the gallery, as we started out as enthusiastic visitors to the exhibitions here in the 1980s.

New technology has meant that we now have things like this Blog - something that would have been hard to comprehend back then so I also wrote about how much change that would bring to the way the gallery is run.

Mrs Osborn's Shopping Spree to McGill Duncan

The fabulous Mrs Osborne has written about us on her Blog.

Inspired By The Bard

 

This article is from the latest issue of Dumfries and Galloway Life magazine alongside a really nice collection of photos from the opening of our 'Inspired By Burns' exhibition.

Tommy Thomson, who read the Burns poetry at our event, is also featured in the magazine with Crossmichael Drama Club. The club recently won the SKY Arts 'Stagestruck' contest. With a group of less than ten people they triumphed in the final against a drama group with over a hundred members! Their prize was a performance in a West End theatre. They'll be performing at the Lyric Theatre in Shaftsbury Avenue in May and the SKY TV series will air in September.

I've been in the gallery on my own this week (well, Antony has been here too) as Jill is in London visiting a feast of exhibitions. I'm hoping she'll write her first Blog post about it next week. She has been to see Grayson Perry at the British Museum (I've been, and loved it), David Hockney at the Royal Academy, and Lucian Freud at The National Portrait Gallery (one of my absolute favourite artists). I can't wait to hear all about it.

Valentine's Window

Our romantically themed Gallery window complete with hearts and a single red rose. It wasn't hard to find artwork for a Valentine's day window.

From left to right: 'Breakfast at the Barbican' by Anita Klein, Riverdance by Aliisa Hyslop and Pew Group by Paul Young.

Breakfast at the Barbican by Anita Klein

Pew Group by Paul Young

I'm a bit sad that I'll have to take it all down tomorrow!

You Tube

We have a You Tube channel now and I'll be able to share some video tours of the gallery. This is my first attempt with the video camera so you'll have to forgive my wobbly camera work.

Valentine's Day online shop

 Copper mirror with heart design by Allan Craig

For those of you looking for something that lasts longer than flowers this Valentine's Day, we have a special Valentine's Day online shop. Take a look here here.

You can also read our Valentine's Day newsletter here.

Most items are sent by Next Day Delivery from our online shop so it's not too late to buy a special gift for your love.

New Shopping Bags

Our new jute shopping bags have arrived! This new edition has our logo in sophisticated navy blue, rather than the last (sold out!) edition which was in black.

You can buy them in the gallery, or from our web site here.

It is a beautiful sunny day so I took the new bag out for a photo shoot in the gallery garden.

Introducing Mona

 

Mona

It's about time a dog other than Antony graced my Blog!

Collectors of Hilke MacIntyre's work will be familiar with the little white dog that makes a regular appearance in her ceramics and linocuts.

Well, here's a photo of that little white dog, Mona, sitting in the garden. Hilke tells me she has a stern look on her face in this photo because she's guarding a pancake that she buried in the garden! What a brilliant photo.

And here's Mona in the fantastic ceramic relief, 'Come On!'

The Standard - Gallery celebrates all things Burns

Same picture as The Galloway News, but here's a much better article from yesterday's Dumfries and Galloway Standard. Click on the article to read it.

Ooo Flowers!

We had a delivery of beautiful flowers today in the gallery.

Tulips and Daffodils (yet to show their petals) and some little purple flowers which I can't identify, say if you can.

There are so many I had to use not one, but four vases!

They are from ceramicist Sue Dunne, as a thank you for exhibiting her work over Christmas. Thank you so very much Sue. It was a lovely surprise on a very cold January day.

I've found the perfect spot for them all round the gallery. I may have to write another Blog to show how all the bunches of flowers go with the art work all are sitting next to!

Galloway News - Feast of Verse

A wee article about Saturday from The Galloway News today. If you click on the picture it will enlarge.

Burns Tasting Buffet By Thistle B Scrumptious

Our neighbours Thistle B Scrumptious held a wonderful Burns tasting buffet at our Opening on Saturday.

Their shop sells only local and Scottish produce and last year they won the Dumfries and Galloway Life Retailer of the Year award.

Here's some photos of the table. All the food was themed around the poetry and songs of Robert Burns. Very clever! We'd like to thank Helen and Clint for all the work they put into it. We all had a very enjoyable time and it brought some cheer to a cold January day.

Tommy Thomson gave a captivating recital of Burns poetry. His style is relaxed, and he brings out the gritty reality of the poems.  I hope to have a video of that to share with you at some point.

I think Rabbie would have enjoyed our afternoon afternoon of food, poetry and art here in the gallery himself!