Congratulations Amanda!

Both Jill and I would like to congratulate Amanda Simmons on winning a GOLD AWARD at Origin  2010 for innovation, creativity and potential to export.

Here's a photo of Amanda receiving her prize from the Crafts Council and UK Trade and Investment. Amanda will be using her award to visit New York in Spring 2011 and explore the American market. She said '“I’m very excited about my research trip to the states as I haven’t visited for over 15 years and it will be interesting to see the changes and experience the applied arts market on a larger scale. I hope I will be able to export a little part of Dumfries and Galloway to America.” How exciting!

We are lucky enough to have Amanda's work in the gallery and she will be exhibiting in our special Christmas exhibition which will celebrate Galloway being awarded 'Dark Skies National Park' status. Her work is perfect for this theme so I can't wait to see what she makes.

Michael Scott Memorial Exhibition

Last night I went to the Opening of Michael Scott's memorial exhibition at the Roger Billcliffe Gallery. The exhibition is on until the 26th October so if you're in Glasgow I recommend a visit.

I absolutely love his work and if I'd had enough money I could have taken at least four of the paintings home with me. If I had to choose just two, it would have been 'Circe' and 'She Moves Through The Fair'.

Dumfries & Galloway Standard Review

A review of our current exhibition appeared in Dumfries and Galloway Standard. You can read it online here.

Another World

Yesterday I went to see Another World at the Dean Gallery in Edinburgh.

I really enjoyed the way the exhibition had been curated, with each room in chronological order. Dadaism started the show and the effects of World War 1 on the artists, was explored.

The specially built library room lined with a surrealist book collection, owned by the artist Roland Penrose and holding several really interesting Dada publications was one of my favourite parts of the exhibtion. It held shelves of fascinating objects from Lee Miller and Roland Penrose's collection and there was piano music playing, making it feel like a little world completely removed from the rest of the exhibition space.

The evolution of Surrealism followed, and there was a room devoted to British surrealists. I have to say that I felt the British surrealists really couldn't compete with Dali, Magritte, Miro and Ernst and the British Surrealist room felt very weak in comparison to the rest of the exhibition.

The curators take you on a very comprehensive journey and you leave with a better understanding of how the surrealist movement came to be and the fascinating people (with fascinating lives) who were part of it.

The title of the exhibtion reminded me of the beautiful song Another World by Antony and the Johnsons, so I thought I would share it with you.

We walked to the Dean Gallery along the Water of Leith and I'd highly recommend that for a pleasant stroll. Edinburgh was looking glorious and we were lucky to have a warm sunny day in the city.

Paul Young Pottery @ Christmas

I'm delighted to say that the potter Paul Young will be exhibiting with us for the first time this Christmas. I just love his work. Here's a picture of my Paul Young jug, which is in my kitchen at the moment filled with beautiful yellow lilies (thanks Leo!).

I love the lusciousness of his glazes, and the way his pots always have a great feeling of 'body' to them but at the same time they are light and balanced. I am really looking forward to having his work in the gallery.

the book of days

For her current exhibition with us ceramicist Sue Dunne is exhibiting a series of 12 framed ceramic reliefs created for the book of days - a collaboration with poet Linda France who has selected a verse from every month to accompany each framed image.

Each framed ceramic relief costs £65. The frames measure 31.5 x 29.5 cm and each is in a limited edition of twenty.

We also have copies of the book of days for sale in the gallery priced £7.95. Poet Linda France wrote a Japanese Renga poem every day in 2006 and the book of days is the world's first 'year renga' book of poetry.

Extraordinary Measures @ Belsey Hall

There are less than two weeks left to see Extraordinary Measures at Belsay Hall. It closes on 26th September.

This is the sixth contemporary arts exhibition at Belsay, its Greek Revival Architecture and impressive gardens make it a perfect setting for being surprised, amazed and delighted by world class contemporary art.

My favourite artist this year was Ron Mueck - no photography was allowed inside building so you will have to look on their web site to see his hyper-realist figurative sculptures.

I went earlier in the summer and have many happy memories of a fantastic day out, here are some of my photos:

 

 

 ... and by all accounts the scones in the tea room are pretty good too.