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EAFS – People

The Environmental Art Festival Scotland 2015—an international biennial of contemporary art practice in the landscape—ventured off-grid into the wilds of the Lowther Hills in South West Scotland. This two-day festival was based at Morton Castle near Thornhill and explored themes of generosity and hospitality, journeys and migrations, as well as foolishness and playfulness as ways of understanding the world. The weekend featured art installations and experiments, walks, talks, performances, and campfire discussions.

EAFS served as a hub for gathering, meeting, and discussion in the open air. During the day, visitors embarked on walks and adventures into the landscape. In the evenings, they returned to the festival site to share discoveries made during their explorations and to gather around the EAFS campfires. Conversations ranged from navigating new futures to contemplating death and the unknown, tracing local watercourses to exploring innovative approaches for tackling global climate change.

EAFS 2015 was created and co-produced by The Stove Network and Wide Open, in collaboration with the brilliant Robbie Coleman and the EAFS recharge team, with additional support from Spring Fling.

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News Project Updates

EAFS – Adventures

The Environmental Art Festival Scotland 2015—an international biennial of contemporary art practice in the landscape—ventured off-grid into the wilds of the Lowther Hills in South West Scotland. This two-day festival, based at Morton Castle near Thornhill, explored themes of generosity and hospitality, journeys and migrations, as well as foolishness and playfulness as ways to understand the world. The weekend featured art installations, experiments, walks, talks, performances, and campfire discussions.

EAFS 2015 was created and co-produced by The Stove Network and Wide Open, in collaboration with the exceptional Robbie Coleman and the EAFS recharge team, with additional support from Spring Fling.

Categories
News Project Updates

EAFS – Discussions

The Environmental Art Festival Scotland 2015—an international biennial of contemporary art practice in the landscape—ventured off-grid into the wilds of the Lowther Hills in South West Scotland. This two-day festival, based at Morton Castle near Thornhill, explored themes of generosity and hospitality, journeys and migrations, as well as foolishness and playfulness as ways of understanding the world. Across the weekend, attendees engaged with art installations, experiments, walks, talks, performances, and campfire discussions.

EAFS was a hub for gathering, meeting, and open-air discussion. During the day, visitors embarked on walks and adventures into the landscape, and in the evenings, they returned to the festival site to share new discoveries from their explorations. Around the campfires, conversations delved into a wide range of topics—from navigating new futures to death and the unknown, tracing local watercourses, and exploring innovative approaches to tackling global climate change.

EAFS 2015 was created and co-produced by The Stove Network and Wide Open, in collaboration with the exceptional Robbie Coleman and the EAFS recharge team, with additional support from Spring Fling.

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News Project Updates

Brave New Words

Building on the success of Open Mouth during The Stove’s Open House events, we are thrilled to welcome back Sindigo and Eryl Shields, alongside curatorial member Martin O’Neill, as they host Brave New Words—a day dedicated to performance poetry and spoken word at The Stove.

Brave New Words features an afternoon of free discussion events, workshops, and one-to-one consultations designed for aspiring performance poets. This is followed in the evening by Dumfries’ first-ever poetry slam, with the winner securing a place in the Scottish Slam Championships in Glasgow!

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or trying it for the first time, we want to hear from you! There are absolutely no restrictions on content.

For full instructions, to participate, or for more information, please email Martin at [email protected].

Discussion Events and Workshops

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Sotirius Frantzanas: Democracy – What Does It Mean Now?

Sotirius will lead a discussion on the meaning of democracy in the 21st century. How does it relate to today’s political landscape and, in turn, our personal lives? Is a truly democratic society possible? This open discussion and lecture will explore the process, philosophy, and relevance of democracy in 2015.

democracy
Democracy. Ligorano/Reese.

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Emily Elver – Personal is Political

Emily Elver is a groundbreaking spoken word performer from Edinburgh, known for combining the shocking and mysterious with the mundane, disgusting, and delightful. No subject matter is off-limits in her work, as she evokes both laughter and gasps in equal measure. She co-hosts Poetry Circus and is the editor of Edinburgh’s newest literary magazine, Freak Circus.

Emily’s workshop is designed to help aspiring writers and new performers overcome some of the challenges they face when telling personal stories. Through discussions and readings of her own work, Emily will guide participants on how to confidently approach personal subjects. The session will also include one-to-one advice and mentoring for those aspiring to perform their poetry.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Rory O’B – Rhyming and Rapping

Rory O’B is a highly intelligent rapper and talented musician from Oban. He has performed at festivals such as Kelburn, Audio Soup, and The Loch Lomond Boat Party, captivating enthusiastic audiences both as a solo artist and alongside Ciaran Mac. Currently part of Volition in Glasgow, Rory also runs engaging rap workshops for young people.

Rory O’B’s workshop delves into the origins of Hip-Hop culture, its evolution, and how it can relate to our lives today. Participants will have the chance to write their own rap, explore rhythms, and experiment with rhyming techniques and patterns. The session culminates in an opportunity to perform their written work to the group.

7:00 PM: Slam Championships

Get ready for Dumfries’ first-ever poetry slam! Prepare to experience the controversial, heartfelt, beautiful, disgusting, and joyous. Staged across three thrilling rounds, the winner will earn the chance to compete in the Scottish Slam Championships in Glasgow.

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Young Stove Member Profile: Sara Redden

What is your earliest memory? My earliest memory is from when I was two years old, on holiday, when my dad got me a fishing net. He convinced me that the plastic fish were real, and I tried to eat them.

What drew you to The Stove? What interested me most about The Stove is that everyone is on the same team—it’s like one big family striving to make things better for everyone.

Which person do you most admire, and why? I admire anyone who can go through a huge ordeal and still manage to smile at the end of the day.

What time of the day do you like most? I love seeing the sunset. It’s so relaxing, and I find the softer tones of light more calming.

Share your hopes and dreams for The Stove? I hope The Stove continues to thrive and becomes the main attraction of Dumfries and Galloway.

Sara’s work at the Mill on the Fleet during the Young Stove’s Not to be Sold Separately exhibition

What’s something that you found yourself enjoying that you never thought you would? I walk a lot and still find so much joy in it.

Which film changed your life? Ratatouille—I imagine all the little rats in Dumfries cooking away while the chefs are distracted.

What keeps you in and around Dumfries? The Stove and my family.

What’s been the most exciting part of the Stove process for you? Seeing the building come together and the development of the Young Stove.

What songs do you carry closest to your heart? Blue Velvet—my dad always sang this to my mum.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? My daughter.

Where’s your favourite place to be in D&G? The Stove.

What makes you happiest? Paintings that work out.

Tell us your passion? My art and my daughter, Daisy.

The Young Stove’s first collective exhibition, Not to Be Sold Separately, will open at The Stove on Friday, 11th September. The opening will feature performances, live art, and installation events. More details about Not to Be Sold Separately will be shared soon.

Are you aged 16 to 30 and interested in the arts? Find out more about the Young Stove.

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Young Stove Member Profile: Hayley Watson

Tell us about your creative process? I start with mind maps, followed by lots of drawing onto photos with markers and cutting and layering papers and fabrics. This helps me figure out a concept that looks good and begin turning it into something tangible.

What is your earliest memory? My third birthday, although the only thing I can remember about it is the cake. It was covered in every kind of sweet a three-year-old could dream of, and it must have been a truly unforgettable cake to have stayed in my memory above all else from that time.

What drew you to The Stove? The desire to be part of something with a bigger purpose.

What time of the day do you like most? Early morning—it feels fresh and new.

Would you share three words that you love? Reduce, re-use, recycle.

What’s something that you found yourself enjoying that you never thought you would? Exercise and neutral colours.

Who, from throughout history, would you like to sit and have a good chat with? Andy Warhol—our shared passion for sugary food and minimal answers to interview questions would make for a fascinating conversation.

pre-owned
Pre-Owned collection. Part of Not to Be Sold Separately – Young Stove exhibition at the Mill on the Fleet

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received? “You’ve got the inspiration. You just have to bat away the naysayers and stay focused. Life really is too short. No one’s around on this planet long enough to fully understand what’s going on. At the risk of sounding too morbid, we’re all scared little kids—from childhood to old age, all the way to the day we die. Imagine 80 sweets, then imagine that many Christmases or birthdays—it’s not that many, really. Take your life and run with it. It’s yours.”

I had to dig through three years’ worth of Facebook messages to find this, but it had a huge impact on me at the time.

The Young Stove’s first collective exhibition, Not to Be Sold Separately, will open at The Stove on Friday, 11th September. The opening will feature performances, live art, and installation events. More details about Not to Be Sold Separately will be shared shortly.

Are you aged 16 to 30 and interested in the arts? Find out more about the Young Stove.

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