Tag: Environment

Craftivism at The Stove

Post author By Katie Anderson
Post date November 9, 2015

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Every Wednesday during November, The Stove is running a series of ‘craftivism’ stitch in’s. These are drop in events running from 5-8pm, anyone is welcome whether you come with craft skills of your own or whether you’d like to learn some basic techniques in a friendly and open environment (we have cake!).

What is Craftivism?

Craftivism is a form of ‘slow-activism’, sharing crafting skills in a social space, inviting discussion and reflection whilst making – engaging in the time consuming processes of stitching and making. It is a growing movement of crafters and open-minded people, looking to create new ways of exchange and discussion on issues and topics that we hope to share with others. Come along for a blether, a cup of tea and help contribute towards some of the projects we are currently working on. These sessions are self-led but with plenty of support from our Herald Moxie, and craftivist Joy Cheroukai.

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Why Now?

The Stove is participating in ArtCOP, an international cultural programme that coincides with this years Paris Climate Conference (also known as the COP21) in December. We are looking for new ways to talk about the environment and the constantly changing nature of our world – what is changing for Dumfries and Galloway? What does anyone mean about climate change? Do we need a new language for talking about global climate issues? What has Dumfries got to do with it?

Our craftivism group is working towards two projects:

Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve is a national campaign from the Craftivist Collective and the Climate Coalition, and asks everyone to think about the things they are passionate about – and in turn, how they could be affected by changing climates and rising temperatures.

The Stop Climate Chaos Rally is on the 28^th of November, Scotland’s Climate March will take place in Edinburgh. The Stove has been invited by the Crichton Carbon Centre to join their bus to take part in the rally, and stitchers and makers at our Craftivism sessions are working towards a large banner that can be carried in the march, made up of smaller patterns and designs using unwanted fabrics.

We will be having an intensive banner making weekend before the rally on the 21^st and 22^nd of November.

If you would like a place on the bus (travel expenses covered by The Stove), please get in touch as we have limited spaces [email protected]

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Drop by any Wednesday evening to find out more, or speak to Moxie on our Stove Herald facebook page www.facebook.com/thestoveherald/

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Tags Art workshops, ArtCOP, Craftivism, Environment, Stove Herald, Workshop

News Project Updates

The Lands of EAFS

Environmental Art Festival Scotland (EAFS) is an international biennial of contemporary art practice in the landscape.

The Lands of EAFS reached out from the main festival village site at Morton Castle out into the Lowther Hills (South West Scotland), and were mapped by Andrew McAvoy for the festival. Artworks, installations, and guided walks and expeditions took visitors out into the landscape to make new discoveries and follow new routes. One of the festivals themes, on journeys and migrations encouraged alternative means of transport, from horse, to kayak and foot travel, and EAFS visitors were ferried about on our shuttle buses to various points encouraging new ways of experiencing our Lands.

This is what they found.

EAFS 15 was created and co-produced by The Stove Network and Wide Open working with the amazing Robbie Coleman and the EAFS recharge team, with additional support from Spring Fling.

Tags Dumfries and Galloway, Environment, Environmental Art, Environmental Art Festival Scotland, Land, Morton Castle

News Project Updates

EAFS – People

Post author By Katie Anderson
Post date September 21, 2015

The Environmental Art Festival Scotland 2015 – an international biennial of contemporary art practice in the landscape – went offgrid into the wilds of the Lowther Hills (South West Scotland), a two day festival based at Morton Castle near Thornhill. EAFS 2015 explored themes of generosity and hospitality, journeys and migrations, and foolishness and playfulness as a means of understanding the world – through a weekend of art installations and experiments, walks, talks, performances and campfire discussions.

EAFS was a point of gathering, meeting and discussion in the open air, with walks and adventures out into the landscape, in the evenings visitors returned to the festival site to exchange new discoveries made during the days explorations, and to gather around the EAFS campfires to discuss everything from navigating new futures to death and the unknown, tracing local water courses to challenging new ways to tackle global climate change.

EAFS 15 was created and co-produced by The Stove Network and Wide Open working with the amazing Robbie Coleman and the EAFS recharge team, with additional support from Spring Fling.

Tags Community, Dumfries and Galloway, Environment, Environmental Art, Environmental Art Festival Scotland, Morton Castle

News Project Updates

EAFS – Adventures

Post author By Katie Anderson
Post date September 21, 2015

EAFS 15 was created and co-produced by The Stove Network and Wide Open working with the amazing Robbie Coleman and the EAFS recharge team, with additional support from Spring Fling.

Tags Dumfries and Galloway, Environment, Environmental Art, Environmental Art Festival Scotland, Morton Castle

News Project Updates

EAFS – Discussions

Post author By Katie Anderson
Post date September 21, 2015

The Environmental Art Festival Scotland 2015 – an international biennial of contemporary art practice in the landscape – went offgrid into the wilds of the Lowther Hills, a two day festival based at Morton Castle near Thornhill. EAFS 2015 explored themes of generosity and hospitality, journeys and migrations, and foolishness and playfulness as a means of understanding the world – through a weekend of art installations and experiments, walks, talks, performances and campfire discussions.

EAFS 15 was created and co-produced by The Stove Network and Wide Open working with the amazing Robbie Coleman and the EAFS recharge team, with additional support from Spring Fling.

Tags Dumfries and Galloway, Environment, Environmental Art, Environmental Art Festival Scotland, Morton Castle

News

Environmental Arts Festival Scotland 2015…

Post author By Matt Baker
Post date June 26, 2015
2 Comments on Environmental Arts Festival Scotland 2015…

In 2013 The Stove Network joined with Wide-Open and Spring Fling to co-produce the first Environmental Art Festival Scotland (EAFS) in Dumfries and Galloway……now we are delighted to announce that we are part of bringing you the second outing of the festival – EAFS 2015’Off-Grid’ has been announced this week:

The ruins of Morton Castle, and its fabulous surrounding countryside, will provide the spectacular backdrop for the 2015 Environmental Art Festival Scotland over the weekend of 29/30th August.

The festival, in Dumfries and Galloway, will be an intriguing and playful opportunity for artists to help change ideas and influence thinking about how we need to adapt and change in an era of climate change.

There will be a strong emphasis on youth with five interns playing a central role in organising and delivering the project, helping build a wider, younger audience to engage with environmental issues.

At the heart of the event will be a variety of specially commissioned artworks plus walks, fireside conversations, food art plus other activities to inspire the imagination.

Ruaridh Thin-Smith, one of the interns, said: “The festival will be really enjoyable and fun while addressing some of the most pressing issues of our age.

“EAFS is about getting young people to understand a simple truth – that whatever it might seem, we are in control of our own spaces, our places, our environment.

“If we can understand that we have the power to affect positive changes and make our planet a better place to live, then we can accomplish anything.

EAFS interns at Morton Castle, by Colin Tennant 02. Seen in picture Meredith Langley Vine. MR

The other interns, all from Dumfries and Galloway which is home to EAFS, are Meredith Langley Vine, Katie Anderson, Daniel Leigh and Kerry Annison. The EAFS youth project, which involves a wider group of young people as well as the interns, is funded by the Holywood Trust.

Over the last year the EAFS team has been developing the ethos for a thoughtful and playful festival for 2015. This is reflected in the central themes of “inventiveness, foolishness and generosity as a way of understanding the world”.

It aims to attract visitors from all over Scotland, and beyond, and will bring together people who work with the land, scientists, artists, environmentalists, cultural thinkers, poets and performers to participate in the festival.

Jan Hogarth, a co-curator of EAFS, said: “The castle and its amazing landscape are a brilliant place for an environmental art event which is all about our changing relationship with the environment.

“We are expecting lots of interest from all over the region and the country as a whole in the event, and we are delighted to be working with our team of five interns. They are bringing a huge vitality and a fresh perspective to EAFS.

“We are very grateful for the support of the Holywood Trust and their recognition of the need to engage young people in the arts and landscape.”

Photos by Colin Tennant

Tags Dumfries and Galloway, Emerging Artists, Environment, Environmental Art, Environmental Art Festival Scotland, Young Artists

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