From Morgan Hardie, emerging artist and curator of the recent exhibition Captive Art #3 in the Stove cafe:
I am a portrait artist based in Dumfries, I graduated with a HND in Art and Design three years ago at Dumfries and Galloway College and have continued since then as self-taught. I have a huge interest and wish to pursue a career in the therapeutic arts, which is why I was really excited when I was offered the opportunity to curate Captive Art #3! I believe it is so important that the prisoners have the chance to show their work outside of prison walls and to offer the local community a better understanding of prison rehabilitation, and how art practice and creative writing play a fundamental part in this.
The experience of curating the exhibition was so busy and enjoyable, I loved all of the different aspects from selecting the work in Dumfries Prison to hanging the exhibition the day before the opening. I had written out a plan covering everything that needed to be done and how I was going to do it, and with some help from blueprint100 and the prison education department, I think I managed to stay fairly organised! Selecting the artwork was probably the most challenging, as there was a huge variety to choose from and such limited wall space in The Stove Café, but I managed to really narrow it down and include work which demonstrated a range of different styles and techniques.
The reason I chose the painting called ‘The Nearest Faraway Place’ to be used on the posters and invites, apart from it being my personal favourite, was because of the story behind it and the immense detail portrayed. The artist had explained to me that the painting was a representation of a dream he’d had, and he had felt the need to paint it on to canvas.
My main goal was to involve the prisoners as much as possible, as it is their exhibition after all. I took information about The Stove up to the prison, along with photographs of the space so that they were clued up on where their work was going. I had decided to keep all of the work anonymous, but instead had asked each artist for a small statement on what art does for them on a personal level and included this on their labels. I received really good feedback at the opening event about this personal touch, as well as the prisoners’ poems which were read out at the beginning and the other written work which was also on display. I found that the visitors really liked that interesting connection between art and writing as it helps them to gain a more informative insight, which is exactly what I had hoped for.
The opening event was more successful than I imagined it would be, and I hope the exhibition continues to deliver and inform for the remaining time that it is on display. Hopefully everyone enjoys the exhibition as much as I loved curating it!
As part of Nithraid 2016, The Stove commissioned emerging performance artists Dillon Colthart and Jordan Chisholm to lead the procession of the Salty Coo, a now annual event starting in the town centre and finishing in the river with the Nithraid’s mascot and icon, the Salty Coo raised to a great height overseeing the sailing race’s conclusion.
‘It began with a blog post, advertising various commission opportunities for young artists in and around Dumfries & Galloway. It seemed fitting that Jordan and I would apply for both in hopes of our creative flare being challenged and displayed by the time Nithraid came around in September. We were excited, nervous and determined to bring something theatrically unique, as well as highly political, to the streets of Dumfries.
Upon receiving Nithraid’s ‘Salty Coo Procession’ commission from the Stove Network in early July, we became overwhelmed with joy and immediately began to brainstorm ideas creatively over various different types of coffee within local coffee shops throughout Dumfries with some paper, a pen and a desire to spread awareness through theatre and performance.
We came up with an idea to base our performance on the theme of ‘acceptance’ through queer performance whilst maintaining the meaning of the Salty Coo, which was to give something back to the river. Creatively, we challenged ourselves to incorporate movements with a strong message and create something which was both visual and aurally stimulating.
Grasping the attention of an audience in Dumfries, a place which has so much potential in terms of heightening awareness of LGBT, queer performance (such as drag) and acceptance was challenging yet liberating. We thought of ways we could get performers involved from more than just a theatrical background and made our goal inclusiveness though performance.
The process was overall smooth. We worked together well, got to learn more about one another than we already knew, based our teamwork on compromise and began to find a balance between our personal relationship and working relationship. It was interesting, as we have so many of the same views on various issues, yet positively challenged each other constantly to bring out our best creatively.
When the performance eventually came around, after weeks and weeks of preparation, we were ready to present the Salty Coo in all it’s glory – with rainbow coloured costumes, a kilt wearing – all tartan – unicorn, comic costumes, flower heads, white capes and colour bombs within the river to conclude. Our connection with the river has never been so strong, and the Coo never looked so good.
This opportunity is something which was indeed challenging in terms of managing our own time and being given a complete creative freedom, as we wanted to do our Salty Coo justice, as well as making the team at Nirthraid proud. This was an excellent commission for anyone looking to further their practise in the arts, whatever you may specialise in. From our preview performance – confined within plastic bags and smothered in paint – to the ‘Salty Coo’ installation and multi coloured procession, our procession came full circle, and we couldn’t be more proud of what we achieved.’
Jo Hodges and Robbie Coleman were appointed as artists-in-residence to the Art_Inbetween project – they began their engagement with the project at the Art_Inbetween Summit and are now working with ideas formed at the event…..
‘We’re delighted to have been commissioned to make new work in response to the ideas and themes discussed at the Art_Inbetween Summit held at The Stove 25/26 Feb.
The cross sectorial summit brought together people working in ‘Inbetween’ places – towns, villages and other rural areas, to recognise, re-articulate and explore the distinctiveness of the contemporary rural arts scene and to share experience and knowledge. We went to the summit with the idea of keeping our minds open and listening, but the discussions were such, that it was hard to maintain a watching brief and we ended up getting fully stuck in.
Jo Hodges at Art_Inbetween
Robbie Coleman (left) at Art_Inbetween
The workshops were open formats for conversations around; art as activism, the potential for creating new structures and ways of working in Inbetween places, strategies, communication and networking in rural contexts, cultural high streets and challenging traditional methods of evaluation. Download the Art_Inbetween Summit Pack
In practice the workshops extended their reach to question the language and concepts that were used as starting points. There was much talk around what constituted ‘the rural’ and what that might mean for contemporary arts practice. Were new narratives / visions needed and what role could artists have in facilitating/creating these? There was a realization that there was a lack of clear definition around these ideas and terms and we’ve been left with an interest in delving deeper; what is it about this context that creates possibilities for new forms of art practice?
Other recurring themes of interest to us were the discussions on democracy and participation and how art may make visible/curate/ engage with civic processes. This fed into the general consensus that art practices and processes can act as active agents in thinking about and creating positive social change. We were also interested in the conversations around working collaboratively using models of co-creation across sectors / disciplines and the need to take risks in order to move into new territories of practice with transformational possibilities.
There was much talk around ideas of developing new models for evaluation of arts projects that were more relevant to the rural context and how evaluation could be built in as a creative element of any project rather than something to be done ‘later’. There was discussion about networks of various sorts and how vital they were in contributing to the resilience of ‘Inbetween’ arts practice.
The second day was for more focused work with partner organisations from The Highlands, Wales and Northumberland. We were led in this by Sam Cassels who moved participants at a hair-raising pace using specific questions and provocations in order to quickly arrive at ideas for projects that had the potential for being developed further.
The summit was buzzing with people, conversations and ideas. It was hugely successful as a forum to share and engage with the issues in contemporary ‘Inbetween’ art practice and attracted delegates with a wide and deep interest in the subjects at hand from a range of contexts across the UK. The structure of ‘less presentations – more open discussion’ allowed for conversations to develop and commonalities to surface and be articulated.
From our point of view, as artists tasked with responding to the reach and vibrancy of these conversations, we are now starting to look for patterns, undercurrents, seams and overlaps. As a shared practice we don’t have a regular recurring methodology, but conduct conversations that evolve over time, gradually finding paths that lead us somewhere/nowhere. Currently we are at the beginning of that process.
Since the summit we have found ourselves looking at our own practice (shared and individual) and have realized that it straddles the conventional rural/urban divide in ways that we had not considered before, an area that we will try and explore and articulate as part of this commission.
We have been left with a palpable feeling of excitement about ways of working outside the urban, centralized setting and the potential for developing this model of integrated working in ‘Inbetween’ places. Our challenge now is navigate a route within this enormously rich and evolving context.’
To contact Jo and Robbie – please leave a comment on this blogpost or email [email protected]
Throughout the year, we strive to stay connected with all our members and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to easily share their hopes, wants, and needs regarding the development of The Stove and the collective creation of a better Dumfries. Whether it’s more formally at the members’ Housewarming event, during Cultural Wayfinding sessions, over Tea with Moxie (yes, that’s still going strong if you’d like a chat and a cuppa!), at drop-in sessions, during live events, through the speechbubbles project, or even in casual encounters on the street—the core team is eager to hear your thoughts, suggestions, and ideas for moving forward.
Moxie at work at Guid Nychburris
The Stove has truly blossomed since opening its High Street doors earlier this year, and there are many more exciting adventures on the horizon. Here’s a quick recap of the ideas you’ve shared with us and how we’ve responded.
Spoken word and creative writing were high on people’s agenda, with many suggesting an increase in related events. In April, Open Mouth burst onto the scene, led by Sarah Indigo and Eryl Shields, who conducted performance and creation workshops with school students during the day. Its success has led to Brave New Words being developed into a regular Open Mic night at The Stove. The next session is this Friday, 30th October, and is open to everyone (whether musical or spoken word—Brave New Words welcomes all original writing). In the run-up to Christmas, several other word-based events are planned, including the Wagtongues Pop-Up Bookshop at the end of November. Additionally, there is an open-call out for new writing for exciting art installations in the closes of the town.
Brave New Words – poetry slam September 18th 2015
A number of conversations around food were sparked at the Housewarming event, perhaps inspired by the delicious chai tea made by Open Jar and the bannocks baking over the open fire in the square. Attendees were eager to explore the power of nourishment in all its forms, suggesting ideas such as gatherings; gardening experiments where people could learn how to grow and cook seasonal produce; cup return schemes for the café; as well as film evenings and talks centred around food and produce.
We’ve also been discussing community gardens, rewilding initiatives, and collaborations with groups across the region to provide opportunities for exploring the intersection of growing and art.
The amazing Alice Thompson from Social Bite talking food and social enterprise at The Stove (http://www.social-bite.co.uk/)
The latter was explored during our recent film season at The Stove, where films such as Moo Man, Vanishing of the Bees, and The Lunchbox were accompanied by inspiring talks and equally delightful, relevant treats.
We also hosted an incredible talk by Alice from Social Bite, who shared their journey of building an amazing network of sandwich shops from scratch, which help the homeless get back on their feet and into work.
Work has begun on The Stove Café, which will provide a vibrant meeting place in the heart of Dumfries and serve as a base for further creative exploration of how we think about, grow, distribute, and cook food. The tender was won by Angela and Colin Green, and we are very excited to see the opportunities this new development will bring.
We are eager to hear from anyone interested in hosting groups in the early evening. For example, we have a regular Craftivism (Creative Activism) workshop starting on 28th October. These sessions aim to encourage people to linger a little longer after the shops close and further our commitment to breathing new life into the town centre.
The Craftivism workshops also align with other ideas raised by members. Many expressed interest in forming Skill Sharing groups and engaging in Mindfulness initiatives. Craftivism promotes both and we hope it will serve as a catalyst for other Skill Sharing/Skill Swap events.
It was also suggested that we take The Stove beyond the building and engage in more projects across the region. One such project saw The Young Stove working with school-aged children in the woods near New Galloway. They ran a workshop called Survival Art School and later gave the youngsters a tour of their show at Gatehouse of Fleet. Another example was the co-production of EAFS—a wonderful off-grid adventure in the grounds of Morton Castle. Among its many magical aspects, EAFS encouraged the sharing of food as a means of human connection and engagement, evoking a primal need to break down modern social barriers and foster friendships and communication around shared nourishment.
Rajasthan heritage Brass Band at The Stove
People asked for drumming, and what a line-up we gave them! Not only did we fill the day with the incredible Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band—bringing smiles to everyone they encountered—but we also hosted an evening workshop with local drumming groups. This spectacular session brought the community together in a loud and joy-filled way.
Looking ahead, the future vision for Dumfries includes suggestions for giant water slides, Segways instead of Orange Bike Schemes, permanent block parties, adult ball pits, and drive-in cinemas. It’s clear people want to feel the love returning to the town centre.
Phrases such as:
“Let’s celebrate what we have and what we can be rather than focusing on what we don’t. We are a vibrant town with vision. Work together to make it happen.”
“Keeping Dumfries’ heritage but being more upbeat and welcoming to new things.”
“Convert dead shops into flats = get people back into town.”
“Use empty shops as art galleries/installations – artists get work shown, town gets colourful, vibrant art instead of empty shops full of litter.”
have been echoed repeatedly. While perhaps less thrilling than foam bowling alleys, these suggestions are far more tangible and provide a solid starting point for meaningful change.
Regeneration has clearly begun, with many commenting on the positive difference The Stove has already made to the High Street—but much more remains to be done.
We’ve had inspiring public sessions working with Lateral North to explore how interventions and Cultural Wayfinding can help develop Dumfries, making it more welcoming and easier to navigate—just as has been achieved in other towns. There’s even more to come, including an event surrounding Norway House next month.
Since its creation, the building has taken on a variety of roles. It has been a messy creative space for The Young Stove and other artists, an exhibition venue, and a site for workshops, meetings, gatherings, and music gigs. It has welcomed a broad mix of people from diverse walks of life, which makes us very proud. It has also become a hub for exchanging ideas—a place where inspiration is shared, where ideas can be brought and nurtured to grow.
Radio DMC
Music has been another hot topic for members and the public, and we have been developing a music strand since The Stove began through our Dumfries Music Conference. Since 100 High Street opened, this has continued to grow through partnerships with local music groups such as Small Town Sounds, Music Plus, and Electric Fields. These collaborations have led to fantastic gigs showcasing local talent, including Rudi Zygadlo, MØGEN, and Mark Lyken. You can even learn guitar at The Stove now with lessons from guitar teacher David Bass.
Other topics raised in discussions include:
Partnerships with the Crichton Campus – exciting news to come on this in February.
Fast Public Broadband – a big thanks to Ailsa for making The Stove the first business in the town centre with fibre-optic broadband.
Space for Screenprinting – we are supporting Upland and Maklab in their efforts to establish a facility at Maklab’s premises on the High Street.
Classes in IT and Film Editing – our digital making suite will soon be taking bookings, so watch this space.
Support for Research Projects into Environmental Issues – The Stove was the base for the recent Environmental Art Festival Scotland. Stay tuned for ArtCOP Scotland @ The Stove in early December.
More for Young People in the Town – The Young Stove continues to flourish and is now integrated into nearly everything we do.
Be Part of Making Dumfries Better – The Stove remains a space for people to come together, debate, and take positive action for the town. We are actively involved in discussions about the Whitesands and have exciting news about significant improvements to the High Street.
‘Not to Be Sold Separately’ an exhibition by Young Stove
So, let us know what you think! Book in with Moxie for a cuppa, send an email, or drop our Herald a line on Facebook. The Stove is ever-evolving, and its quiet energy is building all the time—so get in touch and let’s see how we can sail together into the next phase.
P.S. If you’re ever wondering what’s happening at The Stove, please check our Events page, or look back at what’s been going on via our Blog page.
Nithraid procession marching over the Devorgilla Bridge
Ode to a Moody Cow
She can be a moody cow, This town of ours. Swinging between Udderly lovely and Udderly unbearable, Just as her unmarked udders Swing, Back and forth, Almost clanking Like a long-forgotten souvenir Swiss bell. Heaving with untapped potential. Nostalgic for a time long gone, That was never really there— Endless sunny days And sweet pastures, Not having to lock front doors, And tender loving care. Where the milk of human kindness flowed abundantly And you knew the names of all your neighbours.
Moody she may be, But her mind is open, As she stands by the river, Sniffing the air, And smiling at the heady scent of a New Calf On the Block.
Intoxicated, She welcomes the change, This moody cow, Happy that her milk, Again, Can nourish. Her wisdom valued, Just filtered differently, No longer weighed down By burdens of her own making.
The sun returns, Igniting hope, Flooding dark, Forgotten, Moody corners. And she can flourish in its glow, This moody cow, This town of ours.
A tide turned. Goodbyes waved. Missions accomplished. Rebooted. Updated.
Nithraid was conceived as a public artwork to activate the riverside in Dumfries in the summer of 2013, bringing new focus and people down to celebrate the Nith. Now in its third year, Dumfries is preparing to welcome sailors upriver to the heart of the town as Nithraid 2015 sails into town on Sunday, 2nd August. Nithraid is free and open to all, and last year saw crowds of 4,000 lining the banks to watch the winning boats cross the finish line. Find out more about this year’s Nithraid.
The discussion is open, and we invite contributions to our artistic conversations. Whether you’ve been involved in Nithraid in previous years or are interested in the changing face of public art—where a sailing race becomes an artwork—please get in touch via the comments box below or send your contribution by email to [email protected].
When the Earth’s crust thickened and cooled deeply, it cracked, and four avenues dropped neatly in lines: four invitations for four rivers—Annan, Nith, Dee, and Cree. Water, washing soil over the rock, posted another invitation—for a beast to graze the land, to break it with footprints for germinating seeds, and to re-fertilise it with their dung.
We know the coos, slabbed together on a cold, damp morning, their breath hanging together like the breath of the Earth; or contented and dispersed across a summer field, chewing in deep rhythm. We know them as part of the oneness of our place.
Our land is pastureland, home to a kinship between humankind and cookind that has spawned a million inventions with milk, meat, and leather.
Our coos have been our wealth—their mobility precious in times when you couldn’t hide a field of barley from ancient raiders. Always moving from winter to summer pastures, and to market over Annan, Nith, Dee, and Cree.
Humans moved too. In tough times, we spread far across the seas, and as migrants found their feet, they called for their coos to follow. Great Uncle Jimmy raised Shorthorn cattle in Wigtownshire to send on boats to the Argentine. The canny exiles sent us meat home in cans. Corned beef is still the favourite food of one of Jimmy’s daughters, and the other drank unpasteurised milk straight from the farm all her days.
We are Nithraid, and this land is where we bide; so we race the tide up our river to release the salty spirit of Coo.
Nithraid was conceived as a public artwork to activate the riverside in Dumfries during the summer of 2013, bringing new focus and drawing people down to celebrate the River Nith. Now in its third year, Dumfries is preparing to welcome sailors upriver to the heart of the town as Nithraid 2015 sails into town on Sunday, 2nd August. Nithraid is free and open to all, and last year saw crowds of 4,000 lining the banks to watch the winning boats cross the finish line. Find out more about this year’s Nithraid here.
The discussion is open, and we invite contributions to our artistic conversations. Whether you have been involved in Nithraid in previous years, are interested in the changing face of public art, or are curious about how a sailing race can also be an artwork, please get in touch via the comments box below. Alternatively, to send your contribution, please email [email protected].
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