Spring Fling Showcase Reveals the Creative Secrets of Artists and Makers

Annual exhibition offers a foretaste of Scotland’s Premier contemporary visual art and craft open studios weekend

The Spring Fling Showcase exhibition, featuring work from dozens of artists, makers and designers opens this week in Dumfries.

Now in its 14^th year Spring Fling has earned a reputation as Scotland’s premier contemporary visual art and craft open studios event.

The exhibition at Gracefield Arts Centre will feature work by many of the 94 artists, makers and designers who have been selected for Spring Fling 2016.

Spring Fling Showcase runs from 9 April to 21 May – in advance of the main open studios weekend, which is from 28 to 30 May.

A special opening, where many of the artists will be present along with Craft Scotland Director Fiona Logue and Dumfries and Galloway Council Events Champion, Councillor Colin Smyth, takes place from 6-8pm on Friday, 8 April.

The showcase will be unusual because it is not only a chance to see finished works, but to discover how they were created.

Clare Hanna, Director (maternity cover) for Upland the arts agency which runs Spring Fling, said: “Huge skill, planning and

imagination go into creating works of art, craft and design. So this year we wanted to give exhibition visitors some special insights into the remarkable and often intimate processes that lead to the finished items.

“In addition to many wonderful paintings, drawings, prints and pieces of craft there will also be things like preparatory sketches and photography, as well explorations of the physical work done by artists and makers.

“We hope it will add a whole extra dimension to the show and provide a tantalising foretaste of the main weekend when people will be able to see and meet 94 exhibitors in their homes, studios and galleries across the region.”

• Among the participating artists and makers at the exhibition are Morgan Hardie, Archie McCall, Fraser Irvine, Clare Dawdry, Andy Priestman, Angela Lawrence, Natalie Vardey, Amanda Simmons, Clare Melinksy, Denise Zygadlo, Morag Macpherson, Rory Laycock, Suzanne Stuart Davies, Michael Batey, Jo Gallant, Hazel Campbell, Kaz Robertson, Silvana McLean, Hannah McAndrew & Doug Fitch, Patti Lean, Hazel Campbell, Jennie Ashmore, Sarah Stewart, Davy Brown, Cathy Sidhu, Daniel Lacey.

Main Photo –  Large glass platter by Amanda Simmons – please credit Colin Hattersley