Visual art
Fire Station Creative, the new gallery and cafe in Dunfermline, is holding an open studios weekend on the 27, 28 and 29 November. Normally the studios are closed to the public. There are 20 studios in total which are home to 27 artists including painters, graphic designers, jewellers, illustrators, textile artists, uphosterers, tailors and photographers. Featured artists include Clive Ramage (below), whose work is the subject of the main current exhibition
Look out for brilliant local artist Nerine Tassie in tonight’s episode of Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year. Nerine is Head of Art at Dunfermline High School and exhibits her brooding and mysterious tree- and seascapes throughout Scotland. You can find out more about Nerine’s work here and about the programme here. Tonight’s episode airs on Sky Arts at 8pm.
This weekend is the first of the autumn dates for the twice yearly East Neuk Open Studios Art Trail. The trail takes in over 30 artist and designer studios and workshops and you can follow the Red Balloons to discover artists, designers and makers from the east of Fife. There’s always a range of paintings, textiles, prints, jewellery, illustrations, photographs, ceramics and furniture on sale too. Further details about who’s exhibiting
Take a look at this beautiful work by Njideka Akunyili Crosby, a fast selling Nigerian artist who left Lagos for the US at 16. Having intended to become a doctor, she decided instead to pursue a career as an artist as a better way to tell Nigeria’s story: ‘problems of misrepresentation happen when people tell your story for you.’ Crosby draws on Nigerian popular culture and family photographs to create
You only have a few days left to catch this superb exhibition in the atmospheric, lightly refurbished Old Rope Works in Montrose. Empire is A Society of Scottish Artists members’ exhibition, curated by Gayle Nelson PSSA and Alan Bond SSA. It looks at both the positive and sinister aspects of Scotland’s colonial history with tea, opium, imported plants, whalebone and a hangman’s noose all represented in the dimly lit, ivy
As a child other kids would point at Alice Anderson’s red hair. As an artist her red hair has proved to be more of an inspiration than a taunt. She works with beautiful copper wire, wrapping or mummifying everyday objects creating their jewel-like appearance. Over 100 everyday objects, including a copper covered telephone, guitar and staircase can be seen at The Wellcome Collection from the 22 July until 18 October 2015.
These dreamy, pastel visions of blancmange, chocolate cake and jelly are by Arnout van Albada who paints still life pictures in egg tempura and oil paint. Closer, perhaps, to the tradition of his countrymen, the Dutch masters who led the world in still life painting over the centuries, are his other works, featuring classical subjects such parma ham and huge bulbs of frothing fennel.
Drift, which previews at Pettycur Bay Sand Dunes in Fife from 26-29 June, is an innovative piece of visual theatre inspired by the true story of Shetland crofter Betty Mouat, who in 1886, aged 61, was the only passenger on the coastal cutter Columbine bound for Lerwick. A storm washed the captain and crew overboard and Miss Mouat was presumed lost at sea. More than a week later the Columbine grounded in Norway. Miss Mouat
Soon to be an appetising new fixture on the Dunfermline cafe and social scene, the Fire Station Creative cafe will open its doors in June. The cafe will form part of the newly created, terracotta tiled gallery space with an alfresco eating area for when it’s sunny and a cosy stove for chillier days. Designer Sarah Young has sourced local suppliers and craftsman to create an industrial-chic open plan design
A metaphorical two fingers to the healthy eating mafia or a side swipe at the popular trends in food art? German artist Rebecca Rutten, aka Becky Fuchs, leaves it open to interpretation. She simply notes that junk food is generally cheaper and more accessible than healthy food.
