Spring Fling in D&G Life May Issue

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Painter Michael Clark,performance artist AlexRigg and the Countess ofStair at Lochinch Castle.Photograph by Colin Tennant

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SPRING FLING

CASTLESHOWCASE

One of the region’s loveliest stately homes, LochinchCastle near Stranraer, will play a key role in this year’sSpring Fling, as Carol Hogarth finds out when she talks

to the ‘Lady, the artist and the dancer’ – Emily, Countess of Stair, painter Michael Clark and performance artist

Alex Rigg of Oceanallover

From charming outhouses and cosysitting rooms to stylish galleries andairy village halls, a tremendous

assortment of artists’ workspaces are opento Spring Fling visitors every year.

This year, for the first time, they willhave the chance to revel in the grandeur ofan atmospheric Victorian stable courtyardin the grounds of one of the region’sloveliest stately homes.

The Earl and Countess of Stair aregenerously hosting two Spring Flingstudios, for painters Michael Clark fromAyrshire and Steven Higginson fromDundee, and contemporary performanceart event Pollen, by dance and theatrecompany Oceanallover, in the grounds oftheir home, Lochinch Castle near Stranraer.

“For the last three years we have beenhoping to do something with Spring Fling,it’s a long-held ambition,” explains Emily,the Countess of Stair.

“We are really excited to have this hereand thrilled that we have such great artists.It’s a really good mix.

“We see Spring Fling as really importantfor the region, to showcase its culture andshow the world what a great placeDumfries & Galloway is. We are especiallykeen, at this end of the region, to makemore of a show so we are delighted that wecan be a hub during Spring Fling weekend.”

In the past four years, the couple haverenovated Lochinch’s former stables,transforming them into an attaractivewedding venue and multi-purpose studioand workshop spaces where they have

staged summer art festivals, food festivalsand Christmas fairs.

“The space is a blank canvas and offersgreat flexibility for artists,” says Emily.“It’s just asking to be used for all sorts of things.”

With a pop-up courtyard café enticingvisitors to spend time and enjoy theirsurroundings during Spring Fling weekend,Michael and Steven will recreate their ownstudios within the stables, showing theirwork and demonstrating their methods for visitors.

While Steven, who grew up inDumfries, is part of Spring Fling’s‘Springback’ initiative, Michael is takingpart for the first time, thanks to the newSpring Fling Neighbours Scheme, aimed atstrengthening links with artists and makersfrom neighbouring regions.

“I’ve been very aware of Spring Flinggoing on in Dumfries & Galloway butcouldn’t be involved until now,” he says.

After working for the BBC in Glasgowfor six years, the former golf pro worked asa freelance art director and illustrator inLondon and moved back to his nativeAyrshire with his family in 1999.

His work, which he describes asrepresentative and semi abstract, isexhibited in major galleries throughoutBritain and has won Michael severalprestigious awards.

“There was no grand plan when wemoved back to Scotland. Everything justtumbled into place. My passion is inpainting and I feel very lucky that’s what I ➨



do when I get up in the morning.”Performance artist Alex Rigg and his

company Oceanallover is well-known inthe region for colourful, contemporarydrama and dance productions, includingthe Tide Machine and The Lost Supper.

Pollen is a Year of Natural Scotlandproject about growth and themigration of ideas explored through

dance and costume. As part of the newSpring Fling Fringe, the performance –involving about 20 dancers – will driftwestwards across three of the region’sbeautiful gardens: Craigieburn at Moffat,Drumlanrig Castle near Thornhill andLochinch & Castle Kennedy Gardens.

“A lot of my work is outside, linkingpeople and nature, so gardens were a goodplace to start with this one,” Alex explains.

Pollen also explores links and journeysbetween Galloway and two other Dark SkyPark locations in Slovakia and France, withEuropean partners, the Slovak WildlifeSociety, chaired by Alex’s brother Robin,and choreographer Angus Balbernie, who is based on the edge of a Dark SkyPark in Provence.

“Alex came to talk to us about theproject and I just loved its themes,” saysEmily. “One of the wonderful things aboutliving in this region is that there is so muchgoing on and so many interesting peopledoing interesting things.”

Built by the 10th Earl of Stair in the1860s, Lochinch Castle looks out over theWhite Loch towards the original castle,Castle Kennedy, which was destroyed byfire in 1716.

Emily’s husband Jamie, the 14th Earl,grew up here and, she says: “He’s prettymuch always lived here. He is passionateabout this place.

“We have such a lovely home, a hiddenarchitectural gem which has, until recently,been very private. We think it’s an asset forthis end of the region and we are keen toraise its profile and encourage more peopleto come to this area.

“We’re keen to support communityinitiatives. Stair Estates has a long trackrecord of that. We feel we are very muchpart of the community and we want it to bestrong and healthy.”

■ For more information about Spring Flingsee www.spring-fling.co.uk.

■ The 2013 Lochinch Castle Summer ArtFestival, Art In Nature, runs from Saturday,July 20 to Sunday, July 28 and showcases thework of some of Dumfries & Galloway’sbest-known artists. Workshops, talks andchildren’s activities will take place in theStable Courtyard and the castle grounds.The festival is open daily from 10am to4pm, with an evening viewing from 5pm to8pm on the Thursday. Entry is £2.50 foradults and free for children.

D&G

Top: painter Michael Clark; above leftperformance artist Alex Rigg; right the Countess

photograph by Colin Tennant


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The region’s biggest ever SpringFling was launched by VisitScotlandchief executive Malcolm RougheadOBE at the opening of a pop-uptaster exhibition at Gracefield ArtsCentre in Dumfries, writes CarolHogarth.

Work by all 93 artists, makers anddesigners participating in thisyear’s Spring Fling was on showand Mr Roughead said it was agreat pleasure, and an honour, tolaunch the 2013 event.

“To see it go from strength tostrength is absolutely fantastic,” he said.

“We recognise the creativity, energy andpassion that comes from all of you

down here and that’s what makes theregion so special.

“In the Year of Natural Scotland there is nobetter time to celebrate Scotland’s natural

assets and this impressive open studios event makesthe perfect connection between the landscape and the

creativity to be found here.”The launch also

saw theunveiling ofSpring Fling’snew-lookwebsite andtheimproved smartphone app whichallows visitors tocomment live onstudio experiences.

After its run at Gracefield overthe Easter weekend, the tasterexhibition moves to Stranraer

Museum from April 19 to May 11and Annan Museum from May 17 to June 15.

Spring Fling Open Studios weekend is from May 25 to 27.Studios are open from 10.30am to 5pm and a new Spring FlingFringe offers events and activities, from classical music to a pizza making masterclass, after the studios have closed.

■ See www.spring-fling.co.uk.

Photography by Louise Llewellyn, courtesy of Spring Fling

VisitScotland chief executive Malcolm Roughead OBE with Hazel Campbell, Jane Blair, Lucianne Lassalle, Adam Booth,Colin Blanchard, Jo Gallant and Ailsa Black; below: Malcolm with chair Hazel Campbell and project manager Leah Black

SPRING IS IN THE AIR



Katie Anderson

Janina Harrower and Jane Gibson

Textile artist Jo Gallant

Silk screen textile producer Emma Kerr

Sculptor Lucianne Lassalle

Installation artist Paula McQuiston and Jason Downie

Visual artist Denise Zygadlo

Photographer Kim Ayres

Malcolm Roughead with painter Jane Blair

Printmaker Colin BlanchardPainter Amy Winstanley


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Spring Fling in D&G Life May Issue