Now showing...
Our virtual Spring Exhibition is now on view! Just click on the Gallery link above to see how members have responded to our invitation to exhibit online in place of the "real" show at Harbour Cottage Gallery, Kirkcudbright, which had to be cancelled.
In a foreword to the show, our new honorary president, Patti Lean, writes: "What’s the use of Art in a crisis? - a fair question, since our normal lives and habits are being stripped away by coronavirus. It’s becoming increasingly apparent, though, that films and books, and virtual galleries, plays and concerts are providing welcome diversion and relief to busy key workers and to the rest of us who have to simply stay at home and wait. We can temporarily lose ourselves in a beautiful artwork, and we can be touched by artists’ responses to human crises throughout history.
"Waiting, bearing witness, turning our attention to things – artists already have these skills and more: in particular, we are responsive and adaptable. These days our minds might becompletely scattered; perhaps we feel lonely under lockdown, or, conversely, extremely challenged by 24-hour partners or families. Whatever our new normal, we are having to adapt to doing things differently.
"People are painting from a corner of the kitchen or a spare room; digging the garden, baking a cake, sewing a face-mask, delivering
groceries, calling a neighbour. Others are taking the chance of this time to go inwards and reflect.
"Whether we are doing or resting, as artists and art-lovers our artistic approach stays with us, and helps us digest and process what’s happening to us. Luckily nowadays we have the technology to display our art to wider audiences and thanks to Ian Irving and his colleagues on the committee, and of course the artists who have submitted their work, DAGFAS continues to support the artistic life of the region with this virtual Spring Exhibition. We do hope you will enjoy and support it too."
The society was to sponsor an exhibition by Dumfries and Galloway College HND Art and Design students, which also had to be cancelled because of the coronavirus lockdown. But you can see a selection of the exhibits here.
Melville Brotherston
We are saddened to report the death of Melville Brotherston on April 21, aged 77. Melville was twice president of the society and first exhibited with us in 1975. He also served as vice-president, secretary and treasurer, and many members enjoyed his tuition at his home near Moniaive. His accomplished paintings were always a feature of the society's annual shows.