Arts In Fife 1

Created By Stuart Russell

www . arts in fife . blogspot . co . uk www . facebook . com / Arts In Fife

ARTS IN FIFE is a free publication created by Stuart Russell, to promote all arts within Fife, Scotland. The magazine showcases a range of local talent and constructs a dialogue between artists, voluntary organizations and the general public.

This magazine displays art awareness and shows the important role art plays in bringing together communities. The magazine celebrates dance, drama, literature, media, music, visual arts, crafts and applied arts. It also promotes and supports local voluntary art groups, events and galleries.

To submit work for the next issue please contact us via our website at:

www.artsinfife.blogspot.co.uk

Free Exhibition of Unframed Work Sat 30th Mar – Mon 1st Apr 2013 St Andrews Art Club Rooms, Argyle Street, St Andrews Fife Jazz Festival (Various Venues) Sun 03rd Feb – Tue 05th Feb 2013 www.fifejazzfestival.com Sunday Afternoon Knitting Circle Sun 6th Jan – Sun 31st Mar 2013 Scottish Fisheries Museum, Harbourhead, Anstruther Unframed Art and Craft Sale Fri 22nd Feb – Sat 23rd Feb 2013 Kingdom Shopping Centre, Lyon Way, Glenrothes West Fife Villages Art Exhibition Sat 20th Apr – Sun 21st Apr 2013 Saline Community Centre, Upper Kinneddar, Saline

STUART RUSSELL is the Arts Ambassador of Fife, representing Voluntary Arts Scotland. He has won awards for his voluntary work, contributing to volunteering in Scotland since the age of 16. He is a successful artist and poet in his own right, with a passion for the arts. He works to support the arts locally, with aims to make it more inclusive. www.stuartrussellartwork.co.uk

Contact us to advertise any creative events happening in Fife.

Voluntary Arts Scotland www.voluntaryarts.org Voluntary Arts aim to promote participation in the arts across the UK and Republic of Ireland. We recognise they are a key part of our culture and as such they are absolutely vital to our health, social and economic development.

Over half the UK adult population is involved in the voluntary arts and crafts – those arts and crafts that people undertake for selfimprovement, social networking and leisure, but not primarily for payment. They are wide-ranging and include folk, dance, drama, literature, media, music, visual arts, crafts, applied arts, and festivals.

Lachlan – Alan Stephens www.alanstephens.co.uk

Incoming Wave – Alan Stephens www.alanstephens.co.uk

Voluntary Arts works with policy makers, funders and politicians to improve the environment for everyone participating in the arts, and we provide information and training to those who participate in the voluntary arts sector. This includes over 300 national and regional umbrella bodies, and through them, their member groups of local voluntary arts practitioners.

Art & Design By Emma Pauley www.emmapauley.com My work explores how and why people are herded toward the ideal body image, and what some choose to go through to achieve it. My current paintings and textile pieces are bright, bold, visually entertaining reactions to media obsession, the size zero trend and the fashion world’s unhealthy relationship with food.

Broken Mirror – Craig A Morgan www.flickr.com/photos/monkeystrummer

Fife Space Gallery – Glenrothes Our Visual Arts programme includes gallery exhibitions at our flagship Fife Space gallery at Rothes Halls, and a programme of temporary project work, including operating studio spaces in empty shop units, projections on buildings and specialist master classes.

Dunfermline Art Club Community Centre Townhill Dunfermline KY12 0EN

We have plans in place over the next three years to extend our Fife Spaces into all our venues, creating opportunities for artists and audiences across Fife.

Entry to all our exhibitions is FREE. Since opening in 2010, Fife Space at Rothes Halls has held exhibitions by a wide variety of artists, ranging from voluntary groups, college graduates to nationally recognised names, working in a range of styles and media, including textiles, paint, photographs and film.

Glenrothes Art Club Cottar House Studio Alburne Park Glenrothes KY7 5RD

For more information, or if you would like to propose an exhibition, please contact Gillian Parsons at Fife Space: 08451 555 555 ext 402224

Kirkcaldy Art Club Hot Pot Wynd Dysart KY1 2TQ

St Andrews Art Club 14C Argyle Street St Andrews KY16 9BP

Artwork By Lyn Evans www.lynevans.co.uk

Lyn Evans studied at Sunderland College of Art. Living in rural Fife she feels a strong connection with the surrounding countryside.

With her versatility she can capture the essence of the subject in whatever medium is most appropriate.

Whether representational or abstract, her pictures exhibit the varied atmospheric powers seen in the world around us.

Eyelash – Stuart Russell www.stuartrussellartwork.co.uk

Alice, Through the Looking Glass – Holly Archibald www.hollybluearchibald.deviantart.com

Artwork By Gill Low www.orrville.weebly.com

the Sage reclines back supine below the mist of pure imagination. His visions are of a great insect-like plague of 'CATERPILLAR' growing fat, chewing through the ancient buildings of stone, exhuming the main street leaving their tracks without trams. But only foul things live in the deep places, gemstone bread-crumbs lead only to Balrog's. “If you want to view Paradise, simply look around and view it”, he drones, while sinking his sighing eyes back through the fog, to the failing fairy-tale of glossy beings air-brushed in hurricanes, following their rainbows in the land of muzak louder than song. Where they don't wear their ears, but everyone seems so happy.

Over his shoulder he hears a swarm on the Coke with Lemon giveaway, a million teeth throwing back freebie potions in Jeykll-like glee. “HERE! HERE, A had a story tae say!” Light fingers clasp at his other shoulder, a lonely one-eared charity worker greets the Sage's slipping face. “A'm being ironic”, proclaims the Sage. “........” “Well a'm definitely makin some sort ay statement, ken?” “.......” The listening side of her face has gone, sneaked away, wishing only to hear thicker pockets, as they plod too close. “Here, ah bet, if ya look, thir's an age-limit on tha dress o’ your's?”, he says dreamily. But she is gone now, off charging down in bounds the ones with dull eyes. “WOLF, WOLF!” he cries. “.......” Clawing himself world-weary from the torrent to his grimy alcove, whispering, “Where have all the gid Sage gone, For, well a day! their date was fled His tuneful brethren were all dead;” Back in the hovel on the river’s bank, his shelter from the storm, he sees the spoilt harvest of ballotpapers filling the gutters like snow, the last foul hopes avalanching down the garden hills. Holding his drip-dried medicine bottle above the drought in front – the senseless choice. “Paper, paper everywhir but no a drop tae drink”. He says in shallow breaths. His sad shadow cut in the dirt, a nick forgotten through time. “Cud ye no spare a few coins?” He pleads to the ones that walk-by, that do as they wish, their plastic-bags filled with pounds of flesh ready for payment to the Fad Factory.

Kicking rocks back at the raging river as it digs its own grave, his knowledge plagues, as he only wishes for bliss in this natural disaster.

“NO!” Shouts the Sage, “Keep yir fuckin golden ticket”. Magic may have left his veins and there may be no dragons left to chase but the Sage is still courageous. He draws a crowd and lifts his arms ready for the fall, the last one to take the plunge, and our ever clicking heels wish away the Sage. Gone and long forgotten.

By Ross McDiarmid (Antisocial Writers Club)

Princes Street Sunrise, his imaginary cane holds fast as his wreck orbits, almost rolling not quite standing. His head cast back on a tired neck, mouth wishingwell wide, forcing out the coins in cackles. With a swig and stumble the Riverbank Sage drools his teachings down the grotty bars of his chest, fingers waving wild at the parting river of eyes, muttering, “Let my people go”. His trembling head makes steady progress up the flooded canyon of shear glass and great nets of mesh fence. He sees the shops as they are, rows of prone giants -those warnings long forgotten, lessons un-learned- their gaping mouths spewing and swallowing in tidal breaths the marching mutton and lamb. Each one spilling out dressed more individually than the one before. “GARDYLOO!”, cheers the Sage.

Through his looking-glass he spies a ‘feather star’. All of his muscles ripping to their limit to ensnare this rare floating seed. With one last rasping grasp he cradles the captured wish. As he falls he glimpses Edinburgh’s stalwart castle through the haar; spires with scores of flags sailing on a high wind, a stone sanctuary, the city's stronghold, a fleeting fantasy before the flat of the floor. Lying now beneath the locust legs, the wish still nestled safe, the Sage witnesses strutting Snow Whites attended by scurrying dwarves, profligate Knights with blood stained swords, and insidious Rapunzels trailing teasing tassels. The flesh boiling down in a bubbling cauldron to the mere birds and bees - vanity and profanity - this is bliss?

Tears are foaming behind his red eyes, his body convulses, choking and retching. He slopes on shaking struts, face hanging over the reflective pool of bile, facing him a Jester wearing a face forgotten. The fragile wish smashed, and he sees it…the roach of an old joint. “Better than serving in heaven”, he says sparking. And where are all the King's Boys to help put Humpty Numpty back on his feet? They are creeping all stalk-eyed and sideways like fiddler crabs, back-boneless, each with one giant wrist.

“Here Princesses, HERE! Why so eurly oot ay bed? Eurly bird gits the worm is tha it?” gobs the Sage”. “.........” “Here Princesses, ave got a pea in ma pockit tha'll keep yoos up aw night”. “.......” With no swords drawn

CAD is a voluntary, artist-run organisation and registered charity. It is the cultural agency for Dunfermline. We create new opportunities for arts, nurture festivals and events.

We also like to engage as many people as possible in exciting and enjoyable cultural experiences, raising Dunfermline's profile as a cultural destination within Fife, the UK and internationally.

We collaborate with cultural organisations and artists to support their ambitions and to help them to reach a wider audience.

To learn more about joining Contemporary Arts Dunfermline, visit the website: www.thisiscad.org.uk

Studio 222 – Newburgh Studio 222 is a small but perfectly formed, independent craft gallery and studio on Newburgh High Street. The gallery offers a wide range of high quality art and craftwork for sale, as well as hosting a number of free creative events.

The gallery is relatively new in Fife, is a lovely modern space and has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The owners of the gallery, talented artists themselves, also provide exciting workshops in stained glass, painting techniques and printmaking.

To learn more about the studios creative workshops and events, please contact Sarah or Catriona at Studio 222: 01337 842113

Photography By Helen Morton www.helenmortonphotography.co.uk I produce work inspired by Fife and North Ayrshire. I attend various creative events throughout Scotland; currently my work is displayed at The Merchant's Garden Kirkcaldy, Piggy Bank Gifts Leslie and Akela's Den Inverkeithing.