Dumfries is what we All Make Together - Charter14 Unveiled

If you’ve never been to Guid Nychburris before, it’s too late - you’ll have to wait until next year. The annual event, which celebrates the 1395 Royal Charter for the Burgh of Dumfries, has become a regular in The Stove calendar (previous exploits here and here).

Drawing inspiration from the 'original' Charter (an update from the earlier 1186 Charter), which is read out on Guid Nychburris Day, The Stove embarked on the ambitious task of writing a new ‘People’s Charter’ for the town, inviting input and inclusions from community groups, organisations and individuals living, working and inhabiting Dumfries. Where the original Charter granted land and fishing rights, Charter14 set out a declaration, of values for the future prosperity of Dumfries. “Dumfries is what we all make together.”

We were overwhelmed by the response to the idea with contributions coming in from all walks of life - all underlining the depth of felling that people have about Dumfries. The first draft of Charter14 was compiled with the help of local writer and lecturer Dave Borthwick from the contributions of the public and was unveiled in grand fashion, with the Dumfries Fountain as the centrepiece on Saturday with lots of help and the handy adage ‘Just Add Water’….

Thanks to Mike for all his work on the Fountain’s new structure!

The text on the banners around the fountain changed colour when they became wet....buckets were filled from the fountain and people were invited to hurl wet sponges at the banners to reveal their message.


Charter14 is not intended as a finished document. Like the original, revisited and amended – The Stove invited Doonhamers from across the town to add their mark; editing, adding and signing over 150 variations of the new charter over the course of the afternoon.

The 1395 Charter was venerably sealed with the town seal, also celebrated in the Guid Nychburris festivities, and Charter14 was no different, with it’s very own seal created by artist David Ralston.

The project prompted discourse late into the evening, around notions of authentication and validity, as each charter was signed by a unique signatory, ranging in age from 5 to 85, including everyone from local politicians, to the Queen (of the South)’s attendants, and passers by.

The Stove has been absolutely overwhelmed with the amazing response to #MakingDumfries and the Charter14, and would like to sincerely thank everyone who has contributed to the Charter, joined in on Saturday, helped facilitate the day and worked from our studio-in-exile in the run up to the event.

Dumfries is what we all Make Together.

Brave Enough to Take Risks and Surprise People.

To see more images of the day - have a look at our flickr set here
All Photo Credits: Colin Tennant.

Pavement Invasion - Stop Motion Short of Back 2 Back Dumfries

Thanks to Oriel Marshall for the stop motion animation, documenting the pavement invasion that was last week's Back 2 Back Dumfries project for Guid Nychburris Day 2013. Music by the Luke Barlow Band - Tetherdown.

A wee reminder from those at The Stove

A buzz is growing in and around The Stove as Saturday fast approaches. The weather forecast may be nothing short of typical, but as the team involved continues to expand (welcoming Spring Fling guest artists Denise Zygadlo, Paula McQuiston and Katherine Wheeler) the stovie's can promise an afternoon of hands-on participation and involvement - set to a groovy soundtrack from the new live window display. Grab a brollie and get on down to the High Street on Saturday - and try your hand as a graffiti artist!

www.thestove.org

Today @ The Stove

Busy Times - momentous times!

An especially big welcome to our Board:
Phil Jones - Chair
Andrew Hunter - Vice Chair
Magnus Smyth - Treasurer
Sheila Adams - Company Secretary
Leah Black
Zoe Blamire
Mike Bonaventura
Belle Doyle
David Smith
Fiona Smyth
Andrew Ward

you guys rock

Volunteers wanted for Back to Back Dumfries!

The Stove’s next event follows on from the success of last year’s Punkin' the Jubilee - held on Guid Nychburris 2012. This year, we are taking to the Streets of Dumfries with our new project Back to Back Dumfries.

We will be mapping a contemporary identity for Dumfries via a street art themed large scale pavement drawing. Stencils and spray chalk at the ready - we invite you to make your mark on our vision of the town. Stencils are currently in the process of being designed in partnership with local youth group YES (Youth Enquiry Service).

Want to get involved?
We are looking for Stovie volunteers to help out on Guid Nychburris Day for a few hours, to keep the event organised and running smoothly, assisting participants of all ages and forming the face of The Stove - as well as getting down and contributing to what will be a temporary and ephemeral artwork. 

No special arts skills required, just enthusiasm and old clothes. Sound like your thing?
Give us a shout this week at info@thestove.org

Not up for volunteering? 
Come along and mark yourself down on our map, and watch the work grow throughout the afternoon. See you there!

(A wee reminder of how much fun last year's event was!)

Back to Back Dumfries - Saturday 15th June

The Stove Network is taking to the streets for Guid Nychburris day - Saturday 15^th June - with a DIY street art event on the Dumfries High Street.

The large scale pavement drawing will map out a contemporary identity for the town, with imagery and stencil designs being developed in partnership with local youth group YES (the Youth Enquiry Service) who this year is celebrating its 20^th year.

The work is to be temporary, and made on site - building up over the course of the day. With stencils and spray chalk on hand, The Stove invite aspiring artists of all ages to participate and contribute by making their mark on our map. 

‘Back to Back Dumfries’ will take place between 12pm and 4pm on Saturday 15^th June, alongside the rest of the annual festivities taking place this year. 

Join our Facebook event page here 

UWS's Student Showcase takes over The Stove Building

The weekend saw the Stove Building come to life with the University of West of Scotland’s (UWS) Annual Student Showcase - running from 9am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

The Showcase is an integral part of the BA Applied Enterprise (Creative Industries) students’ experience and provided an opportunity to come together and celebrate the fruits of the academic year.

It was pleasing to see the Stove Building being used by a group of very talented young adults, who injected life and vibrancy to the building’s blank canvas.

Local folk, visitors to Dumfries and those with a keen eye for emerging talent were given the opportunity to view the work and get to know a little bit more about what the UWS’s Dumfries campus has to offer.

As the Stove Network continues to formalise, grow and develop, we look forward to welcoming the UWS back to the building in the future and hope to see similar initiatives taking inspiration from the weekend’s showcase.

Dumfries' Vigilante Custodian

It is important to report the details of a project even when they can be, on the surface anyway, less than positive.
As we walked folk around the town yesterday we were shocked to see that one of Mike Inglis' 'Custodian' installations had been completely removed.
Mike's Custodians are 5 people that he has encountered in his researches, people that the artist has characterised as being folk that 'take care' of the old mediaeval parts of Dumfries - the five were an archivist, an artist, a minister and two members of the Mostly Ghostly group. Mike is interested in the place of 'outsiders' in our society and also identified this group as people who could be regarded as 'different' by the 'general' public and consequently might have their motives treated with suspicion..

Three 'Custodians': Paranormal Investigator, Architectural Theologian and Archivist installed on the wall of the Marie Curie shop on High Street 04.11.12

An 'ordinary looking man' was spotted early on Monday morning with a bucket of water and a wallpaper scraper removing the artworks. No one seems to have any idea who this moral vigilante was - but we can only assume that he took it upon himself to return Dumfries to 'normal' - we trust that he is happy that the status quo is re-established and all sign of invention, hope and respect has been erased.

Marie Curie wall 05.11.12

Mike Inglis is incredibly careful to strike a balance between preparation/consent and the surprise that is necessary for his work to have effect. He had negotioated permission with the shop owner for artworks to be displayed on their wall from now until January. The staff in the shop are as mystified and disappointed as we are.

The remains of 4 months work, discussion and skill....work that burned brightly, but briefly in High St, Dumfries

20 things to do in your High Street

Julian Dobson's slideshow of '20 things to do in your High Street without Shopping' is here. Julian also runs the Urban Pollinators blog....always worth a look