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

Stove on TV

The sun shone on the first morning of Inbetween:Dumfries - we have been overwhelmed by the numbers of folk keen to try Dumfries' newest craze....if you ain't Nith Scoping then you ain't living.

Such was the commotion that the ever vigilant ear of local TV heard about things and sent a crew down - check out LookAround on Border TV tonight 6-6.30pm

Hannah explains why it is a good idea to stand in the river

This is what a film maker in D+G really looks like......oor pal John Wallace is working on a film about Inbetween:Dumfries...he came down to film the Nith Scoping action today

Inbetween:Dumfries is GO...today is the start of Nith Scoping

Nith Scoping has begun TODAY.....get yourself down to the Nith and encounter the river as you never have before:

You can find Nith Scoping on the Whitesands (opposite the bottom of Bank St)

Time and more details here

The Nith Scoping vehicle - u can't miss it

Fitting the Nith Scoping equipment

Artist Hannah Brackston and three Nith Scopes in their cases

The Nith Newspaper

Look out for copies of Hannah Brackston's newspaper all about the Nith - free copies will be available in many public locations around town.....if you can't find one then come to The Stove...we have lots

The Custodians have arrived

Mike Inglis pasted up his Devotional Shrines around the mediaeval centre of Dumfries today - these are based on real people Mike has met in the area, all of whom are concerned with protecting the spirit of Dumfries for future generations:

Globe Vennel

Vennel off High Street

The Artist's Eye 6

This is the sixth in a series of pictures by Mike Inglis from his research in Dumfropolis - XL Stove T-Shirt to anyone who spots all the places (comment with your name below before anyone else) and the connections in Mike's work around the town......you'll have to wait for November 5th for that bit though.

to see the whole set - click the 'Mike Inglis' label on the contents menu - top right

First Arrivals 2

Mike Inglis arrived in town today and set up his first Shrine - the Witches Shrine is inspired by the nine women who were killed as witches on a single day on the Whitesands in 1659. You can find this piece of work in a shop window on Queens Street (downloadable map here)

some sneak previews:

And this is Mike unwrapping his second shrine....but you'll have to wait till tomorrow for more:

First Arrivals 1

Hannah Brackston's newspaper is hitting the streets of Dumfries today....it contains 12 pages of information and musings about the River Nith and its relationship to the town:

Pages 2+3

We found our copy at The Stove - but rumour has it they are can be got in many different places around Dumfries....go search yours out

The Artist's Eye 5

This is the fifth in a series of pictures by Mike Inglis from his research in Dumfropolis - XL Stove T-Shirt to anyone who spots all the places (comment with your name below before anyone else) and the connections in Mike's work around the town......you'll have to wait for November 5th for that bit though.

to see the whole set - click the 'Mike Inglis' label on the contents menu - top right

Another Artists Eye

Regular readers will have been pondering the imponderable connections in Mike Inglis' mind that links all his collected images from Dumfries - (see The Artists Eye).....but below are couple of research images from the Queen of the South captured by Marion Preez....any clues?