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Press Release: From Self-Portraits to Mask-Making SF | At Home and the art of Lockdown

15.5.2020

From Self-Portraits to Mask-Making - SF | At Home and the art of Lockdown

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Emily Tough (photo by Jamie Thompson)
Emily Tough (photo by Jamie Thompson)

From making masks to creating self-portraits - details have been unveiled of a series of online workshops with Spring Fling artists.

These will appeal to a range of ages and can help with home schooling, there will even be the chance to build your own miniature world with charming houses made from juice cartons.

Upland CIC arts agency has unveiled details of SF | At Home, a digital programme running from 18 to 24 May that is designed to fill some of the gap left by the postponement of Spring Fling - Scotland’s leading open studios weekend.

The live event would have seen 87 artists and craft makers across Dumfries & Galloway throw open their doors to around 12,000 visitors between 23 and 25 May.

Instead Upland, which organises Spring Fling, is taking the artists into people’s own homes and giving them to chance to learn artistic skills ideal for isolation.

The workshops are all free and will be available for the full week at www.spring-fling.co.uk. They are:

  • Drawing Under Lockdown (two-part workshop) - Liz Gilbey
  • Juice Box Houses – Emily Tough, WBF Artist in Residence
  • Making Your Mark (two-part workshop) - Bella Green
  • Mask Making - Livy Nelson
  • Paper-Batik - Pamela Grace
  • Paper Weaving - Janet Hughes
  • Self Portrait in Isolation - Blossom Mccuaig  

SF | At Home will also involve virtual studio tours and an online exhibition of the delightful puppets and buildings that Emily Tough created as the Spring Fling and Wigtown Book Festival Artist in Residence. All were inspired by stories and people at the book festival and have been placed inside a mini big top.

Joanna Macaulay, Assistant Director for Upland, said: “Our artists have come up with some great ideas that are ideal for life during lockdown – from self-portraits to mask-making.

“With the Scottish Government calling on us all the stay at home, SF | At Home offers ways to learn new skills, be creative and also to keep children entertained with fun and positive projects and help with home schooling.”

The Spring Fling website is being updated to showcase all the studios selected for Spring Fling 2020 and with a variety of art and craft to browse and buy. Everything will be live on the website from Monday, 18 May at noon.

The SF | At Home online activities are also an important way for Upland CIC to help support artists, makers and small businesses – many of them facing substantial challenges due to the lockdown.