Environmental Art Festival Scotland (EAFS) is an international biennial of contemporary art practice in the landscape.
The Lands of EAFS reached out from the main festival village site at Morton Castle out into the Lowther Hills (South West Scotland), and were mapped by Andrew McAvoy for the festival. Artworks, installations, and guided walks and expeditions took visitors out into the landscape to make new discoveries and follow new routes. One of the festivals themes, on journeys and migrations encouraged alternative means of transport, from horse, to kayak and foot travel, and EAFS visitors were ferried about on our shuttle buses to various points encouraging new ways of experiencing our Lands.
This is what they found.
EAFS 15 was created and co-produced by The Stove Network and Wide Open working with the amazing Robbie Coleman and the EAFS recharge team, with additional support from Spring Fling.
The Environmental Art Festival Scotland 2015 – an international biennial of contemporary art practice in the landscape – went offgrid into the wilds of the Lowther Hills (South West Scotland), a two day festival based at Morton Castle near Thornhill. EAFS 2015 explored themes of generosity and hospitality, journeys and migrations, and foolishness and playfulness as a means of understanding the world – through a weekend of art installations and experiments, walks, talks, performances and campfire discussions.
EAFS was a point of gathering, meeting and discussion in the open air, with walks and adventures out into the landscape, in the evenings visitors returned to the festival site to exchange new discoveries made during the days explorations, and to gather around the EAFS campfires to discuss everything from navigating new futures to death and the unknown, tracing local water courses to challenging new ways to tackle global climate change.
EAFS 15 was created and co-produced by The Stove Network and Wide Open working with the amazing Robbie Coleman and the EAFS recharge team, with additional support from Spring Fling.
The Environmental Art Festival Scotland 2015 – an international biennial of contemporary art practice in the landscape – went offgrid into the wilds of the Lowther Hills (South West Scotland), a two day festival based at Morton Castle near Thornhill. EAFS 2015 explored themes of generosity and hospitality, journeys and migrations, and foolishness and playfulness as a means of understanding the world – through a weekend of art installations and experiments, walks, talks, performances and campfire discussions.
EAFS 15 was created and co-produced by The Stove Network and Wide Open working with the amazing Robbie Coleman and the EAFS recharge team, with additional support from Spring Fling.
The Environmental Art Festival Scotland 2015 – an international biennial of contemporary art practice in the landscape – went offgrid into the wilds of the Lowther Hills, a two day festival based at Morton Castle near Thornhill. EAFS 2015 explored themes of generosity and hospitality, journeys and migrations, and foolishness and playfulness as a means of understanding the world – through a weekend of art installations and experiments, walks, talks, performances and campfire discussions.
EAFS was a point of gathering, meeting and discussion in the open air, with walks and adventures out into the landscape, in the evenings visitors returned to the festival site to exchange new discoveries made during the days explorations, and to gather around the EAFS campfires to discuss everything from navigating new futures to death and the unknown, tracing local water courses to challenging new ways to tackle global climate change.
EAFS 15 was created and co-produced by The Stove Network and Wide Open working with the amazing Robbie Coleman and the EAFS recharge team, with additional support from Spring Fling.
Building on the success of Open Mouth during The Stove’s Open House events, we welcome back Sindigo and Eryl Shields, alongside curatorial member Martin O’Neill who are hosting Brave New Words, a day of performance poetry and spoken word at the Stove. Brave New Words is an afternoon of free discussion events, workshops and one to one consultations for the aspiring performance poet, followed in the evening by Dumfries’ first ever poetry Slam, with the winner securing a place in the Scottish Slam Championships in Glasgow!
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or have never done it before we want to hear from you!
There is absolutely no restriction on content.
For full instructions, to take part or for more information send an email to: [email protected]
Detailed below are the times and content of the discussion events and workshops:
2PM – 3PM: Sotirius Frantzanas: Democracy: What does it mean now?
Sotirius shall host a discussion on the meaning of democracy in the 21st Century. How does it relate to the current political landscape and in turn, our personal life? Is there such a thing as a truly democratic society? An open discussion and lecture on the process, philosophy and meaning of democracy in 2015.
Emily Elver is a ground-breaking spoken word performer from Edinburgh who combines the shocking and mysterious with the mundane, disgusting and delightful. There is no subject matter off limits and she deals out laughter and gasps in equal measure. She co-hosts Poetry Circus and is editor of Edinburgh’s newest literary magazine Freak Circus
Emily’s workshop aims to help remove some of the stumbling blocks aspiring writers and new performers have when trying to tell a personal tale. Emily will offer guidance on how to approach personal subjects confidently through discussions and readings of her work, followed by one to one advice and mentoring for the aspiring performance poet.
4PM – 5PM: Rory O’B: Rhyming and Rapping
Rory O’B is a fiercely intelligent rapper and talented musician from Oban. He has played at Kelburn, Audio Soup and The Loch Lomond Boat Party and performs to enthusiastic crowds both as a solo artist and with Ciaran Mac. He is currently part of Volition in Glasgow and runs exciting rap workshops for young people.
Rory O’B’s workshop looks at the origins of Hip-Hop culture, where it’s going and how we can relate it to our lives. Participants will have the chance to write their own rap, get to grips with rhythms, rhyming techniques and patterns with the opportunity to perform what they’ve written to the group.
7PM – Slam Championships
Brace yourselves for Dumfries’ first ever poetry Slam! Expect the controversial, heartfelt, beautiful, disgusting and joyous. Staged in three rounds, the winner will go on to compete in the Scottish Slam Championships in Glasgow.
My earliest memory was when I was 2 years old on holiday and my dad got me a fishing net. He convinced me that the plastic fish were real and I tried to eat them.
What drew you to The Stove?
I think what interested me most about the stove was the fact everyone is on the same team, it’s like one big family striving to make things better for everyone.
Which person do you most admire, and why?
I admire anyone who can go through a huge ordeal and still manage to smile at the end of the day.
What time of the day do you like most?
I love seeing the sunset, its so relaxing to see and I find the duller tone more calming.
Share your hope and dreams for The Stove?
I hope that the stove will continue to strive and be the main attraction of Dumfries and Galloway.
Sara’s work at the Mill on the Fleet during the Young Stove’s Not to be Sold Separately exhibition
What’s something that you found yourself enjoying that you never thought you would?
I walk a lot and am still able to love it.
Which film changed your life?
Ratatouille…I imagine all of the little rats of Dumfries cooking away whilst the chefs are distracted.
What keeps you in and around Dumfries?
The Stove and family
What’s been the most exciting part of the Stove Process for you?
Seeing the building come together and the development of the young stove.
What songs do you carry closest to your heart?
Blue Velvet, my dad always sang this to my mum.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My daughter
Where’s your favourite place to be in D&G?
The stove
What makes you happiest?
Paintings that work out
Tell us your passion:
My art and my daughter Daisy
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The Young Stove’s first collective exhibition, Not to Be Sold Seperately will open at The Stove on Friday, 11th September and feature performance, live art, installation events as part of the exhibitions opening. More details about Not to Be Sold Seperately coming shortly.
Aged 16 to 30 and interested in the arts? Find out more about the Young Stove here
