Poetry special November 28th at TT

Thomas Tosh plays host to two local poets on Saturday 28th November at 3pm. Rab Wilson and Chrys Salt will be reading from their latest collections.

Rab is Dumfries' Burns Writing Fellow and has recently made a splash in national media for showing how Burns' epic Tam O'Shanter was influenced by an English poet.

Rab's got a winning style and his latest work is Life Sentence.

Chrys Salt's latest poetry book is Old Times, published by Hugh Bryden's imprint Roncadora Press. She's the powerhouse behind the art venue The Bakehouse in Gatehouse of Fleet.

Join us at 3pm on Saturday 28th November for what promises to be a good afternoon.

Have a 5 x 5 Halloween at tt

Here's tt's pumpkin, carved up by Bessie. There's a bit of a pumpkin theme going on in the cafe menu this Saturday, 31st October.

Also it's the last day to see ThornhillArts' 5 x 5 exhibition. It's worth a look and has been getting a good response from customers. Definitely a Halloween treat.

Written by Paul O'Keeffe at Thomas Tosh

Place Identity Memory--last few days

Art takes the form of books in our latest exhibition at Thomas Tosh: Place Identity Memory. The books on display are either unique works or special limited editions created by local and international artists.

The exhibition finishes this coming Monday (21st September) so there are a few more days to catch it. It is well worth the effort.

The exhibition gives visitors the chance to pick up and peruse these works of art. It is a tactile, intimate experience with the books. There's also a great catalogue to go with the exhibition, designed by former TT artist-in-resident Hugh Bryden.

Place Identity Memory comes to Thomas Tosh after a successful debut at Gracefields Galleries in Dumfries, and it's next destination is the Stranraer Museum.

The exhibition has been organised by IRIS, a collective of artists. IRIS includes: Hugh Bryden; Jeremy Carlisle; Robbie Coleman; Linda Mallett; Andy Priestman; Julian Watson and Denise Zygaldo. All the artists live and work here in Dumfries and Galloway.

Last chance to see: Hugh and Burns today

It's the last day for our two summer exhibitions today (5th September 2009). Burns: The Taxman has been with us since January. But from next week we are loaning it out.


And artist-in-residence Hugh Bryden is holding his final workshops.

Hugh will be running two monoprinting workshops at 11am and 2pm and will be at Tosh all day. You are very welcome to try your hand and the workshops are free.

Paul O'Keeffe at Thomas Tosh

Hugh launches his summer's work this Saturday

Hugh Bryden is unveiling the new work he has created for his Summer at Home exhibition this coming Saturday (August 29th). And Hugh will be also holding print demonstrations and launching his new artists book collaborations.

Hugh is used to spending summers in warmer climes searching for inspiration. But staying at home in Dumfriesshire and spending time with us for one of the wettest summers in memory hasn’t dampened his spirits.

Indeed, two of the works Hugh has created for the exhibition Summer at Home capture this summer’s dominant weather theme: Blustery and Solway Rain.

Hugh has also created new works featuring well-known local sites and areas of beauty including: Kirkcudbright Tolbooth; Thornhill Cross; Powillimont Shore; Mennock Bridge and Devorgilla’s Bridge.

Print involving poetry is this Saturday’s theme. At 11am and 2pm Hugh will be showing how to create Poetry pamphlets—combining writing and simple bookbinding.

And at 3pm—Hugh will launch both of his new artists books. His collaboration with writer Chrys Salt entitled Old Times, and the other collaboration --Devorgilla’s Bridge --with poet Hugh McMillan. Both Hughs will read excerpts from the poetry pamphlets.

All the events are free, and you are very welcome to join us.

written by Paul O'Keeffe at Thomas Tosh

HUGH SHOWS HOW TO PRINT IT YOURSELF

Our artist in residence Hugh Bryden will show you how you can create prints in the comfort of your own home this Saturday (22nd August).

Hugh is holding the printing demonstrations at 11am and 2pm. And entry is free.

Hugh will be showing customers a range of printmaking techniques that can be carried out in the home without specialist equipment.

Hugh is also exhibiting new work created as part of his exhibition: Summer at Home. The exhibition’s been running here at Thomas Tosh for the past three weeks. The new prints of local scenes include: Devorgilla’s Bridge ; Penpont; Kirkcudbright, Castle Douglas; Thornhill and Mennock.

It is all part of Hugh’s mission to completely change his exhibition by the end of its run. And next Saturday (29th August) we will be celebrating the launch of the new work here at Tosh and you are welcome to join us.

The exhibition finishes on September 5th. Hugh will be holding two more Saturday workshops, and will be at TT every Tuesday as well.

written by Paul O'Keeffe at Thomas Tosh

Hugh Bryden Workshop Saturday 8th August

Award winning publisher and printmaker Hugh Bryden is holding a free workshop at Thomas Tosh today (Saturday 8th August).

Hugh will be showing customers the techniques of how to make simple books, such as accordion structures. He uses these techniques himself in his artists books.

Hugh will be at Thomas Tosh from 10am onwards and you are very welcome to drop in at any time.

Hugh's first week as artist in residence at Thomas Tosh has been going well. He's produced the first print proofs of linocuts whilst he's been here.

The prints are of local scenes: Penpont's war memorial, the cross at Thornhill, and Mennock Bridge. They are great depictions of familiar places, which haven't been portrayed in linocut before.

Hugh has created strong, fresh images--with twists you'd expect from this award-winning printmaker.

For example, there's the barbed wire running along the wall behind the war memorial in his Penpont print. That's a literal representation of what you see, but you'd probably miss it if you visited the memorial. Hugh's work makes this echo of the trenches stand out.

Hugh will be holding more workshops later this month, and will be at TT every Tuesday as well.

The gallery page has more details.