CLARE MELINSKY AT TT FOR HARRY POTTER SIGNING

It's Harry Potter Saturday at Thomas Tosh tomorrow (6th November 2010). Local illustrator Clare Melinsky is joining us from 10.30am-12.30pm to sign copies and box sets of the new Harry Potter Signature Editions. Clare illustrated the new covers, and as well as this local connection, there are other Dumfriesshire links on a number of the covers. For example, here's one connection unearthed by today's Dumfries and Galloway Standard.http://www.dgstandard.co.uk/dumfries-news/local-news-dumfries/local-news-dumfriesshire/2010/11/05/clare-melinsky-s-harry-potter-illustrations-were-inspired-in-dumfriesshire-51311-27602220/

There's a special discount of 10% on the cover price of the Signature Edition books and box sets bought in store at TT tomorrow as well. So you can make your Harry Potter Signature Editions that little bit more special with the signature of the cover artist.

And there's also a special Harry Potter section in our gallery, where you can find out more about how Clare brought her artistic magic to J.K. Rowling's world popular series. Entry is free. And it is all happening at Thomas Tosh, the Old Parish Hall, 19 East Morton Street, Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway. DG3 5LZ.

The Salon Returns tomorrow night (Tuesday 12th October)

Local poets Betty Tindal and Doug Curran will be at old parish hall at 19 East Morton, Street, Thornhill, tomorrow ( Tuesday 12th October). They are the guests for Thomas Tosh’s second Salon night. They will be performing poems from their Source to Solway set, which plots the journey of the River Nith through Nithsdale, on its way to the sea.

The poems, written by Betty, are read by the author and Doug, and are rich in detail gathered from locals and fishermen alike. The readings have a musical accompaniment provided by Doug on an Appalachian dulcimer hand-crafted in his workshops at Crawick, Sanquhar, and will feature the slow air 'The Winding Banks o' Nith', specially written by Doug to accompany the set.
Betty will also recite a selection of poems themed around 'Time and Tide’. These works are inspired by the author’s experiences around the coast, and on various islands which she visited as a volunteer with the Scottish National Trust Archaeology projects.

And Doug will also perform his wide ranging poetical observations of life in places as far apart as rural Galloway to the Far East. His poetry will have you wiping away a tear one moment, before his wry sense of humour reduces you laughter the next.

The Salon starts at 7.30pm and entry is free.

Robert Leighton talks photography this Saturday

Photographer Robert Leighton will be talking about his craft this Saturday (9th October) at 3pm, as part of the 5x5 exhibition. Robert’s photography features in the exhibition, which shows off five works from five artists.



The exhibition has been going really well. And Robert's work is a good counterpoint to the paintings and drawings of the other artists who are exhibiting.



The techniques he uses means that these photos can justifiably be seen as fine art in themselves.



Entry to Robert's talk is free.



Written by Paul O'Keeffe

5 x 5 exhibition October 2nd-October 30th

Our latest exhibition 5x5 starts tomorrow (Saturday 2nd October 2010). It features five local artists each exhibiting five pieces of work and is organised by ThornhillArts. Anne Butler (that's her painting Farm Cottage above), Brian Lord, Louisa Scott, Robert Leighton and William Spurway are the five with contrasting styles. Photographer Robert will also be talking about his art a week Saturday (9th October 2010) at 3pm. Thomas Tosh is open Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. We’re at 19 East Morton Street, Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway. DG3 5LZ. Entry is free.

The Salon launches Tuesday 7th September

Thomas Tosh is launching a new evening gathering celebrating great local writing here in Dumfriesshire.

The Salon will be held on occasional Tuesdays and opens with a clutch of award-winning poets on September 7th at 7.30pm.

Hugh McMillan, Vivien Jones and JoAnne McKay will be reading from their latest works.

Vivien Jones will recite from her newly published collection of poetry, About Time, Too. She’s fresh from the success of winning the 2010 Poetry London Prize last month.

JoAnne McKay will be reading from her new work, Venti. JoAnne is part of a growing band of Dumfriesshire-based poets creating illustrated and hand-sewn pamphlets. Venti is a booklet that can be seen as a piece of art in itself.

Hugh McMillan will be bringing his award winning poems and his performance skills to underpin what will be a great evening.

Entry is free. Coffee, tea, cake and refreshments will be available. The Salon will be held at Thomas Tosh in the Old Parish Hall, 19 East Morton Street, Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway. DG3 5LZ. Tel: 01848 331 553

Carol Taylor at Thomas Tosh 19th June

Artist Carol Taylor is back at Thomas Tosh on Saturday 19th June. She'll be at our Old Parish Hall Building, 19 East Morton Street, talking to customers about her exhibition Beauty and the Bog. Visitors really appreciated meeting Carol during Spring Fling weekend. So if you fancy seeing science and art fuse in some great pictures, it's really worth a visit. Carol will be around from 11am until 4pm.

Written by Paul O'Keeffe.

Carol Taylor and Spring Fling films this weekend at TT

The Vernon and Lee Arts Festival gig ( see blog below) has kicked off a busy few days for Thomas Tosh. It's Spring Fling weekend and there are special films showing on Sunday as part of the event here at Thomas Tosh in the Old Parish Hall on Sunday.

The films are by Glasgow-based artist Henry Coombes. The films are: Gralloch & The Bedfords. The big local interest here is that they were filmed locally at Capenoch, Penpont.

Each screening lasts around 20 minutes. There are three screenings: 6pm,6.45pm and 7.30pm. The screenings are free. If you definitely want to attend one particular screening, just give us a bell and we will reserve seats, otherwise just turn up on the door. If one screening is full you can get into the next one. Our phone number is 01848 331 553.

As well as the films, artist Carol Taylor will be at Tosh over Spring Fling weekend--Saturday, Sunday and Monday. She will be delighted to talk to customers about her exhibition in the parish hall: Beauty and the Bog. It's been getting a lot of attention and Carol is great at explaining her work and the scientific research around Scotland's wilderness that's inspired her.