D&G feels as a living, breathing, constantly moving artistic body – there is a sense of creative vitality, as if the air were purer, deeper than in other places – as if residents were moved and inspired by their surroundings. Much of the work here seeps essence of the rural, natural base that surrounds everyday living here. At the Spring Fling talks, artists spoke of a different time-frame, a different speed of living that allowed the work to naturally unfold. This is, indeed, greatly romanticised and no-one made mention of long car journeys to get anywhere and starting to feel like a regular in Homebase looking for cheap materials… 

It does feel somehow to be out on a limb, as it were, Glasgow is not a million miles away but indeed feels very disconnected from the goings on here. A trip this week to Tramway to look into the work of Niall Macdonald was a fruitful one. The exhibition Opal-Logo Palm is an exploration of beautiful cast objects, everyday artefacts calling out to be examined and re-considered. He spoke of ‘sampling’ culture in his short talk on the work and the conceived relationship to the neighbouring exhibition Yannis Kounellis, was palpable.

The train journey home prompted a detour to a late night studio session as finally sense seemed to be made of my works direction. Finally some sense of material success is being had, although my mould making is somewhat out of practice after a summer of laziness – the goal for this week is to get ahead and up the pace.