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A new exhibition at Gracefield Gallery 1 brings botanical beauty to the gallery – Kirsty Lorenz is a Fife-based artist who have shown her widely and had successful shows of her work at leading galleries including the Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh. This brand-new body of work will debut at Gracefield and the artist said:  

“I’m excited to be presenting new paintings inspired by the use of plants in healing physical, emotional and spiritual ailments. Many of these paintings have been inspired by old plant recipes and remedies, some quite unlikely sounding. The healing plant recipes give a conceptual frame to the artworks that touch on themes like spirituality, the natural world and health/wellbeing/mindfulness.”

Kirsty undertook research at Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (Herbarium), The Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh, Kew Gardens Archive and Library, and The Linnean Society, London. Submersing herself in plant illustrations dating back to 1500’s, the older the botanical illustration the more stylised they become. They seemed to me to express more about the properties of the plants than more modern factual representations. This was a turning point for the artist, these old illustrations giving her permission to let go of reality whilst still using observation of the plants as a starting point.

The title painting for the exhibition is ‘Recipe for a Miracle’, (acrylic on birch wood panel, 100x100cm), inspired by a 17th century panacea called ‘Aqua Mirablis’ said to restore vigour and refresh the spirit. It depicts all the ingredients: Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, galangal, rosemary and thyme. Kirsty has a studio at Platform 2 at Ladybank Railway Station in Fife and has been painting plants and flowers since 2003. In this exhibition you can also see examples from ‘Votive Offerings’ (a series of paintings of flower posies made (and left) around Scotland and beyond and ‘The Flowering Sun’ and ‘Phases of the Moon in Bindweed’ series.

Communities Committee Chairman, Councillor Archie Dryburgh said:

“These painting offer something very different and inspirational and Kirsty’s detailed technique in her painting is absolutely fascinating, a truly original talent.”

Over in Gallery 2 Gracefield is delighted to be part of a national touring exhibition programme from the Hayward Gallery and Arts Council of England’s collection:  Claude Cahun: Beneath this Mask

Cahun (1894-1954) is best known for her original, enigmatic and playful photographic self-portraits. Decades ahead of its time, her work toyed with perceived gender roles and identity - concerns that are still as current and pertinent in today’s world as ever. 

Join us for free Gallery Talks: Saturday 27 August 1.30-2.30pm 

Kirsty Lorenz gives a guided talk around the exhibition discussing the inspiration research and techniques used to create her highly detailed botanical paintings and drawings.

Saturday 3 September:  1.30-2.30pm Cahun: Exploring an Icon. Dumfries and Galloway artist Denise Zygadlo gives a guided talk on the exhibition and discusses how the work has informed her own art and how Cahun’s influence on the culture of her time and those that followed.

Please book in advance where possible as numbers are limited. arts@dumgal.gov.uk or 01387 262084

Also on display in our café gallery is an inspirational local artist’s work, a memorial exhibition of the work of local artist Jane Howe (1951–2020).  Jane was a talented artist, loving wife and mother, and very enthusiastic tennis player. She poured energy and dedication into everything; driven by a strong will to succeed, she always made the most of every opportunity and experience available.

Based in Haugh of Urr, she was well-known locally for her participation in most of the annual Spring Fling Open Studio weekends which provided her with a great motivation to showcase new pieces. In addition, she was an active member of Dumfries and Galloway Fine Art Society and the Yellow Door art collective. Always keen to encourage and inspire creativity in children, she was involved in the busy Life Drawing and Kids Club classes at Gracefield for many years. In 2017 she was one of nine local artists to contribute to ‘Beyond the Figure’ at the Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh; an exhibition which showed a range of work in different mediums, all celebrating the human figure. Having studied at Leith School of Art and The Edinburgh Drawing School, her particular interest was the human form, but she also ventured into landscape and seascape. Her work often featured a view from a door or window to cast light onto a scene, and always featured signs of human presence, with boats, gates or fences woven into her expressive composition. Jane died suddenly from Cancer in December 2020, a devastating shock for everyone who knew and loved her. Her absence has been greatly felt amongst not only her family but with those she collaborated and worked with locally.

Jane left behind a great body of work, which will be available to view and purchase on 17 September with proceeds being donated to Marie Curie. Although care from Marie Curie was offered, Jane sadly deteriorated too quickly to experience the wonderful services they provide, however she always commented on the vital importance of the charity and their work.  The exhibition will be held in the cafe gallery at Gracefield from 23 August – 17 September, with a special invitation only event 5-8pm on the final Saturday evening.

Councillor John Campbell, Vice Chair of Communities Committee added:

“As with many people lost during Covid lockdowns, normal ritual and gatherings have been on hold, or not occurred and this show gives us all a chance to mark the passing of one from our artistic community and contribute to the ongoing fight against cancer.”

The exhibitions are open Tuesday-Saturday 10am to 5pm, admission free, at 28 Edinburgh Road Dumfries – follow the yellow AA signage! For more information on what’s on at Gracefield and all the Councils other arts and museums visit www.DGCulture.co.uk