New Exhibitions At Gracefield

Friday, 08 July 2022 10:56

Two new linked exhibitions open in July at Gracefield in Dumfries, in Gallery 1 it’s the Dumfries & Galloway Fine Arts Society Annual Exhibition. Originally set up in 1922, Dumfries & Galloway’s largest practising art group presents a fascinating selection of over 60 its members’ work, which this year celebrates it centenary year and 97 years of their annual exhibition. With over 180 works from painting and drawing to craft and sculpture, there is always something to catch the eye and as most are available to buy, it’s the ideal exhibition to start or enhance your original art collection with prices to suit all pockets.

In this celebration year, the Society has had members shows at Ottersburn Gallery in April, the current annual at Gracefield in Dumfries and then in November, a special one-off show at Kirkcudbright Galleries in the town where the society was established by leading artist of the day, including Jessie M King, Charles Oppenheimer and Chris Fergusson.

Communities Committee Chair, Councillor Archie Dryburgh said:

“It’s a wonderful display again this year and gives a really good feel for the artwork being made around the region from artist with many different interests: form landscape to portraiture, still life and abstract – there’s a very strong contemporary look and the Society show be very proud of its membership’s work and many congratulations on the centenary.”

Across the Gracefield car park in gallery 2 is ‘Centennial: Art from the Gracefield Collection’. This special selection of over 60 works has been made by Lachlan Goudie,a Scottish artist, writer and BBC broadcaster,who has curated key artists from the last century from the Gracefield permanent collection. From the Scottish Colourists, through the post-war period of modern art to the present day it’s a fascinating story reflecting the styles and movements in art over the last century. The Gracefield Collection also has its origins in the 1920s with the establishment of the Dumfriesshire Educational Trust art collection, which then found a permanent home at Gracefield when it opened to the public in 1951. Since then, the DET and Dumfries and Galloway Council have added to the publicly owned paintings, drawing, prints, photographs, and sculpture amounting to over 700 artworks.

Councillor John Campbell, Vice Chair of Communities Committee added:

“It’s great to see our collection on view in the summer holiday season, with some hidden gems brought to light by inviting a guest curator. It’s a walk through 100 years of art from Scotland and beyond, with something for everyone to enjoy.”

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