Local film and model maker Edward Ryan considers the valuable experience that could be gained and shared if young people engage in the creative design of off-grid buildings among the clay quarries of the Brickfields Site in Sanquhar.  

Exhibition at MERZ of paintings by Albuquerque artist in residence Cindy Dominguez explore the landscape, colour and sensations of Scotland in contrast to those of Cindy’s home state of New Mexico.    

This year’s Sanquhar Arts Festival recalled the fifteen years of MERZ artist’s engagement, particularly on the theme of reconstruction & fabrication. Borrowing from Kurt Schwitters‘ use of found and discarded materials in making his work MERZ has continued to evolve over fifteen years with ‘work’ that repurposes and reclaims materials (and buildings) with a view... Read More

For a downloadable online catalogue that can be shared as a pdf CLICK HERE then cliick highlighted URL https://indd.adobe.com/view/5b16fb7c-90f4-4a56-b81e-29b28e71c0e3

The exhibition over the Easter weekend celebrates the continuity of the World’s Oldest Post Office by inviting artists from around the world to post their mail art to nearby MERZ for exhibition. The cards form a ‘call’ for ‘response’ from those receiving. Each card will be answered and both returned to the artist suitably stamped... Read More

After the establishment of the Islamic Republic in Iran in January 1979, the government applied strict rules restricting the freedom of women. From two months after the revolution women had no right to appear in public without wearing the hijab These laws made it harder and harder for women to express their own identity: but... Read More

In April 2024 celebrated Glasgow stained glass artist Keira Mclean will be running a six day course at MERZ followed by a twenty-one day residency for artists to develop work with stained, coloured and etched glass. The course is suitable for artists considering using glass and will begin by addressing the fear of working with... Read More

This is an initial round-robin to artists and colleagues on a project MERZ is sounding-out to explore developing the remains of Sanquhar’s former brick workings. The area very loosely encircled in red on the map comprises a couple of remaining buildings (fewer than shown on this early map) with some rough grass land with a... Read More

Olivia Irvine and Isabelle Bonzom outline the processes and techniques involved in the recent fresco painted by Olivia at MERZ under Isabelle’s guidance. With an update from August 2023 as Olivia completes her fresco.

Yoni Newman was in residence at MERZ for August. Yoni decided to work small on intimate landscape drawings inspired by the surrounding area where he went running most days.

  Collage: Satire, Defamation & Fakery explores collage’s social engagement in speaking truth(s) to power. Boundaries help distinguish our personal and professional responsibilities from those of others. Forced stereotypes contribute to bigotry much supported by slander and libel or defamation. Collage lends itself well to satire, to anticipate the consequences of poor leadership and self-inflated... Read More

Connie Michele Morey was artist in residence at MERZ in July and August. Connie writes, “I am exploring my role in holding space for and healing intergenerational violence of the colonial system that continues to impact indigenous communities, and therefore all of us, in Canada and many parts of the globe.”

  At MERZ we’ve completed building work (for a while!). MERZ now offers three bedroom accommodation at no 5 (or configured as two bedrooms upstairs with a living room and studio downstairs, and with recently added wood-burner), the Bothy has its loft-bed and Murphy-bed, both double-beds, while Tadpole has a king-sized loft-bed and Snug –... Read More