Catriona Robertson : This Way That Way
Catriona Robertson was our first funded artist in residence at MERZ in Sanquhar. Cat had been visiting Kurt Schwitters’ MERZ Barn in Elterwater over the last two years and suggested a path from Schwitters’ last work in the UK into the Reconstruction and Fabrication legacy maintained in Sanquhar. Diuring her stay from July to September... Read More
Hannah Hoch art-house joins Kurt Schwitters
Dougie Sharpe‘s nearly finished painting the second MERZ art-house. Amy Marletta and Denise Zygladlo will be interpreting Hanna Hoch‘s work/life through new collages and puppetry(!) in the ‘house’. An exhibition of Amy and Denise’s work will coincide with the 100th anniversary of Hoch’s contribution to photomontage and will be held at MoMA, Sanquhar at the... Read More
Jane Frere : Exit – 100 Days of Khaos
A longstanding friend of MERZ Jane Frere introduces her ‘Brexit’ exhibition at Summerhall, Edinburgh. Exit – 100 Days of Khaos is on till the 27th October. The exhibition also features animation by Georges Eloi Thibault who worked closely with Jane over a period of seven months.
Catriona Robertson : Mobile Sculpture on Parade
Artist in Residence Catriona Robertson enters her wooden horse in the Parade as part of Sanquhar’s Riding of the Marches. With Erin, Lilly and Autumn, Cat and the horse were awarded second place in the walking category.
THE AIRTS THE WIND CAN BLAW : Sanquhar Arts Festival
NvTv’s programme about Sanquhar filmed during the first Sanquhar Arts Festival in May 2019. Organised by MERZ, A’ the Airts and the Upper Nithsdale Tourism Partnership.
Catriona Robertson : THIS WAY THAT WAY
THIS WAY THAT WAY is an exhibition by Catriona Robertson, artist in residence at the MERZ Gallery. In response to Kurt Schwitters and his Merz bau installations, the work for the exhibition draws on the idea of expansion of a space, through site responsive sculptures, collage and print. 6th September, 6-9pm – opening reception... Read More
Joan McAlpine MSP : Art in Action in Dumfries and Galloway
MSP Joan McAlpine visited MERZ today as part of Scottish Contemporary Art Network’s ‘Art in Action’ campaign. SCAN are seeking to show the Scottish Parliament various ways in which contemporary art is working to regenerate and reinvigorate local communities. Joan highlighted The Stove Network’s Mid-Steeple project in Dumfries and MERZ working with local and visiting... Read More
Nith.TV : A’ the Airts Summer School
Jade Davidson and David Rushton have been working with 6-11 year olds making short films about changes they’d like to see in the town. The films on local playparks can be found on https://www.facebook.com/NITHTVforKIDS/. Over the coming nine months we plan to involve local youngsters from 6-14 in making films about what they’d like to... Read More
Cat Robertson : MERZ Riding the Marches
MERZ Artist in Residence Cat Robertson’s horse being groomed for the 17th August pageant and fancy dress parade during Sanquhar’s Riding the Marches week of Events.
Filmmaking
One of several arts projects being run this Summer by A’ the Airts in Sanquhar for the seven weeks of the school holidays. Jade Davidson and David Rushton working with kids from Sanquhar and Kelloholm Primary schools. The young filmmakers have interviewed Jason Maracani at MERZ only to discover that one of his installations in... Read More
Jason Maracani : Tactile Shapes: Graphic Elements in Nature (Opening 12th July)
Tactile Shapes is a series of experiments bringing together textural materials, in this case burlap, to make large graphic shapes as a point of juxtaposition. This body of work is a continuation to a set of ideas that I began in Iceland, weaving 500+ yards of fishing rope to create similar wall hangings. In this iteration, I... Read More
Paul Brightwell : New MERZSPIEL Trailer
Paul performed MERZSPIEL at MERZ in Sanquhar. This is Paul’s latest trailer supporting his tour across the UK. For more information go to www.merzspiel.org. A film of MERZSPIEL at MERZ will be shown in the Kurt Schwitters art-house which is due to open at ZIPStudio in Sanquhar in Spring 2020.
Dougie Sharpe : Collapse the Box
Connor McKernan visits the town of Sanquhar to chat with local portrait painter and artist Dougie Sharpe about his recent exhibition, ‘Trauma’. Part of Spring Fling and the Sanquhar Arts Festival 2019. Filmed at ZipStudio for an episode of ‘Collapse the Box’ on Belfast’s local TV Channel: NvTv.
Jason Maracani : Tactile Shapes (Film)
Artist in Residence from mid-June till mid July Jason Maracani has been exploring the countryside in Upper Nithsdale with artist and guide Alice de Ville. Jason joined Alice to contribute work on a Bothy on the Southern Upland Way. Interpreting the local landscape Jason’s Tactile Shapes exhibition opens at MERZ on 12th July at 6:00pm.... Read More
Ally Wallace : MERZ Artist in Residence September to November 2019
Ally Wallace recently completed a self-initiated residency at Fairydean Stadium, Galashiels, where he spent his time making work that focuses on the architecture of the A Listed, Brutalist concrete grandstand there, designed by Modernist architect Peter Womersley and completed in 1964. The stadium is home to Gala Fairydean Rovers Football Club and Ally’s residency culminated... Read More
Tactile Shapes: Graphic Elements in Nature
Residency Exhibition at MERZ Friday, July 12th at 6.00pm Jason Maracani is our current Artist in Residence at MERZ. Jason will introduce an exhibition and film on his work in Sanquhar on July 12th at 6:00pm at MERZ. All welcome. “I am an artist, theatrical scenic/lighting designer, and teacher based in New York City. Much of... Read More
Colin Smyth MSP : Art in Action in Sanquhar
Colin Smyth, the MSP for South Scotland, visited MERZ, ZIPStudio and the Museum of Model Art to explore ‘Art in Action’ in Sanquhar. The Scottish Contemporary Art Network has several key messages which are being explored by Scotland’s MSPs during the parliamentary recess. Among those messages … “Culture and creativity are not an add-on; they... Read More