PVAF Breakout Sessions Sunday afternoon 19th October 2008

PVAF attract artists working in a wide range of media so that  these sessions are intended to offer opportunities of many kinds ; introductions to new skills, specific discussion opportunities and  visits. These are introduced for the first time in direct response to  participants  suggestions.

Each session will last for one & a half hours and  will have a limit on places which  will be allocated on a first come basis at Sunday morning registration which starts at 9.30am. Difficult though the choice will be you will have to choose only one! But we will put  a review of them all on the website later.

1.
EARTH COLOURS demonstration with some hands-on. How to create  and use natural earth pigment  Leader Jan Hendry.
I had become fascinated by the long history of human involvement with natural mineral pigments and in June 2002 a Carnegie Trust travel award allowed me to take this work outside. I chose to spend a week in Arran, exploring the island with my mind on geology, people and landscapes… Since then I have collected coloured earths and rocks in Scotland, England and Australia … JH
Jan Hendry from Fife has an MA in Geography and a BA in Fine Art

2.
MAKING A ‘POEM-HOUSE’    demonstration  with some hands-on.  Techniques and ideas for making 3 dimensional forms that house or incorporate words. Leader Brigid Collins, artist and illustrator  back by popular request from last years Forum. This is a taster workshop which is followed by a public workshop at Birnam Institute  in Saturday 8th November 10am  -5pm. This can be booked now by emailing Brigid  at  brigid.collins@virgin.net
Brigids work can be found at  http://www.scottishillustrators.com

3.
STUDIO VISIT.  Travel by private cars to the rural studio of Nigel Ross and Claudia Wegner  approx 10 min journey.  Claudia  is  a painter and also makes  ceramic sculpture. A very experienced mycologist she is currently  working on a  Medicinal Mushroom sci-art project and will have many of these works on show.
Nigel  creates large scale  sculpture from fallen trees and  makes other  functional artworks in wood. He has a number of  these works to be seen.

4.
WALKING TALK.  Join Kerry Morrison  and her mobile ‘Concern’ cart for a talking walk around Birnam’s pathways  and lanes. Discuss environmental issues   suggested by the plants and mosses that you find. An all weather walk so come prepared. Kerry - a popular speaker from last years PVAF  - is  returning to create a commissioned art work , become part of it by joining this perambulation !

5.
WEB WORK. A practical discussion lead by Cultural Enterprise’s Ailsa Watson.  Making the web work for you; explore different platforms and networks that will help you reach a growing and apt audience. 
If you ever thought that the web was a tool that should be doing more for your career then this is the workshop for you.

6.
ECHO Japanese artists group who also form the  Yomibaeru  artist  band , are coming to Scotland specially to attend PVAF 2008. In this breakout session they will show you the reusable and eco friendly  wrapping technique of Furoshiki.  An Informal  networking and hands on session, they will be happy to talk about Japan, their  own art or even  sing you a Japanese song. They are also offering a BIG DRAW public  workshop at Birnam Institute on October 14th   1-4pm  which can be booked at   www.birnamarts.com  tel 01350 727 674

They are sponsored by Sasakawa and Daiwa Foundation awards and Japan 21.

7.
SAM Clark is an invited speaker and commissioned artist for PVAF 2008.   Sam has a very  varied art practice which includes  exhibitions, public art commissions and  some very notable residencies, she also teaches art. Sam is very willing to  talk with artists about the ways  and means of making this happen. Just what does it take  to obtain these residencies and what is the value creatively.  A rare opportunity to talk with a successful artist about the ways and means of their practice.
www.samanthaclark.net
www.thevideoartgallery.com

8.
Allison and Bray Elaine Allison and Patricia Bray are creating an installation  in Birnam House hotel, Birnam  for PVAF 2008. They will talk about their regular collaborative partnership, and the relationship between this and their own individual practices. They have recently finished a two month residency in Norway where they made a large-scale public art work. They are willing to talk about their experience of being artists in Norway and the work they made, and pass on useful contacts and connections. They work in a wide variety of mediums from print to sculpture and installation. A great opportunity for those interested in working abroad, partnership, public installations and varied practice. They have wealth of information to pass on.
www.axisweb.org  Allison and Bray

9.
Artist Lead Initiatives.   This  meeting point session will be lead by Luisa Ramazzotti who was instrumental in setting up the first Perth Open Studios  trail  that will have concluded shortly before PVAF. This is an opportunity for an evaluation  of that event with  others  who have been involved in similar events elsewhere or who are interested in starting up an open studio or any other artist lead event.  A specific focus  group , with lots of useful information exchange.