PVAF forum2010

This year's PVAF forum included two days of inspirational artists talks on collaboration, science and art, fire and ice sculpture, public art installation and creativity using textiles, as well as a members' open exhibition, the Travelling Gallery exhibition, mentoring sessions, discussion and networking.

Paddy Hartley, a London based artist and curator of Brahm Gallery Leeds, talked about his most recent work, a collaboration with Biomaterials scientists at Guy's Hospital in London as well as his long established collaboration with The Gillies Archives presenting personal stories of war injuries using fabric and stitch.

New Zealand artists Dr Victoria Edwards and Ina Johann, resident artists at Perth Museum as part of the Perth 800 programme spoke about their collaborative practice through performance and installation.

Chris Biddlecombe, currently the president of the Scottish Artists Union, talked about his art projects which elicit interactive responses to specific public sites and which have encouraged collaborations between artists and other creative professionals such as architects, planners, curators, writers, musician and performers.

Di Gilpin showed how she derives her inspiration for her textile work through geology, architecture and landscape for a wide range of commissioned work.

Barrie Andrian Director of the Scottish Crannog Centre at Loch Tay described a new project 'Fire & Ice' a collaboration between PVAF, The Scottish Crannog Centre and Perth and Kinross arts development team.
Lithuanian sculptor Kestutis Musteikis will present his array of fire and ice sculpture as an introduction to workshops which he will be running as part of the project.
Claire Hewitt, a professional storyteller and musician introduced scottish myths and legends which will form the basis of the theme for this event.

The PVAF member's exhibition 'Forms of Narrative' opened in the Birnam Institute and runs till the 29th June. It includes works created in response to a specific form of narrative ranging from a book, film, story,photo, song to poem.

Mentoring sessions were presented by Douglas McBride on photography and Frances Law on creative process through the use of sketch books in addition to mentoring by all the forum speakers.