Dervorguilla Street Shrines

Mike Inglis (Artist)

Research output: Non-textual formExhibition

Abstract / Description of output

The Stove is a new venture which involves a partnership of Dumfries and Galloway Council, The Chamber of Commerce and a constituted group of local arts practitioners called The Stove.

The Stove is delivering 3 beacon projects in 2012 each of which aim to engage the wider community of the town in thinking about the contemporary identity of Dumfries as a 'regional capital'. The first two of these projects 'First Foot' and 'Punkin' the Jubilee' were successfully presented in the town and you can view images and films of them at the website http://www.thestove.org.uk. The third project is the most ambitious of the 3 - it is called Inbetween:Dumfries - they have raised sufficient funds to commission 6 artists to undertake residencies in the town - the outcomes of these residencies will be presented as a mini-festival in week beginning 5th November 2012.

The core aim of each residency is for the artist to engage different communities within the town in a creative dialogue about their understanding and aspirations for Dumfries.

I am one of our artists - my particular interest is allowing 'excluded' or 'marginal' voices to be heard.

the dervorguilla street shrines project is a temporary art project which explores a series of personal layered narratives centred around beliefs or strongly felt values the community hold dear. inspired by the tale of Devorguilla Balliol and her personal shrine to her dearly missed husband John, the decency with which she treated people and her determination to provide a free education for all.

In the east of the county lies Sweetheart Abbey, founded in 1273 by Devorguilla Balliol, mother of King John Balliol. When her husband John died in 1268, Devorguilla had his heart embalmed and placed in an ivory shrine, and she used to eat her meals in its company, giving its share of every dish to the poor. She also had the rather grisly habit of carrying the heart around with her in a casket, and thus her Abbey got its name.

one of three artists projects that has been commissioned by the stove group for Inbetween:Dumfries 5-11th November 2012 in Dumfries an event made up of a series of specially commissioned creative projects presented in the public spaces of Dumfries. there will also be a two-day discussion programme presented by intersections a public art group http://www.intersectionspublicart.org.uk/ focussing on the role of culture in the development of small market towns.)
Original languageEnglish
PublisherTHE STOVE GROUP
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2012

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Dervorguilla Street Shrines'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this