‘Creative Space - the contemporary use of stone in urban spaces’. Talk by David F Wilson
Members of the Central Scotland Branch held their AGM at Luncarty Church Hall 3rd November 2019. Before the business part of the meeting, Kate Armstrong welcomed those present and introduced David F Wilson, who gave a very interesting talk about his Winston Churchhill Fellowship trip to USA and Canada.
This encompassed Art vs Traditional Stonework standards and highlighted how art can be incorporated into stonework in public places. His talk celebrated the use of stone throughout the ages, lamented the demise of its use and the subsequent loss of knowledge and skills, but highlighted the importance of finding other ways of using stone in the modern world.
Traditional circular turf wall providing a sheltered seat at Loch Leven, by David F Wilson
He showed pictures of ways in which stone in the States is used not just for traditional dry stone walls, but in other ways, from public art to playgrounds. Beautiful stonework makes us smile and creative play space like those in Boulder, Colorado, make a safe place for families to relax and in turn encourage shops to open.
His vision would be to establish in the UK a branch of the Stone Foundation as seen in the USA. https:/davidfwilson.co.uk
Retaining drystone wall at Loch Leven, by David F Wilson
Artwork in Stone
Geese carved on to stone at Loch Leven by David F Wilson.
Poetry on stone
at Loch Leven by David F Wilson
Artwork in stone commemorating the Jute Industry in Dundee by David F Wilson
Summary of AGM
Chair’s Annual Report:
Kate welcomed Richard love who is our National Trustee but is retiring shortly and she thanked him for all the years of support he has given to our branch. She also highlighted:
Forty beginners joined training courses this year coming from well beyond the boundary of our area. Our website is an essential means of publicising our work and attracting trainees.
Our involvement in charitable work this year included Cambo Estate, Cowden Japanese garden and Murton nature reserve.
Membership has risen significantly this year to 57 with 18 as new members. However we have lost 3 instructors so we need to encourage more people to get qualifications.
Kate thanked the committee for their range of expertise and energies but we do need more help to deliver the same level of programme.
Forfar Smallholders Festival is a new source of interested folk needing to learn more and offering to host courses.
The branch is in good health financially, although donations are down significantly with a small loss recorded, but this was in part due to a donation give to HQ earlier in the year.
Since the end of the financial year further monies have come in and we are in a good position to set up a programme of events for 2020.
Presentation of Loyalty Award: This was presented to John Dobson.
Discussion of ideas /events for 2020:
Trish Waite proposed that there needed to be improvers’ days in our programme.
Richard Love spoke in reply and said that in talks about a Central Scotland Training Site the Scottish Lime Centre had offered a site on their ground which could be used as a training site and also as a practice centre to be used by SE and CS branches.
Kate Armstrong raised the issue that at the Smallholders event there was considerable interest from holders in the North East and that this should be looked at for possible events in the future.
Artwork in Stone - Furadouro, Portugal