Website will show off the best of art Innovative project to boost Open Studios trail
An innovative project to showcase the work of Perthshire artists has been given a boost thanks to the launch of a new website.
Organised by Blairgowrie-based artist Wendy Mackey, the Leslie Street Art Trail comprises a series of exhibitions in shop windows in the town during the nineday Perthshire Open Studios celebration of art, which this year takes place from Saturday,September 7 to Sunday, September 15
Wendy is working with local artists, businesses and organisations on the website which, as well as the art itself, will feature details about each of the participating artists and directions to their Perthshire Open Studios venues.
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, this year’s trail will feature over 60 artists exhibiting in 29 businesses and organisations in the town. As well as Leslie Street, businesses in the Wellmeadow, Meadow Place, Reform Street, Allan Street and Upper Mill Street are also involved this year.
Each window, although showcasing individual artists, will have a coordinated look, with a small version of the colourful Perthshire Open Studios bunting, sponsored by the Blairgowrie-based One Voice Volunteer Association, and matching acrylic sign holders displaying the artists’ contact details and directions to their venue.
Wendy explained: “The idea is that, because so many of the Perthshire Open Studios venues are based in the countryside and suburbs, the showcase windows will bring Perthshire Open Studios right into the town centre and hopefully encourage more people to visit studios outwith the town.
“The windows of the businesses will be decorated with a selection of unique artworks including several different styles of paintings, ceramics, needlefelting, crochet, knitting, weaving, silver jewellery, wood carving, sculpture and fused glass.”
And the response to the initiative this year has been hugely enthusiastic.
Wendy said: “People have been so supportive and keen to be involved, both artists and businesses and organisations.
“This year, as well as the artists taking part in Perthshire Open Studios, we also have four budding artists taking part in the art trail.
“We really want to encourage that and give people a window – literally – to showcase their work locally in a way that they may not have previously had the opportunity to do so, and we’re keen to build on this even further for next year’s event.”
The new website has been developed in response to the growth of the Leslie Street Art Trail, which has nearly doubled in size in just its second year.
Developed by Tracie Dick from Nest Creative Spaces, one of the organisations taking part in the trail, it features details of all the participating businesses and organisations and information on the artists whose work they are hosting in their windows.
It also lists a number of workshops with talented local artists that are taking place during the Art Trail.
The new website can be viewed at www. lesliestreetarttrail.co.uk
The Leslie Street Art Trail also has a Facebook page and Instagram for up-todate information and news.