Can you cast your shadow for new Cupar Arts Festival project?

Running from June 18 - 25, the programme will include works from some of Scotland’s most significant contemporary artists – including Charles Avery, Chad McCail and Rachel MacLean – placed in spaces across the Fife market town of Cupar.

And one artist – Jenny Smith, wants to explore the question ‘what is shadow?’ with the input of art lovers and curious souls from the local area.

For the 2016 Cupar Arts Festival, Jenny’s work is a site-specific installation created out of shadows which will be housed on the upper floor of Cupar’s historic former Burgh Chambers building.

Edinburgh-based artist, Juliana Capes is asking for the local community to donate curved handle umbrellas for her installation and we have a collection bin at the YMCA for this.

Working with members of the local community in Cupar, she will explore shadow which she says can be literal in terms of physical light and shade, something artists consider when rendering three dimensions into two. Or in an abstract way – a shadow cast over something can allude to sadness, or Carl Jung’s belief that we have a hidden, shadow side to our personality.

The result will be a contemplative, immersive installation which uses light and shadow to depict the hand written answers of participants.

One of the Cupar Arts Festival 2016 Invited Artists, Jenny will also give a talk about her work and introduce her new project for this year’s festival on May 9 from 6-8pm.

Jenny’s work was a huge success at the previous Cupar Arts Festival in 2013, when she worked with children at Castlehill Primary School to create a beautiful public artwork inlaid in the grass in the Haugh Park and she is one of several established artists who have been invited to return for a second time this year.

The free event held at Cupar’s YMCA-YWCA is open to all and is a great opportunity to be part of Jenny’s new artwork by responding to a particular question on the night.

Jenny is seeking participation from all members of the Cupar community including children, teens and adults.

Refreshments will also be provided.

Also for seeking the community’s input is artist Juliana Capes who is developing a new installation that will span the threshold between indoor and outdoor space. She builds complex installations from the repetition and adaptation of everyday items, her installations transform the mundane into the mesmeric.

And on that note Juliana is seeking donations of umbrellas with beautiful curved handles in all colours and sizes. Local donations may be handed in to Cupar YMCA where there is a CAF ‘Umbrella Collection Bin’!