Month: August 2024

Categories
boat building Rowing

Nith Animals

Cluaran will be rowed up the river Nith by representatives from the union of river animals. (Find out more about the artist behind this on this post).

We will be practicing in the evenings on on Thursday the 15th and 22nd. Assemble at Wordsmithcrafts Workshop at 6pm.

Sign up to join the crew here:

Want to become a river animal yourself?

Then sign up here to be put in touch with the Dumfries Coastal Rowing Club which is coming into existence. We will be building a Nith Skiff. You could also get in touch directly by e-mailing nithskiff@gmail.com

https://forms.gle/c2pAvgmi1vQ8nkFv9
Sign up using Google Forms

https://forms.gle/c2pAvgmi1vQ8nkFv9

Categories
Arts Installations Events Rowing

Nithraid 2024

We will be rowing as part of the Nithraid River Festival in 2024, but not as part of the race. We will be travelling in time and mind …

Cluaran has always used the phrase “The sea connects” and has enjoyed an eclectic selection of events. We challenge peoples assumption that water is a barrier by building boats. We build boats from scrap and gathered natural materials to demonstrate how simple it can be to get on the water. We use imagination and performance to immerse people in experiences of other times, and tell stories where mythological truths can be contemplated.

At the 2023 Nithraid we collected a crew of time travellers. They brought stories from the past, present, and future to help people think about their relationship to the river. Follow the link to read about Ola who travelled back in time to warn about a possible future

What will 2024 look like ???

In 2024 we are transporting visiting artist Graham Bell Tornado. We are looking forward to finding out what this will involve. If you are curious, why not take a look at their list of Queer Ecology projects?

http://www.grahambelltornado.com/queer-ecology/the-natural-hysteria-project

We are getting cluaran ready and practicing rowing on Thursday evenings leading up to the event. If you are interested in joining, please sign up here:

As well as our regulars, our crew will have an international flavour as we are joined by Cille Anglevik an artist from Norway. (I can assure you she is not a cat)

Categories
boat building News

2nd Nith Skiff meeting

After a successful first meeting those who gathered have decided that it is time Dumfries had it’s own St Ayles Skiff.

The plan is to build the craft in the town centre, where people can see what is going on.

We will be doing it as a community build. This means the project will involve things like using the build as a focus to give people hands on experience using tools. We will also arrange activities and events to involve people who might be interested in rowing and boats in general – and those who have never really thought about it.

We are aiming to get the boat on the water for the Skiffieworlds event in Stranraer July 2025

We have been offered support from Annan and are building a network of builders, rowers and interested supporters. We all went away with tasks to manage and WhatsApp group set up if you would like to keep in touch that way.

The Second meeting will be on the 6th of August, Tuesday evening, in the Dougie arms from 18.30

We will be discussing things like:

  • A place to build it in
  • The overall costs
  • Training and technical advice
  • Communication and keeping people informed
  • Community events

Sign up here!