St James Fair Exhibitions 2008
Over 500 people visited the St James Fair 2008 exhibitions held in Kelso Town House as part of the St James Fair weekend. Despite the Fair being cancelled by the terrible weather the exhibitions and workshops were well attended.
Work in Print a celebration of Kelso’s contribution to 500 years of printing in Scotland, was a partnership exhibition in the true sense of the word.
The exhibition combined work from Friends of Kelso Museum, the Heritage Hub, Kelso and District Amenity Society, Kelso Graphics, Kelso Library and the Local Studies Librarian, SBC Library and Information Services.
After 1508, printing spread slowly across Scotland, with Kelso leading the way for the central Borders towns. In 1782, James Palmer printed two religious books at Kelso. A copy of one of these, Dissertation on the Foederal Transactions between God and his church was on display at the exhibition. Palmer also printed the Kelso Chronicle which was the first provincial newspaper in the Scottish Borders and only the second in Scotland, copies of early and later editions were on show.
Another aspect of this fascinating exhibition were exhibits from the Kelso Archive, a unique collection of papers providing an insight into life in Kelso in the eighteenth century.
In 2002, a fundraising partnership between the local community, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Borders Council, Kelso Common Good Fund and the National Fund for Acquisitions saved the collection from being sold to Yale University.
Compiled by Dr John Perkins from Warrington in 1993, The Kelso: Calendar, details the history of printing in Kelso and provides a list of books with the Kelso imprint. This document was reproduced and updated for the exhibition and now is a unique guide to Kelso and its valuable contribution to Scottish Printing.
Kelso Graphics played a leading role in this exhibition donating material and displays from their collections; providing a unique insight in to modern day printing techniques in Kelso. Other exhibits were provided by Smails of Innerleithen and Stichill Marigold Press. Archive books and newspapers were provided by the Local Studies Librarian, and the Heritage Hub at Hawick. Excerpts from the Kelso Mail 200 years ago were reproduced and enjoyed by visitors.
There was something for all ages at this exhibition: Jane Gaze, Borders artist held children’s workshops supported by Scottish Borders Council Cultural Co-ordinator Programme which provided an opportunity for youngsters to learn more about printing techniques.
The winners of the Work in Print Design a Book Cover, held by Kelso Library in conjunction with local school – were presented with their prizes by Kelso Provost, Margaret Riddell.
The winners were:
5-8 years - Jolie Darrie and Molly Wright
9-12 years - Kenzie Steele and Kate Mathieson
And Highly commended were:
Daniel Easson, Rhys Lawrence, and Amy Purves
The James Henderson painting exhibition was a fascinating collection of works loaned by family and friends from a very popular man who died last December just before his 100th birthday.
James became a well-known figure after retiring to Kelso in 1984. He was seen regularly in the town with his wee dog Lady heading for coffee at the Ednam House Hotel.
A graduate of Edinburgh Art College, his friends included William Gillies and Anne Redpath. He taught Art in Galashiels (where he helped found the Arts Club and rescue Old Gala House from demolition) and Edinburgh.
James painted many local scenes, especially of his favourite fishing pools. The paintings were all on loan for this special exhibition from his family and friends. Throughout the exhibition family members were on hand to answer queries.
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