JAMES WYNESS
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Fallow Land Performances

4/4/2025

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Here are some stills from the moving image material I've made as part of my Landowner performances/actions/movements in Wester Muir, a large fallow field above Jedburgh. The idea behind this aspect of the project is to play (and dress) the part of a Borders Landowner, then carry out various performative actions in the environment that relate to a relationship with the land. For example, measuring, examining, assessing, recording, witnessing, embracing, being swallowed up by, destroying (pretending to of course) and so on.

These actions ask questions of what it is to own land. Does owning land confer the right to destroy it, isolate it, let it go to waste, forbid others from passing through? Usus, Fructus, and Abusus​. Those who fret over our legal systems still get their knickers in a twist over all this stuff and it fascinates me that there's still a landed gentry in Scotland, two hereditary Dukes no less, meaning unelected, who seem to own half the country between them. Not to mention a crew of minor toffs who own the rest. I love unpicking the detail behind these anomalies or injustices, call them what you will. I like to recall these details every time someone starts rabbiting on about a what a progressive and modern society we have in Scotland.
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Artwalk #3, Light

29/3/2025

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This was a great day out in spite of a rather dull cloud cover. Nonetheless the light on days like that is often perfect for photography because the cloud acts as a giant diffuser. With a smaller group, six of us this time, everything changes substantially in terms of our relationships with the landscape and with each other.

We followed a route from the road above Hunthill, down to the Scraesburgh back road then cut up through the woods to the fields and track above Coalpits. Plenty stops for photographs, chat about landscape, light and art and a silent chi kung exercise with eyes closed which was very revealing. Back at the ranch (Kenmore Hall) we had refreshments and I rolled out a length of paper for everyone to write and draw their words and sketches. Pictures below.

Look out for details of the next walk on 27 April where we'll be exploring sound.
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Lubber Fiend

29/3/2025

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Here are some pictures from a recent show at The Lubber Fiend in Newcastle with Craig Stewart Johnson. Thanks to Thomas Carroll for the photos.
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Artwalk #2

26/3/2025

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 'Word'

These artworks are going very well. The second walk, on the theme of 'word', enjoyed a big turnout and a fine day. We did a circular route adjacent to the route on walk one which everyone managed easily enough. You can only do so much on the hoof with a large group so we stopped at several points and did some exercises with words, sounds and language generally, referring to how we understand, shape and produce space. place and landscape through the spoken and written word.

I was delighted to hear some days after the walk that one of the group had returned to the route and repeated it. Maybe a side-benefit of these walks is to introduce to safe and relatively easy routes to people whose mobility isn't the best.

We all had a go at writing a haiku after the walk based on there words and phrases we'd gathers along the way. I'll get round to scanning them and publish later. Here's some pictures from the walk.
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Fallow Communities - site design

19/3/2025

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And so it begins. Bob Dawson and I have built, painted and installed the planters with some cardboard underneath to suppress weeds and some old bits of wood to fill in the bottom third of each planter. We just need to figure out what to do about getting the soil in and then the schoolchildren will be able to come along and potter about with the planting.

The green itself is a fine sun trap. The main wall is a beautiful feature of the whole site. The arch in the wall has got us talking about different ornamental features. Some benches would transform the space into a place of contemplation and relaxation. And then a small hut in the corner for local resident Paul (pictured) to keep some garden tools.

This is simply the beginning. I'll get round to asking some visual artist and food growers friends to take a look and think about how they'd design the space - perhaps a dash of colour here and there, some small features. Let's see.
Before and After
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Fallow Communities (continued)

16/3/2025

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Soil Connections
I call this beautiful square of land The Green. It's the kind of place that progressive towns would consider as having the potential to be a demonstration garden. Maybe Jedburgh could be that kind of town and that's what I like to think about with this project - what's possible and how can we overcome resistance to positive change.

People in Jed will know the spot. It's nicely tucked away behind the town and is the perfect place to set some planters. I spoke for a while with Paul and John (pictured). John lives in Paradise Cottage and looks on to the land. Both were very enthusiastic about the growing initiative, as was Gina in the house over the wall who said that this project has been a long time coming.

Paul was clearing the border by the track with a view to growing something along the verge which would complement the planters very well. Maybe some veg, soft fruit  and fruit bushes or climbers. We also spoke about the possibility of benches  and a toolshed in the corner which, if we can overcome the red tape often associated with good community ideas, would make the place an excellent green space for citizens to rest and relax. 

One of the finest feature is the wall (in the first picture). It looks like part of an older walled garden. I'm told the green was a market garden some time ago so there's a historical precedent for growing. In the archway they used to put sticks and branches to attract bees and wasps, I imagine to get rid of plant predators and to pollinate the produce. It's a beautiful feature and invites some creative placemaking ideas around how to design the planters, where to place them and what to grow so that it all works aesthetically as well as functionally. With the school on board I have the green marked out in my mind as a safe spot for the wee ones to come and tend to the vegetables and herbs. I think the residents, especially the elderly ones, would welcome that.
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Fallow Communities

15/3/2025

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The Beginnings
This is the start of it. Timber and compost donated by Forth Resource Management Ltd and Border Demolition Ltd. A generous discount from Mayfield Garden Centre in Kelso for Cuprinol, membrane and netting. Bob Dawson always ready to give his time to drive, collect, store and paint. The last picture is one of our sites for a planter. Jed folks will know where this is. I'll blog many more posts to thank and acknowledge our collaborators as we go along.
Picture
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Spring on the Fallow Lands

10/3/2025

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Spring made a spectacular appearance over the weekend. Cool and misty in the early mornings giving way to clear blue skies and the much anticipated warmth of the sun. All graced by the silvery light of Lent. 

To make my art work for the Fallow Land project I've settled on two proper fallow fields. One of these, set aside for stubble that the birds can enjoy, is to be ploughed sometime in the spring so I got in quick and made the basic audio recordings I need. If they spare the field for a few more weeks I'll do some more recordings then hopefully get the pictures I want using long lenses and getting my eyes down to ground level which will involve lying down in the stubble in the early morning or evening. Dry weather would help. These are some pictures taken by me and others on the walks. You have to be here in person to appreciate the quality of the amazing light at this latitude but hopefully the photos give you a feel for what it's like.
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The 108 Names of Shaman Hamish

27/2/2025

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Shaman Ah Shim
Shaman Ham His
Mania Mash Shh
Mania Sham Shh
Amnia Hams Shh
​Amnia Sham Shh

Manias Ham Shh
Mama Hah Shins
Mamas Hah Shin
Ah Mishmash An
Ha Mishmash An
Hah Hams Mains
Hashish Am Man
Shah Hams Main
Hash Ham Mains
Shahs Ham Main
A Aha Shins Hmm
A Shaman Shh Mi
A Mama Shh Shin
A Hah Mans Hims
A Shah Man Shim
A Hash Man Shim
A Shahs Ani Hmm
A Ham Hams Shin
A Hams Main Shh
A Mash Main Shh
A Sham Main Shh
Aha Ah Hmm Sins
Shaman Ah Hi Ms
Mania Ah Shh Ms
Amnia Ah Shh Ms
Asia An Shh Hmm
Mama Ah Shh Ins
Mamas Ah Shh In
Ah Ha Man Shims
Ha Hah Mains Ms
Ha Shah Main Ms
Ha Hash Main Ms
Ha Shahs Man Mi
Ha Ham Hams Ins
Ha Mash Sham In
Ha Mash Am Shin
Ha Sham Am Shin
Ha Smash An Him
Ha Shams Man Hi
Ha Has Man Shim
Ha Ash Man Shim
Ha Sash Ani Hmm
Ha Aim Mans Shh
Ha Imam San Shh
Ha Maim San Shh
Ha Imams An Shh
Ha Maims An Shh
Ha Main Sam Shh
Ha Mains Ma Shh
Ha Aims Man Shh
Hah Ham Am Sins
Hah Ham An Isms
Hah Ham An Miss
Hah Ham San Ism
Hah Ham San Mis
Hah Ham Sans Mi
Hah Hams Ani Ms
Hah Hams Am Ins
Hah Hams Am Sin
Hah Hams Ma Ins
Hah Hams Ma Sin
Hah Hams Man Is
Hah Hams Mans I
Hah Hams Sam In
Hah Hams Mas In
Hah Hams An Ism
Hah Hams An Mis
Hah Hams San Mi
Hah Mash Ani Ms
Hah Mash Am Ins
Hah Mash Am Sin
Hah Smash Ma In
Hah Smash Man I
Hah Smash An Mi
Hah Ash Man Mis
Hah Ash Mans Mi
Hah Sash Man Mi
Hah Ani Ass Hmm
Hah Am Ma Shins
Hah Am Man Hiss
Hah Am Mans His
Hah Am Sam Shin
Hah Am Mas Shin
Hah Am An Shims
Hah Am San Shim
Hah Am San Hims
Hah Am Sans Him
Hah Ma Man Hiss
Hah Ma Mans His
Hah Ma Sam Shin
Hah Ma Mas Shin
Hah Ma An Shims
Hah Ma San Shim
Hah Ma San Hims
Hah Ma Sans Him
Hah Man Sam His
Hah Man Mas His
Hah Man Mass Hi
Hah Man As Shim
Shah Ham Ani Ms
Shah Am Man His
Hash Ham Ani Ms




​
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Hamish Airbrush

27/2/2025

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I'll be honest. I'm not exactly sure where this one came from. I do like me some concrete poetry. If I had time I'd wallow in it. Ideas come easily but turning them into work requires patience and more skill than I possess. I once had a radio character called Shaman Hamish who got away with uttering abusive and subversive nonsense, often in Scots. One day he was in the studio being airbrushed for a radio show and got mangled in the process. Maybe it's time for a resurrection. 
Picture
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    Composer, guitarist and sound artist, multi-media artist, environmental investigations.

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