We found Rozelle House in Alloway despite the lack of sign posts! After the essential cup of coffee, with a scone for some, we explored the house and a wide variety of exhibitions including twenty of Goudie’s paintings on the theme of Tam o’Shanter. Unfortunately, these were not shown to best advantage as the rooms were too small to appreciate them.
Downstairs various local artists’ works were exhibited through Open Studios. In the stables, known as The Maclaurin Galleries, there were two exhibitions, one by Frank McFadden and the other by Yvonne Hawker. The first artist used multiple faces, eyes and lips, in his works which proved to be rather scary. However, the other was much more muted with a variety of landscapes which she had held dear including in Scotland and work which she had produced while an artist in residence in Hong Kong. These were much more colourful. Unfortunately, Yvonne died in 2001.
Our volunteer guide, Billy, told us of the history of Rozelle House and grounds, its original owner and his successors. He then took us outdoors in the Spring sunshine to see the Remembrance Woodland with figures created by chainsaw artists. These carvings were sad depictions of soldiers and of poppies to commemorate World War 1. This was an impressive and emotional extra to our visit.
After lunch at the Burns Centre we had the opportunity to explore the museum, the Brig o’ Doon, the Auld Kirk and the cottage in which Burns was born in Alloway. In the museum, there were artefacts about Burns, his family and present day Burns traditions.
Tea and coffee prepared us for the scenic journey home still in the Spring sunshine.