WHat`S ON - Glasgow Life

Supported by the Friends of Glasgow Museums
april / may / june 2008
what’s on at glasgow museums
Colours of the Silk Road: suzani embroideries from uzbekistan
in conversation with ... tom o’neill I MUSICAL NOTES
riverside – preparing for take-off I untold stories
ISSN 1751-3901
news I exhibitions and events
contents
Welcome
4
News Round-up 5
Competition Time!
11
Friends of Glasgow Museums
12
Colours of the Silk Road: Suzani Embroideries from Uzbekistan
14
In Conversation with ... Tom O’Neill
16
Riverside – Preparing for Take-off 18
Show Scotland 19
Bookworms’ Corner 20
Gi Festival of Contemporary Art 21
Musical Notes
22
Untold Stories
23
What’s On
24
All Preview communications should be addressed to:
Susan Pacitti, Preview, Communications Section,
Glasgow Museums, Martyrs’ School, Parson Street,
Glasgow G4 0PX, Scotland
Phone 0141 271 8307; fax 0141 271 8354;
email susan.pacitti@csglasgow.org
To advertise in Preview, please contact Contact Publicity on
0141 204 2042
Published by Culture and Sport Glasgow (Museums)
All text and images © Culture and Sport Glasgow (Museums)
unless otherwise stated
Friends of Glasgow Museums correspondence should be sent to:
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Argyle Street,
Glasgow G3 8AG, Scotland
Phone 0141 276 9558
Glasgow Museums Preview magazine is distributed free to Friends of Glasgow Museums.
Cover: Harry Benson’s portrait of Dolly Parton. © Harry Benson Ltd.
Top left: Show Scotland 2007, GoMA.
A large print text version of this issue is available upon request.
www.glasgowmuseums.com
WELCOME
The Stewart Memorial Fountain in Kelvingrove Park, 1956. © Harry Benson Ltd.
In our age of cheap flights and regular
overseas holidays we can take travel for
granted. Some of our upcoming exhibitions
may help restore the sense of wonder and
adventure in the journeys people – and objects
– make. It is fascinating to contemplate the
journey taken by the embroidered textiles of
central Asia to the Burrell Collection. Begun
at the birth of a girl, and worked on by the
women of her family until they were handed
over to her on the day of her marriage, the
Suzani embroideries are not just objects of
great beauty, but embody a whole way of life.
How did these treasured possessions end up
in Glasgow, thousands of miles away? What
can we learn of the women who created them?
Are these traditions still alive today? Harry Benson’s journey from Glasgow in the
1960s to America to photograph the Beatles
led to a lifetime of travel, capturing some of
the most famous people, and some of the
most terrible events, in 20th-century history.
He may have travelled far, but Harry has
always maintained his links with Glasgow
– though the exhibition in Kelvingrove this
summer is the first major retrospective of
his work in his home city. Travel enables
one to explore distant and sometimes exotic
destinations, to put down roots in a new place;
it also brings a new appreciation of the point
of departure, a new sense of home. Harry’s
images of Glasgow and of the wider world
enable us see both in new, compelling and
sometimes magical ways.
And with the Gi Festival of Contemporary
Visual Art taking place this April too, we’re
sure you’ll find something to enjoy in
Glasgow’s museums, galleries and art venues
this spring!
Liz Cameron
Chair, Culture and Sport Glasgow
NEWS ROUND-UP
Marianne Grant, 1921–2007
We were saddened by the death of Marianne Grant
in December 2007. Here, Deborah Haase, former
museum manager at the People’s Palace and Winter
Gardens, remembers Marianne.
Holocaust survivor and artist Marianne Grant
is well known to visitors to Glasgow Museums
through her Holocaust artworks, which are on
display in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Marianne was a remarkable, brave and
intelligent woman who displayed an
indestructible spirit, even in the face of
unspeakable horror and an uncertain future.
Her passion for life and compassion for others
were constant forces that sustained her,
shaped her personal high standards and shone
through her drawings and paintings.
Life changed dramatically for Marianne in 1938
when, just a few months after the death of
her father, Germany invaded Czechoslovakia.
Marianne and her mother spent the next seven
years in Nazi concentration camps, including
Theresienstadt, Auschwitz-Birkenau and
Bergen-Belsen.
In 2002, after many years of silence about
her Holocaust experiences, Marianne agreed
to a filmed interview, an exhibition of the
watercolours and drawings she produced in
the camps, and to the publication of her story,
I Knew I was Painting for my Life. She also
contributed to a schools education pack and
is commemorated in a sculpture in Holyrood
Marianne aged 19, Prague, 1940.
entitled Travelling the Distance. In 2005,
Marianne attended a reception hosted by the
Queen for Holocaust survivors; in 2006 she
met her again, at the re-opening of Kelvingrove
Art Gallery and Museum.
Marianne was an inspirational and muchloved woman. Her story and pictures are on
display at Kelvingrove in a display entitled
The Holocaust: Remembering for the Future.
We are confident that through these she will
continue to touch the lives of people for many
years to come.
New Riverside Museum Appeal Patron
The Riverside Museum Appeal is delighted to
announce major support from the Bank of Scotland.
The financial institution becomes the sixth patron
contributing towards the creation of the Riverside
Museum, the new museum of transport for
Glasgow. The Bank of Scotland’s support will be
associated with education packs that will be sent
to schools across Scotland. For more details, visit
www.glasgowmuseums.com
NEWS ROUND-UP
Significantly Special
Glasgow Museums’ entire collection has just
been recognized as being of national significance
through the Scottish Government’s Museum
Recognition Scheme.
To gain recognition we had to demonstrate the
uniqueness, authenticity and national value of
Glasgow’s collection. Another nine collections
from museums and galleries across Scotland have
also been identified as being significant to the
nation under the Recognition Scheme (visit www.
scottishmuseums.org.uk for more information).
Speaking of the announcement,
Linda Fabiani, Minister for
Culture, said, ‘These collections are important,
not only to their local communities but to Scotland
as a whole, and should be shared with as many
people as possible.’ Watch out for the next issue
of Preview, when Dr Martin Bellamy, Glasgow
Museums’ Research Manager, takes a closer
look at our collections and tells us why they are
so important. In the meantime, you can find our
submission documents on Glasgow Museums’
website at www.glasgowmuseums.com/policy.cfm
Henry E Kelly, 1931–2007
We were saddened to hear of the sudden death of Henry
(Harry) Kelly (pictured right) in January. Here Rosemary
Watt, Senior Curator, remembers Harry.
On Saturday 19 January this year, 20 members
of the Scottish Pottery Society spent a most
enjoyable afternoon examining the contents of the
‘Scottish pottery’ cupboards at Glasgow Museums’
Resource Centre. Factories and patterns were
discussed, and notes and theories compared. At
the centre was Harry Kelly, sometime President of
the Scottish Pottery Society and current Chairman
of the Glasgow Branch, and Editor of the Scottish
Pottery Historical Review. Harry was, as always,
generous with his knowledge, teasing and
laughing at shared reminiscences with his friends
and Scottish pottery associates. What we weren’t
to know was that this was the last opportunity
most of us would have to enjoy Harry’s company
as he died suddenly, less than a week later, on 24 January.
Henry E Kelly – known as Harry – was born in
Glasgow in 1931, attended Glasgow University
and worked as a chemistry teacher for many
years at Vale of Leven Academy. His passions
included archaeology, acting and the theatre and
especially researching and collecting Scottish
ceramics, particularly spongeware and the
products of the Glasgow 19th-century factories.
His wonderfully diverse collection featured on the
Antiques Roadshow during the programme’s visit
to Kelvingrove in 2006, and just a small part
of his collection can be seen in the ‘Collectors’
display in the Hunterian Museum, University of
Glasgow. Harry’s list of publications on Scottish
ceramics is impressive, including numerous
articles and several books, all based on his
groundbreaking research.
We’re thankful for Harry’s outstanding contribution
to our appreciation and understanding of the
ceramics industry in Scotland. We shall remember
him with real affection and lasting respect, and
we extend our sincere sympathies to Douglas
Leishman and to Harry’s family.
NEWS ROUND-UP
New Resource for
Kelvingrove Organ
Recitals
In January, Dr James Hunter, Kelvingrove’s
director of music, took receipt of a very
generous donation – a substantial collection of
organ music.
Kelvingrove Does It Again!
Kelvingrove has won yet more acclaim,
winning an Interpret Britain and Ireland Award
for the outstanding way we communicate with
our visitors.
The awards are organized by the Association
of Heritage Interpretation (AHI) and recognize
the very best examples of interpretation – the
art of using words, pictures and modern
technology to help people get the most
from a museum visit. Entrants are scored
against a range of rigorous criteria, including
imagination and innovation, good interpretive
planning and a clear commitment to
accessibility, training and maintenance.
The award ceremony took place at the end of
last year at the award-winning Cliffs of Moher
visitor centre in Ireland. Actor Frank Kelly
– best known as drunken Father Jack in the TV
comedy Father Ted – presented the award to
Sue Latimer, Senior Education & Access Curator.
The collection belonged to the late James
Gooder Pilling, of Accrington, Lancashire. Mrs
Kathleen Pilling – whose daughter Geraldine
works for Culture and Sport Glasgow’s
Development team – donated her late
husband’s collection to support the daily organ
recitals at Kelvingrove.
Said Dr Hunter, ‘This impressive collection
contains many old editions particularly
suited to the Kelvingrove organ. Mrs Pilling’s
donation will now form the basis of a music
resource for all of the organists at Kelvingrove,
and hopefully inspire others to add to the
collection in the future’.
Mrs Pilling said she was delighted the music
would be appreciated once again, and
added that her late husband would have
been extremely happy with the gesture. Mr
Pilling was fascinated with Kelvingrove and
its organ when he visited with his family. His
name appears on the In Memoriam wall in
Kelvingrove’s Centre Hall.
Dr James Hunter and Mrs Kathleen Pilling seated at the
Kelvingrove organ.
The judges commented particularly on
Kelvingrove’s careful interpretation planning,
its clear, concise and engaging text, and the
lightness of touch and sense of humour in the
displays. They said, ‘The new displays and
visitor provision at Kelvingrove are exciting and
engaging and seem to be working well for its
visitors – evidenced by the number and variety
of users during our visit. It has also clearly
provoked thought amongst the heritage sector,
which has to be a good thing!’.
news round-up
Scotswoman of the Year
Bailie Liz Cameron has been named Evening
Times Scotswoman of the Year at a glamorous
awards ceremony at Glasgow City Chambers.
And Evening Times Editor Donald Martin
was there to present her with a specially
commissioned bronze trophy.
For years, Bailie Cameron has sung Glasgow’s
praises all over the world. She was hugely
influential in the £35 million refurbishment of
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum as well
as the £15 million restoration of the City Halls.
And her work for the city continues in her role
as Chair of Culture and Sport Glasgow and
Vice-Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.
At the awards ceremony in February, she said.
‘It has been one of the greatest honours of my
life to represent what I believe is the greatest
city in the world, and I hope I will have many
years to serve it’. She also paid tribute to the
other three finalists – Deputy First Minister
and Govan MSP Nicola Sturgeon; anti-war
campaigner Rose Gentle; and Louise Martin,
who was instrumental in bringing the 2014
Commonwealth Games to Glasgow. A Lesson in Expression
What do you think of when you think of
Kelvingrove? The Spitfire? Suits of armour? Sir
Roger the Elephant? The magnificent building?
Whatever it is, it’s probably not singing and
dancing teachers! But that’s what visitors
experienced when Kelvingrove hosted a
conference for teachers in November last
year. Glasgow Museums’ Education & Access
section and Glasgow University’s Expressive
Arts team organized the event.
Kelvingrove – inspiring teachers.
The one-day conference – Creating
Confidence in a Curriculum for Excellence
– aimed to show teachers how the expressive
arts can work with museum collections.
Renowned speakers in the fields of art, music,
drama and dance addressed more than
100 teachers from all over Scotland. And in
the afternoon, the collections provided the
inspiration for some new ideas … and some
fine entertainment!
news round-up
The extension to GMRC under construction.
GMRC – Bigger and Better than Ever!
If you’ve passed by Glasgow Museums
Resource Centre (GMRC) recently, the city’s
first publicly accessible museum storage
facility, you’ll have noticed a lot of heavy
machinery, mud and men in hard hats. But
finally, building work on the 9,000m² extension
to Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (GMRC)
is complete! Now that the hard work is over for
our building contractor CBC and the Council’s
own Civic Design team, it’s over to museums
staff to finish the project off.
Over the next few months Special Projects
Officer Alex McLean will oversee the fit-out of
stores and workshops, and the Decant team,
led by Dennis Lambert, will bring over 800,000
Fair Deals at St Mungo’s
objects from the stores at the Museum of
Transport to the safety of their new home. To
allow for the safe installation of both workshops
and stores, we are reluctantly closing GMRC’s
doors to the public for the time being – but
don’t worry, the new improved venue will
reopen in Spring 2009.
Logistics Manager Christine McLellan told us
‘It’s going to be a very busy year for all the
staff working on the project, and wouldn’t
be possible without the fantastic level of
commitment from everyone involved’. Look
out for details of what to see and do in the
expanded GMRC in future issues of Preview.
© Steve Hosey
George Alagiah, Patron of the UK Fair Trade
movement, spoke at a recent Fair Trade Inter
Faith Event hosted at St Mungo Museum of
Religious Life and Art. Attended by over 25
people from different faith communities, he
discussed the Fair Trade initiative, how the
different faith communities can become more
involved, and how we can raise awareness of
Fair Trade produce.
news round-up
watch the birdie!
Saturday 5 April is a key date for any young
nature-lover – it’s the launch day of the
Kelvingrove Museum Nature Club! It’s the
perfect way for children – aged 8 to 12 years
old – to experience wildlife first-hand. We’ll
be running gallery tours, specimen handling,
games, hands-on activities, and visits to the
surrounding parks. The
clubs, run in partnership
with the RSPB, are held
fortnightly on Saturdays,
starting at 10.30am. For
more information, see the
What’s On section, p.31.
Remembering the
Holocaust
Remember, Reflect, React – this was the theme
that visitors explored at the People’s Palace to
mark Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27. Rabbi Nancy Morris spoke movingly about the
importance of remembering the events of the
past. The Glassford Family portrait (currently
on display at the People’s Palace), religious
handling objects and interactive workshops
all helped to stimulate discussions and enable
visitors to express their own thoughts. Many
also made the connection with contemporary
genocide and persecution in its widest sense,
including the slave trade, often described as
the African Holocaust. We at the People’s Palace felt privileged that so
many people chose to share the day with us.
In particular we would like to thank Glasgow
Reform Synagogue, Rabbi Nancy Morris and
especially those people who came along and
shared their stories about what Holocaust
Memorial Day means for them.
UNDERSTANDING Slavery
Following on from last year’s Towards
Understanding Slavery initiative, Glasgow
Museums has developed a thought-provoking
educational resource for schools and
community groups.
The Education & Access team will be using
this extensive and stimulating handling kit
– funded by the Scottish Museums Council – to
encourage people to investigate Glasgow’s links
to the slave trade as well as contemporary
forms of slavery. The kit covers topics
such as human rights, racism, fair
trade and gender equality, and inside
you’ll find replica shackles and
chains, a golliwog doll, cotton and
tobacco, abolition medals and snuff
boxes. Merchandise from the Make
Poverty History movement draws
a link to today’s
campaigns for
10
social justice. This resource will also be used to
support the 60th anniversary of the Declaration
of Human Rights throughout 2008.
The Education & Access team at the People’s
Palace will also be running workshops. Together
with the handling kit, these sessions will help
to give a sense of what life was like for slaves.
And they should encourage people to question
today’s society – perhaps even kick-starting their
own human rights campaign. Please phone
0141 271 2962 for more information.
Competition Time!
Creative Writing
Competition
One World, One
Dream: Children’s art
competition
The ‘One World, One Dream’ art competition,
in co-operation with Kelvingrove Art Gallery
and Museum and with the support of China
Now, welcomes entries from primary and
secondary schools across Scotland. The
three main purposes of the competition are
to highlight the forthcoming Beijing Olympics,
promote knowledge of Chinese culture and
life, and to broaden cultural awareness in
young people.
Were your school days the best of your life
– or the worst? Did you have a favourite
teacher or one that scared your socks off? Or
are you still at school and can imagine your
perfect school day?
If so, this competition is for you. Write a
short story about school days, set in the past,
present or future. Stories will be grouped into
three entry categories: 5–12 years, 12–16
years, and adults.
Entries should be no more than 1,000 words,
typed and double-spaced, and submitted
no later than 21 April. Please send your
entry to creativewritingcomp@csglasgow.org,
or the Education & Access team, Scotland
Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street,
Glasgow, G5 8QB.
Please see www.glasgowmuseums.com for more
information.
There are four categories: Primary P1–4;
Primary P5–7; Secondary S1–S3; Secondary
S4–S6. Winning entries will be exhibited at
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum from 19 to 26 June and then displayed in a school
in China. A prize-giving, co-ordinated by
Ricefield Art and Cultural Centre and its
associates, will be held at Kelvingrove at
11.30am on Friday 20 June.
The closing date for entries is 31
May. For further details phone
Lin Chau at the Ricefield
Arts and Cultural Centre
(0141 331 1019) or
Emma May, Curator of
Chinese and Oriental
Civilizations, Glasgow
Museums phone
0141 287 2553;
email emma.
may@csglasgow.
org). You can
download an
entry form at www.
glasgowmuseums.
com
11
FRIENDS OF GLASGOW MUSEUMS
Fit For A Queen
The Friends are delighted to have helped
Glasgow Museums purchase a chair once
used by Queen Victoria (pictured). It’s a superb
example of Victorian craftsmanship and was
made for the royal opening of Glasgow’s
waterworks at Loch Katrine.
Glasgow cabinetmaker and upholsterer Thomas
Colquhoun, of 103 St Vincent Street, made
this elegantly carved chair. Queen Victoria
used it on 14 October 1859, during
a ceremony in which she turned
on Glasgow’s new water supply. A
hallmarked silver plaque on the
back of the chair commemorates
the occasion. The chair joins a
number of items in Glasgow
Museums’ collections
associated with the city’s
waterworks.
Spring Lectures – Some
Real Gems!
Our spring/summer lecture programme brings
two very different subjects to our attention.
The first is a great opportunity to learn about
one of Scotland’s most remarkable – and hidden
– art collections. The collection was formed by
Dr William Alexander Francis Browne when
he worked at the Crichton Royal Institution in
Dumfries between 1838 and 1857. Dr Browne
encouraged his patients to paint and draw,
and displayed their work within the hospital.
It’s the earliest collection of asylum patient art
known to have survived from the 19th century,
and you can see it at Crichton Royal Museum
in Dumfries. ‘A Hidden Gem’, by Dr Maureen
Park, Lecturer in Visual Arts, Glasgow University
Department of Adult Education, takes place on
29 April at Kelvingrove.
The chair was bought at
auction with assistance from
The National Fund for Acquisitions
with Government funds administered
by the National Museums of Scotland, and
the Friends of Glasgow Museums.
Janetta McBean,
1929–2007
We were very sorry to hear that Janetta McBean
(known as Etta) has passed away at the age
of 78, after a short illness. She was part-time
administrator for GAGMA (now FoGM), first as
Isabel McLean’s assistant, and then on Isabel’s
retirement as administrator. She was based at
Kelvingrove from the late 1970s until 1990.
Etta and her husband Ian had a great love of
caravanning, visiting their caravan at Ayr every
weekend and often touring extensively around
the south coast of England. Indeed, they liked
the area so much that when they both retired
from Kelvingrove they moved to near Worthing
in Sussex.
Etta’s work for GAGMA was much appreciated and
we extend our sincere sympathy to her son Ian.
12
Marianne Rigby, Flowerpiece.
Crichton Royal Museum, Dumfries and Galloway Health
Board Archives.
The second lecture is ‘Glasgow’s Silver’, by
Glasgow Museums’ Senior Curator Rosemary
Watt. It takes place on 27 May, and Rosemary
will look at silver made in Glasgow and
within Glasgow Museums’ collections. She’ll
also touch on the exhibition Silver: Made in
Scotland, which runs at the National Museum
of Scotland until 27 April. The exhibition
itself is said to be the ‘largest and most
dazzling display of Scottish silver ever seen’,
a real treat for anyone interested in this most
versatile of materials.
FRIENDS OF GLASGOW MUSEUMS
Out and about
GoMA ‘08
At the time of going to press, the Friends
are making the final arrangements for a visit
in May to see the Titan Crane in Clydebank.
We’ve also planned visits to Dumfries House
and to the Bruegel to Rubens exhibition at the
Queen’s Gallery in Edinburgh. This show ends
on 6 April, and if you haven’t managed to see
it there’s always the Art of Italy exhibition later
this year. We’ll be organizing a visit nearer the
time … As we bid adieu to Gallery 1’s exhibition 20th
Century Collection, which closed in March, we
welcome one of this year’s big shows – the work
of Jim Lambie. This exhibition is due to preview
on Thursday, 10 April – coinciding with the launch
of Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary
Visual Art – and runs until 29 September. It
promises to be an enthralling experience for
GoMA’s guides and members of the public.
Closer to home, the Burrell Collection is
celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Some
of our members waited patiently for up to
25 years for the Burrell to open, but are now
getting too old to make it there on their own.
So, the Friends are planning two visits later this
year. It’s a fantastic place and makes for a great
day out. We hope you’ll be able to join us on the
Burrell trip, or indeed on any of our outings.
Kelvingrove Guides
In December 2007 we were delighted to welcome
a new cohort of trainee guides. Our trainers
– Caroline Steel, Norman Walker and Frances
Dryburgh – worked alongside experienced guides
and museum curators to ensure our new guides
have a deep understanding of the collections and,
crucially, know their way around Kelvingrove! Our
new guides have begun to give tours and, like our
experienced guides, are finding it a very fulfilling
experience – for guides and visitors alike.
Gallery 3 – which until recently hosted the
acclaimed exhibition Rebelland – is home to a
show of the work of Torsten Lauschmann. This
up and coming German artist studied at the
Glasgow School of Art and now shows at the
prestigious Arnolfini Gallery in Bristol. His work
uses audiovisual and light.
Following on from the successes of last year,
2008 certainly promises to be an interesting and
exciting year at GoMA. support glasgow
museums
Join the Friends of Glasgow Museums Now
The function of the Association is to support
the galleries and to foster interest in the arts
in Glasgow. Benefits of membership include
10% discount on all purchases in museum
shops, Preview magazine, excursions, talks,
lectures and events.
If you are interested, please forward this
coupon to:
Friends of Glasgow Museums,
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Argyle Street,
Glasgow G3 8AG, Scotland.
NAME ......................................................
ADDRESS ..................................................
..................................................................
Kelvingrove guide trainers – Caroline Steel, Norman Walker and
Frances Dryburgh.
..................................................................
13
Colours of the Silk Road The Burrell Collection’s prized collection of
suzani embroideries from Uzbekistan will go
on display from 20 June. Sir William Burrell
collected ten decorative wall hangings and an
ornate wedding sheet, using these exquisite
pieces in his home at Hutton Castle until
he donated them, along with the rest of his
collection, to the city of Glasgow in 1944.
The suzanis are all from the district of Bukhara
in Central Asia. They were sewn by Uzbek
women, who made sets of suzanis as dowries
for their daughters. The richly embroidered
works are covered with symbols of health,
good fortune, prosperity and fertility. The
patterns in the suzanis also reflect Bukhara’s
role as one of the most important areas along
the Silk Road trade route – the designs are
influenced by the many types of goods that
passed through Bukhara’s markets. The Burrell
Collection includes objects that help to illustrate
this cultural exchange – carpets from western
China and Iran, textiles from other parts of
Central Asia and Turkey – and these will be
shown together with the suzanis.
Bukhara was also a multi-cultural society, with
The master bedroom at Hutton Castle.
Muslims and Jews living side by side. The Jews
of Bukhara not only specialized in spinning and
dying the silken threads of suzani embroideries,
they also acquired suzanis from their Uzbek
neighbours to use in their own religious
ceremonies and festivals.
Suzanis were such beautiful and valued
objects that when Western travellers discovered
them being traded across Central Asia and
the Middle East, they eagerly bought them,
creating a market for suzanis in the West. The
Colours of the Silk Road exhibition provides an
opportunity to see these extraordinary works,
and to learn more about the diverse and vibrant
society where they were created.
An exciting programme of public events
throughout the year accompanies this
exhibition – see p.24 for further details.
Above: A Tajik wedding, early 1870s. The bride and bridegroom
stand in the centre of the photograph – the bride has a veiled
face and the groom wears a turban. Suspended above them are
the suzanis that form part of the bride’s dowry.
Image source: Library of Congress, Print & Photograph Division,
[reproduction no. LC-DIG-ppmsca-14445], USA.
Left: Two little birds among large sprays of flowers, from one of
the Burrell Collection suzanis.
Right: A 19th-century Uzbek suzani wall hanging, with
embroidered coloured silk threads on un-dyed cotton cloth. 14
Suzani embroideries from Uzbekistan
15
In Conversation With… Tom O’Neill
Kelvingrove recently played host to Glasgow’s
first ever exhibition of work by one of the UK’s
best loved illustrators, Quentin Blake. Over 70
illustrations delighted more than 419,000 visitors
over a three-month period. Key to bringing
the exhibition to the city was independent art
consultant Tom O’Neill, who organized the
project on behalf of supporters KPMG. Preview
asked Tom a few questions about the exhibition,
and about what sounds like a dream job!
How did you get involved in the Quentin Blake
exhibition?
KPMG Scotland, who have an office in
Glasgow, were keen to support an event
that reflected their CSR (Corporate Social
Responsibility) concerns, in particular the
encouragement of reading in schools. I
thought an exhibition of words and images
would fit the bill perfectly – and the person
who sprang to mind as ideal was Quentin
Blake. I’ve known Quentin for a long time,
and he’s been very supportive of the London
Institute’s Young at Art scheme for inner and
greater London schoolchildren.
Why Kelvingrove?
We needed a venue that was credible for
Quentin Blake, and a place where lots of
children could come – and also our clients,
New acquisition – Sir Roger, by Quentin Blake.
Tom O’Neill carefully unframes a Quentin Blake drawing.
staff and the wider community. Kelvingrove has
a long tradition of families visiting – and every
time I’ve been in I’ve seen this for myself!
Who picked the works for the exhibition?
Quentin Blake has a large archive of original
artwork, and has collaborated with well-loved
authors such as Joan Aiken, Roald Dahl
and Michael Rosen. It made sense to reflect
that. And as two of the Roald Dahl books he
illustrated have been translated into Scots,
Quentin was keen to include illustrations from
them. There were space constraints – we
knew we could have 41 frames, and that three
or four images fit in a frame, so we narrowed it
down to about 70 illustrations.
What was the launch evening like?
We were delighted that Quentin was able to
attend in person. I’d asked him if he would
give a demonstration of the way he initially
approaches a design. So on the night, Quentin
went round Kelvingrove – and found Sir Roger
[Sir Roger is Kelvingrove’s much-loved Indian
elephant]. We had rigged up cameras and two
screens so that everyone could see what was
happening. Surrounded by children, Quentin
worked on two illustrations – one of Sir Roger
and one of a dragon. Every time he put his
pencil down, he got a round of applause.
16
I overhead one small boy say, ‘This is the
happiest day of my life’. I’m delighted that
Glasgow Museums were able to acquire that
drawing of Sir Roger for the city’s collections.
We’ve been hearing about a new Museum of
Illustration – can you tell us about that?
Quentin has been active in promoting the
idea of a Museum of Illustration to establish a
much needed permanent home for illustration.
This is currently planned for the new King’s
Cross development in London, with a view to
opening by 2011. You can find out more on
www.museumofillustration.org.uk
Do you often get involved in this type of exhibition?
And how did you get into this type of work?
Luckily for me, yes I do. I’m an independent
art consultant, and although I work mainly
for KPMG, particularly on their community
programmes of art for new offices, I also get to
work with a variety of other clients.
My family background has always been
performance – as a child, I was happy with a
bit of chalk drawing on pavements and walls
– and getting into trouble! My mother had
a friend who worked in the circus, and on
one visit I noticed a woman sketching. This
was Dame Laura Knight, and I now have five
of her circus pictures – so my career was
set early. I studied at the Slade School of
Fine Art, and was encouraged by Sir William
Coldstream. As a student I lived in a house
that had been his studio, and I got to know
his first wife, Nancy Spender, who was one of
the poet Louis MacNeice’s muses. After that,
I worked at Covent Garden, designing sets
and costumes for the Royal Ballet – some
of that work is now in the V&A. I’ve worked
all over the world, and lectured and taught
aspects of design and art history. I’ve just
always graduated towards this world.
worlds, and it has been a great pleasure to
work with Glasgow Museums and to receive
the amazing support that exists here.
If you had to pick a favourite painting in Kelvingrove,
what would it be?
Salvator Rosa’s landscapes with Christ and
St John. They’re phenomenal, possibly his
best works, and certainly the best works in
this country.
What would be your advice to art students?
It’s a matter of trial and error, but be true to
yourself. Have a sense of your own value and
that of others. See life as a learning curve,
almost a series of apprenticeships – be
passionate, and like people.
So what’s next?
I’m working on two projects – new art for
KPMG’s Canary Wharf and Birmingham
offices, and a possible project in Aberdeen.
But, if asked, I would love to organize an
exhibition on the work of the painter George
Frederick Watts!
Quentin Blake at work on the drawing of Sir Roger.
What’s been your biggest thrill?
Designing two ballets for Kenneth McMillan at
the Royal Ballet and seeing Rudolf Nureyev at
close quarters. In the end we became quite
friendly and occasionally met in Paris –
Nureyev was an extraordinary man. My job is
an amazing entrée to a number of art-related
17
Riverside – Preparing for Take-off
If the Wright brothers are the fathers of
modern flight, Percy Pilcher is surely one
of the grandfathers. The Glasgow University
lecturer was flying his glider several years
before the Wright brothers mastered powered
flight and flew into the history books.
Now, a team of engineers has built a life-size
reproduction of one of Pilcher’s pioneering
gliders, and donated it to the Riverside
Museum. The new glider will form the
centrepiece of an exciting display on flight,
where it will be joined by another inspiring
glider, also recently acquired – an albatross!
Pilcher began his career in the Royal Navy
and during his time at sea he must have
watched albatrosses soaring and gliding above
the waves. Perhaps this magnificent seabird
influenced his own experiments with flight
some years later.
We’ve always wanted to have an albatross in
our display about humankind’s quest for flight.
But we kept hitting against one very large
18
obstacle – just where do we get an albatross,
given its highly endangered status?
It was a problem solved in the most extreme of
environments, the Antarctic. Scientists there –
aware of our dilemma – rescued an albatross
that was mortally wounded, and contacted
curators in Glasgow. Though its life couldn’t
be saved, the bird will now be preserved and
will feature in the new Riverside Museum
alongside the Pilcher glider.
Tragically, Pilcher’s pioneering work was cut
short when he was killed during one of his
tests. However, his experiments – and those
of his contemporaries – had a profound
influence upon the Wright brothers and
modern flight. We’re delighted that we can
now tell the story of those very early days of
aviation … with the help of one of nature’s
greatest flyers. Engineers Quentin Wilson and Ian Adams inspect their life-size
reproduction of Percy Pilcher’s Bat Mk2 glider.
untold stories
Tawona Sithole is a Glasgow-based
poet originally from Zimbabwe. He was
commissioned to write ‘Untold Stories’
in response to the Glassford Family
portrait by Archibald McLauchlan, recently
conserved and displayed in the People’s
Palace. He is a co-founder of the Seeds of
Thought creative writers group.
Tawona Sithole with the Glassford Family portrait in the
People’s Palace.
Untold Stories
untold stories linger in memory
like cobwebs in an abandoned home
covering space, engulfing the place
in emptiness, nothingness
no survivor to tell the tale
not here, none here
maybe out there, somewhere
together with the spilt milk
and scattered seeds
untold stories lie invisible
in the open, undetected
concealed by fearful thoughts
camouflaged by sparks of emotion
unable to mutate into motion
the art that you draw on life
but theirs is drawn out
so they lie there, lifeless
waiting for breath
untold stories suffer in silence
muffled in a scream
stifled in a dream
of what seemed to be
the victor’s moment of glory
first the telling, then the retelling
you’ve heard it all before
his story has been told and retold over again
mine, is still trying to unfold
untold stories linger in memory
a stale stench, nauseating
rotting reality, of decaying lives
unfelt feelings, untouched hearts
suffocating in the haze of a blind eye
a world standing on the verge
but still afraid to take a dip
in these cold waters of truth
so these stories remain
untold
but still they remain
in memory
untying in time
they persist
untold stories drowned in the sea
and yet stolen sentiments prevail
in the minds that managed to flee
to the oases of distant lands
lying remote and unvisited
seeds of truth
sprinkled in barren lands
lying dormant and uninitiated
the chance of a fruitful life
at the mercy of the rain makers
© 2007 Tawona Sithole
19
BOOKWORMS’ CORNER
New from Glasgow Museums
Glasgow, 1955: Through the lens
Fiona Hayes with Peter Douglas
ISBN 978 0902752 89 4; £9.99, April 2008
In 1955 Glasgow camera clubs created
a unique photographic survey of the city,
capturing everyday scenes of people and
places in Scotland’s largest city. Fiona Hayes,
Glasgow Museums’ Curator of Social History,
has chosen 90 of the best images for this
book, including photographs of Glasgow’s
streets, parks, the River Clyde, canals,
shipbuilding, industry, leisure, travel and
transport, children, and working life in the city
at the time. She’s also written an introductory
essay putting them into a historical context.
Step back in time to the days of the trams
and the tenements and see how the people of
Glasgow worked, played and lived in 1955. If
you remember the Fifties, are curious about
life in Glasgow at the time, or want to see if
your street or workplace was photographed,
this is the book for you! Available from
museum shops and all good bookshops.
On the Clyde from the George V Bridge, John W Robb,
Glasgow South Co-Op Club.
20
Charing Cross – A Morning Walk, John S Logan,
Scottish Ramblers Association.
Gi Festival of Contemporary Visual Art
Glasgow international – the Gi Festival – is the
city of Glasgow’s curated and commissioning
Festival of Contemporary Visual Art. Providing
a platform for the best of contemporary visual
arts, it includes newly commissioned work
by respected and established artists as well
as fresh work by emerging talent, shown in
grassroots spaces across the city for the first
time. From 11 to 27 April, you can choose
from exhibitions, seminars, artists’ talks
and events specifically developed for the
Festival, as well as collaborations throughout
Glasgow, reflecting the city’s capacity to exhibit
internationally significant art.
For full details of the programme, visit www.
glasgowinternational.org or email info@glasgowinternational.org
Under the curatorship of Francis McKee, 2008
sees the Gi Festival evolve into a new biennial
format. The theme this year is ‘public/private’,
and reflecting that, there are exhibitions and
installations in galleries as well as in off-site
and ‘found’ spaces. The Festival kicks off with
Forever Changes, an exhibition of new work by
Jim Lambie at GoMA (see p.28 for full details).
Turner Prize-winning artist Douglas Gordon is
even opening up his own house for a series of
shows curated by Glasgow-based art company
The Common Guild (see www.thecommonguild.
org.uk). At St Mungo Museum of Religious Life
and Art artists Tara Beall and Thomas Joshua
Cooper explore the relationship between
contemporary art and sacred and spiritual
spaces (see p.37). And over on the south side,
Tramway (celebrating its 20th anniversary) has shows by Jonathan Monk, Rachel Mimiec and Stephen Hurrel (see p.38
for further details).
Mark O’Neill, Chair of the Gi’s advisory
committee, is excited about the programme.
‘In a world saturated with information and
images, the challenge to artists to articulate
their vision of the world and of what art is, is
more difficult than at any time in history. The
exhibitions across the city in public spaces
and non-arts venues will offer the opportunity
to see how artists have risen to this challenge.
Gi is an unmissable chance to learn to see in
new ways, through the eyes of some of the
most interesting and creative people in the
world today’.
Duritti Column, 2007, by Jim
Lambie. Image courtesy of the artist
and the Modern Institute Glasgow.
Photo by Ruth Clark.
21
MUSICAL NOTES
Dr James Hunter is Kelvingrove’s Director
of Music. In a new regular column, he’ll be
telling us about his role, and what musical
treats lie in store.
A year ago I was privileged to be appointed
to the new post of Honorary Director of Music
at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Directors of music at art galleries are
something of a rare breed – Kelvingrove is
only the second such appointment in the
world, the other being in Boston, USA. The
main aim of the role is to make music an
integral part of the Kelvingrove experience. One of the crowning glories of Kelvingrove is
its world-famous organ built by TC Lewis and
Co. Ltd, Brixton, London. Installed in 1902,
it’s still in its original condition, and is one of
the most admired Victorian concert organs in
the world.
Over the past year a team of 50 organists
from across Scotland, supplemented by
visiting players from abroad including
Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Australia, Holland
and America has presented a wide variety
of music. In June 2007, we were especially
22
pleased to host the opening recital of the
Incorporated Society of Organists Conference
which was given by one of the world’s most
famous virtuosos – Dame Gillian Weir.
Judging by the spontaneous applause and
number of photographs taken, the daily
recitals (Mon–Sat, 1pm; Sun, 3pm) are
proving an enjoyable experience for visitors.
I think the Kelvingrove organist must be the
most photographed organist in the world!
During the Christmas season a number
of school choirs gave very enjoyable
performances, and our main Christmas
concert, introduced by Carol Smillie, proved
very popular. We hope to make these annual
events. Over the past few months we had
the pleasure of welcoming a wind band
from Dunbartonshire, a fiddle orchestra
from Glasgow and choirs from America and
France. And on Wednesday 16 April we look
forward to welcoming the acclaimed Hexham
Abbey Girls Choir.
We’re keen to encourage a variety of music
making in the gallery, so if your group would
like to participate, please do get in touch. You
can phone Kelvingrove on 0141 276 9599.
www.showscotland.com
Back by popular demand, Show Scotland, Scotland’s
cultural event of the year, celebrates our great
museums and galleries. And this year Show Scotland
events are even bigger. Whether you’re a family, on
your own, part of a group, visiting, or new to Glasgow,
Show Scotland has something for everyone.
The Burrell Collection
The Burrell Adventure
5 May 1.00–4.00pm
Go on a voyage of discovery
through the Burrell Collection
and explore the world through
time, cultures and ideas.
Free, just drop in. For more
information, phone the
Education & Access team on
0141 287 2564.
Gallery of Modern Art
The GoMA Gig 2008
2 May, 7.30–11.00pm
To coincide with Jim Lambie’s
exhibition, GoMA hosts a
music event featuring live
performances in the galleries.
Expect GoMA to be transformed
for this very special late night
gig. Tickets will be available
to collect from GoMA from
April (two per person). For
more information on tickets or
who’s playing, please contact
the Education & Access
team on 0141 287 3059 or
gomabookings@csglasgow.org
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and
Museum
An Evening of Adventure at
Kelvingrove
3 May, 6.00pm
For one evening only,
Kelvingrove’s galleries are
transformed into themed zones
hosting a range of challenges,
activities and performances
for families with children of all
ages. Want to solve the mystery
of the Egyptian mummy? Make
show scotland is back!
Show Scotland events take place over the May
Bank Holiday weekend, 2–5 May. Events include
live art performances, dance, poetry, themed tours,
discussions, new exhibitions, late night openings as
well as a chance to get stuck into one of Scotland’s
most exciting cultural weekends.
your way to the Adventure
Zone. Like making music? Then
express yourself in the Creative
Zone. Or dare you venture into
the Future Zone? The Coffee
Shop, selling drinks and snacks,
will be open. Free entry.
Museum of Transport
Soundtracks – Scottish Opera
2–5 May, 12noon–4.00pm each day
Performances by Scottish Opera.
The project offers a series of
unique performances exploring
the theme of travel. An enjoyable
and fun event for all! For more
details, phone the Education &
Access team on 0141 287 2651.
People’s Palace & Winter
Gardens
The Palace Presents... Glasgow, the
city of marvellous music!
4 May, 12noon–3.00pm
So you think you can dance? Well,
bring along your dancing shoes!
Take your partner by the hand,
and join in a musical celebration
of our city’s diverse cultures. This
fun-packed day will also be a
chance to listen to poetry, take
part in discussions and enjoy
family events for all. Experience
the diversity of Glasgow’s people,
from Roma, Scottish, African,
Asian and fusion ensembles.
Get down to the green! See www.
glasgowmuseums.com for further
details.
The Open Museum
Maryhill Arty Party
The Northwest Women’s Centre
(NWWC), 17–33 Shawpark
Street, Maryhill
2 May, from 12.30pm
Maryhill Arty Party showcases
Glasgow Museums’ art and
costume collections in a
community setting for the first
time. Open event, suitable for
all ages.
St Mungo Museum
Mind, Body and Spirit
3–4 May, 11am–4.30pm each day
Come along and experience a
weekend full of different faith
practices relating to well being.
Free activities include yoga,
tai chi, Sufi performance and
meditation. For more details,
please phone the Education &
Access team on 0141 553 2557.
Scotland Street School
Museum
Words Out
5 May, 11.00am–4.00pm
Come along to Scotland Street
and take part in our Words
Out event. The day will include
creative writing workshops for
both children and adults, storytelling sessions, the chance to
make and taste some traditional
cookery, music workshops and
games. Sessions
run throughout
the day. See www.
glasgowmuseums.com
for further details.
23
WHAT’S ON
All museums are run by Culture and
Sport Glasgow on behalf of Glasgow
City Council and are open daily from
10am–5pm, except Fridays and
Sundays, 11am–5pm. GoMA is open
until 8pm on Thursdays. All museums
are closed 25, 26, 31 December
(afternoon) and 1, 2 January.
Glasgow Museums runs an extensive
Schools Programme: for details of our
workshops for schools and nurseries,
please contact the Museums Education
Service by phoning 0141 276 9505/6, or
visit www.glasgowmuseums.com
THE BURRELL
COLLECTION
Pollok Country Park, 2060
Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow
G43 1AT
Phone 0141 287 2550 Fax 0141 287 2597 Text Phone 0141 287 0047
Phil May was one of the most
popular cartoonists of the late
19th century. He was unusual
in having a gift for both
lively drawing and snappy
punchlines.
The exhibition has been
designed for families, with
plenty of hands-on activities to
encourage you to look closely
at his work.
Xiang Silou, Artist in Residence
31 March–25 April
A recent series of prints by the
renowned Chinese woodblock
artist Xiang Silou, who is
currently artist-in-residence
at the Burrell. For more
information on his work, visit
www.xiangsilou.com
Life Behind The Walls: The art and
music of Uzbek women
Burrell Lecture Theatre
20 June, 2.30pm
People Watching with Phil May
Until 8 June
24
A rare chance to see the
Burrell’s prized collection of
suzanis – richly embroidered
wall hangings from
Uzbekistan. Discover how
these exquisite works were
created, and find out about the
lives of the women who made
them and the multi-cultural
society they were a product of.
Additional exhibits – carpets
from western China and Iran,
and textiles from Central Asia
and Turkey – illustrate the
exchange of artistic influences
between Uzbekistan and other
areas along the Silk Road
trade route.
Colours of the Silk Road opening
Exhibitions
This display of drawings
and cartoons by Phil
May celebrates the 25th
anniversary of the Burrell
Collection and the breadth of
William Burrell’s collecting.
Colours of the Silk Road: Suzani
embroideries from Uzbekistan
20 June 2008–4 January
2009
Beijing: Northern Capital
4–20 June
An exhibition of winning
artworks from a Chinese art
competition arranged by the
Scotland–China Association’s
Tom Murray Memorial Trust
and in association with the
China Now in Scotland
Festival. There will be a prizegiving ceremony on Saturday
14 June at 1.00pm.
www.scotchina.org
Dr Razia Sultanova,
ethnomusicologist and
Research Fellow in Creative
and Performing Arts,
Department of Music, SOAS,
University of London, talks
about Uzbek and Tajik women
in 19th-century Uzbekistan,
with images and live music.
WHAT’S ON
Traditional Uzbek music
Temporary Exhibition Gallery
21 and 22 June, throughout
the day
9 April: Rebecca Quinton,
Curator of Costume and
Textiles
An early 17th-century skirt panel
Dr Razia Sultanova, an Uzbek
ethnomusicologist, will play
the Uzbek dutar (plucked
lute) and doira (frame drum)
and sing traditional Uzbek and
Tajik melodies from Central
Asia. She will be happy to talk
about the music and answer
any questions you might have.
16 April: Noorah Al-Gailani,
Curator of Islamic Civilizations
A group of Persian star-shaped
ceramic tiles from 13th-century
Iran
Suzanis for families
21 and 22 June, throughout
the day
30 April: Simon Eccles, Senior
Curator (Ancient Civilizations)
Pa-ra-her-wenem-ef, second
son of Ramesses the Great and
Nefertari
Enjoy Uzbek music,
storytelling and arts activities
inspired by The Colours of the
Silk Road. For more details,
phone 0141 287 2550.
For further activities related
to this exhibition, see also
the listings for Curators’
Favourites, Adult Art
Workshops and Burrell for
Families.
Adult Events
Curators’ Favourites
Wednesdays, 12.30–1.00pm,
Free
Meet in the Burrell courtyard
Meet the experts and learn
about their favourite objects
at these fascinating free
gallery talks. All details
correct at time of going to
press, but may be subject to
change at short notice.
2 April: Emma May, Curator
of Chinese and Oriental
Civilizations
Chinese Neolithic pottery and early
Chinese beliefs about the afterlife
23 April: Robert Wenley,
Curator of European Art
(1600–1800)
Rembrandt’s Self-Portrait
7 May: Patricia Collins,
Curator of Medieval and
Renaissance Art
Two Swiss tapestries: The Dishonest
Miller and The Wandering
Housewife
14 May: Emma May, Curator
of Chinese and Oriental
Civilizations
Song Dynasty celadons and tea
wares
18 June: Patricia Collins,
Curator of Medieval and
Renaissance Art
Three paintings from the workshop
of Lucas Cranach
25 June: Noorah Al-Gailani,
Curator of Islamic Civilizations
An embroidered sheet for a
wedding bed, from 19th-century
Uzbekistan
Curator’s talk: The Qing Ming
Festival
Friday 4 April, 12.30–1.00pm,
drop-in
Emma May, Curator of
Chinese and Oriental
Civilizations, will give a short
talk about the Qing Ming,
the annual Chinese festival
dedicated to cleaning tombs
and performing rites for the
dead. She will also look at
Chinese objects in the Burrell
Collection intended for the
afterlife, and discuss their
symbolism.
21 May: Muriel King, Museum
Manager
People Watching with Phil May
28 May: Simon Eccles, Senior
Curator (Ancient Civilizations)
Osiris, Ancient Egyptian god of the
living dead
A woman praying at the gates of a
Buddhist shrine in Xian, China, © Emma May.
4 June: Rebecca Quinton,
Curator of Costume and
Textiles
The Lochleven hangings
11 June: Robert Wenley,
Curator of European Art
(1600–1800)
English drinking glasses
25
WHAT’S ON
Themed tours
The volunteer guides offer a
number of free tours, to which
everyone is welcome. Tours
may be subject to cancellation
at short notice, so please
phone the Burrell Collection
on 0141 287 2550 to confirm
that the tour is taking place.
Meet at the Enquiry Desk.
Wednesday 9 April
2.30pm: Dr Keir Fisher
Medical interests in the Burrell
Collection
Tuesday 22 April
2.30pm: Mrs Elizabeth Black
Cultural transmission on the Silk
Road
Wednesday 7 May
1.30pm: Mr John Rattenbury
Islamic Art at the Burrell
Thursday 15 May
1.30pm: Mrs Morna Mathers
Ancient Egypt – A river runs
through it
Saturday 7 June
2.30pm: Mrs Jenny Inglis
Chinese ceramics at the Burrell
Thursday 19 June
11.30am: Mrs Dina Ward
The fabulous Burrell tapestries
Ancient Egypt Comes to
Glasgow talks series
Burrell Collection Lecture
Theatre
Saturdays, 2.00pm
Explore Ancient Egypt with
Egyptology Scotland (www.
egyptologyscotland.com) at
the Burrell Collection. £2
for members; £4 for nonmembers per talk; or annual
subscription fee for the
2007/08 programme is £12
for adults; £8 for under-16s.
26
Talking Amongst the Ranks:
How did different social groups
communicate in Ancient Egypt?
12 April
Question-and-answer sessions
31 March–25 April,
Wednesdays and Fridays
2.00–4.00pm
John Baines is Professor of
Egyptology at the University
of Oxford and the author of
numerous books and articles
about Ancient Egypt. His
lecture explores the social
interaction between different
classes in Ancient Egyptian
society.
Question and answer sessions
with the artist, assisted by a
translator from the Chinese
community in Glasgow.
Back to the Future: Archaeology in
the Nile Delta
10 May
Dr Patricia Spencer is
the Director of the Egypt
Exploration Society, and has
excavated all over Egypt. Her
talk focuses on the Society’s
excavations in the oftenoverlooked Delta region of
Egypt.
Artist in Residence
Xiang Silou, Artist in Residence
31 March–25 April
As part of the UK-wide China
Now festival, woodblock
artist Professor Xiang Silou
undertakes a four-week
residency at the Burrell
Collection. A selection of his
works will be on display, and
you can find out more about
his work in a series of events,
including lectures, print
workshops and family events.
For more information, please
phone 0141 287 2550. The
residency has been organized
by Ricefield Arts and Cultural
Centre in partnership with the
Burrell Collection.
Adult Art Workshops
Monthly, Wednesdays
10am–12 noon
Maximum of 15 people per
workshop – please book a
place by phoning 0141 287
2564
The Burrell Collection is
hosting a series of adult art
workshops to coincide with
the Curators’ Favourites gallery
talks and other events. These
workshops include a practical
art session as well as a gallery
tour or object handling.
16 April, Printmaking
Meet the Burrell’s artist in
residence, Xiang Silou, and
discover how he creates
his woodblock prints – then
create your own printed
artwork.
21 May (Adult Learners’
Week), Drawing from Life
Visit the People Watching with
Phil May exhibition and focus
on the different techniques
the artist used to bring
characters to life. Have a go at
drawing the human figure. At
12.30pm there is a Curators’
Favourites talk on Phil May.
WHAT’S ON
25 June, Textile Art
21 June: Colours of the Silk Road
Visit the colourful exhibition
of suzani embroideries from
Uzbekistan, Colours of the
Silk Road, and create a fabric
panel yourself. At 12.30pm
there is a Curators’ Favourites
talk about one of the suzanis.
A creative workshop – part
of a weekend of celebrations
marking the opening of this
new exhibition of embroideries
from Uzbekistan.
Burrell for Families
Saturdays, 2.00pm
Enjoy new ways of discovering
the Burrell’s collections
and take a creative look at
the treasures on display.
Each session lasts about 90
minutes, and they’re designed
for families with children aged
between 5 and 12 years old.
For more information, please
phone 0141 287 2564.
12 April: Print It!
See the woodblock prints
by the Burrell’s artist-inresidence, Xiang Silou, and
make a print to take away.
26 April: Cartoon Sketches
Create your own cartoon
inspired by the People
Watching with Phil May
exhibition.
17 May: Poetry and Paintings
Create your own poem
inspired by the paintings on
display.
24 May: Drawing from Nature
Find symbols of nature at the
Burrell Collection to inspire
you in your own artwork.
Spring Holiday Programme
Over the holidays, why not
have some creative fun linked
to our current displays?
Morning sessions
10.00–11.30am, free but
please book by phoning 0141
287 2564
Children under 8 must be
accompanied by an adult
Tuesday 8 April: People
Watching
Take a look at the exhibition
of Phil May’s cartoons and
find out how to make lively
drawings of people.
Thursday 10 April: Pulling
Faces
Afternoon sessions
2.00–4.00pm, drop-in
Children under 8 must be
accompanied by an adult
The afternoon sessions listed
below can also, if booked, be
made available to groups of
children or young people on a
Monday, Wednesday or Friday
– for more information please
phone 0141 287 2564.
Tuesday 8 April and Thursday
10 April: Cartoon Sketches
Take a look at the People
Watching exhibition of
cartoons by Phil May and
learn how to draw people in a
fun way.
Tuesday 15 April 2008 and
Thursday 17 April 2008:
Chinese Prints
See the work of artist Xiang
Silou and make a print to
take away.
Discover how Phil May made
his drawings expressive and
create your own cartoon
character.
Tuesday 15 April: Printing Faces
Meet the Burrell’s artist in
residence, Xiang Silou, and
find out about his prints – then
make a creative print yourself.
Thursday 17 April: Print Magic
Printing is an easy way to
create multiple images – make
your own artworks inspired by
woodblock artist Xiang Silou.
14 June: Creating Faces
Make your own huge 3D mask
inspired by objects in the
Burrell.
27
WHAT’S ON
GALLERY OF
MODERN ART
A Moment in Time
Balcony 2
Until 27 April
Jim Lambie – Forever Changes
Gallery 1
11 April–29 September
Royal Exchange Square,
Glasgow G1 3AH
Phone 0141 229 1996 Fax 0141 204 5316 Text phone 0141 248 2891
Four mixed media collages
featuring old and new images
of Maryhill by pupils of St
Gregory’s and Wyndford
Primary Schools, working with
artist Victoria Skogsberg. The
project was commissioned
by Maryhill Housing
Association as part of their
30th anniversary programme
celebrating Maryhill as a place
to live, work, play and visit.
An exhibition of new work
by Glasgow-based artist
Jim Lambie, including a
spectacular vinyl floor and
several new sculptures.
Exhibitions
Contemporary Collection
Galleries 2 and 4
Until 2009
An exhibition of recent GoMA
acquisitions, including work
by Douglas Gordon, Christine
Borland, Ilana Halperin,
Hanneline Visnes, Daphne
Wright, Simon Starling, Lucy
Skaer, Richard Wright and
Claire Barclay.
Me, Art and the Garden
Balcony 1
Until 27 April
Gemz, a group of young girls
from the Pollokshields-based
organization YCSA, worked
with the Hidden Gardens’
artist-in-residence Rachel
Mimiec. Together they created
an exhibition inspired by their
experiences of being in the
Hidden Gardens. Funded
by the Scottish Arts Council
Partnership Fund, Scottish
Community Foundation and
BAA Glasgow.
www.thehiddengardens.org.uk;
www.ycsa.org.uk
Torsten Lauschmann
Gallery 3
Until 26 May
Torsten Lauschmann, who
studied at the Glasgow
School of Art, is an artist and
filmmaker who also creates live
performances. Lauschmann
produces a diverse range of
work, including investigations
into the mechanics of
digital processes, software
creation, experimental editing,
approaches to performing
and the sculptural potential of
video installation.
© Torsten Lauschmann
28
Since graduating from the
Glasgow School of Art,
Lambie’s work has been
included in high-profile
exhibitions such as Zenomap,
Venice Biennale (2003); the
Carnegie International, USA
(2004); and the Turner Prize,
London (2005).
This project was organized in
association with the Glasgow
International (Gi) Festival.
The Byrds (Four to the Floor), 2005, by
Jim Lambie. Courtesy of the artist, Sadie
Coles HQ, London, and the Modern
Institute/Toby Webster Ltd, Glasgow.
Forever Changes events
programme
We’re running an extensive
and exciting programme of
events to accompany the
Forever Changes exhibition.
These are suitable for visitors
with both general and specific
interests and will appeal to all
ages. Included are workshops,
gallery talks, tours for those
with a sensory impairment,
as well as events for families,
adults and young people.
WHAT’S ON
Many of these events are
free and drop-in. For full
details visit our website, www.
glasgowmuseums.com
Doodle Hub
Balconies 1 and 2
17 May–13 July
An exhibition showcasing
some of the artworks produced
by participants from the
GoMA Education & Access
programmes over the last year.
Come and find out what’s been
going on, and how you can get
involved in future workshops
and events at the gallery.
Jo Spence: Self-portraits
Gallery 3
12 June–16 November
An exhibition of self-portraits
by the important British
photographer Jo Spence
(1934–92), best known for work
on issues such as health, class,
femininity and self-image.
On display will be work from
Glasgow Museums’ collections,
including 14 photographs
generously given to Glasgow
Museums in 2008 by the Jo
Spence Memorial Archive,
London.
Tours
British Sign Language (BSL) tour of
current exhibitions
19 June, 1.30–2.30pm
Free, no need to book
Ben Harman, Curator of
Contemporary Art, will give a
tour of the Jim Lambie and Jo
Spence exhibitions with a BSL
interpreter.
Sensory tours plus workshops
For visitors with a visual
impairment
10am–3pm, free
Spaces are limited, so please
book your place by phoning
0141 287 3059 or emailing
GOMABookings@csglasgow.org
We’re offering a descriptive
tour and accompanying art
workshop for the exhibitions
listed below. Artist Juliana
Capes will lead each session.
21 May – Jim Lambie: Forever Changes
18 June – Jo Spence:
Self-portraits
Events
GoMA Artists’ Talks Series
Monthly, Thursday evenings,
6.30–7.30pm, free, all
welcome
This popular series continues
throughout 2008. Each
talk is given in one of the
GoMA galleries by a curator,
or an artist represented in
GoMA’s collections or current
exhibitions.
Skull and Mask by Jo Spence, © and
courtesy of the Jo Spence Memorial
Archive, London
19 June: Ben Harman, Curator
of Contemporary Art, will give
a guided tour of the exhibition
Jo Spence: Self-portraits. Family events
GoMA Spring Holiday Programme
5–20 April
GoMA hosts two weeks of Arty
Fun this spring holiday. Events
range from printmaking and
painting to storytelling, with
activities for children aged
three years and over, and new
workshops for young people
aged between 14 and 18.
The workshops have been
developed in response to our
new and exciting Jim Lambie
– Forever Changes exhibition
and the work of abstract painter
Victoria Morton. Don’t miss out!
Phone the Education & Access
team on 0141 287 3059 to
book your place, or email
GOMABookings@csglasgow.org
Further details of workshops
and times can be found on our
website www.glasgowmuseum.com
GoMA Saturday Art Club
Every Saturday, 10.30am–
1.00pm
Free and drop-in
Get creative on Saturday
mornings at our lively practical
art activities in the galleries
– designed for children aged
3–11, and parents too! Find
fun ways to explore art with
drawing, collage, sculpture
making and painting. Come
along and get arty!
15 May: A talk about Torsten
Lauschmann, who is
exhibiting in Gallery 3 until 26 May.
29
WHAT’S ON
GLASGOW
MUSEUMS
RESOURCE
CENTRE
200 Woodhead Road,
Nitshill, Glasgow G53 7NN
Phone 0141 276 9300 Fax 0141 276 9305 Text Phone 0141 276 9428
Glasgow Museums Resource
Centre (GMRC) is the first publicly
accessible store for the City’s
museum service. It is a purposebuilt museum storage facility and
visitor centre in the south side of
Glasgow.
GMRC is currently closed
for refurbishment, but will
reopen in Spring 2009 when
we’ll be offering an even more
extensive range of tours and
events for visitors of all ages.
For more details, see p.9.
KELVINGROVE
ART GALLERY
AND MUSEUM
Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8AG
Phone 0141 276 9599 Fax 0141 276 9540 Text phone 0141 276
9500/
Exhibitions
Friends of the River Kelvin
12 April–11 May
Who helps to keep the River
Kelvin clean? The Friends
of the River Kelvin (FORK), a group of local volunteers
who care passionately about
the river and its wildlife do!
This exhibition shows the
work they do to help promote
public awareness of the river,
its history and wildlife and
its importance as a place of
natural beauty.
Harry Benson – A photographer’s
journey
RBS Exhibition Gallery
30 May–14 September
This exciting homecoming
exhibition includes intimate
photographs from the 60-year
career of Harry Benson, the
renowned photographer from
Glasgow. As well as images
from his recent book Harry
Benson’s Glasgow, you’ll see
photographs of the Beatles
– with whom he travelled to
the United States in 1964
– world leaders and events,
icons of fashion, music
and film, and Scottish and
American athletes.
This award-winning
photojournalist works for
many high-profile magazines,
including Life, Vanity Fair,
Architectural Digest and the
Sunday Times Magazine.
West of Scotland Cricket Club
17 May–15 June
From its founding in 1862, the
ground at Partick has been
host to the greats of cricket
– including the legendary WG
Grace. It was also the venue
for the first ever Scotland–
England football international
in 1872.
Cricket is the fastest growing
sport in Scotland, so come
along and find out about the
history of the club and the
current game in Glasgow.
30
Harry Benson’s photograph of the
Beatles. © Harry Benson Ltd.
One World, One Dream
19–26 June
A chance to see the winning
entries from the ‘One World,
One Dream’ art competition
(see p.11). A prize-giving
ceremony will be held at
Kelvingrove on Friday 20 June
at 11.30am.
WHAT’S ON
Tours
Daily 11am and 2.30pm
Free, but donations to the
museum welcome
Kelvingrove’s volunteer guides
provide tours of the museum’s
highlights, including Scottish
highlights. Please meet at the
information desk in the Centre
Hall five minutes before the
tour is due to start. Maximum
number 15 (on a first come
basis). For group tours please
phone 0141 276 9583 four or
more weeks in advance.
Events
Daily organ recitals
Monday–Saturday 1pm
Sunday 3pm
We think Kelvingrove is the
only museum in the world
where you can hear a daily,
free organ recital! So why
not come along and enjoy
half an hour of live music at
lunchtime? The magnificent
Lewis and Co. organ is played
by a range of locally, nationally
and internationally known
organists.
Beginners’ Adult Art Classes
11am–3.30pm
Please book in advance by
phoning 0141 276 9569
Maximum of two classes per
person All of the classes will involve
a look round the galleries
followed by a practical art
session led by one of our
Learning Assistants. All
materials will be provided and
no previous experience is
required.
Friday 28 March
Looking at landscapes
Saturday 12 April
The Scottish Colourists
Friday 25 April
Still life
Saturday 17 May
Impressionist painting
Friday 30 May
Life drawing
Saturday 14 June
Lino printing
Friday 27 June
Screenprinting
The Russian Choir
Sunday 6 April, 2.00–2.50pm
The Glasgow-based Russian
Choir sings unaccompanied
music from the Russian
repertoire. For more information,
see www.therussianchoir.org.uk
The Early Music Forum of Scotland
Sunday 20 April, 11.30am–
4.30pm
Recitals throughout the
museum from musicians and
performers in historic dress.
explore the museum and its
unique collections and to help
young people discover their
own potential.
Kelvingrove Museum Nature Club
Saturdays (every two weeks),
10.30am
For 8–12-year-olds
The Kelvingrove Museum
Nature Club launches on
Saturday 5 April. The club will
run fortnightly on Saturday
mornings, and we’ll be making
use of both museum exhibits
and the surrounding park.
Sessions include gallery tours,
specimen handling, hands-on
activities and games.
Children can choose to attend
every session or just ones that
particularly interest them.
To book a place in advance,
phone 0141 276 9569. 5 April Life on Earth – an
introduction to the wonderful world
of nature
19 April Fish, amphibians and
reptiles
Events for Young People
Centre of New Enlightenment
Campbell Hunter Education
Wing
April–June, Saturdays and
Sundays 1pm and 3pm
Free
The Centre of New
Enlightenment is an exciting
and innovative adventure in
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and
Museum. Designed for young
people aged 10–14, this
high-tech activity makes use
of state-of-the-art equipment
and dramatic presentations to
3 May Animal defences
17 May Creepy crawlies – a parkbased session, so wear sensible
clothes!
31 May Venomous creatures
14 June Life in fur and feathers
28 June Myths and legends
31
WHAT’S ON
RSPB at Kelvingrove
June: Springwatch
RSPB Wildlife Talks
The Royal Society for the
Protection of Birds (RSPB)
has a stand in Kelvingrove’s
Wildlife Gallery. Kids can
come and get involved in our
quizzes and activities and
we’re showing incredible new
wildlife films each month.
We’re happy to answer any of
your wildlife and conservation
questions…come and chat
to us!
With ‘Springwatch’ in full flow
on the TV, we’re hoping to
give visitors at Kelvingrove the
chance to get more familiar
with nature. Co-operation of
the wildlife allowing, we will
have live CCTV footage of
nesting birds in Kelvingrove
park to show the galleries.
Last year we had a family of
blue tits moving in…what will
we have this year? www.rspb.
org.uk/springwatch
Kelvingrove Lecture Theatre
At the end of each month,
12.30pm
Lasts about an hour and a
half, with time for questions
Tea and coffee included
April: Climate change
We’ll be looking at the effects
of climate change on Scotland
and the world as a whole.
Come and learn what you can
do to help the planet in the
face of this global threat. For
more information visit www.rspb.
org.uk/climate
RSPB Guided Museum Tours
Daily, 12 noon and 3pm
Drop-in, but phone to ensure
tours are going ahead on the
day of your visit
RSPB staff will take visitors
on guided wildlife tours of the
museum and bring the natural
history exhibits to life.
RSPB Guided Wildlife Walks in
Kelvingrove Park
Saturday and Sunday, 1.30pm
The climate change march, © Grahame
Madge (rspb-images.com).
May: Rivers and Springwatch
In conjunction with the
Friends of the River Kelvin’s
exhibition, we’ll be looking
at the importance of rivers
for wildlife. There’ll be extra
guided walks in the park this
month, in particular on the 5 May Bank Holiday. For more
information or to book a place
on a walk, phone 0141 276
9599. This month we’re also
hoping to start beaming back
live images of nesting birds
in the park to our screen in
Scotland’s Wildlife Gallery, so
keep your eyes peeled!
32
Drop-in, but please phone to
0141 276 9599 to ensure that
walks are going ahead on the
day of your visit.
RSPB staff lead hour-long
wildlife walks in Kelvingrove
Park every weekend. Using
RSPB binoculars and
telescopes, we hope to
catch a glimpse of some of
Glasgow’s fantastic wildlife,
from unusual insects to
colourful kingfishers! If you’re
up for it, we’ll go out whatever
the weather!
Look out for our wildlife
talks. Guest speakers will
be announced a month
in advance on Glasgow
Museums’ website www.
glasgowmuseums.com. RSPB at
Kelvingrove is funded by the
Heritage Lottery Fund and
Scottish Natural Heritage.
The Study Centre at Kelvingrove
Have you popped into the
Study Centre at Kelvingrove
yet? Here you can find out
more about objects on display
and a whole lot more from our
reference books, or access the
Internet on the computers. It’s
all free, and there’s a member
of staff there Monday to Friday,
so you can come along with
any questions or objects you
would like identified. We’ll do
our best to give you an answer,
or find someone who can!
Please phone 0141 276 9523
or visit www.glasgowmuseums.
com for information on who’s
in the Study Centre this
spring.
WHAT’S ON
MUSEUM OF
TRANSPORT
1 Bunhouse Road, Glasgow
G3 8DP
Phone 0141 287 2720 Fax 0141 287 2692 Text phone 0141 287 2664
Get on your bike, trike or
sidecar and bring along
chocolate eggs for the kids
at the Royal Hospital for
Sick Children at Yorkhill!
Donations for the hospital are
also welcome. You can hand
in donations or eggs at the
Museum of Transport.
Exhibitions
Lives in Motion
Until 31 October
Society can both enable and
disable the lives of disabled
people. There are many
accessibility issues involved in
using public transport. Lives
in Motion explores objects
from Glasgow Museums’
collection and tells stories
of how these objects have
affected peoples’ lives.
Lives in Motion is a partnership
exhibition for Rethinking
Disability Representation – a
nationwide initiative involving
nine museum partners
investigating their collections for
disability focused exhibitions.
Rethinking Disability
Representation is co-ordinated
by RCMG (Research Centre
for Museums and Galleries),
University of Leicester.
Miniature Magic at the Museum of
Transport!
An exhibition of over 40 model
vehicles – free
29 and 30 March 2008
Saturday, 10am–5pm
Sunday, 11am–5pm
For one weekend only, you
can enjoy a fascinating
display of over 40
handcrafted miniature
vehicles. This collection of
lovingly rendered, detailed
replicas, including model
trucks, construction,
emergency and public
transport vehicles, is small
but perfectly formed fun for
children, families and model
enthusiasts alike!
Tram Man
Saturdays 5 and 19 April, 3, 17
and 31 May, 14 and 28 June
11.00–11.30am, 12.30–
1.00pm, 2.00–2.30pm
Events
MAG Easter Egg Run
Sunday March 24, meet at
SECC at 12.30pm
See a tram conductor come
to life and hear about the
early days of Glasgow’s public
transport system, and maybe
a wee bit more besides …
One of the most popular
events in the museum.
Parade of Wheels
29 June 2008, 1.00pm
Starts at the Kelvin Way; for
further information phone
0141 287 2651
Calling all cyclists,
skateboarders, pram-pushers
and wheelchair users – join
us and make this a parade to
remember!
Vintage vehicles from Glasgow
Vintage Vehicle Trust will
participate in our parade to
the Museum of Transport,
where a spectacular range
of vintage vehicles will be on
display. For a registration
form, please phone the
Museum of Transport’s
Learning Assistants on 0141
287 2651, or email john.ferry@
csglasgow.org
Holiday Programme activities/
Easter
This year’s holiday
programme offers a range
of activities for children
and families, exploring
various themes of travel and
transport. Please phone 0141
287 2720 for full details or
visit www.glasgowmuseums.com
Roll-Royce–Glasgow Museums
Partnership
Glasgow Museums have
begun a partnership with
Rolls-Royce apprentices,
who’ll be delivering workshops
as part of our formal
education programme.
Sessions are designed to
create awareness of science
and technology within primary
schools. Our education
programme will include:
‘Forces of Nature’ and ‘Suck,
Squeeze, Bang, Blow’.
33
WHAT’S ON
PEOPLE’S
PALACE &
WINTER
GARDENS
Glasgow Green, Glasgow
G40 1AT
Phone 0141 271 2951 Fax 0141 271 2690 Text phone 0141 271 2698
Exhibitions
Glasgow 1955: Through the lens
21 March–29 September
In 1955, Glasgow camera
clubs got together to create a
unique photographic survey
of the city. They photographed
everyday scenes of people and
places, creating a wonderful
record of daily life. A selection
of these popular photographs is
back on display at the People’s
Palace. For some it will be a
trip down memory lane, and for
others a chance to see the city
as it looked over half a century
ago. You can buy the book
accompanying the exhibition
from museum shops and all
good bookshops.
Jimmy Reid: Seventy-Five Years
Until 10 July
Marking Jimmy Reid’s 75th
birthday, the first public
showing of this powerful
portrait by Barry Atherton
with Linda Atherton has been
extended until summer 2008.
Full of detail, this biographical
portrait gives a historical
context for Reid’s influence
and influences, including the
Upper Clyde Shipbuilders’
work-in of 1971.
Railing Art Programme
Railing Art, the community
exhibition space at the
People’s Palace, has a busy
upcoming programme,
including displays by the
Glasgow Thematic Society
and John Wheatley College, in
conjunction with the Hayfield
Centre for the Deaf.
Details of the latest exhibitions
are on our website, www.glasgowmuseums.com. If you’re interested in creating
your own display, please
phone us on 0141 271 2962.
Spring Holiday Programme
For further details, phone
Rachel Lees on 0141 271
2962 or email rachel.lees@
csglasgow.org
Exploring photography
Tuesday 8 April, 11.00am and
2.00pm
Please book by phoning the
Education & Access team on
0141 271 2962
Find out more about
photography in the past – your
chance to handle some old
cameras and produce your
own photographs. Suitable for
children.
Helping out at the steamie
Sunday 12 April, 12 noon and
2.00pm
Join Mrs Brown as she
demonstrates a typical
washday at the Glasgow
Green washhouse. Suitable for
families and adult visitors.
Life through the lens
Tuesday 15 April, 11.00am
and 2.00pm
We’ll use drama activities
to help us imagine who the
people in the Glasgow 1955
exhibition photos were, and
what their lives might have
been like. Suitable for families.
Hands-on history: 1950s
Wednesday 16 April
11.00am and 2.00pm
View of Partick Cross, Alf Daniel, Partick
Camera Club.
Railing Art exhibition space in the Winter
Gardens.
34
,
Take a closer look at the history
of Glasgow in the 1950s with
our tours and object-handling
sessions. Suitable for all ages.
WHAT’S ON
Children’s tour with Little Lizzie
the puppet
Friday 18 April, 12 noon and
2.00pm
SCOTLAND
STREET SCHOOL
MUSEUM
Join Little Lizzie the puppet on
a short tour of the museum to
discover more about Glasgow’s
past. Suitable for younger
children, but they must be
accompanied by an adult.
225 Scotland Street,
Glasgow G5 8BQ
Phone 0141 287 0500 Fax 0141 287 0515 Text phone 0141 287 0513
Adult Event
Exhibitions
We all came here from somewhere?
Friday 20 June, 12 noon–
2.00pm
Free, drop-in
Uncovering the Past: The M74 Dig
Until 24 July
To mark the 10th anniversary
of Refugee Week and World
Refugee Day, join us for a
discussion about heritage,
journeys and people’s rights.
The people in Scotland are
not a single tribe, nor a single
religion, and didn’t come from
a single place – but we did all
come here from somewhere.
The event is run in conjunction
with Amnesty International,
Artists in Exile, and the Scottish
Refugee Council.
Archaeologists are
investigating a number of
sites along the route of the
planned M74 Completion.
This exhibition currently
explores what has been
discovered at three locations
– the sites of the Govan Iron
Works, the Caledonian Pottery
at Rutherglen, and tenement
buildings on Pollokshaws
Road in Laurieston, which
included a terrace by
Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson.
Ally Wallace: Multi-Module
12 April–5 May
Ally Wallace’s monumental but
ephemeral installation refers
to the Clydeside’s former
industries and its current
corporate-style architecture.
This geometric sculpture
is over three metres high
and is made from multiple
layers of identical, uniformly
arranged sheets of paper.
It will be constructed, and
later dismantled, without any
damage to the paper. After the
exhibition the paper will return
to its original state, sending
out a positive message for
sustainability.
This exhibition is supported
by Glasgow City Council Visual
Artists Grants Scheme and
coincides with Gi: Glasgow
international Festival of
Contemporary Visual Art,
11–27 April 2008.
www.glasgowinternational.org
Artwork by Ally Wallace
Ally Wallace events programme
The M74 Dig is funded by
the M74 Completion Project
partners: Transport Scotland,
Glasgow City Council, South
Lanarkshire Council and
Renfrewshire Council.
Sunday 20 April, 1.00–
3.00pm
Planes, boats and fortune tellers
For children aged 5–12
Phone 0141 287 0500 for
further details
Making the most of plain white
paper.
35
WHAT’S ON
Sunday 27 April, 1.00–
3.00pm
Sculpture
For children aged 5–12
Phone 0141 287 0500 for
further details
Making large-scale sculpture
from recycled materials.
Saturday 26 April, 1.00–
3.00pm Origami
For adults
Please book by phoning
0141 276 9310 or e-mailing
gmrcbookings@csglasgow.org
Try your hand at the ancient
art of origami.
Tours
Please book by phoning
0141 276 9310 or e-mailing
gmrcbookings@csglasgow.org. For any other enquiries
phone Scotland Street School
Museum on 0141 287 0500.
Explore the work of Charles
Rennie Mackintosh by
trying out some practical art
activities. These sessions
will focus on the themes of
design, motifs, colour and
glass painting, and you’ll get
the chance to try out different
mediums and techniques. You
can book for the whole block
of classes, or just take part in
individual sessions.
Spring Holiday Programme
Sessions are free and there is
no need to book, but children
should be accompanied by an
adult. Phone 0141 287 0500
for further details.
M74 Discovery Centre
Tuesday 8, Wednesday 9 and
Thursday 10 April
11.00am–12 noon for 5–8year-olds
2.00–3.00pm for 9–12-yearolds
Tuesday 6 May, 1.00pm
The Story of Mackintosh at
Scotland Street School Museum
Alison Brown, Curator of
Decorative Arts
Saturday 14 June, 1.00pm
Mackintosh’s Motifs
Diana Morton, Learning
Assistant
A look at some of the
influences in Mackintosh’s
work at Scotland Street School
Museum.
Adult Art Classes
Saturdays 3, 10, 17 and 24
May, 1.00–4.00pm
Tuesdays 3, 10, 17 and 24
June, 10.00am–1.00pm
Please book by phoning
0141 276 9310 or emailing
gmrcbookings@csglasgow.org
36
Take part in archaeological
activities and try our
simulated dig.
Art and Design
Tuesday 15, Wednesday 16
and Thursday 17 April
11.00am–12 noon for 5–8year-olds
2.00–3pm for 9–12-year-olds
Make a Mackintosh-style
window or design a room.
provand’s
lordship
3 Castle Street, Glasgow G4 0RB
Phone 0141 552 8819 Fax 0141 552 4744
Event
Provand’s Lordship Family Day
Saturday 9 August 2008
10am – 4pm
Free entry
Provand’s Lordship Family
Day is a celebration day
for Glasgow’s oldest house.
There’ll be art and craft
activities, games, music,
herbal medicine and more
for all the family, as well as
an opportunity to discover
the city’s history through
archaeology and displays.
WHAT’S ON
st mungo
museum of
religious
life and art
Seeking Asylum – Life after Iraq
12 June–October
2 Castle Street, Glasgow G4 0RH
Phone 0141 553 2557 Fax 0141 552 4744 Text phone 0141 552 5754
Commissioned by the Scottish
Refugee Council, this is an
exhibition of work by awardwinning photojournalist Angela
Caitlin and writer Billy Briggs.
They travelled to Syria to
document the lives of some of
the millions of ordinary Iraqis
living there after fleeing from
their homeland. The exhibition
also gives an intimate insight
into the lives of Iraqi refugees
who have come to Scotland
seeking safety.
Exhibitions
Beyond Visibility: Exploring the
spiritual in contemporary artistic
practice
Part of Gi – Glasgow
International Festival of
Contemporary Visual Art
12 April–26 May
An exhibition of work by
artists Tara Beall and Thomas
Joshua Cooper, exploring
the relationship between
contemporary art and sacred
and spiritual spaces.
The exhibition is run in
collaboration with the
University of Glasgow Centre
for the Study of Literature,
Theology and the Arts, the
Diocese of Glasgow and
Galloway, and the Glasgow
School of Art.
Much attention has been given
to the recent conflict in Iraq,
but much less to the ongoing
humanitarian crisis there.
Part of Refugee
Week 2008.
www.refugeeweek.org.uk; www.
scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk
Events
Faith to Faith
Sundays 2.00–4.00pm
All events are free, but
booking is essential – please
phone 0141 553 2557
Faith to Faith provides an
opportunity to listen, debate
and discuss issues relating to
religion in Scotland today.
27 April
Religion and the environment
Beyond Visibility event
Saturday 19 April, 10.00am–
12.30pm
An open discussion exploring
the themes of the Beyond
Visibility exhibition. All welcome.
As climate change and care
of the environment become
global issues, learn more about
the approach different religious
traditions have taken to the
physical world we live in.
18 May: Spiritualism
Discover the history, beliefs
and practices of spiritualists,
and learn about the
development of this tradition
in Scotland.
1 June: Music and dance for all
Are ye dancin’? Come
and hear the music and
see the dances of different
communities represented at
St Mungo Museum.
Food for Thought
Free lunchtime talks
Thursdays, 12.30pm,
approximately 30 minutes
No need to book
3 April: Images of calm
– Buddha statues at St Mungo
Museum.
17 April: The model of the
Harmandir Sahib (the Sikh
Golden Temple).
1 May: The Tree Fern Spirit image
from the Pacific island of
Vanuatu.
15 May: The 12th-century
Bearsden incense burner – a rare
example of medieval Glasgow.
29 May: The Hidden Cross – Irish
wooden crosses used at times
of persecution.
12 June: Health, hope and
happiness – charms and
healing.
26 June: Painting the Cross
– Crucifixion VII (1988–89) by
Craigie Aitchison.
37
WHAT’S ON
TRAMWAY
25 Albert Drive, Glasgow
G41 2PE
Box office 0845 330 3501 Fax 0141 423 1194 www.tramway.org
Tramway presents three
exhibitions for the Gi Festival
programme, in Tramway’s 20th
anniversary year.
Jonathan Monk: Something No Less
Important Than Nothing/ Nothing No
Less Important Than Something
Tramway 2, free
April 11–May 18, Tues– Fri
10am– 5pm, Sat and Sun
12noon–5.00pm, closed
Mondays
Artist talk: Sunday 13 April,
2pm, free, all welcome
Jonathan Monk’s first exhibition
in Scotland for many years
references both a personal
history and that of Tramway’s
main gallery. Monk’s crossmedia works glance back at the
1960s and 70s and explore,
through humour, irreverence or
nostalgia, his place as an artist
in the 21st century. Now based
in Berlin, Monk is represented
in the UK by The Lisson
Gallery, London. Rachel Mimiec: Looking Out,
Looking In
Tramway 5, free
April 11–18 May, Tues– Fri
10am–5pm, Sat and Sun
12noon– 5pm, closed Mondays
Artist talk: Saturday 19 April,
2pm, free, all welcome
Rachel Mimiec’s work is often a
response to site and community;
she frequently works with
imagery and metaphors from
nature to investigate themes
of survival. This exhibition of
new work is the culmination
of her experiences as artistin-residence at The Hidden
Gardens, Tramway, and
observations made from her
shed/studio. A limited edition
bookwork, made in collaboration
with child psychotherapist
Andrew Dawson, accompanies
the installation.
38
A self-generating sound
installation produced by
tectonic shifts beneath the
Earth’s surface, this piece taps
into, and continually monitors,
100 seismic stations around
the world via the Internet.
Vibrations/data from these
sites are translated into unique
sounds, which are output via
a multi-channel sound system
and their waveforms videoprojected in the gallery space.
This work is the culmination of
a Scottish Arts Council Creative
Scotland Award 2005, with
support from Valand School
of Art Research Fund and
technical support from Robert
Farrell and Pete Dowling.
Beneath and Beyond, 2008. © Stephen Hurrel.
Shedio, 5th December 2007, digital
photograph, © Rachel Mimiec.
Jonathan Monk, Another Fine Mess
Repeated (out of sync), 2006, 16mm film,
record player, projector, 2 plinths, amplifier
and speaker.
Photo: Dave Morgan, courtesy of the artist
and Lisson Gallery.
Stephen Hurrell, Beneath and Beyond
Tramway 4, free
April 11– 20, Tues– Fri 10am–
5pm, Sat and Sun 12noon–
5pm, closed Mondays
Artist talk: Wednesday 16 April,
6.30pm, free, all welcome
39