Glasgow Gallivanting: November 2022
Other than walks to the canal and our London trip, both of which have been well documented during Becky’s WalkingSquares Challenge, it hasn’t been a month for getting out and about. Too wet and cold. However, we have been quite cultural, visiting several exhibitions and enjoying a concert by rock legend Robert Plant and his latest band.
All of the exhibitions below are on well into 2023 so could be of interest to those within striking distance of Glasgow. The rest of you? Well, I won’t judge if you scroll quickly past.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
The Love of Print is an exhibition celebrating 50 years of the Glasgow Print Studio and comprises a veritable who’s who of contemporary Scottish art with over 220 works from more than 130 artists. As well as that, there are two films in which printmakers explain their techniques which I found absolutely fascinating, especially for those works which I could then see in the exhibition. Here are a few examples of what caught my eye (all phone photos, so please forgive quality and reflections: there was no way round the latter).
Exhibition entrance, and We love you (2022) by Jim Lambie, used in publicity.
Elizabeth Blackadder cat prints. I had to go back to look at Three Cats (1992) more closely after reading that one of the cats, Rosie, had walked over the etching plate and Elizabeth decided to keep the results. You can see Rosie’s pawprints in the bottom right corner.
I liked Kibble Palace – Refraction (1978) by John Mackechnie because it shows a local landmark – part of Glasgow Botanic Gardens. Drawing Study (2008) by Kate Davis made me smile, and Immigrants from Eden (2022) by Jila Peacock is one of the prints we watched a film about. A painting of Adam and Eve leaving Eden combined in Jila’s mind with the silhouette of this couple, photographed from her flat during lockdown, to prompt this image.
The exhibition is on until 12th March.
Maryhill Burgh Halls
I did my last women’s history walk of the year as part of a special Mary Hill Day at the Halls. Storyteller Shona Cowie imagined Mary Hill’s life, as very little is actually known about her, and did a very good job of it. This was a one-off, but there is an ongoing photography exhibition (until 4th March), Maryhill is Wonderful, a collection of black and white photographs of people who live and work in Maryhill. Photographer Campbell Ramage was at the event, so I was able to congratulate him in person on his joyously natural portraits.
Hunterian Art Gallery
There are currently two interesting exhibitions at Glasgow University’s Hunterian Art Gallery. Upstairs is UNDERFOOT by Elizabeth Price (until 16th April). This mainly consists of a video installation which I can only describe as a celebration of the Mitchell Library’s carpets (and if you’re curious as to why that should be, take a look at this Facebook page). I realise this might be of limited appeal but having seen the carpets when they were newly laid, before the furniture and books went in, I feel I have a special interest. Oh, my eyes! Elizabeth has also designed her own rug, Sad Carrel, woven by Dovecot Studios. It is rather more low-key.
On the ground floor is The Afterlife of Mary Queen of Scots (until 5th February) which looks at how Mary’s legend has impacted on Scottish society and culture in the centuries since her death. It was too difficult to photograph the artefacts themselves because of lighting reflecting in the glass screens, but I made an exception for the Blackhouse Charter providing bursaries to five poor children to attend the University of Glasgow. I approve of her strong interest in education.
A feature of the Hunterian I like is Conservation in Action. Currently, you can see two very different paintings being restored, Hector’s farewell to Andromache by Gavin Hamilton (1723-98), and 18-6-69 by John Hoyland (1934-2011). NB, the image with the woman actually working on the picture is from an earlier visit.
Glasgow Women’s Library
Gathering Stitch (till 4th February) celebrates ways that women can use textiles to speak, protest and build community, displaying new work by survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse, alongside examples of women’s textiles from GWL’s archives.
So that’s it for November. Having not posted at all between September’s Gallivanting and October’s, thanks to Becky’s challenge I managed to post every day of the month. Blogging seems to be a feast or a famine with me at the moment, and I suspect I will now go silent again until after Christmas. You never know, I might pop back, but in case I don’t, my very best for the festive season to you all.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
I’m late to the party on this one, I know. But Dovecot Studios and the carpet weaving- is that the Edinburgh Dovecot? I hope so, it’s a favourite Edinburgh spot of mine.
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It is indeed!
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You sound as though you’ve been very busy “gallivanting” despite the inclement weather. Such an interesting range of cultural activities – good to get out of the cold! Hope you had a lovely Christmas and very best wishes for the New Year!
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Thank you – all the best to you and yours too!
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Every post you do that features Glasgow makes me want to get back there soooooo badly!
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Be sure to tell me when you come!
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The Love of Print exhibition sounds like something I would enjoy.
Merry Christmas!
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Thank you – and the same to you!
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