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 
Suzi Dian has two unconventionally spelled names. I see that she’s Portuguese—a coincidence, because when I studied Portuguese in 1965 in New York one of the students in my class spelled her first name Dian. We became friends but unfortunately she died very young.
Not the kind of comment you’d expect to get on this post, but that’s where it took me.
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No, I suppose not, but personal reflections are interesting!
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Sounds like there’s some interesting exhibitions running in Glasgow at the moment, especially the Mary, Queen of Scots one. Gathering Stitch also sounds very good and relevant. The museum I work for is hosting a Polish-Ukrainian sewing group in January. They’re creating a collaborative tapestry with groups of Ukrainian refugees across Europe, and people visiting our museum can also join in, which should be fun!
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That sounds really good! Hope it goes well. I like looking at textile work but sewing is not one of my talents.
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Wonderful exhibits and fun times when it’s too cold and wet to get outside enjoyably. Thanks for sharing with us.
Velva
P.S. I wouldn’t dare say I am from Florida ( smile).
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Thank you, Velva. I expect days that are too cold and wet are a lot rare for you than they are for us!
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So envious! I can’t get to a Robert Plant concert but I’m now planning a stop-over in Glasgow in the New Year so I can go to the Print exhibition. Thanks for sharing the beautiful Blackadder photos.
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Great, I hope you enjoy it!
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It’s good to start getting back out and doing some cultural stuff after a long time of avoiding crowds, isn’t it?
Quite jealous of the Robert Plant concert 😡
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Perhaps he’ll come to somewhere near you next year! He was very good (though I realise telling you that doesn’t help the envy 😉).
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true!
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When the weather doesn’t allow you to galavant outside, it makes sense to turn your attention to the inside attractions! Thanks for sharing, and in case you’re not in the blogging world again until New Year’s, here’s wishing you a wonderful holiday season!
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Thank you Ann, and the same to you!
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Our weather is warming up at last. Love the photographs and the comments on the exhibition . Being so far away from “civilisation” we never have those opportunities, so it is enjoyable to read of them.
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Thanks, I’m never sure if it’s of interest to people who can’t possibly go, so I’m glad to know it can be.
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Despite the weather you’ve managed to keep busy, Anabel. Stay warm and cosy. 🙂
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Thanks, Carol, doing my best!
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I find the exhibits interesting even if I don’t ever get to see them. I don’t get out enough here to events and things. Too easy to hole up. Didn’t think I’d get another hike in, but today turned out perfect. Going to be nasty tomorrow. Have a wonderful holiday season, Anabel!
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I’m glad they are of interest. Glad you got another hike in, and hope today is not as bad as expected. Looks a but dull here but, so far dry, 🤞🏻
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Compared to you Anabel I’m Rip Van Winkle but I might batter off the dust and shuffle out to see a couple of these events if they are still on.
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All still on, so there’s time!
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