Glasgow Gallivanting: March 2025

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March has mainly been about one thing – my Jessie Stephen exhibition at Maryhill Burgh Halls. The first week saw final preparations and after it opened on 11th March I have been busy with “Curator’s Tours” and press. That sounds very grand but what it actually means is a) I am coercing, persuading, inviting everyone I know to visit and b) I spend a lot of time looking out stuff for journalists which results in nothing, a few lines, or half a minute’s screen time.

If you forgive the poor quality, you can see one of the more successful pieces of publicity above (from That’s TV Scotland). Aurora Segnan, Heritage Coordinator at the Halls, also features in the video. Although I call it “my” exhibition, and the content is largely, but not completely, down to me, it could not have happened without Aurora’s expertise in drawing everything together and displaying it in a way that I never could. Below are some examples of the exhibition’s publicity material, created by Aurora, and in my next post I’ll take you on a full photographic tour.

Exhibition flyer
Social Media Spotlight

A few other galleries for the month!

Arts and crafts

I’ve finally remembered to tag a bench for Jude.

Breathing Space bench at Gartnavel Hospital

I haven’t seen the penguins this month, but a Free Palestine protest has moved into one of their spaces. The Community Mural in Maryhill Halls is by children of Dunard Primary School.

Free Palestine
Community Mural by Dunard Primary

Sadly, further along the canal in Maryhill, another mural is disappearing as buildings are demolished or renovated for new housing. Here it is when new in 2019 and today.

2019
2025

Some detail from an underpass mural at Netherton. The first one includes the word respect so it’s a shame that it has been disrespected with graffiti.

Netherton mural
Netherton mural

Mitchell Lane is looking colourful with a deconstructed version of Glasgow’s coat of arms.

Mitchell Lane
Glasgow motto

I went in search of a newish blue plaque in St Enoch Square. The rather splendid building it is on was once a ticket office for the Subway – now it’s a coffee shop.

Caffe Nero
Plaque in situ
St Enoch plaque

An interesting exhibition at Arlington Baths Club made me think of my childhood Spirograph.

Variations by Marion Gardyne
Variations by Marion Gardyne

Finally in this section: a two day pop-up exhibition in Make it Glasgow’s Art Bothy at Stockingfield Bridge. Fired up featured items chosen by members of a community group from Glasgow’s historic potteries, the last one of which closed in the 1980s. My favourites included this one which spent 165 years under the sea before returning to Glasgow.

Shipwrecked plate
Shipwrecked plate

I liked the contrast in these bottles – one a prosaic container for stove polish, the others forming a set of mini-decanters for spirits in the shape of books.

Bottle for stove polish
Mini-decanters

Lastly, Glasgow is 850 this year and Make it Glasgow was commissioned to produce this lovely commemorative plate.

Glasgow 850 plate

Now you see ’em, now you don’t!

The picture of our garage block on the left was taken on Saturday 22nd March. The one on the right was taken on Sunday 23rd. Spot the difference?

Day before demolition
After the boom

Four high rises across the river from us are being demolished to make way for more modern housing. Three were blown up and the fourth, which is nearer to other buildings, is being dismantled floor by floor. Here are two views from Stockingfield, the first in November 2022 showing all four blocks intact, and the second from the afternoon of the explosion with just the one remaining.

Wyndford 2022
Wyndford 2025

I walked round to the site that afternoon to take some photos, but it was very hazy – partly the weather, partly the dust – so here are some John took a couple of days later.

After demolition
Fourth tower being reduced floor by floor

The cyclist

Speaking of John, a few cycling views to finish. Jude might even spot another bench.

Lochside sauna, Castle Semple
Loch Lomond
Rowardennan
Bench above Loch Riecawr
Loch Riecawr panorama
Lomond Shores

Happy April!

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54 Comments »

  2. Pingback: This week’s small pleasures #434 – Thistles and Kiwis

  3. Hi Anabel – it was great to see your brief update … you did extremely well … very professional .. so I’m pleased you’ve had a few recognitions and hope you get a few more – even with others coming along on your talks. Lots going on – thanks for the updates … and yes the bench is a delight to see ‘take some breathing space’ … a necessity today. That update on those towers was interesting … is that Sauna a working public one?!!! Cheers Hilary

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  7. Anabel, Congratulations on the exhibition and TV appearance! It was wonderful to hear your voice. I love the building in St Enoch Square and the two plates at the Make It Glasgow event.

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  10. Plenty to look at there. Like the Palestine sculpture. Land and country grabbing, or attempts at it, appears to be the new normal in 2025. Bob. BSS.

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  11. one can hear your pride in this lady who spearheaded women’s rights. You should pat yourself on the back with what you have accomplished. I love all the pictures you showcased here and, I agree, I don’t like it when graffiti disgraces works of street art. I really love the last bowl commemorating 850 years.

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  12. Two women deservedly getting their moment of fame and recognition – love this post. But oh my on the change in the skyline – very dramatic. Hope you wore a mask on the dusty days!

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  14. I enjoyed the interview, especially the part where you mentioned Jessie wasn’t about just getting the vote, but using it.
    The platter from the SS Eagle was very cool. Reminded me of going to the Steamship Arabia museum where the cargo from a riverboat sank in the Missouri River in 1859 is on display. Quite amazing, like a 19th century Walmart!

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  18. Lovely to hear your voice and to see all the hard work and effort you’ve put into the exhibition. I’m exhausted reading all about the sights you’ve seen in March…wonderful!

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  19. How lovely to be recognised! You sound like Nicola Sturgeon! Such a lovely Scottish lilt. It’s funny but I hadn’t imagined you sounding like that as you have lived in England quite a bit. But I have noticed that Scots never lose their accent. A lovely round-up of your month and thank you and John for the benches. I think we all need a breathing space right now with what’s going on in the world.

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  21. I used to love Spirograph – thanks for that memory jolt! And your exhibition sounds excellent, I look forward to hearing and seeing more of it in that promised future post 🙂

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  24. A great accumulation of different things here, I like them all. Your Jessie Stephen exhibition sounds good – how does it feel to be famous? 😉😀 The murals are great and the building in St. Enoch Square looks very quirky. I love the shipwrecked plate and its story, and the mini decanters are so cute. Great photos from John too, I like the view of Rowardennan.

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