ART & EXHIBITIONS LIST
THE MIND
This is a disturbing exhibition which is uncomiortable in two ways. The iirst is the obvious discomiort oi being laced with portraits oi mental handicap and mental illness. However we try to accept them, the laces are irightening, masking, as they do, the unknowable. John Taylor's photograph oi an ageless woman with a capsized lace, lloating rubber-ringed and weightless in a swimming pool, somehow sums up this tear oi human teatures which appear to hide something more or less than human. What sort oi creature is this who allows us to hide her away, lets us lead her, clean her, and attempt to ‘cure' her? Is her mind as weightless as the shninken limbs which iloat, distorted against the clinical tiled walls?
On another level, the act oi photographing these people is itseli disturbing. The iirst walls are hung with Portraits oi insanity irom the Royal Society oi Medicine taken in the 1850s. A winsome old lady clutching a bird in her lap, distraught-looking young women with strageg hair, an Ophelia, quietly beautitui with leaves wound round heriorehead, idiot-laced boys and strong-jawed old men: a hundred tragedies seem to stare from these crude recordings oi the lrlnges oi society. Yet these early shots are easierto bear. The misguided notions oi the 19th century can be disparaged irom a distance. it is the contemporary material which really hurts. Raissa Page’s bleak black and whites ol mental wards, oi patients’ limbs twisted like bundled branches: what purpose do they serve? what can they tell us about the people behind the
Street. Both galleries on 334 8858 and open Mon—Sat 10am—6pm. The new Main concern is now officially open with paintings by Lesley Mainand other Scottish contemporaries. This cream-coloured gallery. converted from an old Victorian Chemist‘s shop. is looking quite beautiful and is a welcome addition to the West End. I MARYHILL ARTS CENTRE 11 Malloch Street. 945 3995. Mon—Thurs 2—9pm. Made in Maryhiil Extended until 16 March. An exhibition featuring work by use rs of and tutors at the Centre. Includes sculpture. painting and video. I 908 GALLERY 12 Otago Street. Kelvinbridgc, 339 3158. Mon—Sat 10am—6pm.
"The Mind' exhibition at Stills Gafiew, Edinburgh.
lrightening masks? Even John Greenwood's series oi photographs, taken over several visits to Tadcaster Hostel and to council houses as patients were moved into ‘community care’, even these pictures seem intrusive without being inlormative. The iinai part oi the exhibition recognises this tendency and lights against it. Jessica Evans in particular making strong protest at the way the mentally disabled are represented in the media. For me, however, the only really pleasurable part oi the exhibition was the small colour snapshots at themselves and their home taken by
disturbing isolation and squalor oi the prolesslonal work, there is a cheerlul atmosphere as potatoes are peeled, teeth cleaned and iriends embraced. (Julie Morrlce)
I A seminar on the representation oi mental illness and mental handicap will be held in Stills Gallery on Tuesday 21 March, 2-5pm. Participants include Jessica Evans, photographer and Paul Wombell who curated the exhibition. The seminar is intended tor both organisations and individuals involved or interested in mental health and related areas. Registration lorms are
the residents oi a hostel. Instead oi the | amiable mm the Gallery-
Robert Burns Portrait Photography Until 30 March. You may have caught Burns on the BBC Scotland Photography Awards last week and this is a display of over 20 portraits of contemporary Scottish artists and writers for whom the photographer has particular admiration. Amongst those faces included are Alasdair Gray. Bet Low. Norman MacCaig and Carl MacDougal.
I PEOPLE'S PALACE MUSEUM Glasgow Green. 554 0223. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Sun 1—5pm. Glasgow's museum of working life. Now in its 9(lth year. the museum is currently undergoing essential repairs and refurbishment which will last throughout the year.
Stained Glass Gallery Permanent gallery of
COLLINS‘GALLERY
U N IVERSITY OF STRATHCLY DE Richmond Street, Glasgow 61
RAGTIME
Rags, rugs and wailhangings
coon LECHNER1845—1914
Exhibition of architectural drawings, plans and photographs from Hungary Until 15th April Closed 24—27 March
Opening Times: Mon—Fri TOam—Spm; Sat noon—4pm
secular and religious stained glass which acknowledges Glasgow’s impressive history in the field.
Bust oiWiIlie Gallacher ()n 31Jnn,1919 one of the most important events in the history of the Scottish Labour Movement took place. Thousands ofworkers demonstrated in George Square for a 40-hour week and shop steward Willie Gallacher was arrested. Eventually chairman of the Communist Party in Britain. Gallacher worked to improve the living conditions of the people for the rest of his life. This bust. by Ian Walters. joins the People’s Palace parade of personalities which includes Keir I lardie. Jimmy Maxton and John Wheatley.
I POLLOK HOUSE 2060 Poiiokshaws Road. 632 0274. Mon—Sat lOam—Spm. Sun 1—5pm.
Neighbour to the Burrell Collection. this 18th century house contains the Stirling Maxwell Collection of Spanish paintings and period furnishings.
I PRDVAN'S LDRDSHIP Castle Street. 552 8819. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm.
Sun 2am—5pm.
Louise Annand Until 16 May. An exhibition oforiginal sketches that make up Annand‘s A Glasgow Sketchbook published by Richard Drew.
I SPRINGBURN MUSEUM Ayr Street (adjacent to Springburn Railway Station). 5571405. Mon—Fri 10.30am—5pm; Sat 10am—4pm; Sun 2—5pm.
Sculpture at Springburn ‘Heritage and Hope — Springburn 1989‘, a bronze group by the Edinburgh artist Vincent Butler. has just been unveiled in Atlas Square. and an exhibition describing its making is
currently being shown in the museum. Artists from Glasgow Sculpture Studios (who have successfully maintained a high public profile since they opened last year) are showing new work in and around the museum until 16 March.
Glasgow Locomotive Builder to the World From 18 March.
Cowlairs Railway Works 1840-1966 Expect this one to run and run (or at least to have a good shunt).
I THIRD EYE CENTRE 350 Sauchiehall Street. 332 7521. Tue—Sat iiiam—5.30pm. Sun 2—5.30pm.
At Face Value Gallery One. A large exhibition of French artists brought together by the Third Eye Centre in association with Kettles Yard. Cambridge and featuring the work ofMartine Abellea. Marie Bourget. Sophie Calle. Ange Leccia and a group called l.F.P. Paintings Simon Patterson is a recent graduate of Goldsmiths College and recently featured on The Late Show on BBC2.
Installation Last year's group ofgraduates from Goldsmiths College in London has been attracting a lot ofatiention in theart world and like Simon Patterson. Damien Ilirst. who is responsible for this installation. is one of that group.
Cate An exhibition of photographs by Iain Robertson who lives on Shetland.
I TRANSMISSION GALLERY l3 Chisholm Street. 552 4813. Mon—Sat noon—(rpm. Transmission has moved to new premises in 28 King Street. just around the corner. The first exhibition in the new gallery will open in April or May.
I WASPS 26 King Street. 552 0564. Mon—Fri lilam-5pm. A newshop. exhibition space and resource centre with information on work by all WASPS artists. Slide library and information about how to commission work.
I WASPS 26 King Street. 552 0564. Mon—Fri9am—5pm; Sat 10.30am—5pm. Rowan Mace and Kathleen Dodds tiniil March 24. Rowan Mace draws on personal experience in her colourful and lively landscape paintings. while Cathleen Dodds finds inspiration from her work in the past with mentally handicapped children.
EDINBURGH
I ARTIS 2o (iayfield Square. 556 7546. Mon—Fri 10am-5pm.
Picture Sale L'ntil 31 Mar. A special mad March sale of paintings from the Artis collection. 5“} off all prices and it'sthe gallery that loses out not the artists.
I BDURNE FINE ART 4 Dundas Street . 557 4050. Mon—Fri lliam—opm. Sat lilam—lam Scottish painting 1800—1950 and decorative arts.
I DYZANTIUM Victoria Street. 225 I768. Mon—Sat 10am—5.3()pm.
John Johnstone Paintings and Prints it) March— 15 April. Landscapes and street-scenes from this I’orfar painter who is noted for his humour and affection in his figurative interpretations of Scottish life. I CALTDN GALLERY 10 Royal Terrace. 556 1010. Mon—Fri 10am—6pm; Sat 10am—1pm.
19th and early 20th century British paintings and watereolours.
I CENTRAL LIBRARY George IV Bridge. 225 5584. Mon—Fri 9am—-8.30pm; Sat 9am—1pm. 225 5584.
Visual China Photographic Display Until 20 Mar. Photographs by Alec Neilson in the Edinburgh Room Gallery.
Working on Wheels Until 31 Mar. A display in the Scottish Library by the Mobile Project Association.
Festival oi Science and Technology Displays 17 March— 18 April. A staircase exhibition to coincide with the first annual Edinburgh Science Festival.
Display 21 March—2 May. Self helpfor cancer and other painful illnesses in the Edinburgh Room Gallery.
Print Sale Until end of March. Prints from the Printmakers Workshop on sale in the Fine Art library. J
54The List 10—23 March 1989