ART & EXHIBITIONS LIST
Stills Gallery, Edinburgh.
Centred on the commissioned work oi iour photographers as well as incorporating archive material from personal and media sources, Picturing Women is devoted to ideas oi representation about women, by women and tor women. Comprising two parts (the second to lollow on 25th Nov), this lirst section oi the exhibition, Health and Beauty and Work, leatures the work ol Andrea Cringean and Franki Rattles.
The cultivation ot health and beauty is usually perceived, in the male discourse on women, as a strategy to enhance lemininity within the male gaze. Cringean’s photographs do not deny the sexual politics ot leisure or the imposed aesthetics of the stereotyped body-young, thin, passive, receptive — but she creates images which depend on aspects oi women’s lives which exclude male involvement-the Keep Fit class, yoga, hairdresser, manicure, massage. Halve is the theory which presumes the eye oi the camera to be gender-independent in the role oi depicting what are socially constructed gender identities. Rather, Cringean places herseli as a lemale observer in locations where women meet, talk, relax, exercise and transform their bodies. Men threatened by iemale power diminish experience by devaluation, Cringean records sensitively and positively women experiencing both themselves and each other. In a Turkish bath, steam swirls, bodies are wrapped in wet towels and women oi all ages and shape converse and relax. The viewer does not violate the space at the women nor demand their engagement with the camera in a manner which
PICTURING WOMEN
colonises the body as an object oi male
sexuality.
Franki Rattles creates a visual diary ol iemale Iabourwithin an institution - the school —to document the nuances oi power differences between women — teacher/cleaner, teacher/pupil— which are iacts oi class as well as gender. Women, homogenised and oppressed within patriarchy, are delined within the economic structures which they are permitted access to. In a documentary style, Rattles manages to capture the ettect oi the building on the roles each has within. The teacher has many roles -conciliator, leader, authority iigure, shadowy presence. Education is computers, meetings, anti-racism and the management of behaviour. The cleaners and kitchen workers - low paid, part-time iemale employment— clean empty corridors, provide food, have little power. The reality oi economic differences and the cultural disadvantages attached to this prescribe roles which are both class and gender-delined.
Andrea Cringean
Historical change in looking at women is illustrated through the use oi limited but eiieciive archive material. Images oi militant women campaigning for equal pay in the Seventies or the celebration at the rural matriarch onset the solitude and isolation oi Rattles’ women within the hierarchy oi the school. Cringean’s biographical works reveal the artilice which the commodiiication ol attractiveness creates with its emphasis on individual effort, which paradoxically creates greater physical wellbeing and the loss oi iniluence oi oppressive body images.
Both photographers make interesting contributions to the concept ol the exhibition. In dealing with ‘the' representation of women, their documentary approaches shows the repertoire oi images women use in their identity kit against the backdrop of economic disparity and the iniluence oi dominant imagery in the media. (Lorna Waite)
representing the most exciting contemporary Scottish photographers. There is a permanent print holding giving a varied display. On sale from the gallery is David Williams' book Pictures From No Man ’5 Land and the Raymond Moore photogravure entitled Ayr 1979. I SCOTTISH RECORD OFFICE West Register House. Charlotte Square. 556 6585. Mon—Fri 10am—4pm. Strange Revolutions: Scotland 1688-89 Until further notice. I STEP GALLERY 39 Howe Street, 556 1613. Mon—Fri 11am—5.30pm; Sat 11am—4pm; Sun 12—3pm. The Gallery will be closed until the beginning of November. It willthcn re-open with a display of work by Derek Robertson on 4 November. I STILLS GALLERY 105 High Street. 557 1140. Tue—Sat Ham—5.30pm. Picturing Women Until 18 Nov. The first half ofa major two-part exhibition which sets out to examine the way that Scottish women have been perceived in photography since the end of the Second World War. Commissioned work from Andrea Cringean on the theme ofHealth and Beauty and Franki Raffles on Women and Work, comprise the first part ofthe exhibition. Picturing Women: Part 2 25 Nov—22 Dec. Lorna Bates. who focuses her work on the Family Album and Della Mathieson. whose work documents the lives of Scottish Asian Women. form the second
part. Gallery Talk 31 Oct, 7.30pm. Franki Raffles and Andrea Cringean will discuss
their work and the issues it raises. Free guided tours of the exhibition are available.
I TALBOT RICE ART GALLERY Old College. University of Edinburgh. South Bridge. 667 1011.Tue—Sat 10am—5pm.
Lidy Hoewaer: Scottish Hills Until I 1 Nov. Sculptures inspired by the Border landscape of Scotland from this Belgian Professor of Sculpture at Stedelijke Academy.
There to Remain Until 18 Nov. Spanning the entire 200 years since the foundingof the Old College and its Library. the exhibition consists of ancient books, manuscripts and architectural drawings from the dustiest shelves ofthe University Library.
I THEATRE WORKSHOP 34 Hamilton Place. 226 5425. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm and late during performances.
In the Club Until 31 Oct. The Workshop‘s first photographic commission is an original look at bands from Edinburgh. Ray Hutchinson: Retrospective 1—30 Nov. A security guard at the National Gallery. Raymond managed to sell 1600fhis screenprints on the Mound during his off-duty time. See ‘Behind the Scenes‘.
I 369 GALLERY 233 Cowgate. 225 3013. Mon—Sat 10.30am—5.30pm.
57° 10’ North Until 25 Nov. The exhibition of recent work from Kate Downic. Phil Duthie. Brian Macbeath. Ian Robertson and Graeme Swanson. all graduates of Gray‘s School of Art a decade ago. that has been on show in Aberdeen. Hence the title. Unfortunately the billing is now geographically incorrect.
Paintings by Tina Leppanen-Ritchle Until 28 Oct. Recently finished work from this Finnish artist.
Common Causes Until 28 Oct. Drawings and paintings of figures. part real and part symbolic by Gillian Farmer.
I TORRANCE GALLERY 29b Dundas Street.
556 6366. Mon-Fri 11am—6pm; Sat 10.30am—4pm.
Edinburgh and Beyond Until 4 Nov. The exhibition features the work ofAlexander Bell and John Walker, who despite their names concentrate on cityscapes and landscapes in watercolour rather than telephones and whisky.
Atlantic lnlluences 13—25 Nov. Watercolours ofTiree by Frank Curran. The gallery also offers a picture framing
I WASPS STUDIOS Patriothall. Hamilton Place, 225 1289. Mon—Sat 2—5.30pm. Magical Materialism 6—18 Nov. Mark Latimer‘s abstract assemblages. which he uses to make dead matter appear animated, incorporate melted plastic. dry vegetables. wire. glue and paint.
I WAVERLEY TAYLOR GALLERY 54 Constitution Street. 553 4536. Tue—Fri 11am-6pm. Sat 11am—4pm.
All at Sea Until 28 Oct. [van Polley displays his prints with a nautical theme to them.
Unfortunately the Gallery will be closed for three months after this exhibition finishes.
I WILKIE HOUSE Cowgate. 225 2079.
Art classes have begun again. contact Gallery for details.
MUSEUMS
A selective round-up oi Museums listed lirst by city, then by venue, running in alphabetical order.
GLASGOW
I BURRELL COLLECTION Pollokshaws Road. 649 7151. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Sun 2—5pm. Cafe. [D]
A wealth of treasure collected by Edwardian tycoon William Burrell.
I HUNTERIAN MUSEUM The University of Glasgow. 339 8855. Mon—Fri 9.30am—5pm: Sat 9.30am— 1pm.
Used as a study collection as much asa public facility. the Hunterian is well-known for its collection of750.000 fossil specimens.
I PEOPLE'S PALACE MUSEUM Glasgow Green. 554 0223. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Sun 2—5pm. Cafe. Disabled access by arrangement.
An exhibition ofeverything and anything to do with the history of Glasgow.
I RUTHERGLEN MUSEUM King Street. 647 0837. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm. Sun 2—5pm. Centenary of the Baptist Church in Rutherglen Until 5 Nov.
I SPRINGBURN MUSEUM Ayr Street (adjacent to Springbum Railway Station). 557 1405. Mon—Fri 10.30am—5pm; Sat 10am-4pm: Sun 2—5pm.
Sculpture at Springbum ‘l leritage and Hope - Springbum 1989‘. a bronze group by the Edinburgh artist Vincent Butleris standing proud in Atlas Square. and an exhibition describing its making is on show in the museum.
Work: The Springbum Experience 1840-1988 A long term exhibition looking at 140 years ofworking conditionsand practices at Springbum. focusing on trade unions. tools. women and the wars. Of particular interest to anyone who worked in Glasgow‘s heavy industries or whose family did.
Springbum Mothers Four women from the Elmvale Primary School Parent Teacher Association got together to create this exhibition which uses family photographs to look back in time over their livesand their relationships with their mothers. grandmothers. children and grandchildren. The pictures provide a rare insight into the lives and experiencesof several generations of Springbum women.
EDINBURGH
I CANONGATE TOLBOOTH Royal Mile. 225 l 2424. Mon—Sat 10am—6pm.
The People‘s Story The Museum has been established to relate the story ofthe people of Edinburgh told in their own words and through photographs and re-created tableaux.
I EDINBURGH CANAL CENTRE Bridge Inn. 27 Baird Road. Ratho. 333 l320/l251. Scotland‘s first Canal Centre has recently opened on the Union Canal where you can hire rowing boats and look round the Visitor Centre which displays artefacts from the history of the canal.
I ROYAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND Chambers Street. 225 7534. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Sun 2—5pm.
Wealth oi a Nation Until 31 Dec. A major exhibition ofthe wealth. intrinsic and otherwise. that our museums contain. Many of the items are currently poorly housed and part of the reason for the show is to drum up support for the construction of new buildings on Chambers Street.
I SCOTTISH AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM lngliston. Mon—Fri 10am—5pm. Agriculture still plays an important role in Scotland‘s culture and this museum looks at the old trades and skills ofthe countryside.
The Sword and the Plough A special exhibition which explores the changes brought by two World Wars and their effect on the communities and the landscape.
SD The List 27 October — 9 November 1989