ART & EXHIBITIONS LIST
GET ~EXP
ECTATIONS
t View 3
Ken Currie's charactEristically bleak expressionism.
Glasgow’s Great British Art Exhibition, McLellan Galleries, Glasgow.
This is a seductive exhibition, and the best looking one I’ve seen for a long time. It is, as they say, very well hung. It draws the viewer in, making llirting promises, allowing glimpses through doors at works still to be seen, altering both security and stimulation.
You recognise what is going on, though the experience is new. For example, one painting is recognisany Francis Bacon lrom 100 paces, but lew people will have seen this particular canvas drawn lrom a private collection. Ditto one ol the Freuds, one or the Auerbachs, the Antony Green, Gilbert and George, Kitaj, Ken Kilt and so on. Encountering many ot these works is like meeting an old triend and catching up on their news.
The outstanding success ol the exhibition is that it has brought to Glasgow this party oi artists, most at whom will be known at least by name to people interested in visual art, and some who will be known to a wider audience. We can now see the stars in the llesh.
But the problem with seduction is that
the seduced has to target any suspicions in order to gain 100 per cent pleasure. For me, itiust didn't quite happen. The word ‘great' hangs round the neck of the exhibition like a gold medallion, ostentatious, virile, and over-confident. What is meant by it? Certainly most ot the artists are well known on the international art scene, but so are others not represented in the exhibition. Hodgkin, Cauldlield, Goldsworthy, Hoyland, Sean Scully and Richard Wentworth have all produced ‘better' work; the Kitai’s too were disappointing. Michael Andrews and Peter Blake have always struck me as technically competent but otherwise slight. Bacon's painting seems like a formula; tor a seering exploration of pain, Jo Spence's work has tar more integrity. I kept returning to it as a bench-mark lor the rest ol the show. Other works to look out for are the Boyle Family's slice of Glasgow street — an inspired commission by the District Council; Lucian Freud’s portrait ol Susie; John Latham‘s dissection oi the law; and Ian Hamilton Finlay’s tour decapitated critics. (Hilary Robinson)
I RICHARD DEMARCO GALLERY Blackfriars Church. Blackfriars Street (off High Street). 5570707. Mon—Sat 10am—6pm. Three French Artists: The Road to Meikle Seggie 7—28 Apr. Last year the eponymous extroyert owner of the gallery took Pascal Barbe. Jean Sylyain Bieth and Francoise Vergicr deep into Scotland‘s past on the road to the ‘lost settlement‘of Meikle Seggie. Suitably inspired. the trio will provide their own interpretation of Scotland in their specifically created works for the exhibition. I ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN 552 7171. Gardens Mon—Sat 10am—sunsct; Sun llam—sunset. Plant houses and exhibitions (mounted in lnverleith l louse) Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Sun 11am—5pm. Shelters and Baskets Until 29 Apr. The touring exhibition. organised by the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden. comes back to roost after showing in Aberdeen and Glasgow. Chris creates sculptures from objects found on his treks through the countryside and photographs the results on location. I ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY The Mound. 225 6671. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm. Sun 2—5pm. Springboard Until 21 Apr. A joint exhibition between the SSA and the SSWA showing a selection oftheir members‘ work. There are also workshops
on Projections and Installations. 18 Apr. 2—5pm, and Video and Construction. 20 Apr. 2—5pm. (‘ontact gallery for details. I SCOTTISH CRAFT CENTRE 140 (‘anongate. 556 8136. Mon—Sat 10am—5.30pm. Display of Scottish contemporary craftwork. I THE SCOTTISH GALLERY 94 George Street. 225 5955. Mon—Fri 10am—6pm; Sat 10am—1pm. Robert Leishman RSW (1916—1989) Memorial Exhibition Until 24 Apr. In a tribute to the artist. who died last summer. the gallery will have a large exhibition of around 70 of his dreamlike paintings in oil and watercolours. I SOLSTICE GALLERY 18a Dundas Street. 5575227. Mon—Fri 11am—5pm. Sat 10am—1pm. Selection from works in stock. including McTaggart. Gillies and Armour. I STEP GALLERY 39 Howe Street. 556 1613. Mon—Fri 11am—5.30pm:Sat 11am—4pm; Sun noon—3pm. Nature Survives? Until 25 Apr. Wendy dc Rusett‘s paintings and etchings look at nature in an urban environment I STILLS GALLERY 105 High Street. 557 1140. Tue—Sat l lam—5.30pm. Cautionary Tales Until 28 Apr. Quirky and satirical photography by Andrew Weiner. The exhibition brings together the various series that Weiner has completed over the
past few years which the gallery are billing as his first retrospective.
I TALBOT RICE ART GALLERY Old College. University of Edinburgh. South Bridge. 667 1011. Tue—Sat 10am—5pm.
Linda McCartney: Photographs Until 1 May. Yes. it is the Linda. This is her first Scottish exhibition. Organised in conjunction with Friends of the Earth. Edinburgh University Student Art Auction 26 Apr. 6.30pm. The sale is being organised
to raise money for an inshore lifeboat after
four Edinburgh students drowned last
year in Ireland. Any contributions. artistic
or financial. should be sent to Phillipa Patton at the Fine Art Department. 19 George Square. Edinburgh. or phone 557 2296.
I THEATRE WORKSHOP 34 Hamilton Place. 2265425. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm and late during performances.
In The Club Until I May. Susan Mitchell‘s photographs recording Edinburgh nightlife.
I 359 GALLERY 233 (‘owgate. 225 3013. Mon—Sat 10.30am—5.30pm.
Subliminal Mappings 7—28 Apr. New paintings by Philip Berczuk.
Five Miles Out: From Film to Fabric 7-28 Apr.
New Scottish Colourists 7 Apr—23Jun.
I TORRANCE GALLERY 29b Dundas Street. 556 6366. Mon-Fri 11am—6pm; Sat 10.30am—4pm.
In Orkney Waters 10~21 Apr. Orcadian seascapes by Ian Maclnnes.
I THE TRAVERSE THEATRE Westbow. 226 2633. Tue—Sun 11am—11pm.
Household Games Until 29 Apr. Robbie Bushe. the highly talented Torphins artist captures the chaotic life ofdomestic kitchens in his first one man show. Hurry though. the paintings are selling out faster than Derek llatton.
I WASPS Studio/Gallery. Patriot Hall. Henderson Row.Stockbridge.2291920. Artists’ studio and workshop space.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES
A selection of exhibitions outside Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Drymen
I ROWAN GALLERY 36 Main Street . 0360 60996. Mon-Sun l0am~5pm.
Opening Exhibition 8—22 Apr. Recent works by contemporary Scottish artists paintings. embroideries. ceramics glass.
Kilmarnock
I DICK INSTITUTE Iilmbank Ayenue . 0563 26-101. Mon»~l"ri 10am —Hpm. Wed & Sat 10am—5pm.
The Russian Poster From Revolution to Perestroika Lfntil 5 May. Now that the writing seems to be on the it all for (‘ommunism the gallery provides a chance to see the writing that Used to be on their walls.
St Andrews
I CRAWFORD ARTS CENTRE 93 North Street. 0334 7-1610. Mom-Sat 10am 5pm. Sun 2—5pm.
The Parnassus ol the Arts: Rudoll It's Prague inthe Elizabethan Era lintii I.\1ay. Czechosloyakian engravings. rarer seen in this country. feature in this exhibition organised by the L'ttiyersity's l listoryol Art Department.
MUSEUMS
A selective round-up of Museums listed tirst by city. then by venue, running in alphabetical order.
GLASGOW
I DURRELL COLLECTION Pollokshaws Road. 649 7151 . Mon—Sat 10am— 5pm; Sun 2—5pm. Cafe. ID]
t
I (r b
PORTFOLIO gallery
GORBALS CHILDREN JOSEPH M"KENZ1E
7 April — 5 May
'l‘ttestlay — Saturday I2.00 — 3.30
Talk by Joseph .‘If'Kt‘ITZIt' 3 May. 6.30 pm. I‘itliniittt'gh College of .\t‘t
13 (I.-\\l)l.E.\I.-\l\'i€li ROW. EDINBI l{(}l1.103I1220 |9ll
The List 6— 19 April 1990 57