THE LIST
GALLERIES & MUSEUMS
I THE BURRELL COLLECTION Pollok Country Park. 2060 Pollokshaws Road. 6497151. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm (Wedtill 10pm); Sun noon—6pm. Disabled access. Surely the jewel in Glasgow‘s cultural crown. this imposing museum houses over 8000 exhibits collected by Sir William Burrell and gifted to the city in 1944. The collection is spacioust laid out and wide-ranging: ancient artefacts. oriental art. 19th century French painting. furniture. ceramics. glass. there's bound to be something of interest here. Until 26 August there is also a major retrospective ofthe work of water-colourist and former Glasgow Boy. Joseph Crawhall. on show. I GLASGOW'S GLASGOW The Arches. Midland Street. 204 3993. 9.30am—8pm.
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Lead in drinking water ?
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Destruction of the countryside ?
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Disabled access. A huge exhibition specially mounted for 1990 to celebrate the city’s history, but which has taken some knocks from unimpressed citizens and had to reduce prices to draw the punters in. This ambitious project features a multitude of multi-media and hands-on displays in the hitherto forgotten space underneath Central Station.
I HUNTERIAN MUSEUM University Avenue, University ofGlasgow, 3304421. Mon—Fri 9.30am-5pm; Sat 9.30am—lpm. Only the museum has full disabled access. The museum is a bit difficult to find asit‘s housed within the quadrangles ofthe university — a visual treat in itself. It concentrates on geology, archaeology and ethnography and has a renowned coin cabinet. The Gallery is known for its important Whistler collection, its huge
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UIDE T0 GLASGOW’S HIGHLIGHTS
Traditional rivalry between the two cities often obscures the fact that Edinburgh and Glasgow are only an hour or so apart geographically, whatever the cultural, political or attitude differences. If you’re up in Edinburgh for your annual fix of Festival happenings, or1f,1ndeed, you feel the need to escape from it all, there’s absolutely no excuse for not going westwards to explore the hype and the reality behind the European City of Culture. Proud Glaswegians, however, weary of ‘The Other Plaee’s yearly takeover of the limelight, may wish to use this quick guide to their city’s highlights to remind themselves just how and why they nabbed the title.
print collection and for 19th and 20th century Scottish painting. I KELVINGROVE ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM Argyll Street, 357 3929. Mon-Sat 10am—5pm; Sun 2pm—5pm. Disabled access by arrangement. Stunning red sandstone building surrounded by bowling greens, gardens and the River Kelvin, this has a fine selection of Inpressionist andmore traditional British art, as well as always interesting and weird ethnographic and natural history displays (the lifesize fighting Stags area is a particular highlight). Current special exhibitions are the Glasgow Boys (again) until 26 Aug and The Pursuit Of The Real (20th century figurative painting) until 16 Sept. I MUSEUM OF TRANSPORT Kelvin Hall, Bunhouse Road, 427 2725. Mon-Sat 10am—5pm; Sun 2—5pm. Disabled access. A fascinating reproduction of a Glasgow street of 1938 is the highlight of this museum, which also features a model ships display, vintage cars and Glasgow trams and buses. I PEOPLE'S PALACE Glasgow Green, 554 0223. Mon—Sat lOam—Spm (Thurstill 10pm); Sun noon—6pm. The People‘s Palace claims to tell the real history of Glasgow and its people, with exhibits from the labour and women‘s suffrage movements, popular culture and the city‘s industrial past. lts current special exhibition is A Rerrterr Arraferr, and focuses on the 800«odd years of the Fair Fortnight holiday. I THIRD EYE CENTRE 350 Sauchiehall
.Street, 332 7521. Opening hours:
Mon-Sat Mam-6.30pm; Sun noon—5.30pm. Not the hippy Nirvana its name suggests, but the leading alternative arts centre , including galleries, bookshop and theatre. Currently showing is Tagari‘lia (contemporary Australian Aboriginal arts).
BUILDINGS & LANDMARKS
I GEORGE SOUARE/CITY CHAMBERS The heart of the city, George Square has seen everything from the riots of 1919 to the Big Day concert of 1990 and is probably the best place to get your bearings from. The epitome of Victorian civic confidence and headquarters of Glasgow District Council, the Chambers are a grand example of Italian Renaissance architecture and look amazing lit up at night.
I GLASGOW CATHEDRAL Castle Street. 552 3205.
Established by St Mungo in AD 543 and with a pre-Reformation structure from the 12th century, the Cathedral is still an active Protestant church with weekly services and daily prayers.
I CHARLES RENHIE MACKINTOSH
The following are all major examples of the design and architecture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, leader ofthe Glasgow School which developed an influential art nouveau/modernist style. Glasgow School ol Art 167 Renfrew Street. 332 9797.
Scotland Street School Scotland Street. 429 1202.
Willow Turnout: 217 Sauchiehall Street. 332 0521.
Mackintosh House Hunterian Art Gallery. Hillhead Street, 3305431. ' I PROVANO'S LOROSHIP 3 Castle Street. 552 8819. Opening hours: Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Sun 2—5pm. Built in 1471 and the oldest house in Glasgow, this strangely named abode features period displays and has an interesting history.
I Tenement House 145 Buccleuch Street. 2—4pm. Passed down through several generations of a rather eccentric family averse to change and throwing things out. little of the interior of this house. built in 1892. has been altered since Victorian times and presents a fascinating picture of the social conditions of ordinary Glaswegians of the time.
PARKS & GARDENS
I BOTANIC GARDENS West End. Great Western Road. Forty-two acres to while away an afternoon in, including glasshouses and the Kibble Palace. a stunning domed structure. home to impressive begonia and orchid collections. I GLASGOW GREEN East End. along the north bank of the Clyde. Glasgow Green. the People‘s Green. goes the chant. and the people of the area have certainly made strenuous efforts to stop the encroachment of commerce into one of the few green spots in the East End. Steeped in history (James Watt was supposedly inspired here. thousands marched to it with the Red Clydesiders and women used to haul their washing down to the steamies here). the Winter Gardens with its beautiful tropical plants. and the People's Palace are based within its grounds.
I KELVINGROVE PARK West End. off Sauchiehall Street. Close to Glasgow University and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, this sprawling, vast park features some terrific views. the River Kelvin. imposing statues, putting greens and tennis courts.
SHOPPING
I THE DARRAS Gallowgate/London Road. Open Saturday and Sunday, 10am—5pm. The famous open-air market is not what it once was, thanks to the creeping yuppiefication of the Merchant City; the once spontaneous patter of the traders has now become so institutionalised it can sound forced. You're still likely to pick up a bargain though. especially ifyou‘re into secondhand clothes. semi-antique jewellry. old records or period furniture and you display a talent for haggling over prices.
I PRINCES SOUARE 48 Buchanan Street. 2210324. Open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm; Sun 10.30am—4.30pm. This newish indoor shopping centre is unmissable because of its breathtaking, highly stylised design. but unless you have bottomless pockets or an understanding bank manager, don‘t expect to be able to afford to actually buy anything from the range of designer clothes or specialist accessories. Inspiration for the upwardly mobile.
I ST ENOCH CENTRE 55 St Enoch Square. Inside are the usual, and rather dull, high street chain stores. though there is an ice rink tucked away in the basement. The Centre's main attraction is its ‘state ofthe art' glass facade, however, which may impress the impressionable, but compared to Paris's far superior Pompidou Centre it has all the visual flair of an overgrown greenhouse.
54 The List 24 — 30 August 1990