ART & EXHIBITIONS LIST
Talbot Rice, Edinburgh
Conrad Atkinson's art is not about ‘painterly handling' or ‘line line' or‘exquisite composition'. He lends his hand and eye directly to debate, politics and social comment.
Such priorities made him a stimulating choice for Edinburgh University‘s annual artist-in-residence post, now just nearing its end after six months. His end at term exhibition, though modest in size, goes in tor the attack on big issues.
Imitating the printed media’s news ilash style, he lands artright in it. ‘Robert Burns calls lorTougher Sanctions against South Alrica‘ shouts one Scotsman newspaper, oil on canvas, ‘billboard’. ‘Portrait ola lung cancer victim wins John Player portrait prize' says another. A pity these could not be out in the streets where Atkinson‘s current work is most at home and most eliective.
Earlier this year the two giant posters ol tront page news lrom The Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal (on display here) made that direct contact
0 BACKROOM GALLERY
Six Artists in Cyprus l—27 June. Attached to the Cyprus College of Art run by artist Stass Paraskos. these six young British artists spent seven months working in and exploring Mediterranean culture.
0 BOURNE FINE ART 4 Dundas Street. 557 4050. Mon—Fri 10am—6pm; Sat 10am—lpm.
John B. Soutar Until Sat 16 May. See also ()pen Eye Gallery. Edinburgh. 0 CALTON GALLERY 10 Royal Terrace. 556 1010. Mon—Fri 10am—6pm; Sat l0am—1pm.
Spring Exhibition Untilsummer. An exhibition of paintings. watercolours and bronzes ( 1700-1940) from Britain and Europe. Early 19th century Scottish landscape painters are particularly well represented — including Alexander and Patrick Nasmyth — as are 19th and early 20th century 'Animalier' bronzes.
0 CENTRAL LIBRARY George IV Bridge. 225 5581. Mon—Fri 9am—9pm. Sat 9am— 1pm.
Esperanto Until Mon 1 June. Esperanto (‘the hoping one‘ to its creator) was Dr Zamenhof‘s over-ambitious attempt to get everyone to speak the same language. First published in 1887 it celebrates a centenary. if not wild success. this year. The display includes printed material and notes on the key figures involved.
Poetry Mon 1— Sat 13 June. Entries and prizewinners from the Spring Fling Competition.
0 CITY ART CENTRE 2 Market Street, 225 2424 ext 6650. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm. Licensed cafe. [D] Women Live Until Sat 30 May. Women Live is a voluntary network which aims to make the arts accessible to women through participation. This exhibition follows on from the one shown last year at the Assembly Rooms and shows work ofall mediums.
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in the London Underground. Money men and art bulls were called to question. ‘Kinnock and Raphael in bust-up about the meaning oi beauty’. ‘Vermeer to attend Salt Talks’.
In the end Attkinson welcomes the end oi the world on a doormat and charges £2000 tor a set at eight (mats). What do you make at that? (Alice Bain)
paintings. ceramics. photography etc.
1987 Design School Degree Show, Edinburgh College oi Art Fri 12—Sat 20 June. The four floors ofthe City‘s gallery will be taken over once again by the art students of Edinburgh. Graphics. jewellery. ceramics. glass. tapestries. textiles and costume.
The Endeavour Competition Until Sat 30 May. Organised by the Altrusa Club. a group ofbusiness women who encourage handicapped children to experience art. Special schools from all around Edinburgh have taken part.
John Muir’s High Sierras—A Watercolour Diary by Tony Foster Sat 6 June—Sat 11 July. He‘s taken R.L. Stevenson‘s route through the Cevennes and Thoreau‘s wander through England. This time it‘s John Muir‘s High Sierras. Muir was an environmentalist born in Dunbar who lived in 19th-century America most of his life. The exhibition comprises 30 watercolour assemblages. started on the retaken journey and completed in the studio. 0 COLERIDGE GALLERY 47b George Street. 220 1305. Mon—Sat 10am—5.30pm. Wide Selection of contemporary British studio glass shown permanently.
Charles Bray Mon 8—Sat 27 June. Exhibition oflandscapes and abstracts in glass by this British craftsman.
0 COLLECTIVE GALLERY 52—54 High Street 556 2600. Tue—Fri 12.30—5.3()pm; Sat 10am—5pm. Closed Sun and Mon.
Andrew Miller, Sibylle von Halem: New Sculpture Until Tue 2 June. First Edinburgh show for two sculptors who studied in Glasgow. Their work is carved and modelled and on themes oftransformation.
Keith Grant— Recent Work Sat 6—Tue 23 June. First one-man show in four years for this Edinburgh painter.
O CRAIGMILLAR LIBRARY Prestontield Arts Association Until Sat 13 June. In the largest exhibition ever held in the library. the association brings together art from all over the area.
0 RICHARD DEMARCO GALLERY Blackfriars Church. Blackfriars Street (off I ligh Street). 5570707. Irwin Until Sat 30 May.
0 EDINBURGH CASTLE
The Story of the Scottish Soldier Museum. Museum Free but admission charge to castle. Phone 225 753-1 for information.
On Tue 2 June a new permanent gallery opens in Hospital Square telling the story of the Scottish Soldier from aldhouse to battle. See panel
Drderol the Thistle Exhibition 1 1 June throughout the summer. A temporary exhibition in the new museum celebrates the Most Noble Order of the Thistle. a purely Scottish ()rder of(.‘hivalry dating back to the 17th century. A magnificent green mantle. showered with golden tltistles. was made to honour these knights and takes centre position in this display.
0 EDINBURGH COLLEGE OF ART Lauriston Place. 229 9311. Mon—Thurs l0am—8pm; Fri 10am—5pm: Sat 10am—noon. Scottish Embroidery ’87 Until Fri 29 May. Work from the Scottish Branches ofthe Embroidery Guild featuring a retrospective exhibition ofembroideries by Kathleen Whyte MBE. past head of Embroidery and Weaving at Glasgow School of Art and one of the foremost exponents of the art in Britain. Despite a serious eye problem she continues to create original work.
0 FINE ART SOCIETY 12 Great King Street. 5560305. Mon—Fri 9.30am—5.30pm. Sat 10am—1pm. Spring '87 Until Fri 5 June. A further selection of recent acquisitions.
Watercolours and drawings. Some large works by EA. Walton of idlyllic pastoral scenes and a lovely portrait ofpigs by Crawhall. See Fine Art Society Glasgow for recently bought paintings.
O FLYING COLOURS 35 William Street. 225 6776. Tue—Fri 11am—6pm. Sat 10am—1pm.
0 FORREST MCKAY 38 Howe Street. 226 258‘). Mon—Fri 10am—6pm. Sat 10am— 1 pm.
General exhibition — Scottish painting from 1800 onwards.
O FRENCH INSTITUTE 13 Randolph Crescent. 225 5366 Mort-Fri 9.30am- 1pm and 2pm-5.30pm. Henri Goetz- 50 Years oi Painting Until Fri 12 June.
0 FRUITMARKET GALLERY 2‘) Market Street. 225 2383. Tue—Sat 10am—5.30pm. Closed Mon. Licensed cafe.
Nancy Spero Until Sun 14 June. A major retrospective of this American artist. The earliest work was made in Paris — large. black. expressionist paintings. On returning to America. Spero discovered the country preoccupied with war. A series of gouaches on Vietnam was her response. In the late Seventies she began painting on scrolls with woman as the central figures on their paper lengths. Recently shown at the ICA in London. this exhibition provides the opportunity to have a long look at the work of this controversial figure. See Guestl-ist. Tour Sat 30 May at 2.30pm. An introductory tour of the exhibition which lasts 30mins. Assemble at bookshop.
Workshop Stilt 7 June. Two hours long beginningat 10.30am. Discussion ofexhibition ofwork by Nancy Spero and the issues raised by it. Practical session to produce a work in response to the discussion and then a short follow up discussion. Creche facilities will be
THERE WAS A SOLDIER
Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh
The story of the Scottish soldier has been romanticised and sung about, his image borrowed lorjokes and patriotic emblems. Highland brawn and the mystery oi what‘s under those kilts continue to portraythe ‘breed‘. But away lrorn the tear-jerking lone piper and bands which only really got the emotions going in Victorian times, there is a much more lascinating story oltheir role in world power struggles and the presssures on their own country which led them to battle.
Dn Tues 2 June, a new museum run by the National Museums oi Scotland, opens to the public. A military museum with a diiterence. Twenty two iully dressed Scottish soldiers have been specially made, lilelike down to every whiskery chin and set in displays dating born the early 17th to early 20th centuries.
True Scots like the member at the Aberdeenshire militia stand on guard, joined by honorary members like Victoria’s sons, modelled to the lite in lull Highland dress. Colouriul displays at medals, portraits and other militaria
will lollow the models in chronological orderto help establish their place and late in history.
Because of its setting the museum has been arranged lor speedy viewing by the tourist market, but Stephen
Wood, curator hopes that its unique subject will attract specialists and residents too. And he is caretul to point out that it is a history, not a glorilication oi the soldier. The losses and the horrors of war are there among the bright uniionns. (Alice Rain)
38 The List 29 May — 11 June