ART & EXHIBITIONS LIST
TRLBOT RICE GILLERY
University of Edinburgh, Old College, South Bridge. Tel: 031 6671011 ext4308 31 March—1 2 May LIN DA MCCARTN EY Photographic Works
Tues—Sat 10am—5pm Admission Free In Association with Friends of The Earth Scotland
Subs/dised by the Scottish Arts COtJnClI
How to Take a Portrait
THI‘. PORTRAITTRADITION IN
PHOTOGRAPHY
6 April to 15 July 1990 Scottish National Portrait Gallery
1 Queen Street - Edinburgh
Robin (iIlIJnders Tani White's Blue's Smng
Mon to Sat 10 5 . Sun 2 S- Admission l‘rcc
THE FRUITMARKET GALLERY
14 April - 20 May
CALUM COLVIN
Brief Encounter
WALTER DAHN
Photoworks 1983-89
29 Market Street. Edinburgh EHl lDF Tel: 031-225 2383 Tuesday—Saturday105.30 Thursday-7 Sunday12-5 Closed Monday
BACK TO BASICS
Chris Drury: Shelters and Baskets,
Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh. ‘The destruction of the inner lite is the
_ penalty man has to pay lor having no
respect lor any lile other than his own'. Thus Max Horkheimer is quoted in the (otherwise tortuous) catalogue essay ior Chris Drury's exhibition.
This sentence alone could have served as a catalogue text, as it succinctly sums up Drury’s philosophy in the making at objects. He's in the now well-established tradition at artists who go out to wilderness areas and whose work is directly related to experiences in and interactions with the land and nature. Hamish Fulton reproduces the heroic approach, iraming texts telling us how iar he has walked and in how many days, otten with a photo showing a distant bleak horizon. Andy Goldsworthy’s approach is more humble, using organic material to construct what, tor want ol a betterword, could be called sculptures. These are generally left in the place they were constructed, recorded by Goldsworthy’s exquisite photographs which invite anyone on a
country walk to look again at the details 01 colours and iorms around them.
Drury's work in its eventual lorm comes somewhere between the two. Looking at the symmetry oi lorm lound in the two most iundamental constructions oi civilisation - the shelter and the Vessel — Drury spent time in remote places north, south, east and west, making shelters appropriate to each landscape and its history. The objects he made irom materials iound in each place are often inverted smaller echoes ol the shelters seen in the photos. A basket made of crows leathers comes lrom Sri Lanka; one lrom Co Donegal is made at heather and sheep wool, and contains the tour ditlerent stones at the area. A tree-bark basket, with a bleached reindeer antler Iain across it comes irom Lapland. This specilicity oi the objects to their landscape prevent the slightly shamanistic leel oi the installation from collapsing into a simplistic notion oi the pre-historic: their superb cralting negates a romantic’s approach to pre-linguistic encounters with nature. Drury may have iound his own personal rituals in his travels, but only in one or two pieces do these prevent the viewer irom empathising fully with the intent olthe work.
My main criticism oi the show is that there are too many pieces tor the space. It’s an interesting venue: a building oi rational Georgian architecture in one oi the best Botanic gardens in the country— nature trammelled, organised, regimented lor Enlightenment scientitic study. Drury's work, in its retreat from this beliei in objectivity, highlights where it has led us today. (Hilary Robinson)
A wealth of treasure collected by Edwardian tycoon William Burrell.
I GLASGOW’S GLASGOW Underneath Central Station. 204 3993. Every day 9.30am-8pm. £4 (£2.50). An expensive and expansive examination of the 1000 years of Glasgow. See feature.
I HUNTERIAN MUSEUM Glasgow University, University Avenue. 339 8855. Mon-Fri 9.30am—5pm; Sat 9.30am— 1 pm. Giants, Game and Jewels 3 Apr—2 Sep. Crystal-related sculptures from the Fondation Mecenat Science et Art in Strasbourg provide a dazzling display in the Museum accompanied by specially commissioned ambient music.
I THE MUSEUM OF TRANSPORT Kelvin Hall, 1 Bunhouse Road, 4272725. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm. Sun 2—5pm.
The Art oi Shipbuilding Until 30 Apr. Paintings by Jim Collins, who worked for twenty-one years in Govan Shipyards. Not surprisingly he concentrates on the characters he knew there and their work. Also, working models of machinery will be on show.
I PEOPLE'S PALACE MUSEUM Glasgow Green, 5540223. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Sun 2—5pm. Cafe. Disabled access by arrangement.
The Sugared imagination 2 Apr— 10 May. An examination of the social history olthe cake and various bizarre decorating styles. Also a new display, chronicling life in 17th century Glasgow, includes the reconstruction of a room in a Stockwell Street mansion that was demolished in 1976.
I SPRINGBURN MUSEUM Ayr Street (adjacent to Springburn Railway Station). 557 1405. Mon-Fri 10.30am—5pm; Sat IOam—4pm; Sun 2—5pm.
Work: Springburn Experience 1840—1988 Until further notice.
EDINBURGH
I CANONGATE TOLBOOTH Royal Mile. 225 ‘ 2424. Mon—Sat 1()an1—-6pm.
The People‘s Story The Museum has been established to relate the story olthe people of Edinburgh. told in theirown words and through photographs and re~created tableaux.
I ROYAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND Chambers Street. 225 7534. Mon-Sat 10am—5pm; Sun 2—5pm.
Dinosaurs Past and Present Until 27 May. A touring exhibition from Los Angeles which aims to put the age of the dinosaurs into a more accurate perspective.
The Glasgow Flourish tintil 12 Apr. A 1:50 scale, working model of the elaborate idea dreamed up by Tom Craig. (ieorge Wyllie and Alasdair Wallace to cross the Clyde. It consists of a huge tower and with clapper-like attachment which it is envisaged will swing back and forth across the river bearing 30—40 passengers at a go. Treasures For Pleasure Until 6 May. As well as the two 18th century silverwine coolers recently acquired by the National Museums there will be a display ofsilver collected over the past 130 years.
I SCOTTISH AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM Ingliston. 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 exploring the changes brought by two World Wars and their effect on the communities and the landscape.
58 The List 6- 19 April 1990