ART listings
EDINBURGH MUSEUMS continued
ROYAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND
2 Chambers Street, 247 4219. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm (8pm Tue); Sun noon-5pm. £3 (£1.50); under 185 free. A 19th century museum housing international collections of natural history, geology, science, technology and the decorative arts, plus two permanent exhibitions: Arr & Industry and The Ivy Wu Gallery.
Octo International Until Sun 12 Sep. Three weavers, three architect/furniture makers and two textile printers make up this artists’ collective from Denmark. Combining their skills, the group create an installation of furnishings which reflect contemporary Danish design today.
Sentimental Journey - A History Of Souvenirs Until Sun 9 Jan. From the earliest forms of souvenirs dating from Pilgrim times to the tacky seaside kiss- me-quick hat, this fascinating exhibition traces the history of the souvenir with a display of over 500 objects.
Hisashi Momose - Paperworks Until Fri 12 Nov. (Ivy Wu Gallery). Paper works by Japanese artist Hisashi Momose.
Crowns And Roses Until Sun 26 Sep. An exhibition looking at Norwegian folk costume featuring detailed costumes.
WRITERS MUSEUM
Lady Stair’s House, Lady Stair’s Close, 529 4901. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm. Free. A treasure-house of items relating to three of Scotland’s most famous writers: Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott.
DUNDEE CONTEMPORARY ARTS
152 Nethergate, 01382 432000. Tue-Wed, Sat & Sun 10.30am—5.30pm; Thu & Fri 10.30am—8pm.
Tacita Dean - The Sea, With A Ship; Afterwards An Island Until Sun 7 Nov. Shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 1998 and best known for her 16mm films, Tacita Dean creates large format, chalk on blackboard drawings on a maritime theme, shown alongside a short film entitled ‘The Structure Of Ice’ (1997). See review.
Olafur Eliasson - Your Position Surrounded And Your Surroundings Positioned Sat 18 Sep—Sun 7 Nov. Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson creates a specially commissioned installation for the gallery, using light and simple materials inspired by man’s perceptions of the natural environment.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES
Innerletthen
TRAQUAIR HOUSE
Innerleithen, 01896 830323. Daily 10.30am—5.30pm.
Behind The Locked Gates Until Thu 30 Sep. £2 (£1). An exhibition of sculpture by a group of artists living and working in the Scottish Borders.
Kirkcaldy
KIRKCALDY MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY
War Memorial Gardens, 01592 412860. Mon—Sat 10.30am—5pm; Sun 2-5pm. Scotland 8: Poland Until Sun 10 Oct. Paintings and drawings by Polish artist Aleksander Zyw.
Dinosaurs Then And Now Until Sun 3 Oct. Free. An exhibition incorporating art and science, exploring the prehistoric creatures which once roamed the earth.
Stirling
THE CHANGING ROOM
35 The Stirling Arcade, 01786 479361. Tue—Sat Ham-4.30pm.
Twelve Artists/One Month Until Thu 30 Sep. A one-month programme of exhibitions, talks and workshops resulting from a progressive installation of work by twelve different artists from the area. See preview.
72 THE lIST 9—23 Sep 1999
art
lectures & events
Glasgow
Alexander 'Greek' Thomson Tours Until Sat 25 Sep. Every Saturday leaving at 10.15am from The Lighthouse. £10 (£5) from the Lighthouse and Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley Tourist Board, 0141 204 4400. Half-day tours of Holmwood House and Thomson’s commercial, domestic and religious architecture.
The Glasgow 1999 West Area Festival Until Thu 30 Sep. The third Glasgow 1999 Area Festival taking place throughout Partick, Drumchapel and the West End. Entitled ‘Producing The Goods’, it explores the impact of architecture and design on everyday life through a series of special exhibitions with a Festival Day on Sat 18 Sep at Partick Burgh Halls and a family Gala Day on the River Kelvin on Sun 26 Sep. Esa Laaksonen Tue 14 Sep, 6pm. £3 (£2). The Lighthouse. Esa Laaksonen, director of the recently founded Alvar Aalto Academy in Finland, gives a talk on the work of Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto.
Design Education Fri 17 & Sat 18 Sep, Fri 9.30am-7.30pm; Sat 9.30am—4.45pm. £60. The Lighthouse. The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland and the Chartered Society of Designers present a two-day conference on design education, bringing together academics and practitioners to discuss how the activity of design is learnt and developed and to exchange experiences. Part of Glasgow 1 999.
Edinburgh
Heartland And Spirit Thu 9 Sep, 12.45pm. Royal Scottish Academy. A film b Paul Harris.
C arity And Logic Fri 10 Sep, 10am—4pm. Danish Cultural Institute. A one-day forum about the funding and support for architecture, design, art and craft in Denmark. Speakers include participants from the Danish State Art Foundation and the OCI‘O group of designers who are currently showing work at the Royal Museum of Scotland. Achilles Lamenting The Death Of Patroclus Fri 10 Sep, 12.45pm. National Gallery of Scotland. Michael Cassin talks about Gavin Hamilton’s painting. Kahzernarbeit Mon 13 Sep, 12.45pm. National Gallery of Modern Art. Tony Cragg’s work is discussed by Siobhan Dougherty.
Reason, Invention And Pleasure In Architecture Tue 14 Sep, 12.45pm. Royal Scottish Academy. Andy Macmillan gives a talk.
Thomas Carlyle Wed 15 Sep, 12.45pm. National Portrait Gallery. Susanna Kerr discusses Walter Greaves’ work.
Walter Scott And Scotland Thu 16 Sep, 12.45pm. Royal Scottish Academy. Paul Scott discusses Walter Scott.
The Immaculate Conception With St Joachim And St Anne Fri 17 Sep, 12.45pm. National Gallery of Scotland. Colin Bailey discusses Francisco de Zurbaran’s painting.
Gary Hume — Beauty Terrorist Mon 20 Sep, 12.45pm. National Gallery of Modern Art. Pat Fisher, curator at the Talbot Rice Gallery gives an illustrated talk on the work of Gary Hume.
Folk Costumes And The Building Of A Nation Tue 21 Sep, 1pm. Royal Museum Of Scotland. Anne Britt Ylvisaaker from the Norway Museum of Decorative Arts and Designs, gives a lecture on folk costume.
Samuel Smiles Wed 22 Sep, 12.45pm. National Portrait Gallery. Patsy Campbell discusses Sir George Reid’s portrait.
Dundee
Dundee Contemporary Arts Tour Sat 18 & Sun 19 Sep, 2pm. Free. Dundee Contemporary Arts. Short tours of Dundee’s newest contemporary arts centre highlighting the architecture of the building.
KIDS
THEATRE PREVIEW Two Weeks With The
Queen
A play about AIDS, cancer and death doesn't, on first impressions, appear to be a suitable one for children as young as seven. These, however, are the main issues tackled in Two Weeks With The Queen, the new production by Visible Fictions Theatre Company who are renowned for their hard- hitting youth theatre. ‘They are quite challenging issues,’ admits Bee LandeIs, administrator for the company, ’but we don't believe kids should be molly-coddled.’
The story, adapted by Mary Morris from the best-selling children’s novel by Morris Gleitzman, concerns a young boy's quest to save his brother who is dying of
Breaking down barriers: Two Weeks With The Queen
cancer. His journey brings him into contact with a man who is in a similar position; his (male) lover is dying of AIDS. The two develop a friendship and through this, the boy learns a great deal about what's important in life. ’It’s written in a very warm and sympathetic way,’ says LandeIs, ’and it’s very funny. Humour is a very good way to deal with these kind of
issues.’
Alongside the production, Visible Fictions are running an education programme in which every school class that attends will have the chance to take part in a free workshop, exploring the issues raised by the play. Although the story is targeted specifically at children, they believe that adults can gain just as much from it, and to this end, family workshops are also being offered, for children and the adults who accompany them.
(Kirsty Knaggs)
I Two Weeks With The Queen is at Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Wed 75 Sep; Paisley Arts Centre Fri 77—Sat 78 Sep and Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkca/dy Tue 27
Sep. See listings for details.
We welcome submissions for this section, but cannot guarantee inclusion. Please send details to our offices at least ten days before publication. Kids listings compiled by Helen Monaghan.
Activities And Fun
Jock And Elizabeth's Adventures Permanent attraction. Daily, 10am—6pm. £3.50 (£2.95). The Tall Ship at Glasgow Harbour, 100 Stobcross Road, 339 0631. All aboard the Clyde-built sailing ship Glenlee for a whole host of children’s activities including a treasure trail and workshops, or join the ship‘s crew and raise the flag.
Theatre
Little Red Riding Hood And Friends Fri 10 Sep. Ilam & 2pm. £2 (£1). Paisley Town Ilall, Abbey Close, Paisley, 887 1010. Ages 4-7. See photo caption.
The Magic Story Show Sat 11 Sep. 2pm. £3 (£2). Scottish Mask 8; Puppet Theatre Centre, 8—10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, 339 6185. Sylvia Troon’s Kenspeckle Puppets return with a comical new version of Pigs Can My. Two Weeks With The Queen Fri 17 & Sat 18 Sep, Fri 10am; Sat 11am & 3pm. £4 (£2). Paisley Arts Centre, New Street, Paisley, 887 1010. Ages 9+. Visible Fictions Theatre Company tell the story. adapted from Morris Gleitzman’s best- selling novel, of one boy’s fight to help his ill brother by writing to the Queen. See preview.
Sea Stories Sat 18 Sep, 2pm. £3 (£2). Scottish Mask & Puppet Theatre Centre. 8—10 Balcarres Avenue. Kelvindale. 339 6185. Ages 5—12. A beachcomber tells stories from the things he finds on the shore in Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre’s new show.
Books
Even Better Crack Club Sat 11 Sep, l0am—noon. £1. Lansdowne Church Hall, 420 Great Western Road. For further information call Ewan McVicar on 01506 847935. More tallish tales. traditional and new for all the family.
Children's Events At Borders Sat 11 Sep, 11am. Free. Borders Books, 283 Buchanan Street, 222 7700. Scottish and Irish folk tales with the Storytime team.
EDINBURGH
Activities And Fun
Quickies For Kids Royal Museum Of Scotland, 2 Chambers Street, 247 4219. Free entry to museum for visitors aged 18 and under. Ten-minute talks for children held every Saturday at 2.15pm and every Sunday at 3.15pm. Topics this week are The Slot/t on Sat 1 I Sep and The Camel on Sun 12 Sep. The following week. learn about Baby lz'leplta/trs on Sat 18 Sep and Eastern Dragons on Sun 19 Sep. Geology Week Sat ll—Sun 19 Sep. Royal Museum Of Scotland, 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. Find out the answers to many burning questions during Geology Week with films, tours, talks and trails for all the family. On Sat 18 Sep, the Rockwatch Rock and Fossil Roadshow parks up in the main hall, with experts on hand to identify your rocks and fossils.
Film
The King And I (U) Sat 18 Sep, 3pm. £4.50 (£2.50). The Lumiere, Royal Museum, Chambers Street, 247 4219.
Theatre
Two Weeks With The Queen Wed 15 Sep, 7pm. £5 (£4); family ticket £17. Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. Ages 9+. See Glasgow Theatre and preview.