In our regular column, a team of mystery artists give their thoughts on the current art scene.
STOCKING FILLERS OR TURKEYS?
Words: Artbug D
If you're lucky enough to have got a year-end bonus. then a trip around the numerous Christmas exhibitions may be just the thing to find that special something. Or will it?
Artists with any integrity do not make work as stocking fillers, so it was much to my surprise to see JD Fergusson, Hornel and Peploe among others exhibiting in a show titled Stocking Fillers. Had the artists still been alive I wonder what they would have to say about that. Another gallery has “cleverly' come up with the memorable title Gold. Frankincense and Myrrh. But help is at hand . . . I suggest you body swerve this one. scuttle past anything with ‘small scale' or ‘for Christmas' in the title and save your cash for a trip to Harvey Nicks. But if you are a true art lover and haven‘t been completely put off. there are some shows worth trying.
The Compass Gallery in Glasgow is a must. It is the only Christmas show where for years the Gerbers have uniquely and religiously visited artists' studios across the country and personally selected work for the show; not work made for Christmas, but work with integrity by contemporary artists from new graduates to the well established. This is your best oppOrtunity to find that something special. though leave enough time to sift through the piles of work, much of which is stacked on the floor up to ten deep.
It you are still looking and have enough stamina. try some of the many solo shows around. You should also keep an eye out for artist—led shows in and around studios where you can not only meet the artist but buy direct without the middlemen. If you're still not happy. you deserve a turkey. Happy shopping.
Exhibitions are listed by city, then alphabetically by venue. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to art@list.co.uk, by post or by tax on 0131 557 8500. Listings are compiled by Helen Monaghan.
Glasgow Galleries
AIR ORGANIC
36 Kelvingrove Street. 56-1 5200.
Garry Thomas L'ntil Mon 23 Dec. An exhibition of oils and pastels by Garry Thomas.
ANNAN GALLERY
I64 Woodlands Road. 332 0028. Mon-Fri 10am—5pm; Sat 10am—4pm.
Winter Collection L'ntil Mon 23 Dec & Mon 6—Fri 3| Jan. Original paintings by regular gallery artists.
THE ARCHES
253 Argyle Street. 090| 022 0300. Kathleen Little l,’ntil Mon l6 l-‘ch. Digital floral works by Kathleen Little.
ART EXPOSURE GALLERY
l‘) Parnie Street. 552 777‘). Mon- Sat noon? 5pm.
The 14th Annual Christmas Show L'ntil Fri 17 Jan. A festive selection of work by new and regular artists. plus the under £|00 wall. sculpture. ceramics and paintings.
ARTERIES
185a Bath Street. 222 2830. Tue Sat 10am -5.30pm.
Christmas Show L'ntil Fri 31 Jan. Paintings. glass. jewellery and sculpture by over 30 artists including (‘herylene Dyer. Alan King and Anda Paterson.
ROGER BILLCLIFFE FINE ART I34 Blythswood Street. 332 4027. Mon-Fri 9.30am—-5.30pm; Sat
l()am-~ 1 pm.
The Christmas Collection L'ntil Wed I5 Jan. A selection ofjcwellery. ceramics. glass. textiles and tnetalwork by leading British and Iiuropean makers. Artists include Sam Pickard. Kei lto. Judith Gilmour. Roger .Morris. Bryony Burn and Gareth Mason.
A Winter’s Tale l'ntil Wed 15 Jan. A collection of postcards and small paintings with a seasonal theme by various artists including (‘arlo Rossi. Margaretann Benett. Matthew Draper. Glen Scouller. ('laire Banks. (‘hris Bushe and many others.
Robust Individuals l'ntil Wed l5 Jan. Satirical papier-mache figures by Mhairi Corr.
THE BLYTHSWOOD GALLERY Suite 5-12 (5th lloorl. Baltic Chambers. 50 Wellington Street. 248 l‘)‘)|. Mon --l-'ri 10am —5pm; Sat 10am— 1 pm.
The Christmas Exhibition L'ntil Sat 2| Dec. A (‘hristmas collection of paintings by contemporary. l‘)th and 20th century artists including Elizabeth Blackadder. DY Cameron. Jack Knox. Philip Reeves. Barbara Rae and many
CAFE COSSACHOK GALLERY
l0 King Street. 553 0733. Tue-Sun
l l.30am~| lptn.
Kaleidoscope tintil Tue 3| Dec. Annual ('hristmas exhibition featuring works by artists from around the world including photography. ceramics. paintings and hand-made Russian art and crafts.
CCA
350 Sauchiehall Street. 352 4900.
Sun~ Wed 1 lam—6pm; Thu-Sat
llam 8pm.
Sanctuary: Mood and Matter Sun 22 Dec. 8 -l0pm. To raise funds for Marie
(‘urie (‘ancer (Hire. a one-off exhibition featuring the work of photographer and painter Bobby Donnelly. graffiti artist Real and photographer Zahra Bakhshaee. O Belinda Guidi: International Business Machines t'ntil Sun 12 Jan ((‘('A I). New work by Belinda Guidi featuring a kinetic sculpture inspired by Jean-Ltic Goddard's film Alp/tavi/lr and a computer-generated animation taken from the title sequence of Hitchcock's classic. Vertigo. Screenings of Vertigo and Alp/ittpltille will be shown on Sun l5. Mon l6 8; Tue 17 Dec.
A Hundred Flowers, a Hundred Birds, a Hundred Children, in Late Spring and Early Summer L'ntil Sun 12 Jan (CCA 2 8: 3). (‘CA commissioned work by Glasgow-based
artists Lucy Skaer and Hanneline Visnes
featuring large-scale colour drawings by Skaer and drawings and paintings on a smaller scale by Hanneline Visnes. The exhibition is a response to the ideas presented by the Peace Palace in Den Haag in Holland conceived around the turn of the century by Tsar Nicolai. See review.
Nocturnal Activities Exhibition Thu l2~Sun 22 Dec. L'rban Art ()fficial presents an exhibition of graffiti. photography and graphic design featuring work by .Matt Matt and Alex l‘akso. NEW SHOW.
CENTRE GALLERY 36 West George Street. 332 555 l.
Mon—Sat 10am—5.30pm; Sun noon—5pm.
lain Carby L'ntil Sun 15 Dec. New oil paintings.
COLLINS GALLERY
L'niversity of Strathclyde 22 Richmond Street. 5-18 2558. Mon—Fri l0am—5pm; Sat noon—4pm.
Collins’ Christmas Show L'ntil Mon 23 Dec. A wide range of selected craftwork. prints and paintings by over 80 selected British artists.
Narwhal: Eskimo to Inuit L'ntil Mon 23 Dec. A selling exhibition of prints and sculpture by lnuit artists. organised by the Xarwhal Inuit Art liducation Foundation.
COMPASS GALLERY 178 West Regent Street. 22l 6370. Mon—Sat 10am-«5.30pm.
The Christmas Collection L'ntil
Fri 31 Jan. A festive selection of paintings. drawings. ceramics. sculpture and jewellery by contemporary artists across Scotland.
FIREWORKS STUDIO
35a Dalhousie Street. 332 3738. Mon-Sat noon—5.30pm.
Fireworks Studio Christmas Show ['ntil Tue 17 Dec. .Modern crafts by local makers including ceramics. textiles and jewellery.
FREE GALLERY
3| ('hisholm Street. (entrance through salon). 552 7|00. Mon--\\'ed. Fri & Sat l0.30am—5.30pmz Thu l0.30am—7pm. Parlour/Parloir Sat I4 Dec -Sat 1 1 Jan. li merged l) presents new work by Sylvaine (‘hassay and Mark Melvin. NEW SHOW.
Artist Talk Sat 14 Dec. 7pm. Sylvaine (‘hassay and Mark Melvin are in conversation with Australian artist/critic (‘raig Pelusey.
GALLERY OF MODERN ART Queen Street. 22‘) l‘)‘)6. Mon—Thu 8i; Sat l0am--5pm: l’ri—Sun l lam—-5pm. RelPIace) lfntil Sun 5 Jan. Specially commissioned work by Susie Johnston and Rachel Mimiec which responds to the histories of the gallery building. Johnston explores the connections with the gallery's Royal lixchange site to Glasgow‘s commercial and industrial history while Mimiec concentrates on the building in its original guise as a town house. See review.
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listings Art
1' Duane Hanson: Sculptures of Life Fans of Duane Hanson's incredibly life-like Tourists will be in heaven as 30 of his works are brought together for the only UK showing of this major retrospective. Expect sunbathers. shoppers and socially critical pieces from the 608: Gang/and Victim and Woman Derelict. See feature. National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh, Sat 74 Dec—Sun 23 Feb.
.. Eduardo Chillida and Rupert Spira Yet another exquisite show from the lngleby Gallery. Five beautiful etchings by the late Spanish artist Eduardo Chillida share the space with delicate ceramic forms by Rupert Spira. See review. lngleby Gallery, Edinburgh, until Sat 27 Dec.
Martin Boyce ‘An enthralling experience' is how Martin Boyce's installation has been described. Dividing the space with mesh fencing and lit by neon trees. he Creates an indoor parkscape inspired by utopian ideals. See review. Tramway, Glasgow, until Sun 79 Jan.
Leonardo da Vinci: The Divine and the Grotesque The new Queen‘s Gallery opens with a wonderful collection of drawings by Leonardo da Vinci. From studies depicting ugliness and physical grotesqueness to studies for The Last Supper. the show reveals his life-long obsession with the human form. The Queen ’3 Gallery, Edinburgh. until Sun 30 Mar.
Eija-Liisa Ahtila: Real Characters, Invented Worlds Love. sexuality. jealousy and anger are explored in this major solo show of video and photographic works. Dundee Contemporary Arts. Dundee, until Sun 7 2 Jan.
Belinda Guidi: International Business Machines Guidi creates a kinetic sculpture inspired by Jean-Luc Godard's Alphavil/e and a computer generated animation taken from Hitchcock's Vertigo. CCA. Glasgow, until Sun 72 Jan.
Adam Barker-Mill Adam Barker-Mill's mesmerising installation comprising a circle of light which ebbs and flows with a sequence of changing colours. Sleeper. Edinburgh, until Mon 23 Dec.
12 Doc 2002—2 Jan 2003 THE LIST 99