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THE BEST EVENTS, TALKS AND SPORT
* Look Who’s Talking: Des Lynarn The nation’s favourite sports pundit, King Silverfox of Tachevilfe, Des Lynham, comes to talk about his life as detailed in his book / Should Have Been at Work. Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Fri 4 Nov. * Hats Off to Fashion Give Philip Treacy a run for his money by heading to this four-week workshop to make your own hat. inspired by the museum’s Scottish Textiles and lntemationa/ Sty/e: Fabn’c to Fashion exhibition. Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Fri 11 Nov.
#3 Do Black Holes Really Exist? While once black holes were filed away in the bizarre theoretical oddities pile, now most astronomers believe they exist. Join Marek Kukula to review the evidence. Course they exist, that’s where your odd socks go.
Royal Observatory Msitor Centre, Edinburgh, Mon 14 Nov.
* The Nanoworld-order out of Disorder List readers are a clever bunch, so this event should pose no problem. Professor Wilson Poon, University of Edinburgh, talks about the nanoworfd, which is inhabited by objects with sizes in the range of
1 — 1000 nanometre. One nanometre = a millionth of 1mm. That’s pretty bloody small. Glasgow University College Club, University Ave, Thu 17 Nov.
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The flower and the q ory
There’s more to blooms than pretty faces, as Chris Bradley finds out when he investigates floral art happening, FRAGRANT GLASGOW.
lower festivals. Aren't they rather old-fashioned affairs? Well. they don‘t have to be. reckons Jyll Bradley. She's been busy challenging traditional views with a series of events that bring flower shows into the realm of professional art. Bradley has previously organised festivals in London. (‘hina and (‘olombia under the ‘l'i'agrant‘ heading. These events have combined live performance and installations with flower arranging techniques. Now the floral phenomenon is coming to Glasgow. ‘This is going to be a flower festival like no other.‘ says Bradley. ‘We're bringing together different ways of working with flowers. using active as well as visual
elements and drawing on the varied floral traditions of
the different faiths in the city.‘ Flowers are culturally significant around the world. though they have different meanings to different cultures. liach of the previous events has been a unique process and end result based on the people and location. Following this logic. the (ilasgow show is the product of a year-long participatory exercise with locals.
Bradley has found much in the dear green place to inspire her. from the woven floral paradise carpets hanging in the Burrell collection. to the childhood memories of immigrant communities. 'A woman from the Sikh temple told me about the flowers she remembered and the garlands she tnade as a child.‘ she recalls. ‘And a Muslim woman shared memories of her grandfather’s garden in Syria. and weaving flowers into her friend‘s hair.’
The centrepiece of the festival will be the largest dried flower garland ever created. representing the
cultural diversity of Glasgow. (iarlands are symbolic in all religions. but it's a production by hundreds of volunteers who've spent the summer growing over 24.000 plants. The garland will be housed in a central floral pavilion. alongside performances from Bengali Kathak dancer Anurekha (ihosh. .lewish musicians. a performance poet and a (‘iaelic singer. ()utside. fire and light installations will illuminate the darkness.
The event is brought to the city in collaboration with Angus l‘arquhar's NVA as the latest incarnation of its 'l’estivals of Light’. The concept of l‘ragrant. in celebrating unity and difference through the beauty and significance of flowers. coincides with the gardens’ aim of offering a peaceful. inclusive space for the diverse local inhabitants. But hang on. The festivals have previously been inspired by such traditional celebrations as Diwali. liid and (‘hanukah. so where did this change of direction come from?
‘lior the first two years the gardens were open there was a lot of consultation with the surrounding communities on what they wanted to see.‘ explains Katy Fuller. project manager for NVA. ‘lt was appropriate to build those relations. but this time. although we always have a good crossover audience. we wanted to do something that was more about bringing people together. We were looking for a way to represent all of those cultures in one festival.‘ Such is the power of the flower.
Festival of Light 2005: Fragrant Glasgow, the Hidden Gardens, Glasgow, Fri 11-Sun 13 Nov. See listings for details.
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