AroundTown
Alex Hibbert: The Long Haul Thu 3 Mar, 7.30pm. £8 (students/under 18s/RSGS members free). Appleton Tower, University Of Edinburgh Crichton Street, 650 8445. Account of a gruelling Antarctic mission completed in 2008. Please note this replaces the Patrick Woodhead talk previously scheduled to take place on this date. FREE The Edinburgh Vermeer Fri 4 Mar, 12.45pm. Weston Link, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre National Gallery, the Mound, 624 6560. An analysis of Vermeer’s Christ in the House of Martha and Mary. The Young Vermeer in Context Sat 5 Mar, 2pm. £12 (£10). National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound, 624 6200. Study afternoon with experts from the Royal Picture Gallery in the Hague, the National Gallery of Ireland and the National Galleries of Scotland’s own curators. Booking essential. FREE Southside Story Sun 6 Mar, noon. Holyrood Park, 652 8150. A guided walk taking in the history of the south side of Edinburgh. FREE August Sander: Look, Observe, Think Mon 7 Mar, 12.45pm. National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound, 624 6200. Robin Gillanders explores the German artist’s approach to portraiture. Daniel Maudlin: The Highland House Transformed Mon 7 Mar, 6.30pm. £5 (students £2.50). The Glasite Meeting House, 33 Barony Street, ahss.org.uk/events Architectural historian Daniel Maudlin discusses the changing face of Highland domestic architecture. Photonics in Astronomy Mon 7 Mar, 7.30pm. £3 (£1.50). Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668 8404. How new discoveries in telecommunications can revolutionise astronomical instruments. FREE Never Again: The Festival of Britain and Modern Art, 1951 Tue 8 Mar, 12.45pm. National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound, 624 6200. Talk on the development of the post-war visual art scene in Britain. FREE The World of Islam and the West Tue 8 Mar, 5.30pm. Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge, edinburgh-university-35.eventbrite.com. Subtitled ‘the view from Beirut, Boston, Cairo, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Washington DC’, this panel discussion features academics from around the globe. FREE University of Edinburgh International Women’s Day Lecture Tue 8 Mar, 6pm. Assembly Hall, New College, 1 Mound Place, equalitydiversity@ed.ac.uk. Lecture on ‘Women and Human Rights’ from Irene Khan, former Secretary General of Amnesty International. FREE Conservation Stories: Making the Lights Shine Fri 11 Mar, 2pm & 3.15pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Find out about the conservation work that went into making the current lighthouse exhibition. FREE Edinburgh Forteans Tue 8 Mar, 7.30pm. The Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. Ewan Irvine presents a talk entitled ‘Medium’. A New Era in Radio Astronomy Mon 14 Mar, 7.30pm. £3 (£1.50). Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668 8404. Vinod Arumguam examines the importance of radio astronomy. FREE Edinburgh Skeptics Thu 17 Mar, 7.30pm. The Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. Professor Roger Downie of the University Glasgow gives a talk on animal testing at
Not so quiet on the Eastern Front
Edinburgh’s Middle Eastern Festival of Spirituality and Peace has been going since 2004 and, while it’s always been quietly relevant to world events, its timing this year seems serendipitous. Two events in particular stand out: Iran: Dictatorship or Democracy?, with lead speaker Professor Ali Ansari (pictured), and Forum on State of Power in the Modern Middle East, with Professor Anoush Ehteshami, looking at the fluidity of power lines between the various states. Full info at www.mesp.org.uk ■ Iran: Dictatorship or Democracy: Wed 9 Mar; Forum on States of Power, Sat 12 Mar, both at Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, £5/£3 from 6.30pm 42 THE LIST 3–31 March 2011
the meeting for rational thinkers. RSPB Indoor Meeting Tue 15 Mar, 7.30pm. £2. Edinburgh Napier University, Craiglockhart Campus, 466 7163. Talk entitled ‘Birds of the Esk Valley’. FREE Panel Discussion: The Future of Libaries Thu 17 Mar, 6pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. A discussion based around the role of libraries in the 21st century. FREE Painted Faces in Renaissance Europe Thu 17 Mar, 6pm. National Gallery of Scotland, the Mound, 624 6200. Make-up and ideals of beauty as depicted in paintings from the Renaissance. FREE La Luzerne, Saint-Denis by Georges Seurat Fri 18 Mar, 12.45pm. National Gallery of Scotland, the Mound, 624 6200. Art historian Belinda Thomson gives a talk on the technique that was variously known as pointillism or divisionism. The Hidden Universe Revealed: Computing in Astronomy Mon 21 Mar, 7.30pm. £3 (£1.50). Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668 8404. Find out how supercomputers can enable astronomers to investigate the big questions. Never Let the Facts Get in the Way of a Good Story: Memory, History, Authenticity and Truth Thu 24 Mar, 6pm. £5. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43 High Street, 228 1155. Curator Andy Brydon and artist Andrew Brooks discuss the creation of memories in cities, in the final event in the Edinburgh Lectures’ ‘Talking Cities’ programme. Curator’s Choice: The Chambers Woodblock Collection Fri 25 Mar, 2pm. £5 (£4; members free). National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Talk on a collection of 1860s wood engravings commissioned to illustrate Chambers’ Encyclopaedia. FREE National Gallery Highlights Tour Sat 26 Mar, 2pm & 3pm. National Gallery of Scotland, the Mound, 624 6200. Highlights tour focusing on key paintings from the National Collection. Pride and Patronage – The Art of Commissioning Mon 28 Mar, 5.30pm. £5 (students £2.50). The Glasite Meeting House, 33 Barony Street, ahss.org.uk /events Simon Groom, director of modern and contemporary art at the National Galleries of Scotland, discusses commissioning contemporary art, with special reference to Jupiter Artland. The Night Sky in Summer Mon 28 Mar, 6.30pm. £3 (children £1.50). Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668 8404. Stargazing session. FREE Karla Black: Scotland + Venice 2011 Tue 29 Mar, 11.45am–12.30pm. National Gallery of Scotland, the Mound, 624 6200. Karla Black discusses her work made to represent Scotland at the Venice Biennale this June with the director of the Fruitmarket Gallery, Fiona Bradley. Workshops Chinese Woodblock Printing Sat 5 & Sun 6 Mar & Sat 12 Mar, 10am–4pm. £95 (members £85.50). Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, 248 2937. Suzanne Chong teaches a course over two weekends introducing students to the basic techniques of woodblock printing. Booking essential. FREE Flowers of the Highlands in Clay Sat 5 Mar, 10.30am & 1.30pm. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. Take inspiration from the current exhibition to make flowers from clay with artist Lynda Frame. Booking essential. Adults’ Wet-Felted Tea Cosy Workshop Sun 6 Mar, 1pm. £45. Kiss the Fish Studios, 9 Dean Park Street, Stockbridge, 332 8912. Join expert crafter Naomi Crowley to learn felt making, employing what you’ve learned to make a felted tea cosy. Includes tea and cakes at break time. FREE Discovering Family History at NLS Wed 9 Mar, 6pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge,
623 3918. Delve into your family’s past as NLS reveals research techniques in this practical workshop. Includes a short tour of the library. Please book. FREE The Drawing Room Thu 10 Mar, 5.30pm. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 75 Belford Road, 624 6200. Monthly artist-led experimental drawing sessions inspired by works in the collection. All materials are provided. Please book in advance. Landscape and Identity in Storytelling Sat 12 Mar, 2pm. £17.50 (members £15). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Workshop looking at story-collecting in a community. Lichen Identification Sun 13 Mar, 10am–4pm. £45 (members £40.50). Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2937. Lab-based sessions introducing participants to the basic features of lichens and how to identify them. Booking essential. Aromatherapy for Children and Babies Sun 13 Mar, 10am. £85. Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, 337 1890. Learn the techniques of aromatherapy with a special focus on safe use with children and babies. Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Sun 13 Mar, 3pm. £7 (£6). The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. Where cabaret meets life drawing – the models are burlesque divas, strapping hunks of manhood and circus freaks. Win alcohol and fancy art supply prizes. Blues Harmonica for Beginners Mondays, 14 Mar–2 May, 6pm. £60. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. Beginners’ group class in the harmonica. Beginner Group Guitar Lesson Tuesdays, 15 Mar–3 May, 6pm. £60. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. Learn your first riffs, chords and songs on acoustic or electric guitar. Theatre Class: Marilyn Wed 16 Mar, 10.30am. £5. Royal Lyceum Theatre, Grindlay Street, 248 4848. Learn more about the company’s current production, Sue Glover’s Marilyn, including its origins and inspirations in a theatre class led by Owen Dudley Edwards, theatre expert and historian. FREE Easel Sketching in the Gallery Thu 17 & Fri 18 Mar, 2pm. National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound, 624 6200. Led by artist Damian Callan. these sketch sessions cover a different subject each month, and sometimes a live model. Saturday Could Be Creative Writing Day Sat 19 Mar, 10.15am. £12 (£10). National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound, 624 6560. A tour of works from the permanent collection followed by a creative writing workshop. Naturally Inspired: Eco Stories Sat 19 Mar, 10.30am–4.30pm. £32 (£26). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Workshop explaining how storytelling can help to engage all ages with the natural world. Includes a two-mile landscape walk. Begin to Crochet Sun 20 Mar, 10.30am–4pm. £45 (£40). Gorgie City Farm, 51 Gorgie Road, 337 4202. Learn the basics of crochet with Janet Renouf- Miller – enough to enable you to continue the hobby alone or join a group – including yarns, stitches, principles and how to follow a pattern. Introduction to Etching Sat 26 & Sun 27 Mar, 10am–5.30pm. £145 (£97). Edinburgh Printmakers, 23 Union Street, 557 2479. Learn from members of Edinburgh Printmakers how to work directly onto metal plates to develop beautiful and experimental etchings. Saturday Life Drawing Class Sat 26 Mar, 10.30am & 2pm. £10 (£8). National Gallery of Scotland, the Mound, 624 6200. See how others have portrayed the human body, then try it yourself, drawing from a live model. All materials are supplied. No experience necessary. Choose from a morning or afternoon session.