AroundTown FREE Retrospect: Twelve Years at the Helm of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery Tue 24 Jan, 12.45–1.30pm. Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6200. James Holloway, outgoing director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, looks back at time in the post. FREE ‘Behold the light of nature’: Ruskin on Turner, Edinburgh 1853 Wed 25 Jan, 12.45–1.30pm. Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6200. Actor and art historian Paul O’Keeffe recreates John Ruskin’s 1853 lecture on Turner, to coincide with the Turner in January exhibition. Curtain Raiser: The Infamous Brothers Davenport Thu 26 Jan, 6pm. £5 (under 18s free). Royal Lyceum Theatre, Grindlay Street, 248 4848. Meet innovative theatre company Vox Motus’ artistic directors and hear about the ethos behind the company which is producing the Lyceum’s first show of the year, The Infamous Brothers Davenport. See preview, page 100. Jamie Andrew: Life and Limb Sun 29 Jan, 6–8pm. £10. Ghillie Dhu, 2 Rutland Place, 07515 409985. Talk from Scottish mountaineer Andrew, who continued with a mountaineering career despite losing hands and feet to a terrible accident in the French Alps. The Night Sky in February Mon 30 Jan, 7.30–8.30pm. £3 (£1.50; children £1.50). Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668 8404. William Taylor AND Vinod Arumugam teach star-gazers what to look out for in the next month. FREE Playing for Scotland: A Game of Two Halves Wed 1 Feb, 12.45–1.15pm. Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. Imogen Gibbon discusses the 19th- century origins of modern sport.
PREVIEW HERITAGE BURNS NIGHT 2012: GLASGOW AND EDINBURGH HIGHLIGHTS After a traditional homage to the big man of Scottish literature? Looking for a twist on your standard Burns Night? Read on for our round up of Burns-related events near you
Edinburgh gets its bard celebrations off to an impressive (and prompt) start with Burnsfest at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in association with Scotland’s Winter Festivals (17–28 Jan, times vary). From a ceilidh in the café to performances of the poet’s songs and work inspired by him, a puppetry workshop about the life of ‘Rabbie as a Laddie’ and several interactive storytelling workshops, this should be educational family fun. Regular storytelling group, Guid Crack Club will have a special
Burns-themed evening with Kati Waitzmann, storytelling fellow with Glasgow Museums, shedding light on the Ayrshire poet (27 Jan, 7.30pm), while the Scottish National Portrait Gallery will be hosting an Alternative Burns Night (26 Jan, 6pm), taking this traditional work into the multi-media age. Edinburgh’s Botanics will host their interpretation of a Burns Supper, a month long exhibition focussing on the fruit and veg mentioned in Burns’ work (5–31 Jan, 10am), whilst A Stand-up Burns Supper featuring Viv Gee, Billy Kirkwood and Vladimir McTavish will take place at the Voodoo Rooms (27 Jan, 7.30pm). Dumfries will host two days of theatre, music, art, film and comedy in
the shape of the Big Burns Supper, including appearances from Eddi Reader and Frisky and Mannish (various venues, 27 & 28 Jan, visit bigburnssupper.com for more details). In Glasgow, you can take advantage of the Mitchell Library’s ever-
growing Robert Burns Collection, featuring over 5000 items relating to the writer (year round, times vary). ENABLE Scotland use the occasion to drum up support and raise some money at their Burns Night Firewalk (Alea Casino, 25 Jan, 6pm). Get yourself a sponsor and take advantage of the training provided on the night to avoid a different kind of burn(s).
The Oran Mor will also host A Dinner, A Drama and a Dram (25 Jan, 7pm) – a chance to eat a three-course meal while enjoying Burns’ ‘The Jolly Beggars’, as performed by hip local choir, The Sirens of Titan. There will also be an alternative Burns night elsewhere in the building as part of Celtic Connections (25 Jan, 7.30pm) with live music from Babelfish, to complete their Burns double header. (Lauren Mayberry)
46 THE LIST 5 Jan–2 Feb 2012
Workshops FREE Easel Sketching in the Gallery Thu 5 & Fri 6 Jan, 2–4pm. Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6200. Sketching sessions led by artist Damian Callan. Old, New, Recycled and Blue Sat 7 Jan, 10am–4pm. £15. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. Create a small tapestry, inspired by the sea or landscape of Scotland, from a range of materials.
✽✽ Courting Disasters and How to Avoid Them Sundays, 8–29 Jan,
2.30–5.30pm. £40. Counting House, West Nicolson Street, courting.disasters.co.uk Lighthearted, interactive workshops for those who feel like they could do with a few tips on courting in the 21st century. Sewing for Beginners Mondays, 9 Jan–6 Feb, 10am–noon. £70 (£55). Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. Five-week beginners’ class. Learn a variety of techniques from demonstration and one- on-one assistance. Voice Workshops Mon 9 Jan, 16 Jan, 23 Jan & 30 Jan, 7–9pm. £60 for a six- week block. St Thomas of Aquinas School, 2–20 Chalmers Street, 477 7821. Relaxed weekly singing classes open to all ages, taught by professional musicians and leading up to a public show at the end of the six weeks. Zumba Mondays, 8.15–9.15pm. £4. Pentland Community Centre, Oxgangs Brae, 445 2871. Get fit in style with the dance activity that burns calories to Latin music. Guitar & Keyboard Workshops Tuesdays, 10 Jan–14 Feb, 7–9pm. £60 for a six-week block. St Thomas of Aquinas School, 2–20 Chalmers Street, 477 7821. Practical workshops for all ages and abilities from beginner up. At the end of the six week block of classes there’s an opportunity to take part in a public performance. FREE The Drawing Room Thu 12 Jan, 5.30–6.45pm. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art One, 75 Belford Road, 624 6410. Monthly experimental drawing sessions inspired by works in the collection, each led by a contemporary artist. Booking essential.
Ballet Drop-In: Beginners/ Improvers Thursdays, 6.45–8pm. £7.50 (£6.50). Dance For All Studios, 106 St Stephen Street, Stockbridge, 226 5533. Weekly adult ballet class for beginner students with experienced tutor Peter Twyman. (Intermediate and advanced classes also available.) The Portrait Explored Fridays, 13 Jan–3 Feb, 2–5pm. £65 (£60). Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. A four-week course led by artist Damian Callan, exploring the ways in which different painters have approached portraiture. Masterclass: Lizzie Sanders, Neeps ‘n Tatties Sat 14 & Sun 15 Jan, 10am–4pm. £100 (members £90). Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2937. A weekend-long masterclass in painting root vegetables, in honour of the national poet, led by one of the masters of botanical illustration. Booking essential. Saturday Could Be Creative Writing Day Sat 14 Jan, 10.15am–1.15pm. £12 (£10). Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6560. A tour of works from the permanent collection followed by a creative writing workshop. Saturday Life Drawing Class Sat 14 Jan, 10.30am–12.30pm or 2–4pm. £12 (£10). Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6200. Artist Graham Flack leads this drawing workshop; learn how others have portrayed the human figure, and then practise drawing from a life model yourself. Memories and Treasured Trinkets Sat 14 Jan, 10.30am–3.30pm. £15. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. Inspired by the jewellery of Clare Hillerby, this workshop will show you how to use bric-a-brac and vintage printed materials to make your own pieces. FREE Edible Gardening: Making Plans Sat 14 & Sun 15 Jan, 12.30–3.30pm. John Hope Gateway Centre, Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Gather some tips on preparing for the next season’s crop. Simple Art of Meditation Sat 21 Jan, 10am–4pm. £45 (members £40.50). Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. Where better to learn the proper way to calm and relax your mind than in the lovely peace of the Botanics? A Bird’s Eye View Sat 21 Jan, 10.30am–3.30pm. £15. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. Create images using press-print, Rhenalon etching and monoprinting. Theatre Beyond Words Workshops Sat 21 & Sun 22 Jan, 2.30–7pm, Mon 23 Jan, 6.30–10.30pm. £100 per weekend; £280 for all four courses. Teviot Place, matteocionini.it The first in a series of four weekend theatre workshops in different disciplines of physical theatre, movement and gesture, delivered by Italian mime artist and actor Matteo Cionini. Beginning Botany Thursdays, 26 Jan–22 Mar, 7–9pm. £77 (members £69.30). Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. An eight- week course designed for the complete beginner who wants to know more about the wonderful world of plants. FREE Make your Creativity Pay Fri 27 Jan, 10.15am–3.30pm. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3993. This development day for emerging and mid- career artists is full of advice on how to approach galleries with your artwork and how best to price it. Booking essential. Your Garden in Winter Sat 28 Jan, 10am–4pm. £50 (members £45). Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2937. A day-long session on important preparation work you can do in your garden during the winter months. Booking essential. Creative Writing Thursdays, 2 Feb–1 Mar, 10.15am–1.15pm. £75 (£68). Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. A five-week course using the works in the gallery as inspiration for creative writing.