VISUAL ART | STUDENT GUIDE
COLLECTIVE GALLERY’S OBSERVER WALKS When the Collective Gallery relocated from Cockburn Street to the City Observatory on Calton Hill, it commissioned a series of downloadable audio guides inspired by the extraordinary character and history of its new location. Three eclectic guides have been created by leading artists: Memorialmania by Ruth Ewan and Astrid Johnston focuses on the monuments and geology of the hill revealing the stories behind its glaciated landscape and the rocks placed upon it; Outwith is series of stories created by artist Bedwyr Williams, set in a local hotel which is visible from Calton Hill; The Artist and the Gravedigger: After DO Hill, by Tris Vonna-Michell, centres on the pioneering calotype photography of David Octavius Hill, who worked with Robert Adamson at Rock House, which overlooks Waterloo Place on the south-west side of Calton Hill. Each guide invites the listener to rethink this iconic Edinburgh landmark and its panoramic views over the city. ■ Download free from collectivegallery.net/programme/observers-walks
GAYFIELD CREATIVE SPACES’ WALKING PROGRAMME Gayi eld Creative Spaces is interested in the intersection between art and health and wellbeing. In 2015 it launched ‘Walks by Design’, a creative mapping project encouraging people to explore the beauty and creativity of contemporary Edinburgh, guiding them to art venues and green spaces across the city. Three maps have been developed so far in collaboration with the National Library of Scotland, covering the east, west and south of Edinburgh. Inside Gayi eld Creative Spaces is a ‘Pace Postbox’ where participants on the walks can send ideas, stories, sketches or pictures inspired by their journeys. These will form part of an interactive map set to be launched later in the year. You can also contribute to the project using the hashtag #walksbydesign on Instagram or Twitter. ■ Gayi eld.co.uk/creative-programmes/pace-walking-by-design #walksbydesign
SIX GALLERIES YOU MUST VISIT GLASGOW: EDINBURGH:
GALLERY OF MODERN ART GoMA is Scotland’s most visited modern art gallery and its exhibitions draw on its huge collection. It also hosts major touring shows, has a massive library, and the GoMA blog is an informed and regularly updated overview of what’s going on in Scottish art.
CCA The Centre for Contemporary Arts is descended from the 70s’ legendary Third Eye Centre, and besides programming major Scottish and international artists also has strong programmes of i lm, performance and live music. Plus, its Saramago café offers some of the tastiest vegan food in the city. TRAMWAY Another multi-purpose venue, Tramway maintains strong links with some of Scotland’s most interesting art organisations such as Edinburgh’s Arika and Glasgow’s Cryptic, whose annual Sonica festival is based here. In 2015, Tramway hosted the Turner Prize.
SCOTTISH NATIONAL GALLERIES OF MODERN ART ONE & TWO Essentially one excellent gallery split into two buildings across the road from each other. Modern One features Martin Creed’s mockingly reassuring Work 975 on its portico, and you can contemplate it from the grassy slopes of Charles Jencks’ Landform. RHUBABA GALLERY AND STUDIOS The friendly, artist-run Rhubaba bucks the tendency of serious galleries to be cool and neutral. Besides its programme of exhibitions and events it also provides studio space for 19 artists, and even has its own choir.
SUMMERHALL Edinburgh’s major art space is a former veterinary hospital, and with so many rooms at its disposal it can host multiple exhibitions at once and have space left over for live music. Its visual art programme is dynamic and exciting and you can even get (very good) beer brewed on-site, in its Royal Dick bar / café.
ARCHITOURS Travel writer Andrew John Rainnie has posted some fabulous themed city walks around Glasgow on his site ‘Discover Glasgow’. Our favourites are the Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson Tours, which navigate the city by following the 19th-century architect’s austere, neo-classical buildings. There are three tours altogether, covering the city centre, west and south sides of the city, demonstrating Thomson’s extensive contribution and inl uence on Glasgow’s identity. Rainnie has also created a Charles Rennie Mackintosh tour, which takes in the architect’s most iconic buildings such as the Glasgow School of Art and Willow Tea Rooms on Sauchiehall Street, to the lesser-known sites he inspired. These include Liz Peden’s series of works in the Townhead area, where Mackintosh spent much of his youth. ■ discoverglasgow.org/crm-walk 120 THE LIST 3 Sep–5 Nov 2015