Candili

Did this sketch on a hot afternoon sitting on the back lawn of the
main house on Candili Estate in Greece.

Iris

Photo in Felix & Oscar on Great Western Road.

The Gypsy Chandelier in 'Felix & Oscar' on Great Western Road
in Glasgow. A good place for a cuppa and a chat.

Morning light yesterday

Evening light in the garden

Went to see Alan Cumming in Macbeth last night.
This is a near solo performance set in an asylum
with Cumming as the patient who performs the
entire play....or almost the entire play. As a piece
of theatre it is the single bravest performance I
have ever seen. AC is absolutely brilliant. There
are aspects of the production which leave a little
to be desired. The show could easily lose twenty
to twenty five minutes giving it more power. The
ending too missed a trick. It should have ended
about four minutes before it did.
When this show moves to New York (hopefully
with some cuts) Alan Cumming should receive
an award....I hope so.
The set is really great as well. Designed by
Merle Hensel.
Nearly thirty years ago I was in a tv soap called
Take The High Road and Alan joined the cast.
I think it was one of his first tv roles. I remember
a crowd of us sitting in the green room watching
a scene on the monitor and we all agreed that this
young guy wasn't just good but very good and that
he should go far. He has. Ain't that great.

Love these Himalayan poppies.

Riverman George Parsonage

Yesterday I visited George Parsonage in his riverside studio to see
this group of sculptures of musicians. Aren't they fabulous.
So imaginative.
George is known as the Riverman because of his life long work
with river safety. Just as his father Ben did before him, George runs
the Glasgow Humane Society which was started in the 18th century
to protect lives and rescue those who had fallen into the Clyde. All too
often this has meant retrieving the bodies of the less fortunate.
The Humane Society is a charity and much of what George makes
from his sculpture helps fund their work. The redevelopment of
Glasgow's riverside has meant that there are many more places that
need life belts and the clearing of the riverbank.

www.glasgowhumanesociety.com

I had a tricky day yesterday so today I need a
nice photo of the garden.

Hutchesons' Grammar School Art Show 2012

Last night saw the opening of the Hutchesons' Grammar School
Art Show. This is an inspiring exhibition and once again
demonstrates how much progress has been made in the teaching
of art over the years. The art department is one of the best I've
seen. The breadth of work, the variety of colour, texture and
materials is very impressive. This is one show I wouldn't miss.

Glasses in a market in Athens

York Minster

This is York Minster with it's entire 16000 square foot nave
covered in turf. This fabulous art work was installed as part of the
fund raising York Minster Rose Dinner.

But Turf? I hear you say......aha, this is turf without soil. The grass is
grown in recycled textile material. It needs watered, it grows and
because it's growing in a textile base it can be rolled out  and rolled
up when you've finished. Talk about versatile.

Supplied by a company called Lindum in Thorganby, York.

www.turf.co.uk

Blog on turfing York Minster:

www.turf.co.uk/2012/06/turfing-york-minster

Wheeeee......boom

GSA Degree Shows

These lovely pieces were made by Jeanie McAusland Allport-Bryson.
Loved the way they are constructed using cut out and mixing black
and white photography with colour. Then there are the unconventional
and fab surrounds. Love to have a couple of these. Hope the lottery comes up!

Mackintosh Building studios.

http://www.jeanie-mcausland.blogspot.com

GSA Degree Shows

Jo Gallagher has produced an unusual set of works entitled
'Broomhill & Beyond'. Street typography is at the centre of
the works and I have to say that as a keen lover of typography
myself and a lover of found objects, this show appealed to me.
I should have asked whether he crafted the street signs...if he did
then they are wonderfully well done.

Mackintosh Building studios

GSA Degree Shows

These are works by Rebecca Edgar. The bottom image is a detail
from a large piece. The red marks are actually slices of
strawberries which have dried remarkably well. Rebecca admits to
eating far too many during the making of this piece.
Joking aside, she has an eye for texture and pattern. This is an
interesting show.

No web site available as yet.

Mackintosh Building studios.

GSA Degree Shows

Kate Costigan's enjoyment of Americana is refreshing in this
show by the young illustrator. I can see that she has definite
editorial possibilities so with luck she will find herself an agent
and land some illustration work for magazines.

http://www.katecostigan.com

SkyPark Building

GSA Degree Shows

This is the work of Vari Watt. The graphic quality of the printed work
is wonderful in its precision and the materials used. Equal precision is
given to these tiny sculptures growing out of every day electronic devices.
makes me think about the worlds we connect to when on our mobiles or
computers.

No web site available.

SkyPark Building.

GSA Degree Shows

This is the work of Sally Webber. I'm particularly fond
of found objects and textures. This show reminds me of work
I saw at the Architectural Biennale in Venice a couple of
years ago where one pavilion displayed pieces of floor
and stair taken from buildings. This degree show captures
the same alertness to the beauty found in everyday objects.

http://www.sallywebber.info

Mackintosh Building