Showing posts with label painter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label painter. Show all posts

Sunday, 24 September 2017

'Framing the Arts' with Alan Riach Edinburgh book festival (EIBF 2017)

Sandy Moffat, Alan Riach, John Purser
'Framing The Arts' - Three elder statesmen of the Arts in Scotland – with Professor Alan Riach, Painter Sandy Moffat, Musician and composer John Purser, gave a talk at Edinburgh international Book festival 2017.
"Arts at the heart of life in Scotland and the cultural history of literature, painting, and music."

"ARTS and the NATION" - There were limited copies of their new book and I have just received my copy via Amazon. It is a great read so far and i highly recommend to anyone who sees the importance of the arts in shaping our society to a more caring and compassionate one. The arts are first about our humanity. 

LITERATURE
They spoke of the reconstruction by the Arts for a new vision of Scotland that are totally different in nature than the national movement of fascists, and that the Scottish arts are not focused inwards at all. Also the opening up of the arts to the young in order to move ideas forwards. They discussed places like the Abbotsford bar, which were once physical meeting places and gave connections for artists and journalists back in the 50s.
Professor Raich spoke of his two page spread in the National newspaper, that day with no adds or interference, and he said that the writing was of a very high standard.

Scots always look outward with their Arts and festivals, but we need, as these respected artists state, to also understand and know our own heritage and stories - and to look inside our own house too. Scotland does not want to leave Europe (or England) – but also there are strong movements to reconnect to Scottish stories, cross borders, and to open windows on Scotland’s arts.

*MUSIC
John Purser, composer an writer 
Until recently, Scots had no knowledge of Scottish classical music, composers or Scottish folk music. Scottish theatre, folk music, pipe music, and classical music were neglected – which has led to a cultural destruction. Purser spoke of the Scottish Music archive.
He said all students at Glasgow’s RCS (The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) had studied in Europe, and that music is of course  international. They were instructed never to look within the house and always asked to look outward! It is scandalous that those who graduate know nothing of their own country’s heritage. Purser told a story of a young girl studying for her music higher, she was part of the travelling peoples and felt she lacked musical knowledge, but said that she made reeds for her uncle’s pipes. He told her that she probably knew more of Scottish music than those studying at the colleges!
John Purser
*ART
Painter Moffat said they were starting to take the Scottish art out of the basement at the National galleries.
Scottish Artists - Raeburn, Ramsay, David Willkie, Glasgow Boys, JD Fergusso., He said that Scottish artists won’t leave Europe. The highly respected art critic John Bellamy was mentioned. Scots are very poorly educated in our Scots history and arts.

They all spoke of the aim to build a grassroots audience for arts and not only an elite audience. (1934 SNP established.) The modern Scot world of reconstruction; the Montrose Renaissance which was then the equivalent of Paris in the 30s and was led by the revolutionary poet Hugh MacDiarmid, a co-founder of the SNP.


I agree with all of this. I was educated in Edinburgh and learned nothing of Scottish history, heritage, arts or music! I mean nothing here!  Even though I studied Art, History and English Highers and went on to teaching!  (Now I am older I am teaching myself Scottish heritage!) I did learn English heritage though, of the Tudors and Shakespeare. 
  
BOOK – ‘ARTS AND THE NATION’ - To engage in the recovery of neglected Scottish composers, artists and writers, locating them in an international context.
As the poet Hugh MacDiarmid wrote, artists must be both national and international. Perhaps in our fast moving Digital age there is a strong desire to reconnect to permanence, to traditions and to those lasting stories...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Arts-Nation-Alexander-Moffat/dp/1912147106


MEDIA ?? (PS  There was no mention of Digital, Media, TV or film – and how Scots can access their own and international arts via the new platforms. For young people they want diverse ease of access via many mediums and that’s how they access their news also. They want control, which is a good thing.
The new film, tv studio at the Pentlands is welcome new and long overdue. Scotland first tv channel will air in autumn 2018! it’s a scandal. (both Wales and Northern Ireland have studios with the massive Game of Thrones film in Northern Ireland.) Good news is that both the recent success of Outlander and T2, have brought recognition to Scotland.Other regions such as Catalonia, has Five TV channels. 

Sunday, 27 September 2015

Edinburgh Arts Festival 2015: Jean Etienne Leotard

*EF ART 
I went to the exhibition by one of the most famous fashion photographers, David Bailey, at the National Galleries of Scotland. He knows how to capture the memorable portrait photography image.

I also went to the Jean Etienne Leotard exhibition there.
He used mainly pastels and managed to capture the most perfect, luminous portraits. Where has he been hiding?  If you look down from the faces you see the most minute detail on the lace and the intimate expressions are unmatched. His realism as astonishing too - photography perfect. 



There are two miniatures of Jacobites -  Prince Charles Edward Stewart, 1720 - 1788. Eldest son of Prince James Francis Edward Stewart.
Prince Henry Benedict Clement Stewart, 1725 - 1807. Cardinal York; younger brother of Prince Charles Edward

His portraits are highly memorable. They present soft delicacy and such careful subtle details.

He is a sensitive recorder of introspection. Oddly this is what interests me with portrait photography too - perhaps I am on the right paths after all!




Wednesday, 19 August 2015

Edinburgh arts festival 2015



  Scottish National Galleries, the Mound

Bailey's Stardust
18 July – 18 October 2015

David Bailey one of the world's most distinguished photographers - the largest exhibition of his portraits shown in the UK. The exhibition comprises over 300 portraits including works that depict Bailey's time in East Africa, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Delhi and the Naga Hills, as well as icons from the worlds of fashion and the arts with striking portraits of the Rolling Stones, Catherine Bailey and the East End of London.

Exhibition presented in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery, London.The Scottish showing of Bailey’s Stardust is sponsored by Baillie Gifford & Co.


Jean-Étienne Liotard
4 July – 13 September 2015

Jean-Étienne Liotard (1702-89)

In the age of Mozart and Casanova, he was a key international figure whose achievement deserves to be better known. Highlights of this important show include famous portraits, startling self-portraits, and brilliant experiments with genre and still-life subjects from the end of his career.
http://www.edinburghartfestival.com

The City Art Centre
Scottish Art: People, Places, Ideas
Celebrates this important public resource, while providing an overview of Scottish art that is both fresh and comprehensive.
Including the Scottish Colourists, Glasgow Boys & Girls, and Edinburgh School – and Joan Eardley, Alexander Nasmyth and Alan Davie.


Literary Edinburgh book tours, Scottish Writers museum - 11am and 1pm - http://www.edinburghbookloverstour.com/booklovers.htm