Preparing on site for the circus

The iconic Greek Thompson Caledonian Church is turning into a circus. Over the last couple of days there has been significant progress with turning the derelict (but stunning) Church on Caledonian Road into a performance space for Circus Between Worlds. There have been all hands on deck helping to make this transformation happen. We have been stretching canvas for the canopies that will protect the audience from the inevitable Glasgow wet weather.

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Today I went on one of the Gi SPIN - Off tours organised by Glasgow International.

What a great idea. Led by the wonderful Lesley Hepburn, the group of approximately 30 people were driven from gallery to gallery by bus. Lesley provided en-route commentary about the festival and the galleries we were visiting, and once at each destination, the curators/artist/gallery staff introduced the exhibition to us, giving some information about the artist/the work/the gallery space/the curatorial premise.

There was a real mix of people on the tour, making for some interesting discussions. The tour was a great opportunity for artists to meet with non-artists, Gi regulars to chat to Gi newcomers, and for locals to mix with visitors to the city.

The tour was well organised, with appropriate time allocated at each exhibition, and snacks and refreshments were even provided! I would well recommend doing a Gi Spin-off tour, and hope they will be running again at Gi 2014.

Our intinery was as follows:

GI Festival ‘Spin’ Bus Tour on Saturday 5th May 13:00-17:00
13:00-13:15 Reception at Trongate 103,

13:20-13:50 Killian Ruthemann & Kate V Robertson, David Dale Gallery & Studios,

14:00-14:20 In The Shadow Of The Hand-Market Gallery,

14:30-15:00 Castling, The Wasps Factory, 77 Hanson St,

15:10-15:30 Marieta Chirulescu & David Korty, ‘Mary Mary’ at 45 Alexandra Park St,

15:35-16:05 Dazzler, The Duchy,

16:10-16:40 Dialogue Of Hands, East Gymnasium, City of Glasgow College,

16:50 Rosalind Nashashibi, GI Hub, 54 Miller Street, Glasgow, G1 1DT

Hanne Darboven: Op 17A

Hanne Darboven: Op 17A
Recital Room, City Halls

Thursday 3rd May

Tonight I was lucky enough to be working for the Scottish premiere of Op.17a by the visual artist and composer Hanne Darboven in the Recital Room at City Halls.

The double bass was positioned in the centre of the room with seats in a square around the performer. There were a few groups of candles on mirrored tiles on the floor. Robert Black introduced the piece, acknowledging that the performance was programmed for the recital room because the outside light levels can be witnessed. He noted that over the duration of the piece the light will dim as dusk draws in.

I cannot describe how wonderful the performance was, but here are some words that fill my mind when thinking about what I just witnessed.

repetitive - physical - rhymic - mesmorising - breathtaking - painful - pleasurable - endurance - duration - order - chaos - pattern - climax - powerful - beat - pulse - variation - progressive - time - concentration - stamina -

Gi Primer - Richard Wright

Gi Primer
Richard Wright
Wednesday 22nd February 2012
Wolfson Medical Building, Glasgow University

“the world is already a painting or sculpture” Richard Wright

When the work is out of the way, the action of reaching the work becomes important and this journey is part of the work

The temporary nature of Wright’s work heightens their existence

“The performative aspect of the work is not the making of the work, it is the moment of the work” Richard Wright