Nane the waur o’ a guid hanging By John Fowler The scene in the Gallery on Wednesday morning, March 30, was animated. Paintings were everywhere, some lying face up on the floor, others THE NEWSLETTER OF THE GLASGOW ART CLUB SPRING 2011 No. 35 stacked randomly in a pile against the walls, one or two placed face down on the tables as members of the hanging President’s column team performed some basic DIY work on the frames with pliers, screwdrivers and awls. A toolbox was a vital component. Lunch, People were busy with measuring tape, fixing hooks into the frames. ‘Anyone got the sellotape?’ someone called. And – ‘Where are all the listen screws? They keep walking.’ Jennifer (above) prepares to hang a picture, The enthusiastic team were setting up while Ronnie and Robert (top right) take the members’ spring show. The down a banner from the previous show Newsletter’s observer arrived shortly and enjoy! Above, the Edington Ensemble with the Art Club’s Iain McGlashan – and (right) the after half-past ten to find the team pre-concert lunchtime scene in the Dining Room hard and work and about a dozen Dear Members pictures already hanging in a row - not An invariable response from the musicians in their final position, but merely as a guideline. who play in our Gallery is how grateful the Then came the difficult choice: acoustics are and how appreciative they are making a pleasing alternation between at being given the opportunity to play in large and small works, finding such magnificent surroundings. sequences or patterns or contrasts in Delny makes an adjustment On Sunday April 10 the Edington Ensemble size or subject. gave a wonderful concert. It was a joint venture between the Club and Music in Hamish inspects progress Hospitals – a splendid charity which provides live music to those in hospital, then the third preferences are held out. particularly long stay patients. The audience assembles in the Gallery (but there’s room for more) (A kind of alternative vote.) What a buzz there was in the At the private view for a previous show, the Deutsche Bank Scottish Art Club! The Dining Room and the Exhibition, an artist was overheard to Billiard Room were both full for State of the building grumble that one of his pictures had the pre-concert lunch. It was what been hung behind a pillar, which didn’t the Club should be like when we Line-up on the floor A progress report by Iain A Macmillan highly technical document, and we delight him (but it was sold on the put on an event. have had to bring in a consultant to do night!) Bankier, Delny Goalen, Jennifer Irvine, Can I encourage you to support At the last Annual Business Meeting in this. The Plan is nearly complete, all The essential toolbox Such problems occur. Behind the Paul Kennedy, Hamish Montgomery, such events when sponsored by the February I gave a progress report on 80 pages, plus appendices. The To begin with, progress was swift. Christmas tree is not the most coveted Robert Murray and Ronnie Smith – Club. I cannot imagine a better the Club’s building project. Since not Activity Plan, the Evaluation, and the The headaches came later when most spot for a festive season show. And no could relax. Job done. way to spend a Sunday afternoon. all members were present, it may be Stage 2 application itself also require of the big decisions had been made one much liked being placed above the helpful to summarise my report and specialist advice, and this is being and the bulk of the pictures were on coffee machine when it stood in a Yours Sincerely update it. provided by the Glasgow Building the wall leaving little freedom of corner of the Gallery – now it has been Gift of paintings At the end of 2010 we received a Preservation Trust (GBPT). These movement. For example, no one was moved elsewhere. The piano can be a conditional grant of £50,000 from the documents are all in course of happy with the placing of one small nuisance. Two paintings were recently donated Isaac Wolfson Foundation, which was preparation. work but finding the right slot – which As far as possible the hanging team to the Club by Robert Kelsey. One is much appreciated. This brought our Meantime, we were able to give the would mean shifting others – was not try to be neutral and objective. ‘You his own oil on linen painting Beach total to £720,000, which is about Club financial assistance (£25,000) to easy. It was lifted from where it hung, mustn’t get into the habit of looking at Grass and Shadows, Arisaig, the other £200,000 short of our target. We complete the Billiard Room, which has carried across the room, hung again whose pictures they are,’ said one. is a self-portrait by Dan Ferguson continue to approach other potential been a great success, as those of you but in the end, after much debate, The Deutsche Bank show filled every which Robert felt should have a home funders. who have seen it will agree. Our taken back to its original position. spare corner of the building, flowing in the Club’s collection. In order to secure the conditional education programme is also ‘Where can I put this one?’ was the from Gallery through the bar and up grant of £250,000 from the Heritage proceeding, with many schools plaintive cry. ‘There’s no room.’ Or, ‘I to the Billiard Room. So did the Jimmy Keep in touch Lottery Fund (HLF) we have to submit interested in taking part, and already a can’t see a natural place.’ And, ‘It Robertson retrospective last year. This a Stage 2 application by November number of school visits. looks a bit squashed.’ show is much smaller – a fact which The Newsletter would like to hear from you. this year. We also have to lodge The investigation of the Charles The rule is that any member can made it easier to mount, even in terms If you have an idea for an article, short item, various documents such as a Rennie Mackintosh frieze ran into submit pictures and be assured of a of physical labour: ‘Sometimes you get anecdote or picture which you think would Conservation Management Plan, an difficulties. Our conservator, Alan place on the wall – with one important to the stage when you just want to run interest readers, please contact us at Activity Plan and an Evaluation. Ferdinand, having reached the stage at proviso. Each artist may submit three away.’ [email protected] or phone It looks tasty – but where was the party? Preparing these is part of what HLF which he could discern something of 0141 248 5210 and ask for the Club secretary. works listed in order of preference. If But by lunchtime the show was on the See Who’s Who in the Big Picture call the ‘Development Stage’. The the pattern of the frieze, and the Or write to the Newsletter at the Club. there’s a surplus of pictures over space wall and the hanging team – Jim Show on page 4. Conservation Management Plan is a colours, found it impossible to continued on page 2 8 CLUB NEWS The man behind a familiar painting State of the building – the latest in our series on the history Continued from page 1 of Glasgow Art Club and its members A buzz about penetrate the last layer of paint replication will, however, be the last without risk of damaging the frieze stage in the operation, when all the the place itself. We consulted with Historic building work is finished. Scotland and as a result it was agreed With the inevitable delay in raising the The artist, his that we would replicate the pattern necessary funds and satisfying some of and the colours based on the original our funding bodies, especially HLF, sketches and the detail gleaned by the structure of the building has not stepmother and Alan Ferdinand. Meantime the improved in the meantime. We are not original frieze would be kept in situ permitted to carry out major repair but protected from damage in the hope work until the whole building project that at some future date improved is completed, but we hope to find ways a Glasgow scene Above the fireplace – Robert Eadie’s view technology would allow it to be fully and means of dealing with this of a dreich city centre street, with horses revealed. We are now seeking an problem in consultation with the expert conservator who will be able to Council and others. The picture of the playwright James rainy day, and the most prominent artist. undertake the task of creating the If any member would like further Bridie which appeared in the last subject is the line of three Clydesdale The Directory of Scottish Art and A jazz night with Alex Garett pattern based on the original information on any of these matters I Newsletter in reminiscences by Iain dray horses standing at the kerb. You Architecture by Peter J M McEwan Mackintosh design. The final work of will be glad to hear from them. Macmillan aroused interest among wonder whether Bridie and describes Eadie as ‘best known for his Live music will continue to bring a people who recognised who it as a Honeyman were painted into the landscapes painted in a broad, wet, buzz to the building and boost bar detail from a painting which hangs picture rather as an afterthought – straightforward style, with more takings for another year, thanks to above the fireplace in the Club’s perhaps even as a gesture to fellow attention to general effect than to links developed with various artistic Light on the frieze Reception Room.