Beer Gardens and External Seating areas

After quite a discussion yesterday (via twitter) about outdoor seating/beer gardens in the Southside. There were lots of great suggestions but with one over arching theme, we need more!

It seemed to be the common consensus that the Waverley Tearooms are best for families as they allow children into their outdoor seating area, though some didn't see this as a positive and therefore opted for Mulberry Street in Strathbungo and the Boswell Hotel Beer Garden.

So in no particular order here's where to find good external seating or beer gardens in the Southside.

1. Boswell Hotel

2. Mulberry Street

3. Waverley Tea Rooms

4. Tramway Cafe

5. Church on the Hill

6. Beanscene on Skirving Street

7. No 10, Queens Drive

8. Clockwork (Over 18's only)

9. House for an Art Lover Terrace (in image above)

Know of another Beer Garden in the Southside then tell us in the comment section below

Streetland 2011 - Titles and Descriptions

Join Hole in my Pocket tomorrow at the Streetlands Festival when they will be asking you to become works of art.

Titles and Descriptions - Be a Statue". Come along and join us if you are in the area, we will be in and around Westmoreland Street from 12-4pm, look out for our little plinth.

"We want to know your thoughts on the "street", the things you like, your favourite places, your secrets. We want to know your stories of the area, your hopes for the future or your memories of the past. Join us as we travel round Govanhill recording the stories of the people we meet; take a piece of chalk, write your message on the board, climb up the steps and become a statue. Or take a title from our suggestion box and then try and become that phrase."

This Weekend 29th - 1st May

Welcome to another long weekend, you certainly won't be bored as there are lots of fantastic events happening in the Southside. 

Skirving Street are putting on a street party today (Friday), we're not sure if it's got anything to do with, you know, why we're all off today, but well lets see it as a shop local event. An event celebrating the long weekend and fabulous weekend it's going to be. We've been told there will be ballons and music, a BBQ, Pizza. special offers and lots of extra stalls. The perfect appetiser to Streetlands.

The Streetland Festival starts at 3pm, celebrating all things creative and the street, this fantastic festival runs until Saturday night. On Friday there are Bollywood Dancers, Music from Gypsy Rayner,Glasgow Roma and Dean Queasy, Weird Creatures by Nemesis Works,The Interplanetary Postbox, by Angie Bual and Fergus Dunnet and lots more check the programme for more information. The opening for the Chalet Prize Exhibition Starts at 7pm till late. If it's good as their last event then it's definetly not one to be missed. (Chalet is situated just off Victoria Road)

Also on Friday night is 'It shoulda been me' night at the Glasshouses, featuring Rev. D. Wayne Love's St. Jude. An alternative royal wedding night - couples in bridal wear get in half price! Event organised by the Southside Festival starts at 8pm.  

On Saturday Streetland returns for a full day of diverse and interesting events. The ultimate pakora challenge, Polka Dot Punks: Our Place, The urban village fete at the Southside Studios, the Polyphony drummers, the Boomwackers Workshop, and loads and loads of other great events. see programme for more details.

  This Saturday also sees the return of the Toryglen Blossom Festival. There will be all sorts of activities including theatre workshops, circus skills, Environmental arts and crafts, live music and performances as well as lots more. The festival is being held in Glenmore Avenue in old Toryglen. 11am - 4pm

The grand finale of this years Streetland Festival will be the Streetland Outdoor Cinema, an outdoor pedal powered cinema, curated by Fran Higson. The Outdoor Cinema will be  held at at 91 Westmoreland Street, in the space that used to house the Hampden Picture House.  9pm-10.30pm.

Also on Saturday night  Glad Cafe presents: Fox Gut Daata, Silver Caves and Field Mouse at the Pandora on Victoria Rd, entry is free but donations to the Glad cafe are welcomed. (7pm)

Sunday is a little quieter, just chill out and recover. How about free bowls in Queens Park or Bellahouston Park? Hangout in a beer garden (check Saturdays post on Southside Beer Gardens), a visit to the Hidden Gardens? Anyother suggestions welcome.

Blossom Festival - Toryglen

This Saturday sees the return of the Toryglen Blossom Festival. There will be all sorts of activities including theatre workshops, circus skills, Environmental arts and crafts, live music and performances as well as lots more. The festival is being held in Glenmore Avenue in old Toryglen. 11am - 4pm

Creative Thursday: Lotte and Bloom

In 2005 she gave up her office job and began working as an apprentice in a flower shop, five years later she started Lotte and Bloom. She's been in the Independent's top 50 florists in the UK,  She delivers her flowers in her black hackney cab, and works from her garage, in Netherlee. Meet the very talented Lotte Lawson, this weeks creative Southsider.

SSH: Tell us what is it that you do?

Lotte: I am a floral marvel. I am a studio-based florist. I make wedding flowers and am currently running Lotte and Bloom from my garage in the garden.

SSH: Tell us a bit about your background?
Lotte: I originally studied history of art at leeds university then got distracted working in television for a few years in that there london. I finally escaped and moved up to glasgow 6 years ago. I'd always harboured a secret dream of being a florist so I apprenticed myself to a flower shop. I swept floors, paid attention and learnt the ropes.

SSH: Do you have an all time favourite piece of work?

Lotte: Each wedding has it's own personality and charm and it would be impossible to pick one out as my favourite. I do adore the jobs that involve a bit more event design though as I love getting up a ladder to build big structural stuff.

SSH: What do you have coming up?

Lotte: wedding season really ramps up a gear in the summer so my feet won't really touch the ground for the next few months. I'll be up to my neck in the blooms creating wedding designs and then ferrying the flowers to gorgeous venues all over scotland.

SSH: Here's your chance to plug a creative website or blog you enjoy?

Lotte: patternity  and  pinterest

SSH: Any advice you wish someone had given you early on? 

Lotte: That a mild phobia of numbers and maths in general shouldn't put you off setting up a business.

SSH: Have you a favourite place in the Southside?

Lotte:  Linn park

SSH: Here's your chance to promote another Southsider.

Lotte:  That would be laura at e.y.i love,  gorgeous wedding stationary and print studio.

SSH: What do you think is missing in the Southside?

Lotte: A proper pub. not a gastro or pastiche version but a proper old-fashioned one with good food, flagstone floors, an open fire and fine ales.

SSH: Tell us an interesting fact about yourself?

Lotte: I was once asked to star in a bollywood movie. odd.

You can find out more information about Lotte and Bloom on Lotte's website and blog

Southside Hustings

Last night we popped along to the Kinning Park Hustings to hear what the various candidates had to say at an interesting little event held in Kinning Park Parish Church. It wasn't quite Question Time with a far more relaxed style and the questioners getting almost as much time to speak as the panel. This resulted in only 8 questions being answered and the event running slightly over its allotted time, however it did allow the voters to have their opinions heard. Sunny Govan did a grand job pulling it together and the candidates did a professional job of answering the questions in a succinct manner. Despite the expected minor party point scoring attempts there wasn't quite as much of the negative, finger pointing politics that some of the flyers coming through our doors have promoted. Nothing puts me more off a candidate than them spending 90% of their time attacking everyone elses policies without stating what they would do differently themselves.

Hear more yourself when a recording is broadcast on Sunny Govan Radio or at some of the further hustings taking place before 5th May. (*more info at bottom of post)

We had a little added interest to our evening by attending the event with Gerry Hassan, local southsider and well known political commentator. His well read blog and twitter are great places to get an interesting analysis on the latest pollitical situations - http://www.gerryhassan.com/ . Gerry is also involved in the Scottish Wave of Change project looking at the future of Scotland. We thought it would be interesting to get Gerrys thoughts on last nights event, the election and the future of Scotland, so here they are.

"Glasgow Southside is one of the key marginal seats in the Scottish Parliament elections: the second most competitive seat with a ‘notional’ Labour majority of 27 votes after boundary changes.

The Sunny Govan hustings showed the strange state of local democracy, with a mass of questions on the most local, detailed, individual subjects you could imagine. This gave the evening the air of a gigantic Social Work case conference, while people talked about public spending, the evils of public spending cuts, and generally saw the extension of the entitlement culture as continuing unchecked.

The general thesis berating our politics is to often attack our political class, but at the Southside hustings all four candidates gamefully tried to deal maturely and sensitively with the most intricate, specialist questions.

The people have a role and responsibility, and are often, as this husting, showed part of the problem. How do we change the conversation, challenge people, sometimes tell them ‘No’ or they are wrong, while developing a different kind of democracy and discussion isn’t exactly easy? But we should start by acknowledging that the state of our democracy is down to all of us, and we cant any longer get away with just lampooning politicians."

*Further Hustings

Glasgow South

Ms Sturgeon and Mr Curran will battle it out again, with Conservative David Meikle and Liberal Democrat Carmichael Elder (brilliant name) during the hustings at Queens Park Baptist church at 8pm on Sunday 1st May 1.

Glasgow Cathcart
There will also be a hustings for the Glasgow Cathcart candidates at 7pm on Sunday 1st May This will take place in Langside Church (if the builders have completed work on the new building, or in the David Cargill Centre, 166 Ledard Road, Glasgow G42 9EU, if not.) Candidates for Glasgow Cathcart on a Question Time type of panel: Eileen Baxendale - Scottish Liberal Democrats, James Dornan - Scottish National Party, Charlie Gordon - Scottish Labour Party, John McKee - Independent, Richard Sullivan - Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

If anyone knows of any more hustings taking place in their local area then add them in the comments.

Streetland Outdoor Cinema - 30 April 9pm-10.30pm

c1980, courtesy Chris Doak

The grand finale of this years Streetland Festival will be the Streetland Outdoor Cinema, an outdoor pedal powered cinema, curated by Fran Higson. The Outdoor Cinema will held in the space that used to house the Hampden Picture House, a cinema that originally seated 1,040 people.

The Hampden Picture House, at 91 Westmoreland Street, was opened in December 1920 and closed again after nearly 50 years in 1969 - thereafter it was used as a bingo hall, a cycling club and a social club. It was a music venue until it was demolished in 2007. This event will give the local community the chance to reclaim it’s original communal space.

Free Event/Free Popcorn 9pm-10.30pm

The Ex-Factor

Image from John Gilbert Annie Flint book The Tenement Handbook

Without wanting to open too poisionous a can of worms we thought it might be interesting to find out what people make of their building's Factor.

It's an issue that I know gets quite a lot of us tenement dwelling Glaswegians in quite a fankle and judging from an email we recieved last week the horror stories of poor workmanship, excessive bills and a general feeling of being ripped off continues. Some have decieded to go down the self-management system but that usually means one poor soul in the building ends up doing all the work.

But surely not everyone is in this boat, there must be at least one reliable and respectful Factor out there doing their best for their clients. Afterall, as we had to remind our own factor recently, they are actually our employee.

Lets hear your stories. Who would you reccomend and who should we all stay well clear of?

Links

Article on Factors in Herald

Govanhill Law Centre Advice

Guide to common repairs

Glad Cafe Night at the Pandora - Sat 30th April 2011

The Glad Cafe and Streetland presents Fox Gut Daata, Silver Caves and Field Mouse at The Pandora, on Victoria Road. Tickets are Free and the evening kicks off at 7.30pm.

Streetlands 2011 - 29 - 30 April

After its hugely successful debut event last year, the Streetland Festival is back.  This year's festival (taking place Friday 29, Sat 30) will see a host of visual art, live performance, music, theatre, food, walking tours, street games and cinema all happening in and around Westmoreland Street in the heart of Govanhill.

We popped along last year and it really was a fantastic bit of community involvement in a really unusual and unique way. That has been reflected in this year's event being awarded £4000 from the Fairer Scotland Fund and the organisers being nominated for a Community Champion award in the Evening Times.

There are a  diverse range of events over the two days which will include established and emegering artists, here are just a few of the many events we're looking forward to;
The interplanetary postbox, by Angie Bual and Fergus Dunnet, "The ultimate Pakora Challenge" A cooking extravaganza on the streets of Govanhill, the Polyphony drummers playing in Westmoreland Street Garden, A guided walk around the overlooked architectural gems of Govanhill, with Roger Guthrie, Streetlands' outdoor Cinema, The Chalet prize exhibition, and the Glad Cafe night at the Pandora.

Get yourself along and support this unique festival.

To find out more Download The Streetland Programme

Southside Crafter: Arts and Craft Fair

A new Art's and Crafts fair is being established in the Southside. The Southside Crafter will be a monthly arts and crafts fair and will be held in Shawlands Kirk at Shawlands Cross, 11am till 3pm.

Southside Crafters are currently looking for artists and makers to get involved and tables can be booked for events between August to December. Tables are £20 per event.

If you are interested in being involved then Email Southsidecrafter@aol.co.uk for more information or a booking form.

Think Boutique

Check out these cool photos of Southside based fashion shop (currently online only)  Think Boutique's images of their new collection. The photoshoot took place in the Govanhill Baths, its such a brill space, makes for some very atmospheric and unsual shots.

"Inspired by a passionate lecture on ethical fashion while studying for her Masters in Fashion Marketing Think Boutique's founder realised that it was possible to strike a balance between her lifelong love for fashion and her concerns about the nature of the fashion industry's moral code. After a long period of research and development of ideas and skills Think Boutique was finally launched in September 2010. Putting her stamp on a collection of ethical clothing where the fashion credentials come top of the list and the ethics of each item are carefully researched the resulting Think Boutique collection is bound with a strong element of the founder's personal style and values.

 

Combining wearable style with eye-catching one off statement pieces the Think Boutique collection brings together the most exciting and fashion-forward ethical brands to appeal to fashionistas from all walks of life with a common interest in making their statement in the world a positive one. Think Boutique strives to retail clothing that have the highest possible social and environmental credentials. Products are from Fair Trade, organic, sustainable, up-cycled or locally produced sources. With every detail of the shopping experience carefully thought through from first click to delivery Think Boutique brings the personal service experience of boutique shopping online."
Think Boutique
(Registered address)Grantley Gardens
Glasgow
G41 3PY

T 01416495414

fashion@thinkboutique.co.uk

Great Southside Giveaway - Cookie and the Citz 2

There was a little bit of a mix up during last months giveaway and the winner ended up not being able to claim their prize. Cookie and the Citz have kindly offered to roll over their offer of dinner and tickets to a top play for a show in May instead.

So the prize is pre-theatre dinner for two at Cookie and two tickets to see the rather exciting sounding "After the End" at the Citz Tuesday 17th May @ 7:30pm. All you need to do to enter the prize draw is tell us "Your best Southside Secret". There will also be some runners up theatre tickets too so get entering, Winners will be announced on the Blog on the 10th of May so check back to see if you've won.

The usual Giveaway rules apply, click here to read

Cookie and The Citizen's theatre have recently teamed up to offer a 15% discount on pre-theatre food to people holding valid Citizen's tickets. "We want to put the theatre back into pre-theatre, we also want to let you wine and dine after the show. Our 2 course set menu costs only £10 for pre-theatre dining for patrons and we will have a taxi waiting for you."

Creative Thursday: Darren Wilson

Darren Wilson is this week's creative Southsider, he's  a 3 Dimensional Designer / Maker. He lives in the Battlefield area and works at South Studios in Govanhill.
**EDIT Darren has kindly donated two packs of Seedboms to Southside Happenings Readers. To win, just suggest a Southside spot in need of some Guerrilla Gardening Usual rules apply, winner picked on Wed 27 April.

Describe your creative practice or what it is you do?
I create unique and innovative products in an ethical and eco-friendly way. My products are all about our connection (or lack of it) to nature and are designed to encourage interaction with our surroundings and to promote environmental awareness. I believe that being green and eco-friendly needn’t be the only reason for a product to exist; I think these methods should be there regardless, and that a great product will be great for the right reasons with the ethics to back it up. The point of my work is to justify its own existence by being responsible, innovative, usable and fun at the same time.

Summary of your background?
As a wee creative boy from Banff my first port of call after leaving school was to go to college in Aberdeen to go on a foundation art portfolio building class for a year (my school portfolio was terrible!). I was then off to Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen to study for a degree in 3D Design and Craft. Once leaving university I was unsure what to do next so I travelled a bit, worked a bit and then in 2008 I decided It was time to do something better. In 2009 I started my business after getting lots of much needed advice and funding through such people as the Nesta Starter for 6 programme and the rest is history.

Tell us about your favourite piece of your work?
 Easy! I’ve only got the one product at the moment and that would be Seedbom.

What's next?
 As well as the usual day to day making and selling I have just completed some work with Selfridges in London for their recent Grow! Concept Store and Window displays. I am also currently working with Glasgow’s Giant Productions as a resident artist on the Forgotten Island project where I will be running School workshops on recycling and planting. I will then be working with a team of artists and designers to construct the temporary Forgotten Island space on the banks of the Clyde this summer.

What is your favourite creative blog/ website or other source of inspiration?

That’s difficult, there are so many great creative related websites I use but if I had to choose one I would have to say www.designboom.com. It has to be said however I get a lot of inspiration from my surroundings; just walking down the street gives me ideas.

What key piece of advice do you wish you'd known? If I think back there are loads of little things I wish I’d known but that’s not the point, I’ve gone over these things countless times and it drives you mad. Take all the advice you can early on, there will always be something you’ve missed so learn from your mistakes, don’t dwell and carry on.

Tell us your favourite place/ space in the Southside?
I walk through Queens park everyday to go to work, it’s a great space and I get a good view of the city on my way to start my day.

Name another Southside creative whose work you admire?

There is some great talent around and I feel bad about leaving folk out but if had to choose just one it would be my partner Susan Castillo, a great photographer, I am always impressed by her talent (and no, I wasn’t forced to write that).

If money was no option what would you change about the Southside?

Although I love the Southside I feel it’s is a little sporadic in terms of places to go, some great places about but they are little too spread out over a large area. So I’d add some more gathering places and community hubs, good locally run cafes, bars, restaurants, produce markets and a cinema and have them all linked with a nice walking/cycle route. Oh and although the Govanhill baths are well on their way to being refurbished (great news) I would defiantly put in a temporary swimming pool while we wait.

Tell us one other interesting fact about you? I once re-enacted a scene from Billy Connolly’s world tour of Australia by dancing naked around the Pinnacles in Western Australia.

Seedbom are now available to purchase in Gifted, in Clarkston.

http://www.kabloom.co.uk/

Glasgow South Community Hustings - Tuesday 26th April

The first ever hustings for the new Glasgow South Constituency is being hosted by Sunny Govan Radio, on Tuesday 26th April. The Community hustings gives you the opportunity to ask the candidates questions about the issues that concern you.

Sunny Govan chief Heather McMillan said: “Our aim is to provide a platform to encourage local people from the new Glasgow Southside constituency to question candidates and debate the issues that are of importance to them”. Glasgow South, the most ethnically diverse in Scotland, is based around the old Govan constituency where The SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon dramatically won the 2007 Scottish Parliament election. The new complexion of the constituency means that at this stage of the election, no one party is being touted as a ”sure thing”.

All the candidates will be attending the event: David Meikle - Conservative, Kenneth Elder - Liberal Democrats, Nicola Sturgeon - SNP, Stephen Curran - Scottish Labour and Co-operative Party

The Southside Community Hustings will be held at Kinning Park Parish Church on Tuesday 26 April. Tickets are free call 01414453741 or e-mail sunnygovanhustings@hotmail.co.uk 

Now Now events

Arts group Now, now who have recenlty moved into Kinning Park have a couple of event coming up.

Tily Yer Kilt - 23 April 7pm - midnight (£5)

"Highland Ramblers and Flying Scotsman and anybody else who fancies a good fling of the feet GET YOUR TARTANS CLAD! For an evening of Scotch frolicking, piping hot Celidh dancing. With jovial jigs, reels and feels from SPECIAL LIVE MUSICAL GUESTS SOON TO BE REVEALED… Once your kilts are well tilted expect some more uncontrollable feet tickling, head bobbing and hip swaying from the super-sonic sensation DJ Fists 'punching out some hot aural action'.

Now Now Group Show -13 May · 18:30 - 21:30 (Free)An exhibition of art work by members of the group.

Kinning Park Community Complex

Main Hall
Cornwall St
Kinning Park
(right next to the underground)

Creative Thursday - Paul Revie

This weeks Creative Southsider is designer, signwriter and engraver Paul Revie a man with a wonderfully unusual way of viewing the world, just follow his brilliant tweets and see. His work creates an alternate reality where buffalos have camps inside them, mantraps are giant and tigers lead to San Francisco. Makes me wonder what his sign writing clients ended up with? (I imagine a surreal and less sweary version of Modern Toss' Mr Tourette.) 

Area of the Southside work in?
I think I live and work in Govanhill but my postcode says Crosshill. I think there’s been a mistake in where the boundary line has been drawn.
Describe your creative practice?

I make small, quirky, dark or lighthearted artworks and sell them online and in a few shops. I usually start with a story or predicament and the drawing is born from out of that. If I’m making one of my box frame shadow boxes then the physical process is similar to screenprinting only without the paint. Instead it’s effectively the stencil that’s the finished piece. the image is drawn, cut in micro-thin vinyl and the negative of the image is peeled away, or “weeded” to leave a papercut style. This is then put in front of vintage maps, illustrations or collages.

What's your background?
I went to Glasgow School of Art, studied architecture and interior design, graduating 11 years ago, then worked as a signwriter and engraver for 9 years. The last couple of years I’ve been enjoying getting back to designing and making things just for fun. I’m a lot poorer but a lot happier.

Tell us about your favourite piece of your work?

My favorite pieces are my ‘do not be scared’ series. They are about rebirth, fearlessness and escapism. I like them most because they’ve served me best and pay the bills. Thanks guys!

What's next?
I have recently finished my dark alphabet, an abecedarian with a strange slant. I would like to exhibit the complete thing somewhere so I’m looking into that. I’m very proud of it. I feel kind of lost now I’ve finished it as it has been hanging over me that long.

What is your favourite creative blog/ website or other source of inspiration?

Notcot, poppytalk, ffffound, Woody Allen films, old Humphrey Bogart movies.

What key piece of advice do you wish you'd known?

If I could go back I would tell myself to buy machines and tools earlier. The more equipment I have the less I have to rely on outside parties. The more processes you can keep entirely in your own hands the more controlled the end product is…and just chill, everything is fine!

Tell us your favourite place/ space in the Southside?

Me and my girlfriend like to wander over to Pollokshields and Maxwell Park amongst the detached villas and early morning learner drivers. We speak in plummy tones and imagine what house we would buy. Then we get kinda childishly jealous and narky and head home.

Name another Southside creative whose work you admire?

Southside based photographer/Papergirl Glasgow co-ordinator Heidi Kuisma and photographers/bloggers Nye and Cara of Peonies and Polaroids

If money was no option what would you change about the Southside?
I would drop Govanhill by two and a half feet and use a big garden hose to fill it with water. Like Venice. People would come from miles around to use the little mattress pedal boats.

Tell us one other interesting fact about you?

at 34 I have just tried screenprinting. I’ve printed cheap tights, a large chunk of the sale goes to Japan tsunami relief.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/paulofnavarone

http://twitter.com/paulofnavarone

STREETLAND OUTDOOR CINEMA - Call for short Films and performers

Streetland are looking for short films for an outdoor community cinema in  Govanhill area during the weekend of the Streetland Festival. They're looking for films that will inspire positive community engagement; the programme should be of relevance to the lives and struggles of the local community in Govanhill.

The aim is to encourage people to feel connected and empowered to take positive local action. By showing both local and international films and aim to give the audience a sense of their place in the world, as well as giving clues and sparks of inspiration from elsewhere that will help to create, nurture and grow positive solutions within their own lives and communities.

The idea is to create a narrative for the audience and take them on a journey which begins with themselves, their neighbours and their community - and bring them to pastures new; to inspiring and achievable examples of how community can be developed.

The Outdoor Cinema will held in the space that used to house the Hampden Picture House, a cinema that originally seated 1,040 people. It was opened in December 1920 and closed again after nearly 50 years in 1969 - thereafter it was used as a bingo hall, a cycling club and a social club. It was a music venue until it was demolished in 2007. This event will give the local community the opportunity to reclaim it’s original communal space.

They are looking for  for films (no more than 15 minutes long) that could fit into the programme, as well as people, preferably with a background in performance to be authentic usherette’s for the evening.

Please contact Fran Higson  mailto:franderhig@yahoo.co.uk%20with with ideas for films to screen or if you are interested in being a cinema usherette or compere.

Alice's Curious Tea Party

A couple of interesting events organised by  Scottish Ballet coming up, first a tea party organised for the over 50s with an illustrated talk, a brief performance from their new show Alice, a sociable dance topped off with some tea and jam. (£15 per person 2-5pm Wednesday 13 April.) For the younger generation there will be a Hatter's Garden performance in the Hidden Gardens (Sunday 17 April) which will combine parkour and dance and is open to people aged 12-16 years old.

Creative Thursday - Leah Black

First up for our new weekly look at Southside Creatives is Cessnock based jeweller Leah Black whose jewellery and silversmithing work has been exhibited throughout the UK at venues including The Saatchi Gallery, The National Museum of Scotland, The Kelvingrove, The Hunterian and with Dazzle in the National Theatre.

What is your discipline?

Primarily I work as jeweller, but also work in exhibitions, curating and teaching. I design and make jewellery. In February this year I launched a new custom made silhouette jewellery website called Strike Your Pose – I offer a custom made jewellery service through my website www.strikeyourpose.co.uk allowing customers to upload a pose onto the website and to order a unique piece of silhouette jewellery made from their uploaded pose. All the jewellery is handmade from precious metals or brass, and I offer a selection of types of jewel – pin badges, brooches or pendants.

What is your background?

I graduated from Glasgow School of Art 3 years ago and began exhibiting my jewellery as Leah Black around the UK,  I also have silversmithing works in The Kelvingrove and the Hunterian in Glasgow. In 2009 I set up The Gin Palace with my two business partners Ruth Black and Greg Reid and in 2009 and 2010 organised, curated and hosted two pop-up design exhibitions showcasing and selling the work of Scottish based designers.

What is your favourite piece of work?
It changes so frequently due to the hugely varied selection of poses customers submit to me each week. Currently my favourite is ‘the thinker’.

Whats next?
I launched Strike Your Pose in March this year in Princes Square in Glasgow, and next on the agenda is a London launch during the Design Festival in the autumn. In the nearer future my jewellery is going to be on show in a Royal Wedding themed jewellery exhibition at a design shop, Gill Wing in London, from the end of April.

Top tip?
It’s taken me a while to realise this, but I wish I’d known when starting out that it’s ok to say no sometimes, I think we all have a tendency to take on too much at times.

Design inspiration?
Design*Sponge for DIY home decor and furniture inspiration, & Droog Design for smart simple Dutch design at it’s very best.

Favourite place/ space in the Southside?
There’s a gem of a deli in Cessnock called Cherry & Heather, and the Walled Garden at the House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park is beautiful on a summery day.

Name another Southside creative whose work you admire?
I’m going to pick two. Alison Macleod – a fellow jeweller, and Charlotte Lawson of Lotte & Bloom - florist

If money was no option what would you change about the Southside?
I’m planning to be moving further south in the not too distant future and I’d love it if the underground went there too!

Tell us one other interesting fact about you?
I spent a glorious nine months travelling around Europe in a very old VW campervan!

Links
Leah Black
Strike your pose

Streetland Meetland

Last night we went along to the Streetland Meetland event, at the Chalet in Govanhill. It's always a treat to get inside the Chalet building it's such an interesting place. If you've never been make sure you get along to the Streetland festival. Anyway there was a great selection of local DJ'S and Bands playing throughout the night and the Streetland Meetland Quiz.

The quiz masters Neil and Tom hosted a pretty difficult quiz, we were thankful the very lovely Bill and Mary Anne were in our team. Overall we came third and won an assorted music cd from 1995 and a half dozen sausages. We have to confess to getting the question relating to Southside Happenings wrong!

We had a great time and if last nights anything to go by then this years Streetland event is going to be fantastic, so make sure you keep the 29/30th April free.

This Weekend - 1 - 3 April 2011

Its another bumper weekend in the Southside with another ton of great events taking place. Makes you glad that spring has sprung and that the weather has finally turned and is all sunny again (well for one day it was, where did all the rain come from again? Positive thinking, it shall be glorious all weekend.)

Anyways how does this all sound?

Saturday
Start off the morning with some breakfast and art at the Go Slow Cafe and then a stroll and stock up at the Queens Park Farmers Market (Saturday 10am - 2pm) where you can have a second little snack at the Bombay Street Kitchen.Then you can take a walk to Maxwell Park in Polloksheilds (Saturday 11am -3pm) where artist Colin Begg will be constructing a temporary artwork in assocation with the Hidden Gardens. More art with a little introduction open day in The Shed (Saturday 2 April 1 - 4pm) for a new art group called the Marl Arts Society who are "looking to provide community ventures for the South of Glasgow". After all that art, you might be in the mood for making the world more beautiful so you can help out at the Spring Makeover at the Battlefield Community Garden. (Saturday 12 - 16:30)

Which should just give you enough time for some food (suggestions of venue welcomed) before heading back out for some evening entertainement.

The comedy festival is back and the Southside is thankfully getting in on the action with a host of events on at both The Citizens (1-9th April) and the Ha ha Half price comedy shows at The Shed (1,2,8, 9 April). There is a fair range of performers too from the surreal Sean Hughes and the prowling Jenny Eclair to the political Mark Thompson and the child friendly James Campbell. I think I'm most looking forward to 'Gentleman' George Monbiot's lecture and audience debating session on Saturday 2 April @The Citz.

The other great event on tonight is the Streetland Meetland event with a host of DJ's and a pub quiz at the Chalet on Dixon Avenue (Saturday from 7pm)  The evening is orgainised to help raise funds for the Streetland event at the end of April.

After watching a little bit of (Mr Monbiot or taking part in the quiz) I might take a walk along Pollokshaws Road for a drink and some music in Sammy Dows before heading to the finest bit of DJ'ing fun to be had in the city at the super La Roche Rumba at the Ex-Serviceman's Club (8:30pm Saturday 2 April) on Titwood Road.

Sunday

Its a bit quiter, with the only things we've spotted so far being an interesting sounding craft fair on in Linen 1906 on Pollokshaws Road (12:30 - 4:30). The launch of the Clarkson Easter Egg Hunt and then later that night Southside Sessions again in Linen 1906 (from 8:30pm). Any advance on this?

If anyone manages to get round half of the great things happening this weekend they deserve a medal, phew, I'm knackered just writing about them all.

Anyone we've missed out, add in the comments below.