The Bluebells at the Glasshouses

The Bluebells are playing at the Glasshouses on Sunday night. The band had four top 40 hits in the 80's and then in 1993 they were at number one for four weeks with 'Young at Heart'.
Doors open at 8pm and tickets are £12.

This Weekend 26th - 28th May 2011

A weekend full of events.

On Thursday Glasgow Beer week starts, special promotions and events will be taking place in Tapa Coffee House and Gusto and Relish all week.

Then on Friday the British Art Show 7 opens at the Tramway featuring new and existing work of thirty nine of the UK'S most exciting contemporary artists. (The show is also being hosted at the CCA and GOMA). In the evening the Tramway hosts Wayne McGregor / Random Dance’s production of Entity, tickets £15.  The Southside Festival presents Eleanor McEvoy with Lorna Brooks and Neil Sturgeon at the Glasshouses in Queens Park. Doors Open 8.00 p.m – Tickets £10.

On Saturday morning there is Park Run at Pollok Park. Then the Southside Festival kicks off at midday till 10pm at the recreational grounds in Queens Park. On Saturday afternoon Clarkston will  be hosting their own small street festival celebrating the opening of the Art in the Windows exhibition. They'll also be holding their farmers market. The Tramway's Visual Arts Officer will take you on a free  exhibition tour of the British Art Show 7 at 3pm
 
 La Roche Rumba will be at the Queens Park Glasshouses from 8pm tickets are £9 at the door.

On Sunday Craft Scene are holding a craft fair from 12.30pm - 4.30pm at Beancene on Skirving Street, they'll be plenty of Jewellery, stainglass, cards etc on sale. Afternoon Twee is taking place at the Shed from 12.30pm wander along for some wonderful vintage goodies. There's also free music in the Glasshouses until 4pm. At 4pm and 5pm there is a Gong Bath taking place at Albert Drive Studios. Tickets are £5 contact gongworks@gmail.com to book. Then on Sunday evening the chart topping Scottish legends The Bluebells will be playing at the Glasshouses, doors open at 8pm and tickets are £12.

Have a great weekend. As always if we've missed anything let everyone know by leaving a comment below

Creative Thursday - Lucy Fergus

Meet Lucy Fergus, founder of Re-Silicone, an artist maker who produces bespoke eco-conscious products and large-scale installations made from re-used rubber silicone.

SSH: Tell us about your creative practice?
Lucy: There are 3 elements to my work: public installations, accessories and workshops/community arts. I enjoy having different projects on the go, it certainly keeps me on my toes! I’m proud of the fact that I’m not just being creative and making things, but using materials that otherwise would be land-filled. There is an educational aspect to my work as people are not necessarily aware of industrial waste and it’s implications on our environment. Creative workshops are a big part of my practice and link directly in with it. I think it’s important to share information and skills with others. I love making Re-silicone key rings with the public and run workshops for outpatients at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. It’s amazing to see how such a simple technique can inspire and engage the children and their parents.

SSH: Tell us about your background?

Lucy:I studied Woven Textiles at Glasgow School of Art followed by a post-graduate course at Central St Martin’s College of Art & Design in London called Design for Textile Futures. In 2007 I founded Re-silicone, using industrial rubber silicone off-cuts to produce bespoke lighting, rugs and jewellery. As the supply of silicone is dependent on customer demand and specification, the element of unpredictability is a key feature of the Re-silicone brand, celebrating the concept of waste and re-use to inform the design process. I’m very fortunate to have the support of the iconic and quintessentially British hairbrush manufacturer, Mason Pearson, using their natural rubber off-cuts for large-scale installation pieces. Recent projects include Elephant Parade London 2010, the COLLECT Trail for the Crafts Council and Unite for Craftscotland.

Having recently re-located to Glasgow after 5 years in London I’m thoroughly enjoying all the city has to offer, meeting new people and reacquainting myself with old friends and contacts.

SSH: So what's your favourite piece of work ?

Lucy: I love creating large-scale installation pieces, especially in outdoor and public spaces. I contributed to the Elephant Parade London last year by covering a life-sized model of a baby elephant in orange rubber off-cuts. The art works were displayed around London and auctioned by Sotheby’s, with proceeds going to the conservation of the Asian elephant. I was very attached to my elephant Mason; he was such a big part of my creative life for 3 months and proved to be very popular with the community of designer/makers at my studio.

SSH: So what are you currently working on?

Lucy: I’m currently putting the finishing touches on an installation for a touring exhibition called Art+Play, which is a collection of interactive art works aimed at 0-5 year olds. For the past 7 months I have been working with nursery staff and children in North Lincolnshire to develop a series of tactile wall panels using orange rubber off-cuts.

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

Lucy: Make time to enjoy a balanced lifestyle. Self employment and a creative mind is a liberating yet lethal combination - work can easily take over every aspect of your life so in order to stay motivated and inspired I always make time for family, friends and fresh air.

SSH: Have you a favourite Southside place or event?
Lucy: I’m training for the Moonwalk in Edinburgh so I’ve become very familiar with the south side on foot. I love the bridge at Snuffmills beside Linn Park - it’s like a step back in time and the buildings overlooking the river Cart are beautiful. Then again, you can’t beat ibop Fridays for dancing fun times.

SSH: Name another Southside creative whose work you admire?

Lucy: The multi-talented and ever enthusiastic Helen MacVey, one half of Maiden Glasgow, a blossoming Glasgow based jewellery partnership. www.maidenglasgow.com

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

Lucy: I would definitely bring back Muirend cinema, it was so cosy and convenient.

SSH: Tell us another fact or story about yourself

Lucy: I slept in a white-washed, carpeted garden shed for 6 months when I lived in a disused handbag factory in east London - surprisingly comfortable!

For more info on Lucy's work click here

Southside Festival 2011

This weekend the Southside Festival returns for it's fourth year. The festival starts with a procession which leaves Shawlands Academy at 11am and should arrive forty five minutes later in the recreational grounds.

The main stage will kick off at 1.30pm with the Modest's and continue until 8.45pm when the last band Mr Kil takes to the stage. There will also be an acoustic stage in the Glasshouses between 12pm and 4pm featuring the Clachies, The Dirty Beggars, James Murray, The Dirt and Outi-Smith.

Gordan Morlan one of the festival committee explained 'Featuring in this years festival is a new earth zone and World Cafe. We also have A host of childrens entertainment spread over two Marquees and a Family Fun Zone. There is a Sports Arena and Fitness Marquee for the more energetic among us or for those just wanting to become more physically active. We also have an Arts and Science Marquee and Display zone and a large selection of Community and commercial stalls.

Glasgow South Ship modellers will also be hosting a model boat display and opening the clubhouse up to visitors who can have a look at old photographs and news paper cuttings of the club over the last 100 years or so. 

For further information on the Southside Festival and all the other events download the programme here

La Roche Rumba - 28 May 2011

This Saturday night La Roche Rumba will be at the Glasshouse's in Queens Park.. There will be  HRH and Sonny Marvello playing live, and also Thriftshop XL DJS SMC, Jamie Thomson and Ian Morton. Tickets are priced £9 and are available from tickets-scotland.co.uk or on the door on the night. 8pm - till late

We have four tickets to giveaway for the La Roche Rumba Gig - Just tell us What  your favourite Southside event is - in the comment section below 

We'll announce the winners on Friday morning.   Normal giveaway rules apply click here

Vintage and Arts and Craft - Sunday 29th May 2011

The Shed are hosting 'Afternoon Twee' this Sunday from 12.30pm. Afternoon Twee is the Southsides first and only vintage fair  and will feature mens and womens vintage clothing, jewellery, accessories, crockery, and home goods. There will also be home baking and live music. Entry is free.

Once you've had a browse around Afternoon Twee you may also enjoy a wander down to Craft Scene; an arts and crafts market being held in Beanscene in Skirving Street.

Entity - Fri 27 - Sat 28 May 2011

Wayne McGregor / Random Dance’s production of Entity  arrives at Tramway after sell-out shows at the Venice and Lyon Biennales and wide critical acclaim. Performed against a pounding soundscape by Coldplay and Massive Attack collaborator, Jon Hopkins and award-winning composer Joby Talbot (The Divine Comedy), Entity is a staggering blend of bodies, lights, technology and film, which confirms McGregor’s place at the cutting edge of contemporary culture. Technically astonishing, emotionally uncompromising and hard-hitting, McGregor’s work defies categorisation.

A prolific dance maker, in the past year Wayne McGregor has created new work for The Royal Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theatre and the Australian Ballet. He has directed opera at La Scala, Milan and produced headlining sets for The Big Chill festival.

Fri 27 - Sat 28 May 2011

7:30pm
Tickets: £15 / £12
0845 330 3501

Clarkston: Art in the Windows

The Clarkston Bid are launching the second annual Art in the Windows with an open-air art fair at the Farmer’s Market in Clarkston on the 28th of May.

The Art in the Windows event, now in its second year, is an small arts festival taking place from Saturday 28th May to Saturday 11th June. Once more Clarkston Town Centre is being transformed into a unique art gallery where the artwork of local artists, groups and schools will be displayed in the windows of businesses throughout Clarkston Town Centre.

Winners

Very belated announcement of the winner's of our two giveaways last month.

Cookie and The CitzWinner of dinner for two at Cookie and tickets to see "After the End" at The Citizens on Tuesday 24th May is Mary Anne Meyering. (Mary get in touch quick to arrange getting you the prize.)

SeedbomThe two packs of Seedboms were won by Jen and by Gail. Strangely from clicking on the links in their comments it would appear that they both write food related blogs - one about a raw food diet and the other about recipe try outs and restaurant reviews. Odd coincedence?

Guys, send us an email to find out how to claim your prizes and your little Southside Happenings badges.

Creative Thursday - Karen O'Hare

This week's creative Southsider is Karen O'Hare a Mount Florida dweller who works for Screen Academy Scotland and is a bit of a film all rounders; shooting, editing, writing, directing and producing (though not all at the same time). She is also part of the brains and DJ's behind one of the Southside's best club nights iBop. This week Karen tells us a little bit about her background and about the Southside Film Festival that she has organised taking place across the Southside this weekend (See our calander and the SFF website for more info.).

SSH: Where did the idea for the Festival come from?

Karen:  I have lived on the Southside for 6 years now and it really does have its own identity. I have met lots of really interesting and creative people and I know that there are lots of filmmakers out there too so I thought it would be a good idea to bring everyone together to watch movies! This digital age is great in terms of the freedom that technology can bring but it leaves us less opportunity for social and cultural get togethers – which is why film festivals are still relevant I think. It is one way of bringing people together and the programme is deliberately eclectic in order to appeal to all ages and all Southsiders. Plus, of course, the Southside has no cinema and no regular film nights or clubs. I thought I would turn this into an opportunity to screen in unique and unusual venues such as artist's studios, clubs, gardens, a library, a school, the boat shed in Queens Park and a disused swimming pool (Govanhill Baths). You can also go for pasta or pizza before watching Opening Film American Cousins and not forgetting live Wurltizer Cinema Organ accompaniment to the  silent gothic horror Nosferatu. I want audiences to feel they are having a special cinematic experience.

SSH: What else is happening?

Karen: People who are interested and curious about how to write, perform or direct can go along to two workshops on the Saturday - one with the Scottish Screenwriters and another with Write! Camera! Action! which is all about workshopping writing and ideas with actors and directors in a supportive and productive environment. There are introductions and Q&As  with Screenwriter Sergio Cascio, actors Stephen McCole (Crying with Laughter) and Gary Lewis (short films Close & Fridge) and lots of opportunity to meet local filmmakers too at Film Headz, Starting Block and the Southside Filmmakers Screening.  I'm also encouraging people to make a film and we might show it at the festival.

SSH: What film you are most excited about showing in the festival?

Karen: Do I have to pick one?! I'm really looking forward to seeing what both the Southside Studios and The Forest of Black have programmed for the festival as I haven't seen either yet! I'm also really looking to watching Seawards The Great Ships in the Boat Shed by the pond in Queens Park before heading over to Govan to watch Red Skirts on Clydeside!

SSH: Name a Southside filmaker whose work you admire?

Karen: He's the most famous Southside filmmaker but it has to be Peter Mullan. I remember watching the short film Fridge on TV late at night at my parents in Northern Ireland before I had even set foot in Govanhill and being completely blown away by it. The film has really stayed with me. I never thought that I would 'grow up' and put on a film festival that was screening Fridge with Gary Lewis. I'm hoping that Peter Mullan can make it along too!

SSH: What is your favourite film blog/ website/ source of inspiration?

Karen: I love that there are so many places to watch films online now. When I was younger I used to get on a 3 and a half hour bus from Belfast to Dublin just to go an independent video shop. Now, you can just go to sites like the National Film Board of Canada to watch great documentaries and animation or watch art house and independent stuff on Mubi or follow You Tube Channels or find stuff on Vimeo. I'm also a big fan of the Open Culture website.

SSH: Any advise for budding southside filmakers?

Karen: If you are passionate and determined to work in film then be focused in a particular area that you want to pursue and get yourself out there meeting people in that area that could help you get your first bit of work experience on set. The Southside Film Festival is a good place to start as it is small enough to get to meet the filmmakers but any film festival or industry networking is essential to attend when you are first starting off.  Do your research and seek out places like GMAC and Diversity Films where you will be supported to make your own film work or seek out industry focused filmmaking courses (like those at Screen Academy Scotland).

SSH: Favourite place in the Southside?

Karen: My perfect Southside day would consist of a cycle through Pollok Park, then over to Queen's Park Farmers Market to buy some amazing curry from Mona's Jaldikatessen stall followed by some coffee and ginger crunch at Tapa. Then I might catch a film at my local independent cinema (I can dream!) and go home to have that curry!

SSH: Tell us one interesting fact about yourself.

Karen: The first film I saw in the cinema was E.T. when I was 8 years old.

Proposal to build on Queens Park Recreational Ground

It has been brought to our attention that part of the Queen’s Park recreation ground is the City Council’s preferred site for a large residential facility for elderly people. This decision has been made with out consulting the community or the community councils. It is our understanding that the local elected members were only made aware of this plan recently. 

It is also our understanding that at least one community council have already objected in writing to the council regarding the proposal on the following grounds.

1. Whereas the sites preferred in other parts of the city are brown field, the site selected here is not only a green field site, but an intrinsic part of Queen’s Park which is Common Good land according to the current definitions employed by the legal team within Land and Environmental Services. We see no evidence that brownfield sites on the south side, such as the sites of schools scheduled for closure, have been considered.

2. This area of Glasgow is one of the most densely built up areas with narrow tenemented streets and with the few recreational facilities or green space other than Queen’s Park, according to the City’s own ward analyses. The Park and recreation ground therefore represent an exceptionally important facility. The recreation ground, though not well maintained, is frequently used by young people from Crosshill/Govanhill and other parts of the area for football and cricket. There are few flat and suitable areas in Queens Park for this type of activity. Part of it is on the long lease, far from expired, to the Queens Park Bowling club.
3. The site selected cuts across and blocks a major and much used path /right of way crossing the Recreation Ground to Queens Park and Battlefield and Langside. In particular it is used by children to and from Holyrood School.
4. The whole of the recreation ground area is used by the Southside Festival, perforce displaced there as a result of the mine workings affecting the safety for mass use of other parts of Queen’s Park. Its immediate proximity to the Park enables easy linkage between events in the Park and Glasshouses and the recreation ground.
5. Further encroachment on this area will damage the viability and usefulness of the rest of the space and suggests a cavalier attitude to its parks and open spaces by a City Council which claims to wish to encourage community cohesion, healthy lifestyles and opportunities for young people.

Up-date........
We'll be posting an up-date shortly, once we have received further information on the proposals and what the local community can do about the plans.  Have a look at http://www.writetothem.com/ which gives details on how to contact your local councillors.

Seawards the Great Ships

One of the many films being shown as part of the Southside Film Festival  is the 1960's film 'SEAWARDS THE GREAT SHIPS' directed by Hilary Harris. This Oscar-winning documentary of shipbuilding on the Clyde, has wonderful scenes of the mould lofts and drawing offices of the shipyards along with footage dipicting the process of how these amazing ships were constructed, launched and fitted out before they left the Clyde.  

Seawards the Great Ships is being shown at  the Model Ship Shed in Queens Park - Saturday 14 May, 14:00-16:00 (donations only)

For more information http://www.southsidefilmfestival.net/

Southside Film Festival 13-15 May

We've waited along time for an event like this. On the weekend of the 13th of May the Southside will be hosting it's first ever Southside Film Festival.
Events will be taking place all over the Southside in venues such as: Pollokshaws Burgh Hall, The Shed, Southside Studios, The Chalet, The boating shed beside Queens Park Pond and many more. There is a diverse and inclusive programme of films being shown including feature films, animation, shorts, documentaries and music videos.
 Several screenings and workshops are free, (but donations are most welcome as this is an unfunded festival), and all other screenings are only £5. Tickets are available at the venue on the day, unless stated otherwise.
Click here to download the Festival Programme

Creative Thursday - E.Y.I.Love

This weeks Creative Thursday Interviewee is Lorna McGinnigal, a print designer, who runs E.Y.I Love studio, located in Langside which is 'perfectly placed between langside Cafe and Queens Park'.

SSH: Tell us a little about your background

Lorna: My background is in Textile Design. I studied at Glasgow School of Art, and then went on to Central Saint Martins to do a Masters in Fashion (Textiles). I worked in fashion for a few years, gaining brilliant experience and had the opportunity to work with some of the most talented people. I then returned to Glasgow, started e.y.i.love and now tutor on a part time basis at Edinburgh College of Art

SSH: What made you set up  E.Y.I Love?

Lorna: Well, I had moved back to Glasgow after working as a textile designer in Italy and really had no idea what the next step was. Jack and I were getting married and I was completely loving making lots of pretty printed things for our own wedding. My grandpa was a Letterpress printer so I was learning the family trade and Jack and I just thought, “Imagine we could just do this all the time for other couples too.” So, we did! A print studio was born in our spare room with a Mac, a couple of printing presses and some very kind, helpful and generous family and friends.

SSH: What is it that you create

Lorna: I basically design and print really pretty things, mostly for lovely couples and their weddings. We spend the majority of our time working with couples making their Wedding Stationery/ printed items as fun and unique as they are. We always ask for some Visual Inspiration of the things that they love (hence the name, Everything Yours I Love) and we take it from there.

SSH: So what does an average day in your life entail?

Lorna: We wake early and take Harris (our pup) for a good walk around Queens Park, before enjoying breakfast where we chat over what needs to be done in the day. Jack still works as an Engineer so he heads off to the day job, while I usually spend the first half of the morning designing. I like to be creative first thing as I find this is when I am most inspired. Days differ, but I would generally see clients in the afternoon or evening, so everything else (emailing, business type things) fits in around that.

SSH: Tell us about one of your favourite pieces of work

Lorna: I have so many, But one of my favourites was a poster which we made for one of the first couples we worked with. They were being married in the G.F.T and their whole wedding was very themed around this- vintage cinema tickets for the Invitations, popcorn for the ceremony. It was brilliant. We made a giant movie poster which was displayed in the large frames at the entrance to the cinema which featured Gav and Penny in  the “Tying the Knot”. We were invited along to the wedding too, so it was great to see all their guests reactions as they approached the G.F.T.

SSH: A key piece of advice you'd like to share?

Lorna: Never take yourself too seriously. Laugh lot’s- everyday.
SSH: Tell us about another talented Southside Creative.
Lorna: Lucy Fergus of http://www.re-silicone.co.uk/, has just moved back to the southside, after 5 years in London. She is amazingly talented, her work is so creative and she is just very inspiring. It’s great to have her back in the city!

SSH: What's your favourite Southside place?

Lorna: I really love walking through Queens Park, & even more so now since we have Harris. I love the view of Glasgow you get from the flagpole- feels like you can see the whole city! We’re also big fans of breakfast at Moyra Jaynes.  

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

Lorna: I’m not so sure even money could buy this one, but I’d really love it to be sunny and full of cherry blossoms all year round.

SSH Tell us something else about you? An Interesting fact?

Lorna: When I was in Art School, some friends and I starred on Bargain Hunt with David Dickinson. We had such a laugh filming it, driving around town in a Cadillac- but I still refuse to watch it!

For more information on F.Y.I Love click here

La Roche Rumba - 7th May 2011

March into May with La Roche Rumba, Saturday the 7th. With live guests, The Rudiments and Rumba DJs, Slim Jim, Dad Savage and Vince D.

Pollok Ex Service Mens Club, 111 Titwood Rd, Glasgow, Starts 8.30pm

Writing Fiction for Children and Young Adults Workshop

Albert Drive Studios are hosting a day long  'Writing Fiction for Children and Young Adults Workshop' with author Beatrice Colin.

Beatrice Colin was born in London and lives in Glasgow. A former arts and features journalist, she also writes novels for children, short stories, radio plays for the BBC and has taught creative writing. In 2009 she was a Royal Literary Fellow at Strathclyde University where she also completed her doctorate. She has spoken at numerous festivals including the Edinburgh Book Festival and is currently a mentor for the Scottish Book Trust.

If you're interested in a day of practical writing exercises, group discussions and individual sessions to help you start writing fiction for a younger audience, then email beatricecolin@hotmail.com
Sat 28th May 10am-4pm. Fee £50 (including lunch).

Streetland 2011 - Photos from the day

Streetland's was great fun yesterday in the blazing Govanhill Sunshine. We really liked the Interplanetary Postbox and the two art exhibitions at the Chalet and Polka Dot Punks. Here are a few images from the day. More photos of the statue project can be viewed here.