Room Service @ Pollok House

This looks quite interesting.

James Rigler produces objects that respond to the built environment around us. Working predominantly in ceramics, the language he uses speaks about the space his work occupies. He is preoccupied with forms, colour-ways and patterns from the canon of architectural history and interiors. At Pollok House Rigler will respond to the grandeur and formality of the house in its heyday. Through out the main house, gardens, and servants’ quarters  Riglers’ interventions create new narratives and offer an alternative interpretation of the house and its contents, encouraging visitors to look again at the many features and details throughout the house and gardens that make Pollok House such a gem.

Opening Times: daily (9am–5pm)

From the NTS website
The China Closet in the servants' quarters will be re-tiled with a graphic motif reminiscent of 1950’s Capri as Georgian Scotland, adding colour to a place that has been reserved for the pragmatic and utilitarian.

The Gazebo adjoining the formal garden and front lawn will have a frieze added, echoing the house exterior’s detailing of wildlife and natural fauna, repositioning and restyling the manner in which architectural features magnify the incidental in the world they inhabit.

A pair of objects in the Main Hallway reference a bird cage or a lantern and pay homage to the unusual ceiling rose – a flying eagle grasping a pendant light – and nod to the hand-painted wallpaper upstairs, as well as the feathers that adorn the stucco and exterior walls.

Pollok House Arts Society

I stumbled across the Pollok House Arts Society a couple of weeks ago. I love the fact that after almost three years of writing a blog about the Southside, we are still finding out about new and interesting groups, places and people.

The Pollok House Art’s Society was established in 1959, with the aim of promoting the performance of music with in Pollok House and to promote performing musicians based in Scotland. For the last fifty years they have been bringing world class artists to perform in and around Pollok House.

Approximately once a month the society holds an event in Pollok House, this month Tenor Andrew Dickinson is performing and in April they have the Fejes Quartet.

To join the PHAS there is an annual fee of £30, but if you have not been to the Society before, you can attend as a guest for the one of discounted price of £10.

They evening starts at 6.45 for pre performance drinks and the event itself begins at 7.30pm. There is also the option of supper after the performance; with two course’s and coffee for £15 – it’s worth noting that dinner must be booked 48 hours before the performance. * If you do decide to stay for dinner it is formal dress.

To buy tickets for the events you should e-mail secretary@phas.org.uk

www.phas.org.uk for more details

Things to do this weekend

Running annually for over thirty years, Pollok Family Day has long since become a key feature in Glasgow’s events calendar. Featuring a host of entertainment acts, displays and activities to satisfy even the most demanding family members, and best of all… it’s free!!!With its extensive woodlands, picturesque gardens and a host of wildlife, Pollok Country Park allows Glasgow’s residents to sample a taste of rural life without leaving the city boundaries and provides the ideal venue for a relaxed, family day out. Come along and enjoy the FUN!
4 Entertainment ArenasWith four entertainment areas around the park acts and entertainment includes:
Music Stage
Football Zone
Countryside Rangers celebrate the Dear Green Place
Martial Arts Display
Music & Dance on the Lawns
Arts & Crafts
Street Theatre
Falconry Displays
Children's Entertainment
Garden Zone
Craft Fair
Zest Outdoor Adventure Zone
Clydesdale Horses and Farrier
Highland Cattle
Children's Farm
Food Stalls
Charity Stalls
Police Dog Display
Inflatables and Children's Rides
and lots, lots more...!

VenuePollok Country ParkDate Saturday 8th August 2009, 10am – 5p
How to get there:
Vehicular access to Pollok Country Park is from 2060 Pollokshaws Road. Better still, reduce your carbon footprint and leave your car at home and use public transport. Travel by train from Glasgow Central to Pollokshaws West station. Regular bus services are available to Pollokshaws Road entrance.Travel line Scotland: 0871 200 2233

All greek

Gav and I went along to the Burrel on Wednesday to check out the British Musuem touring exhibiton of ancient Greek artefacts. Its a small exhibition but very nicely laid out and it focuses on the most popular and fun aspects of Ancient Greece - Athletes, Warriors and Heroes.

There's a collection of stone sculptures and a great collection of old pottery with that wonderful old black and orange colouring. The best thing about the exhibition is the number of interactive games to play with explain are set up to teach children but in a fun way.

Luckily there was only one of two kids in attendance so we were able to shove them off and play with the toys ourselves. Above is a plate Gav designed.

You could also build your own Wooden horse - complete with hidden compartment for the Greeks to hide in.

There was also a pile of costumes to try and on and masks to wear. As you may notice - the costumes look to be adult size so I think that means we were allowed to play with them.

Ancient greek vase.

Star of the show was an olympic themed board game. We were able to compete in five sports - the javlin, running, long jump, discus and wrestling. The games were played using a combination of cards and a spinner. It was a hard fought battle but I'm glad to say I emerged as the champion and won a bottle of olive oil and a laurel wreath.

EDIT: Forgot to mention the special themed guided tours taking place at the Burrel.

Tuesday 24 Feb, 2.30pm - Iconography: How to read meanings in Art with Mrs Elizabeth Black
Tuesday 10 Mar, 2.30pm - The Rules of Art? with Mr Jim Turle
Monday 23 Mar. @ 11.30am - Christianity through the Arts at the Burrell with Mrs Margaret Anderson

The Glasgow Park Run - Pollok Park

The Glasgow parkrun is a fun, free, weekly, 5km timed run taking place in Glasgow's Pollok Park each Saturday morning.

It's for runners of all abilities, and has a strong social emphasis: Coffee and cake in the Burrell cafe afterwards!

The Glasgow parkrun joins the 10 other UK parkrun events, and is the first parkrun in Scotland. parkruns are organised entirely by volunteers. We start at 9.30am every Saturday, so arrive a bit before to get warmed up. There's plenty more at: http://www.parkrun.org.uk/glasgow/Home.aspx  - It's entirely free, but wthey do ask that participants register before their first run.

So if you've recently taken up running, are looking for a great way to measure your progress, fancy meeting other runners in a friendly and supportive environment, or just fancy trying something different, we really hope the Glasgow parkrun will appeal.

Thanks to Richard Leyton for the above info.

Park future

Seeing we just posted a video about the history of one of Glasgow Park's I thought it might be interesting to post a video about the future of Pollok park. I'm ashamed to admit I haven't read enough about the situation to have a fully knowledgeable opinion on the whole thing but the transferring of public property into the hands of a private company does seem to be a pretty bad idea and building within public park land does seem a dodgy precedent. Why not have a read of the below two sites and see what you think. Also watch the above rather lovely film. Especially like the footage of folk wandering around the maze at the beginning.

Against the proposed development

For the proposed development

Womens 10km Run

The womens 10km run is on this Sunday. The race starts on Maxwell road. The ten km route takes the runners through Polloksheilds, Pollok park and then finally finishes at Bellahouston Park.

If you've not signed up to participate in the run, go along and cheer them on.

*Those who are not intending on going along - just remember all the roads around that part of town will be closed to traffic.

Go Ape - Public Meeting

Received from Save Pollock Park Campaign

There will be an open supporters' meeting at 8pm on Wednesday, 2nd April.

The meeting will be in two parts. First, we will have a cross-party panel of national and local politicians all of whom are opposed to the Go Ape application and the way it was handled by the City Council. You will have an opportunity to ask questions and hear their views.

Nicola Sturgeon MSP and Conservative Councillor David Meikle, late of the Planning Applications Committee, have already accepted and we have sent invitations to the Greens and LibDems. We have also invited the one Labour councillor who spoke against Go Ape, Bailie James McNally, to attend.

After this discussion, we will work out plans for the next stage .We have lost round one of our campaign but last Tuesday's decision by the Planning Applications Committee was only a bump on the road to victory. It's now time to re-energise ourselves for the very important next phase – to have the planning decision called in by Scottish Ministers. For this - and other actions - we need your continued support and ideas.

Scottish Ministers can call in a planning decision due to the strength of opposition, when there are grounds to question how the planning authority reached its decision and if there are wider policy issues.

The Council has not yet granted a lease to Go Ape and it's important to launch this action to prevent that happening.Up till now the campaign has only been able to oppose on strict technical planning grounds and the Council was able to hide behind this to avoid answering bigger questions. At a call-in, we can raise more relevant issues about the way the 'consultation' was conducted, whether the Council has any right to grant a lease (given the conditions of the deed of gift from the Maxwell family) and the conduct of the council planning department in its preparation of the planning report.

Please note the meeting will be held in Pollokshields Burgh Hall, Maxwell Park, G41 4LL Glencarin Drive. (not Pollokshaws) at 8.00pm

For more info on the Save Pollock Park campaign click here

Hi ho Silver(burn) away

Despite sounding like the name of a My Little Pony, a bad James Bond mission or an allergic reaction to metal the new shopping centre Silverburn opens in Pollok today.

Housing 95+ shops, dozens of eateries, coffee shops and "civic" garden spaces, the centre's owners are trying to focus on shopping as a destination, as a grand day out for the family.

"Scotland’s next generation of shopping destination is fast becoming a reality. Over a million square feet of new retail thinking just fifteen motorway minutes from the City Centre, in South Glasgow. "

Not my idea of a fun day out, I hate shopping, well unless its for books or junk at a jumble sale. But judging from the ever increasing number and size of out-of-town retail parks in Glasgow a lot of people disagree. Something I'm not clear on though is exactly what does "next generation of shopping destination" mean and what exactly is "new retail thinking"? From scanning their site, it appears the "next generation" involves trying to disguise the fact you are in a big out-of-town centre, by taking lots of ideas from real life cities - namely, lanes, squares and gardens to try and make it feel more intimate and less impersonal than the usual "buy, buy, buy stylee".

As with all big projects there will be good and bad. In the good, hopefully the Centre is going to bring a lot of employment to the area and it's 10pm closing time will probably come in handy now and again. (Late opening hours is something the city centre stores should try as it would bring a bit of non-drunken nightlife to the city.)

In the bad, there is the over dependence on the car. I know that there are new bus routes to get out there, but the people using these are not the Centre's main targets. I guess my main concern however is the effect on the local, already declining, shopping centres in Southside. These will have to learn to adapt to survive possibly by introducing a lot more one off specialist shops.

Anyway, Silverburn is here and I'm sure will be greatly successful. I'll withhold judgement until I've actually been to the place and checked out exactly how "new retail thinking" works. If it involves someone else going out, trying on and buying everything you need for you while you sit in a cafe with your feet up, then it might just get my vote. (But I doubt it)


herald preview

Go Ape in the afternoon

We received an email from Richard Leyton who has advised that there are plans to create a Go Ape adventure playground in Pollokpark. There is a good page on the councils website explaining what this is, along with a feedback questionnaire let them know if you think its a good idea or not. Unfortunately, this hasn't been that well advertised and you need to send it back today - so get filling.

Not really had a proper chance to reflect on the proposals myself to decide if I think its good or bad. On the one hand, it will be a useful facility for kids in the city on the other, its taking over a bit of natural woodland and renting it out to private hands.

What do you think?

[Click here to find out more]

ps - I like the map on their site where the whole city appears to be covered in grass - what a green and pleasent land it would be.

Fun in the Park

After getting back from London last week, we were still in touristy mode and decided to do some of the things we've been meaning to do for ages but never quite get round too. First stop was the Burrell Collection, in Pollok Park, which I'd not been too for about ten years.

Built in 1988, this award winning structure houses the private collection of art and antiquities collected by Sir William Burrell and his wife Constance during beginning of the 20th Century which they gifted to the people of Glasgow in 1944. Its a vast collection of over 9000 objects ranging from a tiny ivory carved pipe in the shape of a whale, to early paintings by Cezanne, sculptures by Rodin and complete replicas of the hall, dining room and drawing room of the Burrell's mansion home near Berwick upon Tweed.

The collection is really very interesting but one thing I never found out when I was there was exactly how Burrell came to own all these pieces as some of them are quite strange. He brought back doorways from Italian castles, Windows from English churches and bits of ceilings from around the world. He must have been a very odd tourist. "Hello there Mr foreign chap. I'd like to buy your door as a souvenir of my holiday." Guess it was the days before places started selling pencil sharpers with their name on so he didn't have much choice. As we walked around the collection I kept imagining a little Italian churches suddenly missing their stain glass windows as everyone stood staring "mama mia."

I think we will probably go back and this time we'll go on one of the official guided tours as I think you probably get a lot more out of the collection when the stories behind the pieces and the stories behind the collecting of the pieces are told. We did think we had joined the museums free tour just as we arrived, but embarrassingly after a few minutes we were informed we'd actually joined a private tour and had to scuttle away while a group of twenty odd pensioners gave us dirty looks. We did hang around the tour long enough to hear the story of own of the museums star pieces, the large urn in the central hall, which apparently is the template from which modern day trophies are based and which also has the likeness carved on its rear of a woman the sculptor disliked. She is easy to spot, she's the one that's been carved with donkeys ears.
Strangely my favourite piece in the museum was not actually part of Burrell's collection. It was part of an exhibition of kids art being held in the central changing exhibition space. For some reason I just find the above picture of Elvis very enjoyable and a far better tribute to the King than the nonsense BBC Elvis impersonator programme on Saturday nights.
Pollok Park is a great place, its so huge when you are walking in the middle, surrounded by woodland you really could be in the countryside. There is also so much going on to keep you interested, from the Golf courses, rugby and football clubs, dog training, horses, Pollok House etc its a brilliant place to bring a picnic and go for a walk or drop into the Burrell's cafe which appears to be a very popular place for Southside mum's to meet for a coffee. There is also an excellent play park beside the Burrell car park and it was absolutely chocka with kids when we went past. Not bad all free as well which after the £8 tickets for everything in London was very welcome.

Murder by Candlelight

I think we mentioned this previously in our post of suggestions of things to do on fair weekend but it sounds a fun event and therefore worthy of its own post.

Pollok House, located in Pollok Park, is a beautiful old victorian mansion which was built by the rich landowning Maxwell family. The building is now a museum run by the National Trust of Scotland - though apparently there is still a small flat in the converted servents quarters where the Maxwell decendants stay when they are in Glasgow. Its grand looking place - with each room laid out as it would have been back when it was first built - the library in particular is quite stunning with a vast array of books. If you like looking at old things - then it is right up your cup of tea - if you don't like old things then you might get bored after the first half dozen rooms. The staff are very friendly and helpful - almost a little too keen to impart their knowledge of the building and its history onto you.

There are two great wee gift shops full of the usual fare as well as some mock old victorian style gifts and a cafe in the servents basement which looks straight out of a BBC drama.

Its quite expensive to get in (ticket prices and info) - but this is because its not a City Council run building and the NTS need the cash to maintain it, and their other buildings. That also means if you are an NTS member then you do get in for free.

For the next month however visitors are getting even more for your money as the building is also hosting a murder mystery. We're not entirely sure what this entails, their website may be able to give more information but it sounds really good fun - the building is ideal for it, very Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes. Good luck all budding detectives - "The game is afoot".