It’s the last couple of weeks of Nick Cave‘s exhibition, Until at the Tramway in Glasgow. Turns out there are two Nick Caves – this one is the Chicago-based artist, not the Australian Brighton-based singer.
Photos don’t really do it justice. It is crammed full of interesting objects, and each part of the exhibition offers up new surprises. On until 24 November.
Following on from Glasgow Doors Open Day highlights, here are a few places to go outside the city centre.
Starting in Govan, Glasgow Press (Saturday only) is a real treat. Enjoy the smell and noise of old-timey letterpress printing, and get your name in headlines with a personalised newspaper, a collaboration with Newspaper Club. You can also enjoy a look at Govan’s historic graving docks while you’re there.
Heading further south, Camphill Gate, a historic tenement, and Langside Halls (across the road from each other) are interesting, and further afield Holmwood House, a spectacular Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson villa is worth the trip.
And I can’t wait to see what’s behind the doors of Govanhill Picture House.
In the west, Arlington Baths is one of my favourite buildings in the whole of Glasgow. This well-preserved Victorian baths has so many fantastic features, most famously the superb Turkish Baths. Not to be missed! I will be going along to see if the Slipper Room is still as ramshackle as it was in 2012 (above).
St Charles Borromeo RC Church, North Kelvinside – Saturday only. A striking Gillespie, Kidd & Coia church. This is a short walk from Jaconelli’s Cafe on Maryhill Road if you need to be revived by ice cream.
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Glasgow Doors Open Day is my favourite weekend of the year. So many amazing buildings, and every year there are new surprises. Here are a few of my favourites in the city centre, that don’t need to be booked in advance.
Glasgow City Chambers, Saturday only. There are so many magnificent details in the City Chambers, it is always a surprise no matter how many times you visit. There are also free daily tours (Mon-Fri) during the rest of the year.
Garnethill Synagogue, Sunday only. Excellent opportunity to see inside this beautiful building on Hill Street.
Glasgow Art Club, Bath Street. One for the Mackintosh fans.
The Trades Hall, Merchant City. Lots of fun details in this historic Robert Adam-designed building.
The Pyramid, Anderston Kelvingrove Parish Church – striking Modernist church easily spotted by its green pyramid roof.
Also worth seeing:
I am also looking forward to tours of the Mitchell Library, Barrowlands Ballroom and Tennent’s Brewery.
I finally made it to End of the Line: Photographs of Glasgow’s Industrial Past, an exhibition of archive photographs of industrial buildings in Glasgow, by John R. Hume, organised by Glasgow City Heritage Trust.
Now Chief Inspector of the Royal Commission on the Ancient Historical Monuments of Scotland, John R. Hume travelled round Glasgow by bike, documenting factories and warehouses all over the city. You might think these things have a fairly limited appeal, but the exhibition space (an imposing former Inland Revenue building in North Frederick Street) was busy for a wet Wednesday, and there was a lively commentary from visitors who could remember the buildings as they were. The exhibition runs to the 5 September (or 7 September according to some info), and photos are also available on Canmore.
Fans of this sort of thing may also enjoy the work of Peter Mitchell, who scoured Leeds for disappearing buildings. His Instagram account is a real treat.
I’ve just spent a week on the Isle of Harris, in the Outer Hebrides. It is a very striking place, full of beautiful beaches and remote, rocky landscapes. Also home to Isle of Harris Gin, with its beautiful bottle, and Harris Tweed (of which more later).
For more Harris photos, John Maher (ex-Buzzcocks drummer) is now a photographer based there. His work features superb shots of Harris and surrounding islands. I enjoyed spotting some of the locations, like unexpected Santa.
Some photos from the Isle of Arran. An island off the west coast of Scotland, full of wildlife and beautiful coastal views. And some interesting buildings and hand-painted signs.
‘The Tin Church’ at Pirnmill. Note the small but perfectly-formed bell tower.
The Boathouse at Dougarie Estate.
Whiting Bay.
Nothing To See Here
£6.99
Northern Delights
£6.99
Way Out West
£6.99
