Join us for an afternoon celebration of Souvenirs of Calton Hill, a unique collection of products by artists commissioned by Panel and Collective Matter. In the collection, you will find products by Rachel Adams, Alan Dimmick, Mick Peter, Katie Schwab and Katy West, each developed in response to Collective’s redevelopment of Edinburgh’s City Observatory.
Throughout the event, you can meet the artists, shop the range of products with a 10% discount, make your own hanging mobile in the Library and enjoy ice cream served by The Lookout by Gardeners Cottage.
The make your own handing mobile activity is inspired by the ‘Monuments’ hanging mobile by Alan Dimmick and Flensted mobiles. During the drop-in workshop you are invited to assemble your own using images and shapes influenced by Alan’s Calton Hill portraits.
From 3–4pm in the shop, artist David Sherry explores the world of retail with pop up performances ‘Selling Receipts’ and ‘Lucky Business’. Centring on the thoughts and opinions that underlie the public face of etiquette or small talk, and often reflecting on cultural codes, Sherry’s performances ask questions of basic learned behaviours relating to everyday life.
From 4–6pm, join us for a tour of Calton Hill with Architectural historian and cultural landscape specialist Kirsten Carter McKee, as she introduces the history of Calton Hill and the City Observatory buildings, revealing the stories which inspired our souvenir collection. Kirsten will lead us back to the City Observatory for a talk lead by Panel and Collective Matter with the Souvenirs of Calton Hill artists, exploring themes of astronomy, time-keeping, trade, architecture and making. Drinks from Lind and Lime Gin and Electric Spirit Co. will be served.
This event is free and non-ticketed, except for the tour and talk which can be booked via Eventbrite *SOLD OUT*.
Souvenirs of Calton Hill are unique, design-led objects that use a sustainable production model which supports artists, makers and the manufacturing industry here in Scotland, the UK and Europe.
For the project, Rachel Adams has worked with Edinburgh-based jeweller Elizabeth Jane Campbell and Glasgow company Flux Laser Studio; Mick Peter with master weavers Alex Begg & Company in Ayr; Katie Schwab with Dundonian waxed cotton suppliers Halley Stevensons and Coatbridge-based garment makers Greenhill Clothing; Katy West with producers in Stoke-on-Trent; and Alan Dimmick with Danish company Flensted Mobiles. Shop the collection here.
Kirsten Carter McKee is an architectural historian and cultural landscape specialist. She has a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and has worked for a number of organisations as an archaeologist, historic buildings specialist and heritage consultant. She is currently a research and teaching fellow in architectural history and conservation at the University of Edinburgh. Kirsten’s recent publication, Calton Hill: And the plans for Edinburgh's Third New Town was published in 2018.
David Sherry graduated with an MFA from Glasgow School of Art in 2000. In February 2017 he performed at Guest Projects London and in 2017 he showed at the Liverpool Biennial and Manifesta 11. He has had solo exhibitions at The Golden Thread Belfast; Outpost Norwich; Summerhall Edinburgh, Catalyst Arts Belfast; Villa Concordia Germany; Glasgow Museum of Modern Art and Tramway’s project space Glasgow.Selected group exhibitions includes: Generation at the Kelvingrove Glasgow, RIFF, Baltic 39 Newcastle, Film and video at BBC Scotland, Grin and Bear It at the Lewis Glucksman Gallery, Cork and One fine morning in May at GAK Bremen. In 2003, Sherry was selected to represent Scotland at the 50th Venice Biennale and his work is held in many collections including the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art.
