6pm. Wednesday 18 Jan.

1 hour talk

This event first caught my eye as I am very curious about The Missing, a book published in 1995 by Andrew O’Hagan on his investigations into missing persons. How then, did  The Missing take on a new life form as a National Theatre of Scotland production (by the same name) and influence a new addition (and excitedly, a new medium – film!) to the Portrait Gallery collection? After being lucky enough to catch both the NTS play, (adapted by O’Hagan) and the artwork Missing by Graham Fagen at Tramway last September and having recently seen the Missing displayed in the newly refurbished Portrait Gallery, I thought why stop there? James Holloway, Director the of the Portrait Gallery and John Tiffany, Director of NTS who both commissioned and directed the play, and artist of Missing, Graham Fagen came together for one night only to discuss all of these  projects and I thought it seemed like a great opportunity to hear what spurred on such an artistic collaboration.

The panel in full flow...

The discussion took place in the Scottish National Gallery’s lecture theatre, a room which on reflection could have felt a little impersonal, given the sensitive subject matter of ‘mispers’ (O’Hagan’s description of vulnerable people that go missing from British society). It was however, actually extremely intimate and moving and, despite the harrowing nature of the subject matter, quite funny at times. Ruth Wishart, a Herald newspaper columnist and BBC broadcaster, led the conversation and her dry wit and direct manner kept the panel, especially James, on his toes.

Missing is its current setting, Photograph by John Mckenzie

It was obvious that the three men have been in partnership for some time (James had introduced the two back in January 2011) as they all seemed at ease with each other discussing the creative process behind such a sensitive issue.  Coincidently, (and unknown to James and John), Andrew and Graham actually grew up together in the same area of Irvine. When the time came for the three of them to meet with the author, Graham and Andrew reminisced about their childhood and how a peer from their housing estate had gone missing. This relationship only added new layers to this unique collaboration.

I think one of the most poignant comments from the discussion that has stuck in my head, came from James’ explanation on why he wanted an art work like the Missing in the Portrait Gallery.  The Gallery is not about missing people, portraits hang on the walls representing people from Scotland and he felt the Missing would give these ‘mispers’ a place amongst society and a home.

A smiley finish

Clare from the NGS Press Team attended The Missing: A National Collaboration. Graham Fagan’s work is on display at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery until 31 March 2012.

6pm. Thursday 12 Jan.

30 minute talk

Although women appear across the Portrait Gallery in various contexts, Out of the Shadows charts the tipping point of changes in society and attitudes towards women’s roles. With Caitlin Moran’s How To Be A Woman still riding high in the bestseller charts – what better place to start learning how things were than delving behind the canvas of this new exhibition.

We meet in the great hall (fully booked with 15 people only as the exhibtion is quite small). Sarah Saunders, Deputy Head of Education at NGS, leads the group up to the far side of the top floor where Out of the Shadows is situated. Seated on portable stools, Sarah outlines the nature of the exhibition – drawing the group’s attention to a series of photos projected onto one central wall of the space. The 19th century and a few early 20th century cabinet cards (50 in all) highlight the unlikelihood of women being a person of note; simply as very few of them have names or families attributed to them. They face Queen Victoria who, as Sarah explains, was somewhat a paradoxical female monarch, not believing in votes for women.

The 30 minute talk whittles through a menagerie of information that does not fit onto the wall texts. We learn why Queen Victoria is placed next to Caroline Norton –  Norton was trapped in an abusive marriage unable to petition for divorce so canvassed the Queen about divorce rights for women. Also about Mary Somerville who sits next to Charlotte Nasmyth. Somerville, one of the premier scientists of the 19th century was banned by her parents from indulging her love of maths and astronomy as a child and threatened with a straitjacket. Nasmyth however was uniquely provided with the same education as her brothers and encouraged to hone her craft as an artist.

The portraits on display in Out of the Shadowsare of women whose lives span the late 18th to the early 20th century and the names are not unfamiliar – Carlyle, Burns, Nasmyth. This corner of the Portrait Gallery reflects a period of huge change; Flora Drummond the suffragette’s ‘general’ with her purple, white and green sash sits alongside 1840s photos of the Newhaven Fishwives, not just traders but accountants for their husbands, fathers and brothers.

Supplementing the information on the walls and elaborating with readings from Clementina Stirling’s memoirs Mystifications and the correspondence of Jane Baillie Welsh Carlyle (which show huge similarities to today’s cynical social columnists,) Sarah deftly runs the quiet audience through the characters in the exhibition and why they belong on the walls of the Portrait Gallery.

It is in the Great Hall that in the weeks since the Portrait Gallery opened, groups of art fans, families, students, anyone and everyone has gathered before tours, events, drop-in sessions to meet their tour guide – anyone from a curator, or Gallery Director James Holloway, through to the education team and local architects. Over January and February – through the cold, dark and ice – we’re going to attend an event a week to give you an idea of what’s what. From families events to curator talks we hope to give you a feel for the Portrait Gallery experience…

Although some of the events at the Portrait Gallery are drop-in, it’s always worth checking if they have a limited capacity. All events are listed at National Galleries online. Also – we’re tweeting and keeping Facebook updated with highlights and ideas so make sure you’re following us!

This weekend coming we have even more events for you at the Portrait Gallery. Today, Friday 9th we launch the Rough Cut Nation book, featuring live music from John Knox Sex Club.

On Saturday 10th we are focusing on the Romantic Camera exhibition with a free drop-in cyanotype photography workshop suitable for ages 8 + and Autograph ABP, one of the UK’s leading photographic agencies, will be in residence and inviting all Scots from culturally diverse backgrounds to dig out their photographic treasures and have their family albums digitised for posterity. Also on Saturday, don’t miss live music and dance from The Sikh Sanjog Girls and Dholki players in the Great Hall and warming winter storytelling for families in our cosy library.

On Sunday 11th December we have the continuation of our free cyanotype workshops, where you can create beautiful blue photographs. If you prefer to explore the exhibitions, then try one of our five free Portrait Gallery trails on a variety of themes. Then in the afternoon, watch out for a special festive edition of Portrait Detectives. Children can collect a detective kit and help Detectives Raeburn and Rothko to solve Scottish crimes and mysteries. And all of these events are completely free!

Last weekend was a blaze of activity! On Friday night we held our first music event in the Citizens of the World gallery.  Devised by the Glasgow-based artist Steven Anderson, Your Leaning Neck brought together traditional Scottish singers and contemporary artists. The result was an incredibly beautiful, dramatic and mesmerising performance.  Artist Ruth Barker started the evening (above), processing around the gallery barefoot and wearing a scarlet dress, especially created for the performance, which bound her arms to her sides. Arthur Watson created an intimate atmosphere by singing facing towards the portraits and the spellbinding voices of Elizabeth and Sheila Stewart, the last of a long line of singers in the oral tradition, really captured the imagination of the audience. The last group of three singers to perform were led by Hanna Tuulikki whose work is inspired by the Scottish Gaelic oral tradition of imitating bird calls and songs with the voice. In this case they used their extraordinary voices to evoke the oystercatcher, the redshank and seabird colonies.

Then on Saturday 3rd December the fun really began with free festive activities for children including bauble-making and christmas tree decorating in our new farmer Education Suite. With the Portrait Gallery christmas tree in place, the Family Festive Concert with Craigentinny Primary School Choir was a really big hit with visitors.

On Sunday, despite the very cold weather, The Great Portrait Breakout was a very impressive and dramatic success. Sixteen characters from the Frieze literally came to life and escaped from the gallery to the sound of the brilliant band Pure Brass playing the theme to The Great Escape.

The famous Scots created a real buzz in the gallery and lots of noise, especially the Vikings and John Knox who were really out to cause trouble. Robert Burns was as delightfully charming as you would expect, as were Mary Queen of Scots and the handsome and erudite Thomas Carlyle. It was great to hear the specially composed fanfare played in the great hall, and to see the proud composer John Maxwell Geddes there in the audience.

We would like to extend our thanks to everyone who has visited so far. It’s been so brilliant to see you all in the building engaging with our exhibitions and events. We’d love to hear what you think so far. And for any of you who’ve not been in yet – what are you waiting for! We are really looking forward to welcoming you and introducing you to your very own Scottish family album.

At 10am this morning we all gathered outside with the Preston Lodge High School Pipe Band to watch those much loved doors open to the public, announced by James Holloway, Portrait Gallery Director and opened by John Byrne. They will open at 10am 7-days-a-week from now on!

Just for you, we’ve quickly run round with our camera and snapped people having a look in the never-seen-before exhibitions. From Women of the 18th-Century to Romantic Camera and back to the Reformation charting the mid-1500s to the end of the seventeenth century and on to the Jacobites in Imagining Power: The Visual Culture of the Jacobite Cause – the Portrait Gallery covers plenty of ground AND all of that’s before you will see Dolly the Sheep’s death mask and Hot Scots 21st century faces… and breathe… the 17 gallery spaces cover a lot of ground!

It was very exciting this morning seeing John Byrne knock on the door of the Portrait Gallery and step inside. The gallery is designed with you in mind, there’s been loads of brilliant feedback already on facebook and twitter and there were some very lovely comments on the gallery and its new light open feel today from those first through the doors.

I hope you will have a chance to come down and see the new Gallery soon – entry is completely free – and on Thursdays from next week 8 December we’ll be open late until 7pm.