RGI - Archive 2009

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Photo courtesy Dr Leonard Esakowitz

John Byrne HRGI

After the Fall

73" x 73"

2001 Annual Exhibition

John Byrne Spills the Beans to Sandy Moffat

Monday 16th November 2009, 7pm

The Mitchell Theatre

A special event celebrating this year's Annual Exhibition was held in the Mitchell Theatre on 16 November when an enthusiastic audience welcomed painter, playwright and Honorary RGI, John Byrne to 'spill the beans' to Sandy Moffat, former Head of Drawing and Painting at the Glasgow School of Art.

Their conversation illuminated the extraordinary talents of the Paisley-born all-round artist and the influences, experiences and backdrops that directed and defined his work, whether by chance or by singlemindedness, making him a giant of contemporary creative media. Perhaps best-known for his plays 'The Slab Boys' trilogy, 'The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil', 'Writer's Cramp' with its quintessential character, Francis McDade, and his television series 'Tutti Frutti', his writing is underpinned by his keen wit and social and political comment. First and foremost a visual artist, he is also distinguished for his portraits and self-portraits - and of course for taking gable-end graffiti into the realm of fine art!

AN AWARD FOR AN AWARD - Arts & Business Scotland 2009 Awards

Probably the most imaginative award for an Artist in Scotland is the Inverarity One to One Travel Award supported by Arts and Business Scotland with a cash prize, a visit to the Champagne House of Louis Roederer in Champagne country at the time of the grape harvest, one of their works adorning the label of an Inverarity wine, and an exhibition in the RGI Kelly Gallery. Details can be seen in the section of prizes available to those who are selected for our open exhibitions in The Mitchell.

This AWARD was itself nominated by Arts and Business Scotland for an AWARD sponsored by the Bank of Scotland. On Thursday 1st October 2009 at a ceremony in the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, when eight categories were recognised the Partnership between Inverarity One to One and The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts won their category.

RGI President Gordon Macpherson

Hamish Martin MD of Inverarity One to One and enthusiastic sponsor of the RGI and our President Gordon Macpherson each received a hand made and decorated ceramic pot by Helen Beard of London as seen in the illustration to a splendid fanfare from the Orchestra of Scottish Opera and video presentation of the reasons for the award. This was based not just on imagination, but on quantifiable outcome and measurable impact. This is perfectly accurate. Inverarity's impute has galvanised the RGI to increase its efforts to champion contemporary art and acted as a catalyst for artists to submit in an open exhibition The award has been accompanied by very welcome publicity.

→Arts & Business Scotland 2009 Awards

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