Discovering Glasgow Gems

I’ve been in somewhat of a hibernation since my New Year post. This year so far has been rather quiet on the exploration front: trying to juggle my two part-time jobs + everyday chores + way too many migraines + blustery rainy weather + COVID caution = not a lot of space for fun.

I resolved to get out and do something that would enliven my sense of adventure, even just a wee bit this weekend. I happened on an announcement about Saturday being the final day of an exhibit of five paintings by Scottish artist, Joan Eardley at a place called the Glasgow Women’s Library in a Glasgow neighborhood I hadn’t yet visited. Sounded perfect.

That too me to Bridgeton – a neighborhood on the east side of Glasgow that feels a mix of old industry combined with some efforts at renewal. It’s also a stronghold to a huge number of supporters of the Orange Order in Scotland, a group promoting Protestantism and loyalty to the union (which keeping the United Kingdom, well, united). Members regularly parade Glasgow’s streets with some aiming at instigating around Catholic churches.

I was familiar with the sectarianism in Northern Ireland, but I didn’t realize until arriving here how much the history of Scotland and Ireland are intertwined in this (and many other) regards.

When the Bridgeton public library branch vacated their old premises to move into the swanky old theater pictured above, the Glasgow Womens Library renovated and moved into their old digs in 2013.

The Glasgow Womens Library started thirty years ago as a grass-roots volunteer organization with a mission of bringing learning programs to women. It’s a really nice space inside with a large meeting room which housed the exhibit. I will definitely go back to browse the shelves and possibly take part in some of their other talks and activities.

What really drew me to this little adventure was the chance to see a few Joan Eardley paintings in person. I wasn’t at a all familiar with her work before coming here, but had the opportunity to see a couple of exhibitions of her work last year arranged as it was the centenary of her birth.

She was a Scottish artist, who studied at the Glasgow School of Art. She set up a studio in an impoverished part of Glasgow and painted scenes of tenement living, particularly children.

At some point she was invited by a friend to the eastern coast of Scotland and soon became fascinated with painting dynamic scenes of the sea, taking up part-time residence in a small fishing village called Catterline.

Unfortunately, Glasgow lost this gem too soon – Joan Eardley died of breast cancer at the age of 42.

I hope you find a way to refill your stores of inspiration and adventure in your neck of the woods. Seeing Joan Eardley’s works, the energy an effort behind forming a women’s library and learning more about Glasgow has done the trick for me.

P.S. for a bit more about Joan Eardley’s life:

or this article: https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v43/n21/andrew-o-hagan/at-the-hunterian