Stories Without Borders: Tapestries and Rugs. An exhibition of a series of tapestries and rugs to coincide with the Scottish International Storytelling Festival Stories Without Borders (23 October-1 November 2015). The gallery will also host a traditional storytelling event with Linda Williamson on Saturday 24 October. 10.30am-5.30pm Monday to Saturday, Dovecot Gallery, Infirmary Street. Exhibition ends 5th November 2015.
Big Draw Art Workshop with Sara Beevers: Design A Garden Book Cover. Taking up this year’s Big Draw theme of storytelling through drawing, create your own garden-related book cover with the library’s tools, watering cans, plants, and plant pots using pencils and pastels – with Sara’s guidance you can create an exciting illustration. Please note materials are not supplied; bring pencils, rubber, pastels, sketch book or loose paper (A3 or larger – the bigger the better). All ages and levels of experience are welcome including total beginners. 2-4pm, George Washington Browne Room, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required and may be made via eventbrite here.
Luminate Festival at Stills: join Stills’ Director for a tour of the exhibition Here Comes Everybody by Kennard Phillips, exploring ideas around image consumption, production and camera surveillance. Followed by tea, cake and informal discussion. 11am Stills, Cockburn Street. Free, no booking required. Luminate is Scotland’s Creative Ageing Festival and runs 1st-31st October 2015 at venues throughout the country. The full programme is available here.
Lunchtime Concert: Ruth Slater (violin), Aaron McGregor (violin), Alice Allen (cello) and John Kitchen (harpsichord) play Avison Trio Sonata in D minor Op.1 No.1, Corelli Trio Sonata in D major Op.3 No.2, Stanley Concerto in C minor Op.10 No.4 and Handel Trio Sonata in G major Op.5 No.4. 1.10pm, Playfair Library Hall, Old College, University of Edinburgh, South Bridge. Free.
Meet Arne and Carlos: Norwegian knitting superstars (and fashion designers…) Arne Nerjordet and Carlos Zachrison will be at McAree Brothers to sign copies of their books and chat about their yarns. 5-6.30pm, McAree Brothers, 19 Howe Street. Free but please email sales@mcadirect.com if you plan to come along. This event is sponsored by Coats Crafts UK and Search Press. Arne and Carlos will also hold a workshop on making Christmas Balls (these things retail at $100 in some stores, so get knitting…) at the shop on Saturday 10th October; please see the shop’s website here for further details and price. McAree Brothers’ neighbour Bon Papillon, 15 Howe Street, will also be specially open 5-7pm tonight!
Luminate: Lifting The Lid – A Dementia-Friendly Social. Visitors with dementia, their friends and supporters are invited to this Friday morning session to explore a history of Scottish cooking with storyteller Allison Galbraith at the National Library of Scotland. Sessions include active participation such as art activity, tactile and sensory experiences, with refreshments. 10.30am-12 noon, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free: to book please phone Beverley Casebow, Learning and Outreach Officer, on 0131 623 3745 or email b.casebow@nls.uk. Luminate is Scotland’s creative ageing festival. Library Social, a programme of free events for people affected by dementia, is part of a new initiative between the National Library of Scotland, National Galleries of Scotland, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and National Museums Scotland; contact each venue for more details, or pick up a leaflet with full listings of the autumn programme.
After School Crafts: for children aged 0-12 (children under 8 years must be accompanied by an adult). 2pm today and every Friday, Portobello Library, 14 Rosefield Avenue. All welcome: for more information please speak to a member of staff, call 0131 529 5558 or email portobello.library@edinburgh.gov.uk.
Edinburgh World Justice Festival continues this week. Today’s events are:
(1) Egalitarian Frames Opening Night – an exhibition which will bring to light issues which are in the spirit and theme of the festival, with photography and fine art around the principle of political, economic, social and environmental equality. This exhibition aims to explore issues where the principle of equality is not only neglected but also counteracted by factors such as globalisation and greed. Opening tonight, 5.30-8.30pm, Whitespace Gallery, 25 Howe Street, then 11am-5pm daily until 15th October 2015. Organised by Edinburgh World Justice Festival; for more information please contact Malena Persson on 07479 903 620 or email malenapersson@yahoo.co.uk;
(2) The Yes Men Fix The World: a film about an audacious duo, who pull off spectacular media hoaxes to expose corporate crimes and make corporate bosses look silly. Stay around after the screening for a discussion on corporate control and how we might campaign just as audaciously on climate justice in the run-up to the COP in Paris this November. 7pm, Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. Organised by Global Justice Now; for more information please contact Liz Murray on 0131 243 2730 or email liz.murray@globaljustice.org.uk.
In Focus: The Honourable Mrs Graham by Thomas Gainsborough. The bewitching picture of Mary Graham is forbidden from ever leaving Scotland, obliging many lovers of Thomas Gainsborough and his time to journey to the Scottish National Gallery to pay homage to the resplendent portrait. Who was Mary Graham, and why does her portrait continue to captivate audiences over 200 years after its creation? Art historian, Heather Carroll will explore Mary’s life and the legacy of her famous portrait. 12.45-1.15pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. No booking required: free, unticketed.
Naked Aye Art: Shapes That Shift Desire – Ten Red Plus Spoken Word. A night of eclectic, poetic and musical takes on what shakes and shifts our desires, with ten performers showcasing works as part of the Naked Aye multi-arts exhibition at St. Margaret’s House, with Rachel McCrum, Janette Ayachi, Katie Ailes, Catherine Wilson, Carly Brown, Douglas Garry, Marjorie Lotfi Gill, Joe with the Glasses, Kevin Cadwallender, Agnes Torok and Josephine Sillars. 6.30pm, Third Floor, St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road. Free entry, BYOB.
Caesura #34: Caesura has been exploring the recesses of poetics, language and sound since 2012. Tonight: experimental writing and sonic spelunking in intimate performances by Maggie O’Sullivan, Nichola Scrutton, Wounded Knee and Dominic Hale. 7.30-10.30pm, Demonstration Room, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £5/£4 and may be booked by calling the Summerhall Box Office on 0131 560 1580 or online here.
SMHAFF 2015: A Bird Does Not Sing Because It Has An Answer, It Sings Because It Has A Song. This beautiful exhibition is the culmination of a series of craft workshops by the Link Up Women’s Support Centre community, in collaboration with artist and jeweller Fiona Hermse. The work explores themes of support, connection, nature, transience and expression. Launch tonight 6-8pm, then 10am-4pm Saturday 10th-Friday 16th October, Gallery 3, St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road. Free.
Broth: an honest exploration of the experience of elders in 21st century Scotland, told by artist Donna Rutherford through the tradition of soup making. Broth explores the rituals and revelations that trace changes in people’s lives, families and wider communities through a series of personal storytelling conversations, with music by Inge Thomson. An original performance commissioned by the Seannachies Research Network, led by The Institute of Design Innovation at The Glasgow School of Art and funded by the Scottish Universities Insight Institute. 7.30pm (1 hour, followed by discussion), Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost£10/£8/£5 and may be booked in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here. Also at 2.30pm and 7.30pm (7.30 performance with BSL interpreter) on Saturday 10th October. This event is part of Luminate: Scotland’s creative ageing festival.
Balerno Music Festival: the eighth Balerno Music Festival has a packed programme of concerts, films, cabaret, workshops, children’s events, folk music sessions, the Festival Busk and a jazz party. Today’s events include Jazz at Lunchtime with the Roger Cull Trio, and two concerts from the Borders Big Band and folk musicians and singers Alistair McDonald and Sangsters in the evening. All tickets may be purchased from Balerno Parish Church Office (9am-12 noon, Monday to Friday), Balerno Farmers’ Market, or by post or online; for full booking information click here. The festival ends on 11th October 2015.
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival: films for all tastes (‘from the foodies to the fanatics!’), primary and secondary school screenings, a gastronomic evening and opening and closing events. Today’s films, both showing at Filmhouse, Lothian Road, are;
(1) at 6pm: The Unexpected Life/La vida inesperada (12A): (in Spanish and English with English subtitles) (see listing for Friday 2nd October)
(2) at 8.30pm: Magical Girl (18) (in Spanish with English subtitles) (see listing for Sunday 4th October)
Tickets may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online; prices vary.
LGBT Age: Dive and Luminate Present The Queerest Cabaret in Town! A timeless queer cabaret for all ages and persuasions. The night will include special guests, live performers from different generations, spoken word, music, comedy and live art, and will be hosted by Miss Annabel Sings. This event will be BSL interpreted. 7.30-9pm, Summerhall Old Lab, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £9/£7 and advance booking is preferred; please contact the Summerhall Box Office on 0131 560 1580 or book online here. Luminate is Scotland’s Creative Ageing Festival. For more information about LGBT Age please contact lynda@lgbthealth.org.uk.
