Jonathan Owen: Artist’s Talk. Jonathan Owen (Edinburgh College of Art) will talk about his 2013 Untitled work in the broader context of his practice. The sculpture currently features in the Head to Head: Portrait Sculpture Ancient to Modern exhibition at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. No booking required: free, unticketed.
Edinburgh Careers Fair: a great chance to find out about potential career opportunities and meet employers keen to recruit students and graduates. The fair is organised by the University of Edinburgh but students and graduates of any university are welcome to attend. Today the fair offers a chance to meet with an alternative range of organisations; if you are looking for something a bit different, come along and meet charities, not-for-profit organisations, social enterprises, social service organisations, and international development and environmental organisations, who can tell you about both paid and voluntary work, and give hints and tips on how to get into their areas of work. This third day of the fair is sponsored by Teach First – see Monday’s listing for information about the programme for the first two days. 1-4pm, Teviot Row House, Bristo Square. No booking required; all visitors will be asked to sign in on arrival.
Edinburgh World Justice Festival continues this week. Today: Human Rights and the Peace Process in Columbia – hear first-hand experience of the struggle to protect peasants and their rights. Colombia has an unenviable reputation – the most dangerous in which to be a trade unionist and until recently the country with the largest number of displaced people. But human rights activists persist and there is a peace process underway. Justice for Colombia brings Yenly Mendez, human rights lawyer and defender of peasants’ rights, to the Parliament to tell Scotland what is happening in her country. 5.30-7.30pm, Fleming Room, Scottish Parliament, Holyrood, EH99 1SP.. Organised by Justice for Columbia/SVSC; for more information please contact Matthew Crighton on 0131 557 6075 or 07851 348426, or email matthewcrighton@gmail.com.
Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents The Secret Life and Curious Death of Miss Jean Milne: journalist Andrew Nicoll introduces his fourth novel, set in the years just before World War I. A dead body is found in a locked house. It has been stabbed in a frenzy, the hands and feet bound, the skull smashed, false teeth knocked from its jaws. Blood pools around the corpse and drips from the staircase. Yet nothing is missing: money and valuables remain untouched. Who could have murdered an old woman in such a horrifying way? And why? This is the mystery facing Sergeant John Fraser and Detective Lieutenant Trench when wealthy spinster Miss Jean Milne is murdered in the quiet seaside town of Broughty Ferry. Yet, despite an abundance of clues and apparent witnesses, the investigation proves troublesome: suspects are elusive and Miss Milne herself is found to be far from a model of propriety. 6.30pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets are available from the shop’s front desk, by calling 0131 622 8229 or emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk, or via eventbrite here.
Morningside Justice and Peace: Professor David Bell (Division of Economics, School of Management, University of Stirling) starts the winter season with a look at Inequality – what can the government do? 10.30-11.30am, The Open Door, 420 Morningside Road. A contribution of £1 per meeting is requested. The Morningside Justice and Peace Group exists to promote informed opinion on matters of concern to the community at large; meetings are open to all and provide a view on a topic of national, international or local concern followed by questions and discussion. For more information please contact the co-ordinator at b.darcy20@gmail.com.
Gretna 100: on the morning of Saturday 22nd May 1915, near Gretna, 226 people were killed and over 224 wounded in the worst disaster in British railway history. Most of those killed were young men from the 7th (Leith) Battalion of the Royal Scots. Many of these victims were brought back to Leith and laid out in The Drill Hall on Dalmeny Street prior to burial in Rosebank Cemetery. The Gretna 100 project has developed an artistic community response to the 100 year anniversary by researching the incident and its effect on the community of Leith and by creating a piece of theatre and an exhibition. This talk will be given by Gavin Crichton, Artistic Director of Active Inquiry Theatre Company and Project Manager for the Gretna 100 project, and Jan-Bee Brown, an artist, curator and designer specialising in telling hidden human stories through textiles and historic collections. 10.30am, Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate. Tickets cost £5/£3.50 and must be booked in advance via the Usher Hall Box Office, Lothian Road, in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here.
David Munro: The Time Jigsaw. The Leith-born writer, now based in the west of Scotland, will talk about his path from business professional to published author. David is the author of The Time Jigsaw and The Time Jigsaw Deliverance, fantasy adventures which include some scenes set in Leith. 2.30pm, Leith Library, 28-30 Ferry Road. Free but please book by emailing leith.library@edinburgh.gov.uk or phoning 0131 529 5517. Refreshments will be provided.
Boyan Ensemble of Kiev: an internationally acclaimed touring choir, formed from many of the most accomplished voices from the L Revutsky Capella of Ukraine. The Ensemble is known for its mastery of vocal technique, with its delicately floated pianissimos, breathtakingly brilliant fortes and a bass resonance that is considered unique. In the first part of the concert the Ensemble’s signature programme of sacred chants reflects the grandeur of the Eastern Orthodox tradition – powerful, spiritual music that speaks directly to the heart – while in the second part a striking change of mood transports the audience into the folk culture of Ukraine. Here the seasons of life are celebrated with humour, love and pathos. 7.30pm, Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate. Tickets cost £20/£18 and may be purchased via Hub Tickets here.
The Scottish Gallery: New Exhibitions. (1) Paul Reid: Myth Making; ‘Paul Reid is one of the greatest figurative painters to have emerged out of Scotland in recent years, and continues to receive much deserved recognition as an important figure in Scottish contemporary art’; (2) James Maskrey: Histories. At the heart of Maskrey’s work is technical skill combined with the art of story telling; the main focus of Histories is Captain Scott’s polar expedition and Shackleton’s voyage in Endurance; (3) Association for Contemporary Jewellery Members’ Exhibition 2015 – Sleight of Hand. Clever fingers, mystery, mayhem, smoke & mirrors – this exhibition is all about magic, and showcases work from 29 makers in a range of materials from plastics and wood to gold and diamonds; (4) Adam Bruce Thomson: The Pastels.Vivid and touching pastel work from the 1920s and 30s, offering a nostalgic view of Scotland through the eyes of an artist escaping from the horrors of war; (5) William Wilson – Master Printer. ‘Wilson’s etchings are visually rich and suffused with atmosphere and represent a body of work to match McBey and Cameron’. 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm Saturdays, The Scottish Gallery, 16 Dundas Street. All five exhibitions end 31 October 2015.
Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council: 7pm, Perservere Room, Leith Community Centre, 12a New Kirkgate. All local residents welcome.
Volunteer Edinburgh Recruitment Fair 2015: an opportunity to meet face to face with over 50 organisations currently looking for volunteers, plus access to hundreds of other volunteering opportunities, all under one roof. Last year the volunteer recruitment fair helped around 1000 people in their search for volunteering opportunities and enabled them to make connections with the organisations that needed them. Amongst the many benefits of volunteering, trying out different kinds of work and building experience towards employment are often important factors; volunteering and employment workshops will be run throughout the day; drop in and find out how volunteering can give you the added advantage to secure a new job. 11am-7pm, St Paul’s & St George’s Church, York Place.
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: Ocho apellidos vascos/Spanish Affair (12A) (in Spanish and Basque with English subtitles) (see listing for Saturday 3rd October)
(2) at 8.30pm: Aces/Os fenomenos (PG) (in Spanish and Galician with English subtitles) (see listing for Tuesday 6th October)
Tickets may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online; prices vary.
Luminate Festival: Dance Base Classes. Free 90-minute all level classes every Wednesday in October, taught by some of Dance Base’s best teachers in a variety of styles. Today: Contemporary Dance with Morag Deyes. For over-60s. Please wear loose, comfy clothing and footwear that’s flexible, non-slip socks or bare feet. 3pm, Dance Base, 14-16 Grassmarket. For more information and to book, please call Dance Base on 0131 225 5525 or email dance@dancebase.co.uk. Next week’s class will be Classical Indian with Dance Ihayami. Luminate is Scotland’s creative ageing festival.
Mountain Meeting: violin and accordion folk music from rising stars of the Swedish folk scene Bridget Marsden and Leif Ottosson, on tour to launch their debut album; they will be joined by Portobello’s own Sally Simpson. ‘The sound of innovation and tradition being extended into new places by two uniquely gifted musicians’ (Spiral Earth). 7.30pm, St Marks Church, 287 Portobello High Street. Admission £5.
Bitches Brew: accomplished sax player Sue McKenzie and bassist Emma Smith bring in another great night of all-female musicians and ensembles, performing a wide range of modern music, through jazz, groove and free-improv. 9pm (entry from 8pm), The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. £5/£4 on the door: please note this venue is cash only.
Bi & Beyond Edinburgh: a fortnightly social gathering for people who identify as bisexual and non-monosexual. With organised social activities and refreshments provided, whatever your label, or lack of label, we welcome you. 7-9pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information please contact biandbeyondedinburgh@gmail.com.
Wiff Waff Wednesday: a monthly ping pong night for all ages, with music, drink and great food available to purchase from the Drill Hall Arts Cafe. 6-10.30pm, Out of the Blue, 36 Dalmeny Street. All welcome; free entry. ‘Friendship first, competition second’.
