Scottish Parliament Debate
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GLASGOW KELVIN MSP LEADS DEBATE CELEBRATING CULTURAL GIANT ALASDAIR GRAY
SNP MSP Sandra White will lead a members debate in the Scottish Parliament tomorrow (Tuesday 28 January) celebrating the wonderful legacy and cultural force of Glasgow born Alasdair Gray.
Sadly Alasdair passed away on 29 December 2019 and Sandra White MSP having een immortalised within Gray’s mural at Hillhead Subway Station lodged the motion for debate in acknowledgement of his impact as an artist, writer, friend and mentor to a generation.
During the debate which will be attended by his publisher Francis Bickmore of Canongate and his agent Jenny Brown, Sandra White will put forward proposals which will include a fund in Alasdair’s name to support artists and writers in Scotland, a mural for the Scottish Parliament and national support for the Alasdair Gray Archive.
Commenting ahead of the debate Sandra White MSP said:
“Alasdair Gray’s body of work has influenced, engaged, inspired and entertained and, more importantly, is a lasting legacy to a cultural giant.
“I had the incredible opportunity to be immortalised by Alasdair in his wonderful mural at Hillhead Subway Station. It was such an honour to be included in one of his many artworks. I will remember fondly the sittings at his studio and the great chats we had about Glasgow and politics!
“We should all see ourselves as custodians of his work and I would like to offer my support to the idea of a fund created in his name to assist artists and writers in developing Scottish identity.
“I would also champion the proposal of a mural here in the Scottish Parliament which Alasdair’s assistant Nick Wheatley had been working on - this would sit well with his words which are engraved on the building.
“As well as these suggestions I would also take the opportunity to highlight the work undertaken by Sorcha Dallas, Alasdair’s friend and archivist who has the responsibility of taking forward the Alasdair Gray Archive.
“We must also take the opportunity to highlight the upcoming exhibition which Alasdair was looking forward to at the Glasgow Print Studios, it is incredibly sad that he did not get to see his work displayed at an institution he had been such a huge part of over many years.
“Alasdair will be mourned by everyone he touched but we are incredibly fortunate to have had such a formidable, creative force of whom I had the pleasure to know and his legacy will live on.”
Francis Bickmore, Publishing Director at Canongate Books said:
“Alasdair Gray’s work demonstrated how culture, especially literature and art in his case, offers essential building blocks with which to forge a nation.
“Through his own books, from his masterpiece Lanark onwards, and his paintings, murals, poetry and plays, and the many other artists and writers he supported, Gray helped to create the modern Scottish imagination, he helped foster community and he helped to unlock our sense of the possible.
“It is fitting that Sandra White MSP tabled a members debate motion in celebration of his work and we at his publisher, Canongate Books, hope this will bring new readers to his work as well as inspiring a new generation of writers and artists to follow in his footsteps.”
Sorcha Dallas, gallerist and friend of Alasdair commented:
'Alasdair Gray was a key Scottish figure and his archive is of national and international significance. Not only does his work chart in enlightening ways the local Scottish context within the fields of literature and visual art, including art education, but it also comments on Scotland’s increasing independence both economically and politically. His work has always been rooted in the idea of the ‘local’, with Gray being an inspiration for Scottish writers and artists seeking to achieve an international voice while still being based in Scotland. However, Gray always strived to use the idea of the ‘local’ as a starting point to acknowledge and discuss more universal themes. Gray’s oeuvre has relevance for the breadth of life in Scotland, from the Highlands to the Lowlands and from the rural experience of the nation and its history to its contemporary urban contexts. To know more of Gray’s creative insight into Scottish life and culture is to advance our collective sense of national identity and that is why this archive is invaluable.
Family Statement
23.01.20
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"In the time that has passed since Alasdair’s death we have been touched and comforted by the kind words, warm wishes and hilarious memories shared by his many friends and admirers, both in person and online.
Many people have asked if we’re planning a memorial service. But in his will Alasdair specifically requested no service of any kind and we will be honouring his wishes. However Alasdair belonged to all of us, and he loved a party. So we would be delighted for other people to celebrate and remember Alasdair in whatever way seems appropriate to them.
Glasgow Libraries have also kindly offered to host a book of condolences where people can record their memories and tributes to Alasdair. This will be available first at Hillhead, the library he was using up to his death, and then at Riddrie, which was so important to him as a child. Alasdair’s sister Mora will contribute her own memories to the book and it will culminate in a free event as part of the Aye Write festival in March, of which Alasdair was a great supporter.
A collection of recently acquired Lanark prints will also be on display at the Tate Britain, in memorium, over the next month. The Alasdair Gray Archive, www.thealasdairgrayarchive.com, has been established as a way of updating and notifying on the future of Alasdair’s legacy and will be managed and run by Gray’s gallerist and friend Sorcha Dallas.”
Many people have asked if we’re planning a memorial service. But in his will Alasdair specifically requested no service of any kind and we will be honouring his wishes. However Alasdair belonged to all of us, and he loved a party. So we would be delighted for other people to celebrate and remember Alasdair in whatever way seems appropriate to them.
Glasgow Libraries have also kindly offered to host a book of condolences where people can record their memories and tributes to Alasdair. This will be available first at Hillhead, the library he was using up to his death, and then at Riddrie, which was so important to him as a child. Alasdair’s sister Mora will contribute her own memories to the book and it will culminate in a free event as part of the Aye Write festival in March, of which Alasdair was a great supporter.
A collection of recently acquired Lanark prints will also be on display at the Tate Britain, in memorium, over the next month. The Alasdair Gray Archive, www.thealasdairgrayarchive.com, has been established as a way of updating and notifying on the future of Alasdair’s legacy and will be managed and run by Gray’s gallerist and friend Sorcha Dallas.”
Glasgow Print Studio Exhibition
06.02.20-29.03.20
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There will be an exhibition at Glasgow Print Studio in February 2020 celebrating the long term relationship that Alasdair had with GPS. The exhibition will include recently made prints alongside existing works that Alasdair made at the studio over the last decade.
