Arcadia Scotland
Edinburgh Happenings: October 2015
Date
October 1, 2015Art and Culture
ARTIST ROOMS: Roy Lichtenstein: Through 31 October, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art One
A three-room display of the work of Roy Lichtenstein (1923–1997), the man who made Ben-Day dots into his signature style. This display brings together for the first time works by the wittiest of the pop artists.
Bailey's Stardust: Through 18 October, Scottish National Gallery
If there had been no David Bailey, Austin Powers would have had to invent him. The great British celebrity photographer of his era, Bailey has taken numerous iconic portraits over a 50-year career. This touring exhibition features over 250 portraits, arranged thematically.
Abstracting from Architecture: Through 24 October, Edinburgh Printmakers
New and recent works by artists interested in architecture, curated by Bronwen Sleigh: the artists are George Charman, Carla Scott Fullerton, Andrew MacKenzie and Sleigh herself.
The Age of Improvement: Throughout October, Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Portraits from the century of Scotland's great transformation, 1750–1850, including Nasmyth's deliberately and stylishly unfinished picture of Robert Burns, Danloux's all-action portrait of Admiral Duncan keeping a cool head in the middle of a sea battle, Raeburn's picture of Walter Scott as king of the hill, before bankruptcy forced him to work himself to death, and Richard Dadd's unnerving, hyper-detailed picture of Sir Alexander Morison, the 'alienist' who was consultant to the Bethlem psychiatric hospital where Dadd was confined.
Arthur Melville: 10-31 October, Royal Scottish Academy
A comprehensive survey of the work of the Victorian painter (1858–1904), whose work was influenced by his travels in Persia, Egypt and the Ottoman Empire and who went on to be a major influence on the Glasgow Boys.
The Artist and the Sea: Throughout October, City Art Centre
Images of the sea by generations of Scottish artists, drawn from the Centre's collection.
Music, Comedy and Dance
Ken's Ceilidh: 9 October, Lauriston Hall, 8pm
Ken Gourlay calls this regular evening of traditional Scottish dancing, with different ceilidh bands each night. Soft drinks are £1 and alcoholic drinks £3, and you're requested not to wear stilettos or high heels.
Aly Bain, Ale Moller & Bruce Molsky: 27 October, The Brunton, 7:30pm
Traditional Celtic and Nordic music with an American fiddling twist.
Balerno Music Festival: Through 11 October, various venues and times
This community-run music festival returns with folk and classical concerts, workshops and a distinctly family-orientated feel. The 2014 festival featured performances from Balerno Theatre Company, the Pentland Singers and folk courtesy of Real Time, George Duff and Kevin Macleod. The Church Hall acts as a social hub for the weekend, with refreshments on offer all day and suppers in the evening.
Cara Dillon: 16 October, The Queen's Hall, 6:30pm
Folk singer-songwriter from County Derry.
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo: 20 and 21 October, Festival Theatre, 7:30pm
The popular all-male ballet company returns with another line-up of hilarious, but beautifully performed, classical and contemporary works.
Richard Alston Dance Company: 24 October, Festival Theatre, 7:30pm
One of Britain’s finest contemporary dance companies celebrates its 20th anniversary with Martin Lawrance’s popular Liszt-inspired work, Burning.
Lectures, Sports and Local Festivals
Botanic Lights 2015: Beginning 29 October, Botanic Gardens, 5pm
As darkness descends, follow a magical trail of light through the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Take a path illuminated by fantastic effects and experience the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the Garden after dark.
Edinburgh Coffee Festival: 3 October, Mansfield Traquair, 9:30am
A festival for lovers of all sorts of coffee, from your regular cups of Joe to your skinny-grande mocha-swirl-achino-with-extra-cream sorts, featuring workshops, tastings and demonstrations.