Glasgow Goings-On

Hello again, Blogonauts!

Greetings today from the largest city in Scotland, Glasgow!

The trusty train trundled me off from Edinburgh yesterday. The entire journey took less than an hour. These two cities are so greatly intertwined that each hour multiple trains set out between them.

Yet they are quite different. While Edinburgh owes its reputation to politics, its historic roots, and its ties to royalty, Glasgow has traditionally been a manufacturing, mining, and artistic hub. Politics never sleeps, but as industries ebbed and flowed, so have the fortunes of the Glaswegian populace. 

(Yes, Glasgow residents are known as Glaswegians...you know, like Norwegians, collegians, or wee pigeons.)

But with its historic episodes of wealth, and the current recovering economy, Glasgow seems now like an artistic jewel and a retail powerhouse.

Let's start with art:

Mural created by graffiti artist "Smug"

These days part of that art arises in the avant garde realm of graffiti. And various places around the city there are murals where graffiti artists have received commissions to create some amazing public works.

Sanctioned graffiti art by the artist "Rogue-One"

The graffiti is but one aspect of Glasgow's vibrant art scene. Still, there is a long history of Glasgow art's influence on the rest of the world.

During the late 19th century, the Glasgow School referred to a style that combined architecture, art, and decor.

Within that movement were several painters known collectively as the Glasgow Boys. They took as their idol the American artist James McNeil Whistler (who was well known for painting his mama). As a result, many of Whistler's paintings have also made their way into Glasgow's art galleries.

My gallop around Glasgow today included lengthy stops at a couple of art museums: The Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum and the nearby Hunterian Art Gallery. Both are essentially adjacent to or contained within the University of Glasgow.

Portraits, left by James Guthrie & right by John Lavery,
both members of the Glasgow Boys artist movement

A portrait by Whistler, one of several in the Hunterian Art Gallery
 

The Kelvingrove museum is more than just art, however. Other galleries within the building include all manner of natural and technological displays...often set atop one another.

Kelvingrove Taxidermy and Aeronautics display?
(Neither the birds nor the plane will ever take to the air again.)

A mishmash of masks and multimedia

Humor me as I now diverge slightly to highlight Glasgow's architecture, starting with the University.

Glasgow University

Like Edinburgh, parts of Glasgow developed when neo-Gothic and Georgian architecture were in fashion. But, be that as it may, Glasgow University has its neo-Gothic tongue hanging out of its mouth.

To be sure, there are many modern buildings on campus. But the ones that stand out make Hogwarts look shabby in comparison.

Entrance to the Glasgow University

 
Exterior of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum

But now, let's traverse back to Glasgow's bustling business district. There the architecture changes, and you will find early 20th century Art Nouveau paired with 21st century shopping opulence.

Princes Square, festooned in wrought iron ivy.
Its interior (below) is filled entirely by jewelry stores.



One of half-a-dozen galleria-like shopping buildings along Buchanan Street

Let's stop here for today. To be sure, this Glaswegian mishmash has only covered a portion of my stay so far in Glasgow, but that leaves more to share tomorrow. So as always, stay tuned.

By the way, if you want to enlarge any photo, tap on it on your phone or click on it on your laptop. And as always, if you leave a comment here, leave me a wee bit of info, so I know who's wandering about my weedy word garden.

Blog to you later!

Location: Glasgow, UK

Comments

  1. Allen YoungOctober 13, 2024 at 6:59 PM

    This "portrait" of Glasgow is all new to me, and I appreciate it very much. I learned a lot and especially enjoyed the insights into art and architecture. Thanks, Larry.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ZoeOctober 13, 2024 at 7:14 PM

    I've never been to Glasgow but two of my closest Indian friends lived there for several years and speak so highly of it. I love these photos, especially the graffiti art and the better than Hogwarts architecture

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousOctober 13, 2024 at 7:46 PM

      I always heard that Glasgow was an industrial city and to by pass. Thank you so much, it looks wonderful, Bob

      Delete
  3. AnonymousOctober 14, 2024 at 1:52 PM

    You have sold us on Glasgow! Anna and Joe

    ReplyDelete

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