SummerOuting - University of Glasgow · corrosion' drew us into informative ... is preferred. (see...
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On 12 June, a small group of the Friends were welcomed to the Book and Paper Conservation Studio in the Library of the University of Dundee by conservationists Vanessa Charles and Philippa Sterlini, graduates of Camberwell College of Arts. In the course of an hour-and-a-half, they conveyed their enthusiasm for the conservation and preservation of all sorts of archival material; parchments, plans, posters and photographs, touching on disaster planning and the salvage of smoke and water- damaged materials. Their professional jargon 'high alpha cellulose' paper and 'iron gall ink corrosion' drew us into informative discussion. They explained that the former, the highest grade of wood pulp paper contains residual lignum which causes embrittlement and acidification over time and that for archival purposes, the use of 'acid free' paper made from mulberry in Japan or from cotton or linen rag with an 'alkali reserve' added to counter pollutants in the painting process or in the atmosphere, is preferred. (see www.handprint.com/HP/WCL/paper1. html for more information about this). All of us familiar with the faded brown ink of old writings, the latter 'ferro gallic' ink made from oak galls, iron nails, vinegar, gum arabic and a colorant like indigo intrigued us even more. The iron content in this destroys paper (see the ink corrosion website at ink-corosion.org). Philippa and Vanessa clearly presented their problems - how they solve them remains matter for another visit! But we did pick up a couple of tips: in your own repairs use only tape you wet to stick (easier to decostruct); gloves, in their opinion, are only really necessary when handling smoke smirched items. To obtain the services of a conservator, consult The Institute of Conservation's Register: (www.conservationregister.org; or e-mail Helen Holden, the Studio's administrator: [email protected]. In the afternoon we adjourned to the McManus, Dundee's art gallery and museum (Gilbert Scott1867) which only recently emerged from a £11,500,000 makeover designed by architects Page & Park. Back in place was the gallery's own collection of Scottish artists 1910 to 1980 titled Consider the Lilies, a very interesting, representative show and a very pleasing end to a good day out! Ronald Singleton Summer Outing
Transcript of SummerOuting - University of Glasgow · corrosion' drew us into informative ... is preferred. (see...
On 12 June, a small group of theFriends were welcomed to the Bookand Paper Conservation Studio in theLibrary of the University of Dundee byconservationists Vanessa Charles andPhilippa Sterlini, graduates ofCamberwell College of Arts. In thecourse of an hour-and-a-half, theyconveyed their enthusiasm for theconservation and preservation of allsorts of archival material; parchments,plans, posters and photographs,touching on disaster planning and thesalvage of smoke and water-damaged materials.
Their professional jargon 'high alphacellulose' paper and 'iron gall inkcorrosion' drew us into informativediscussion. They explained that theformer, the highest grade of woodpulp paper contains residual lignumwhich causes embrittlement andacidification over time and that forarchival purposes, the use of 'acidfree' paper made from mulberry inJapan or from cotton or linen rag withan 'alkali reserve' added to counterpollutants in the painting process or inthe atmosphere, is preferred. (seewww.handprint.com/HP/WCL/paper1.html for more information about this).All of us familiar with the faded brownink of old writings, the latter 'ferrogallic' ink made from oak galls, ironnails, vinegar, gum arabic and acolorant like indigo intrigued us even
more. The iron content in this destroyspaper (see the ink corrosion websiteat ink-corosion.org).
Philippa and Vanessa clearlypresented their problems - how theysolve them remains matter for anothervisit! But we did pick up a couple oftips: in your own repairs use only tapeyou wet to stick (easier to decostruct);gloves, in their opinion, are only reallynecessary when handling smokesmirched items.
To obtain the services of aconservator, consult The Institute ofConservation's Register:(www.conservationregister.org;
or e-mail Helen Holden, the Studio'sadministrator:[email protected].
In the afternoon we adjourned to theMcManus, Dundee's art gallery andmuseum (Gilbert Scott1867) whichonly recently emerged from a£11,500,000 makeover designed byarchitects Page & Park. Back in placewas the gallery's own collection ofScottish artists 1910 to 1980 titledConsider the Lilies, a very interesting,representative show and a verypleasing end to a good day out!
Ronald Singleton
Summer Outing
Robert Louis Stevenson and the Theatre
Dates for your Diary
On 20 April Dr John Cairneytreated an exceptionally well-attended meeting of the Friends toa highly entertaining andenlightening talk on the subject ofRobert Louis Stevenson and thetheatre. Probably better known asthe actor who for many years madethe role of Robert Burns hisinimitable own, John Cairney, alsoachieved considerable successes
in UK theatre with the Citizens,Dundee Rep and Bristol Old Vic aswell as performances on televisionand in film. He studied acting atRoyal Scottish Academy of Musicand Drama and subsequently wasawarded M.Litt. by the University ofGlasgow and PhD by the VictoriaUniversity, New Zealand. He is theauthor of several books.
Abstract:
Everything Robert Louis Stevensondid was executed with flair, but witha tendency to excess. This is onrecord. However in spite of thecountless words written aroundand about him scant notice hasbeen given to his literal theatricalactivity
Five full-length plays incollaboration plus the fragment ofanother may seem a skimpy outputcompared to his fourteen novels,but, as will be shown, his dramaticwork has a relevance to his totalartistic development and alsounderscores his vital relationship toW.E.Henley. Three full-length playswere written with him - DeaconBrodie, Beau Austin and AdmiralGuinea - and the writing of them
tells much about both men. Noconsideration will be given to theirfinal work, Macaire, as this was anadaptation of an existing melodramaand not an original dramaticcollaboration. In the same way, onlyformal notice is given to The HangingJudge, an original collaboration withhis wife, Fanny. The Hanging Judge,the last complete play in whichStevenson was involved, takes itsplace with the first, Monmouth, inbeing notable only for beingcompleted.
The first ideas of the stage came toStevenson in the form of Mr Skelt’sToy Theatre. The drama sheets -‘Penny Plain and Tuppence Coloured’bought from Wilson’s shop at thecorner of Leith Walk and Antigua St
All meetingsare at 6pm inthe HenryHeaneyRoom, level12 in theLibrary
AGM is at5.30
were his passports to his Theatreof the Imagination and in MrSkelt’s Model Theatre forJuveniles lay the basis of histhraldom to Thalia.
The paradox of theatre is that it istruth revealed in a lie. The tragedyfor Stevenson and theatre wasthat he leaned towards a kind ofstage pretence that was never trueto itself and was thereforeunacceptable to an audience.Theatre is artifice but playsthemselves are not artificial.Neither Stevenson nor Henley everlearned this and the good liestayed on their lips. Stevensonalways regretted this.
Dr John Cairney
THURSDAY 28.10.10:AGM followed by a talk byGraeme Smith on hisrecently published book.The New Theatre Royal:Entertaining a Nation.
THURSDAY 25.11.10:Talk by Dr Theo vanHeijnsbergen, Departmentof Scottish Literature;(provisional title) FugitiveScottish Literature of theSixteenth and SeventeenthCenturies.
THURSDAY 24.2.11:Talk by Mr Geoffrey Roger,Department of ModernLanguages: Les CentNouvelles Nouvelles (MSHunter 252).
TUESDAY 19.4.11:Talk by Professor ChristianKay on the Saltire Awardwinning publication TheHistorical Thesaurus of theOxford English Dictionary.
