SOUTHSIDE FRINGE: TOP SIX

I MAY be totally and completely biased, since I've lived south of the Clyde my whole life and bought my first flat there last year, but it seems to me that the leafy Southside is fast becoming the destination of choice for Glasgow's trendy hoards.

The place is packed with parks (Queens Park and Rouken Glen being the nicest, if you ask me), cool buildings, coffee shops, galleries, vintage shops like Glad Rags, bars, restaurants, classic burger joints like Buddy's, Ketchup and TriBeCa, even Whole Foods has its Scottish stronghold not in the west, but in quiet wee Giffnock AKA my hood.

It's undergone something of an understated revolution over the past few years, and despite the last-minute cancellation of the Southside Festival due to lack of funding support (BOO), happily the quirkier Southside Fringe is POWERING ahead, thanks to the dedication and passion of local business and passionate individuals, with a host of cool wee events throughout the month of May to celebrate all that the Bestside...sorry, Southside, has to offer.

Top picks...

1. ART ON THE HILL

A collection of over 100 Scottish artists, held upstairs in the impressive eaves of classic Southside haunt Church on the Hill (it was Arta for a while, remember that?!), Art on the Hill is a truly amazing exhibition and art fair which you really can NOT miss.

"The aim of the exhibition is to act as an artist run platform, where by the artists can show in a professional large group show without the prohibiting costs of traditional art fairs, and also allow the public access to the diverse breadth of artistic talent alive in Glasgow, without the elitist air of traditional art fair."

Indeed. Plus you can get a pint and some fantastic grub downstairs too. 

On till the 31st and one not to miss...

Church on the Hill, Battlefield

Roddy's work proudly displayed, along with some prints available for purchase. And wur mugs.

..Even Marnie from Ladytron's a fan!

2. HAMLET

Strathclyde Theatre Group and the Royal Shakespeare Company Open Stages present this fantastic production of Hamlet with an ALL FEMALE CAST, which is so cool, as part of "Women on the Fringe."

Hamlet is MAYBE Shakespeare's best play, at least for reformed emo kids like myself, and it's certainly a pleasure to watch and experience. It's being performed in the fabulous Govanhill Baths with a badass cast of females - this is SERIOUSLY one to catch if you can.

Awesome Govanhill Baths

Only on now tonight, tomorrow and Saturday but tickets are still available from www.brownpapertickets.com - GO GO GO!

3. WRITE IT! PRESENTS: THE REFERENDUM REVIEW SHOW

Tired of a hundred aggressive Facebook posts a day from friends and acquaintances arguing for/against Scottish independence (let's face it, it's mainly the PRO folk clogging up MY timeline)? Dying for a spot of comic relief on the subject? Looking to sample some delicious coffee/cake in UBER COOL surroundings at the same time? Here's the show for you...

This comedy review show produced by the guys at Write It! looks at the issues and consequences of the big vote on September the 18th. A mix of comedy sketches and music, it's billed as a must-see for every camp, whether you're a yes, a no, a don't know or a can't be bothered. Contributors are Alex Cox, Graham de Banzie, Ewan Park and the Glad Cafe's Write It! team.

Again, be quick! On tonight and tomorrow, tickets from the Glad Cafe and online.

4. THIS IS NOT A FASHION SHOW

A Rags to Riches project, the line up will include a catwalk of intriguing and beguiling UPCYCLED CREATIONS, again set in the historic Govanhill Baths. 

"A number of models from all walks of life will adorn a range of upcycled garments from a range of designers such as Beautiful Brastards' witty upcycled bras, Glasgow Fleamark, graduate talent Sarah Morbey with her Fashioning Waste's collection and Bedlam Boudoir's upcyled festival fancies, among others.

"Glasgow Clyde College's fashion students will also showcase works created for their upcycling project, and the Rags to Riches team will create of collection of boldly upcycled garments bringing tutors, volunteers and participants to further explore the wonders of creative re-use."

The night promises more than just fashion, with live music and art installations too, once again in this truly awesome Southside venue.

24th May, tickets from Southside Fringe HQ,1092 Pollokshaws Rd, Shawlands, or from www.brownpapertickets.com

5. WHO STOLE MY SAUSAGE?

Got a dog? Want to treat him/her to an AWESOME and totally mad-sounding sensory and theatrical experience, exclusively tailored for your canine pal?! Course you do!

On at Southside groomers Dash n Dogs, Who Stole My Sausage promises to tickle your dog's senses... 

"Who Stole my Sausage is brought to you by FizzGig productions and is back by popular demand after it was a huge hit last year.

"Square! Link! Quorn! No sausage is safe! Shawlands and the surrounding areas are full of very sad doggies. Inspector Jack Russell of The Yard said “let’s make no bones about it, this thief will be caught!” Free doggy bag for every pooch that lasts the show!"

This sounds hilarious, and if I had a dog we'd 100% be heading along...

lol

Tickets for “Who Stole my Sausage” (15th, 21st, 22nd May, 7pm or 8pm) are now for sale over the counter @ Dash n Dogs or at the Fringe HQ.  £6 per Dog (2 humans free with each dog)

6. TREEMENDUS GLASGOW: UPCYCLING CRASH COURSE

This wee Glasgow Upcycling label is set for big things! I bought my crazy cat table from them last year, and follow their furniture upcycling exploits on Facebook with glee. 

However, if LIKE ME just the word "re-upholstering" fills you with panic, head along to this Upcycling Crash Course on Saturday the 17th to get SKILLED UP.

"bring along a piece of old furniture and walk out with something that looks shiny and new. We will show you the basic skills to upcycle and re-finish your furniture whilst providing cake and tea as refreshments. Come along and join us for a day of cake and crafting!"

On at Fringe HQ - 1092 Pollokshaws Rd, Shawlands

Tickets from the venue are £20/£25 if you bring your own piece to refinish or £25 for Treemendus to provide a piece for you to finish.

So those are my top picks, but there are, of course, a million other things on for the Fringe around the Southside in venues like Queens Park Cafe, The Bungo, The Burrell, The SHED (lol), Waverley Tea Rooms, Brooklyn Cafe and loads more. Info on all the events at http://southsidefringe.org.uk/

SPINELESS CLASSICS

Every time I denounce Facebook for good, it'll throw up a wee gem onto my news-feed that convinces me all over again to stick with it. Today's random nugget of goodness was a wee link to Spineless Classics, a site that makes and sells large canvases of the ENTIRE texts of your favourite books in tiny 4pt font... With pleasing stylistic elements thrown in for good measure..

Check out my favourites:

Mark Haddon: The Curious Incident of the Boy in the Nighttime

My favourite LOOKING of all, just check out those wee symbols that pepper the book - and the large pitchfork motif... Perfect! Sidenote, this is an amazing book about how a young boy with Aspergers manages to track down the killer of a neighbour's dog. It's written from his unique POV and is well worth a read. Very quick too, you'll be done in a few days.

JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone

Do I even need to say anything? Nahhh!

Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre and Jane Austen's Mansefield Park

Oh how I wish Jane Eyre was portrait and not landscape. Not a fan of landscape prints or canvases, is that just me? If it had been, it would have been 1000% bought. It's my favourite book, don't ya know. I think. Maybe. Today...

Aldous Huxley: Brave New World 

Louisa May Alcott's Little Women

So long it's split over two A0 canvases. But so beautiful!

Charles Darwin's Origin of Species

Again over two posters. Bloody brilliant! SC also does the King James Bible, if you're that way inclined, but for me it'd have to be this...

Macbeth

Printed in prose verse, with the titled, of course, omitted so as not to curse any of us! Favourite (again, today!) of Shakespeare's plays, and this would nicely mirror another piece by Roddy made from an old map of Scotland... I can picture it in my living room now! Hmmm *places order*

William Shakespeare: The Complete Works

This is just the middle A0-sized canvas of 5 which make up this monstrous Complete Works. If you somehow had a HUGE wall to display them all on, or wanted to dot them around your house (as easily as someone COULD dot something sized A0!) they would certainly make a statement!

I'm totally obsessed by these, and will have at LEAST one for my living room shortly, mark my words!

ROY LICHTENSTEIN: A RETROSPECITVE

Next month the Art Institute of Chicago will premier a new and extensive exhibition of Roy Lichtenstein's work featuring over 130 pieces of art including his iconic Pop Art comic strip paintings, sculptures, nudes and later abstract expressionist work.

"Lichtenstein is an artist whose work is widely known, reproduced, copied, and parodied—he is an artist that we seem to know well but in fact the true diversity and complexity of his oeuvre is little understood."

Although he's often unjustly overshadowed by Andy Warhol as the premier Pop Artist of the 60s and early 70s, I've actually always preferred Lichtenstein's classic Pop Romance artwork to Warhol's soup cans or Marilyns. As art (which, as a rule I know nothing about) I find it more accessible, easier to get my head around and infinitely more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Call me ignorant but there you go!

 Some of my favourites include his most famous work:

Remember when Marlena from Self Constructed Freak went as Crying Girl for halloween? Pretty much the best idea ever!

I have this on a mug. It's my favourite mug. #stopsayingmug

Not everyone's cup of tea I'm sure, but I'm a sucker for primary colours, bold lines and a love story.

I feel kind of stupid admitting I didn't really know there was much more to Lichtenstein than that, but it turns out that from the mid 70s to early 90s he experimented with more abstract, expressionist work which I'm now also loving. Especially that last one... Muchos Picasso-y, non?

Love. The exhibition will be moving around America before coming to the Tate Modern early next year. If you live around London definitely check it out. I'd love to go!

As a wee side note, here's a quick swatch at Australian designer Josh Goot's SS10 collection which reminds me of a classic Roy Lichtenstein...

Jazzy.



FABIAN CIRAOLO

So today I spotted Chilean illustrator Fabian Ciraolo's work on the Bullett Magazine facebook page and was INSTANTLY hooked.

Seriously Loving the mashup of iconic historical folks with both classic and modern pop culture references. And did I mention the stunning backgrounds? Galaxy prints a go-go!

I think Salvador Dali in the Vampire Weekend t-shirt is my favourite.

LOVE.