Some of the past exhibitions that have been organised by the Art and Heritage Collections.
Until 30 November 2011
Georgina Scott Sutherland Library, Garthdee
The Robert Gordon University Georgina Scott Sutherland Library is exhibiting a collection of objects depicting a journey through time in their Arts and Heritage Collection.
The works have been selected by Michael Agnew RSA, artist and principal lecturer in printmaking at Gray’s School of Art to mirror his time in Aberdeen.
The library invited Michael to collaborate in an exhibition which retraces his steps during his 25 years in the Northeast. The artist embarks on an autobiographical journey, triggering memories of pivotal moments and working with fellow artists whilst simultaneously deciphering his own visual code as an artist and teacher.
21 February - 6 June
Georgina Scott Sutherland Library, Garthdee
An exhibition celebrating the history of the Aberdeen institution through a range of unique objects. The exhibition charted the history of the establishment over the past hundred years, by looking at the objects - from the unusual to the ordinary - which belonged to the Schools and Departments, both past and present, and now form part of the University's Art and Heritage Collections.
September 2010 - February 2011
After exhibiting a striking series of health worker portraits at Grampian Hospital Art Trust Gallery in 2008, Mark was back with a wider range of fascinating faces.
September 2010 - January 2011
David' Lloyd's exhibition tells his outrageous tale of miniature skeletal remains supposedly found on the islands and reveals so-called ‘evidence' of these fabled creatures.
April 2010 - January 2011
An exhibition of recent acquisitions to the University collection in 2010.
January 2010 - March 2010
The John Murray Archive tells in wonderful detail the history of a publishing family at the heart of British and world culture. For over 200 years Murray authors have inspired, influenced and entertained through every possible genre.
When the publishing house of John Murray opened its doors in 1768 it attracted many of the world's greatest thinkers and writers. For over 200 years, Murray authors shaped the modern world through their writings on:
October 2009 - January 2010
The exhibition was inspired by the 2009 'Homecoming' celebrations and took a look at some of the Gray's School of Art graduates who had worked away from Scotland.
August 2009 - September 2009
An exhibition of works from the Gray's School of Art that reflected the changing fashions in ceramics over the years.
April 2009 - July 2009
Imagery and project animations were featured, highlighting a few of the major projects carried out by this dynamic architecture practice. Two graduates of the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and the Built Environment are highly involved with the work of the practice.
Jim Heverin (1994) is currently project director for the Glasgow Museum of Transport Riverside Project and the 2012 Olympics London Aquatics Centre whilst Simon Yu (1996) is currently Project Leader for the Guangzhou Opera House in China.
January 2009 - April 2009
This exhibition features many abstract objects accumulated during the travels of leading ceramicist Simon Ward to Japan, Korea and China. Found objects also feature as a catalyst for the development of the artists work which concentrates on reusable ceramic items. Early in 2009 Simon Ward was awarded a Visual Art Scotland Richard Coley prize for sculpture and most recently he has received a special award in the Korean World Ceramics Biennale 2009.
October 2008 - January 2009
This exhibition featured a National Library of Scotland touring exhibition which uncovered the stories of some of Scotland's leading figures from WWII. The exhibition was supplemented with material which provided an insight into Robert Gordon's Technical College, and the experiences of its staff and students, during war time, in particular the experiences of John S Milne OBE, George Mackie DFC and Leo Clegg DSC.
September 2008 - October 2008
The sculptor Richard Ross Robertson, who died in 2007, had a long association with the North-East of Scotland and with Gray's School of Art, both as student and as a teacher from 1946 to 1979. Robertson was a sculptor who maintained a respect for the craft required by his materials, at the same time as experimenting with different forms and styles, from figurative to abstract.
September 2008 - October 2008
The exhibition featured some of the work by the students at the Gray's School of Art.
August 2008
Artwork by Isobel Gordon, who studied at Gray's School of Art from 1936 to 1940 and went on to become a respected art educator. Her work was displayed alongside material by some of her contemporaries, including James Cowie, DM Sutherland and TM Huxley Jones.
April 2008
A selection of the high quality work produced by students attending Gray's School of Art's part-time courses. The short courses offer students an opportunity to develop their interest in Art and Design as a recreational activity or a useful means of building a portfolio and include use of a wide range of media. Click here for further information on Gray's Short Courses.
March 2008 - May 2008
The exhibition contained ten portraits of NHS staff members by Gray's School of Art alumni Mark Moynihan. It was on display in tandem with an exhibition at the Grampian Hospital Art Gallery.
February 2008 - April 2008
An exhibition of works in porcelain by 1982 Gray's school of art graduate Alison Borthwick. Demonstrating a determination to succeed, in 1989 Alison established the Buchlyvie Pottery located near Loch Lomond. Alison specializes in working with porcelain and has developed no less than seven extensive ranges of tableware, commissioned commemorative pieces, bespoke tile panels and fine porcelain jewellery. Alison has also completed several commissions for the 1997 Turner Prize nominee Christine Borland including Five Set Conversation Pieces, 1998 which is held in the Aberdeen Art Gallery.
January 2008 - February 2008
A selection of drawings by Painting students at Gray's School of Art spanning the last 50 years, selected by Francis Convery, Head of Painting, and his colleagues Keith Grant and Andy Cranston. Including work by Alberto Morrocco and Alexander Fraser, these drawings now form part of the University Collections.
January 2008
A selection of artwork that was recently acquired at the time, for the University Art Collection was shown in the Library at Garthdee. The work on show was all donated to or purchased by RGU and includes pieces by William Littlejohn, Ian McKenzie Smith, Maggie Riegler and TB Huxley Jones, among others.
September 2007 - December 2007
A selection of work by Aberdeen City Council Archaeological Illustrator and RGU graduate Jan Dunbar was on display in the Georgina Scott Sutherland Library. Jan's artwork was displayed with original artefacts from Aberdeen. Shown alongside preparatory drawings, photographs and finished publications, they gave a glimpse into this fascinating potential career path for Fine Art graduates.
November 2007
The exhibition featured work by Merlyn Riggs at the Georgina Scott Sutherland Library at Garthdee.
July 2007
The metropolis of New York City is an ever changing place. A boiling pot of humanity crammed into an urban sprawl. The photographs and painting in this exhibition represent a snapshot of Manhattan in the mid eighties when there was a genuine sense of excitement and danger about the place. The city had teeth and it could bite you if you didn't watch your back.
June 2007
An illuminating exhibition at Gray's School of Art, celebrating the School's role in helping its students lay the foundations of successful careers. Several successful alumini are represented by one recent work from the University Art Collection, hung alongside a piece from their student days.
February 2007 - May 2007
International textile art from the collection of the Needlework Development Scheme which was started in 1934 to promote needlework as an artform. The RGU Collections hold 112 examples of predominantly European needlework from the collection. However, there are also pieces from places as diverse as Mexico, Paraguay, Tunisia and Zanzibar.
January 2007 - February 2007
A selection of artwork that was recently acquired at the time, for the University Art Collection was shown in the Library at Garthdee.
October 2006 - January 2007
Discover how the transistor revolutionised radio design and see how styles changed over the decades. An exhibition of transistor radios collected by RGU member of staff Tony Thomasson. His collection of transistor radios stems from his hobby of amateur radio where he has been an enthusiastic 'ham' operator since 1964.
June 2006 - September 2006
The exhibition showcased ceramics from the Robert Gordon University collections.
November 2005
The exhibition was held at Garthdee House in the Scott Sutherland School building to celebrate the 120th Anniversary of the Gray's School of Art. The official opening of the Gray's School of Art building, next to the Art Gallery in Schoolhill, was on the 16th November 1885.
The exhibition included 40 paintings and drawings from graduates and staff of the art school, including examples of work by Robert Brough, D.M. Sutherland, Alberto Morrocco, Ian Fleming, Alexander Fraser and Joyce Cairns, as well as numerous photographs of Gray's staff, students and student life both at Schoolhill and at Garthdee. On display was also a student register from the 1880's which shows the background of those attending art school at that time, plans of the Schoolhill site before and after the School was built, an inscribed palette given by students to John Greig on his retirement as painting teacher in 1935, a full size drawing for one of the stained glass windows at Langstane Kirk in Union Street by John Aiken, a former head of Gray's, and an illustrated address presented to John Gray by the students of the day in acknowledgement of his gift. The Library has also produced a 38 page commemorative booklet with colour plates which accompanied the exhibition.
October 2005
During October 2005, the Georgina Scott Sutherland Library hosted a display of book covers. These were student work produced from the mid 1960's to the mid 1970's. Students would have been asked to design their own versions of covers for well known novels in keeping with the publisher's house style. Note the advent of decimalisation during this period!
A number of different techniques were used including stone lithography, linocut and letter press printing. Work was done under the instruction of the then Head of Design George Mackie, who was himself awarded the RDI (Royal Designer for Industry) for his work relating to academic book design: while at Robert Gordon's Mackie was a typographical consultant for Edinburgh University Press.
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