Red Road Stories Volume 2

The following stories, comments and opinions were collected during the Multi-story exhibition held at the Gallery of Modern Art from February to June 2010. The exhibition featured projects and work created by local people alongside artists Iseult Timmermans and Lindsay Perth over the preceding 2 years.

Red Road Exhibition

multi-story – in Dunoon

Burgh Hall, 195 Argyll Street
Dunoon PA23 7DE
Scotland
T 01369 703302

Exhibition runs: 10th July – 4th September
Open Sat 10am – 4pm,
and Thurs and Friday throughout school holidays.

Following its successful stretch at the Gallery of Modern Art, the multi-story exhibition will be going down the west coast and across the water to Dunoon Burgh Halls. If you missed it in Glasgow then this is a wonderful opportunity for a day out one weekend to catch most of what was in the show at GoMA.

multi-story is a collaborative arts project based in the distinctive Red Road housing estate, North Glasgow. Established in 2004 by Street Level Photoworks in partnership with The Scottish Refugee Council and the YMCA, it supports the integration of asylum seekers and refugees through creative activity, celebrating the different cultural traditions coexisting within the changing community. In 2007 plans for the demolition of all seven Red Road tower blocks were announced, signalling the end for these iconic Glasgow landmarks.  This unique exhibition showcases artworks created in the last two years by local residents from over 15 countries, with a number of community organisations, and artists Lindsay Perth and Iseult Timmermans. Using traditional and contemporary art practices in photography and digital video, the work documents residents views and memories as well as explore issues around  regeneration and the creation of new communities.

Tall Storeys – Video Workshops

Tall Storeys is Multi-story’s summer video project from resident artist, Lindsay Perth. Multistory, part of Street Level Photoworks collaborative arts programme is based in the Red Road housing estate, North Glasgow. Tall Storeys collaborates with young people under 25 who live in or around the high-rise buildings of Red Road.

Over Summer 09, Tall Storeys has produced 6 video works in varying styles of documentary, narrative, animation by young people age 8 – 16 years old.

1. Olio  (Animation 2min 19 sec)

A collection of stop-frame animation sequences created in workshops with young people, Olio is an energetic and vibrant collection of visual loops. Olio is synchronized with a soundtrack by Mike and Solvieg, titled ‘Ingelrii’. Olio is a collaborative project between young people and artist Lindsay Perth for Tall Storeys.

2. Double Trouble / by Mehran and Billy McCall

The boy wizard, Ronaldo, has his magic book stolen by his alter ego/foe Kaka. Can Ronaldo get back what is rightfully his before Kaka uses it for no good?  Mehran stars in this stop frame animation that jauntily reworks the classic theme of good v evil.  A collaborative project between Mehran and artist Bill McCall for Tall Storeys.

3. When I Close My Eyes (Animation 3 min 17 sec)

When young sisters Mary and Mimi close their eyes and fall deeply into a dream a fantastic journey of flying over trees and cities, riding sharks and cloud sitting takes place .. but is it just a dream? Soundtrack by Mike and Solvieg. A collaborative project between sisters Mary, Mimi and artist Lindsay Perth for Tall Storeys.

4. My Lessons from Super Zero (Animation, 5 min)

When Emmanuel wishes for the same powers as his hero, Super Zero he can’t believe it when his wish comes true! But will Emmanuel be able to handle such awesome powers and at what cost?
A collaborative project between Emmanuel and artist Lindsay Perth for Tall Storeys.

5. Teen Spirit (Video, 17 mins)

A film about 5 teenage girls who are brought together to form a community group based in Springburn.  By collectively choosing topics as a way to represent themselves in this documentary short, the girls discover more about themselves as individuals and as a group of young women.  A collaborative project between the 5 young people and artist Lindsay Perth for Tall Storeys.

Red Road Novel

The Red Road Flats Project has teamed up with author Alison Irvine to create a piece of fiction which recounts the history of the the Red Road Flats and tells the stories of the lives of residents, past and present.

Incorporated within the piece will be detail on how the flats came about, how they were perceived, what happened in the ensuing years and how the flats are now. The piece of fiction will be based on real-life stories of residents. The stories will be separate yet interconnected, with linking themes, metaphors and characters.

Have you ever lived in the Red Road Flats?
Have you ever worked in the Red Road Flats?
Do you have any stories – big or small – about your experiences?

If so, would you like to share your stories with a writer and contribute to a book about the flats? Alison Irvine is very keen to hear from you.  She is a writer based in Glasgow and is looking to talk to anyone with a story to tell – be it a memory, a description, a character, or a long and complex saga!  Please contact Alison via email at info@alisonirvine.com and she will arrange a time to meet at your convenience.

If you have five minutes and would like to share your own story, by answering a few questions, please visit our Your Stories page.