Friday 30 April to Monday 3 May
As part of Show Scotland 2010, Edinburgh College of Art will be hosting events to explore the Edinburgh Cast Collection, which includes plaster casts of Antique, Renaissance, and Gothic statues, bas reliefs, and architectural casts used to educate generations of art students at the College. Come to see centuries-old casts of some of the greatest achievements of Western art, such as Michelangelo’s Pietà, Ghiberti’s Florentine Baptistery Doors, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and the Dying Gaul, among others. The casts of the Parthenon Frieze are set in the A-listed College building within a Sculpture Court specially designed for them.
The first phase of a project for the research, conservation and interpretation of the collection is supported by grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund Scotland, Esmeé Fairbairn Foundation and Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland.
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Guided Tour of the Sculpture Court Free admission Explore the cast collection and delve into its cultural and architectural contribution to the re-invention of Edinburgh as the ‘Athens of the North’ in the 19th century. Margaret Stewart is Curator of the Cast Collection and teaches Architecture History at the Edinburgh College of Art. Friday 3.00pm, Saturday 12.00pm, Monday 3.00pm Sculpture Court, Main Building, Edinburgh College of Art |
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The Casts, the Shed and the Classics Free admission Discover the historical collection of plaster casts used for over a century to teach students Classical Art and Archaeology with Glenys Davies, lecturer at the University of Edinburgh and Graciela Ainsworth, accredited conservator and leader of the team working on this unique collection. Monday 2.00pm Classics Teaching Collection, University of Edinburgh, 19 George Square |
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The Conservation of Historic Plaster Casts Free admission Find out about the challenges of conserving the historic plaster casts in the Edinburgh Cast Collection with Graciela Ainsworth, accredited conservator and leader of the team working on this unique collection. Friday 3.30pm, Monday 3.30pm Sculpture Court, Main Building, Edinburgh College of Art |
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Smugglerius: A Life, From Criminal to Cast Free admission This fascinating cast is an ‘écorché’ or flayed figure; the original cast was made in the late 18th century and was created in order to explain anatomy to art students. Who was the man who became ‘Smugglerius’? This study session will unfold an amazing tale of crime and punishment in the 18th century. Joan Smith is an artist and academic Programme Leader at Edinburgh College of Art’s Centre for Continuing Studies. Friday 14.00pm, Saturday 10.00am Foyer, Main Building, Edinburgh College of Art |
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Drop-in Drawing Session run by artist Jane Weatherly Free Admission Drop in to the Sculpture Court and make original art works based on the cast collection. Set in Edinburgh College of Art’s classical Sculpture Court, this drop in drawing session will focus on making drawings from the elegant lines and dynamic forms of the cast collection but with a contemporary twist. Materials will be provided and you will be given advice on how to explore light, line and scale. Friday 2.00-5.00pm Sculpture Court, Main Building, Edinburgh College of Art |
