Travels in Scotland Post 1: Glasgow-The Women of Art Nouveau in Scotland & Street Art

Welcome to my series of blog posts Travels in Scotland. Whether you're planning a trip, reliving a memory, or relaxing into some armchair traveling...thank you for joining me! Here I will show you images & share stories of my one month travels through Scotland. I'll cover this beautiful country of mountains, rivers, glens, islands, history, and, of course, fiber and textiles.

Beginning in Glasgow, where everyone is greeted with a "Hiya," we'll see some some sights while the jet lag wears off. Bring your waterproofs because you never know when it will rain in Glasgow, but it will.

The first stop is Mackintosh at the Willow on Sauchiehall Street in central Glasgow.  Designed by architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1903 for Ms. Cranston, the Tea Rooms were restored and reopened to the public in 2018.  In addition to a self-guided museum exhibit, guided tours take visitors through the rooms which function as a restaurant and events venue.  

What became known as the "Glasgow Style" was the U.K.'s response to the international Art Nouveau movement - and spearheaded by two Scottish couples: Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald, and James Herbert McNair and Francis Macdonald, art school classmates known as the Glasgow Four.  Throughout Glasgow the amazing decorative artwork of the Macdonalds can be seen and although the name of Charles Rennie Mackintosh is most often referenced, the Macdonald sisters work in painting, textiles, stained glass, metalwork, jewelry and collage stands out. Gustav Klimt invited the Glasgow Four to exhibit with the Vienna Secession Movement and historians believe Klimt was influenced by their original work.

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Across from the main gates of the University of Glasgow is the Hunterian Art Gallery which contains the recreated interiors with the original furniture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Francis MacDonald's house fashioned by the artist couple in the Art Nouveau style.

Walking tours with university students are a great way to experience the University of Glasgow (established 1451 and the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world).  Famous graduates include Lord Kelvin, David Hume, James Watt, and Adam Smith.  Even though UofG looks like Hogwarts, the HP movies were not filmed here, though there are some awesome views of the city from this uni on the hill. University of Glasgow Official Historical Tours

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The first part of my journey in Scotland was solo and wandering around the city looking for the street art murals gave my walks purpose.  There is something awe-inspiring about the scale of street art and the contrast with the grit of the cityscape. You turn a corner and there is something unexpected. Did I say how much I love street art?

The City of Glasgow began a Mural Trail in 2014 as an urban improvement project. Find out more about self-guided walking tours to see this magnificent form of public art: https://www.citycentremuraltrail.co.uk

A wonderful place to wander outside of the hustle and bustle of the city.  And there is a tea room. Free admission to the gardens and greenhouses, always check opening times when visiting.

Thank you for reading my blog post. Travels in Scotland is a 12 part blog series filled with photos and stories of a fiber artist's journey through a beautiful land, encountering a land with a deep textile history, stunning landscapes, and of course sheep!

You can read all of the Travels in Scotland blog posts on my website.  I invite you to travel along with me, along the coast and through the mainland hills seeing, experiencing and learning about this place called Scotland. Turas math dhuibh! (Good journey to you!) Amy