The Lighthouse’s inaugural Lighthouse Late event held an ambitious programme of design, music and film staged across all five floors. Central Station’s Kim Stewart was in attendance to bring you the details from the night.

Stepping into The Lighthouse last Friday, I was greeted by the design legend himself, Ken Garland. In my bewilderment, he asked if this was my first time at The Lighthouse. “Nnn-oo” I stammered. “I’ve only been twice and will definitely be coming here more often…there’s a talk upstairs I’d avoid as the guy’s had way too much wine” he responded. Chuckling, I made my way upstairs where Scott Paterson of Sons and Daughters had control of the decks.

Ken Garland | Ken Garland & Associates

Going against his own advice, I went to see the slightly intoxicated Ken Garland speak about everything from William of Orange to the recent Scottish Referendum. His lively presentation was a condensed history lesson of murals, posters and signs from republicans, unionists and protestors.

With so much going on, it was impossible to see everything but thankfully things had been delayed upstairs and I managed to catch Tony Brook’s presentation. The cricket-loving Creative Director used Field of Dreams’ famous quote “build it [and they] will come” as an analogy of Spin‘s attitude towards their work; self-initiated motion graphics projects led to designing Channel 4′s identity. Brook also discussed his publishing venture with Adrian Shaughnessy, Unit Editions which sees their second manual on design and identity guidelines released next month (aptly titled Manuals 2).

Tony Brook | Creative Director Spin

Gabriella Marcella | Risotto Studio

There was a short recess before the next talk and so I headed downstairs to see what was happening in the workshops. Gabriella Marcella from Risotto Studio was demonstrating her risograph printer and Alice Dansey-Wright offered the opportunity to contribute to her work ‘Legitimate Likenesses‘ which will soon be exhibited at The Lighthouse.

Finally, Jonathan Barnbrook discussed his controversial album design cover for David Bowie’s The Next Day. His design underwent a great deal of development work over three months, culminating in a “reductive design.” Barnbrook went on to explain typography as representation of language. His own Mason typeface (originally titled ‘Manson’ after the serial killer Charles Manson) portrays beauty and violence. He described the oddity of seeing people tattooing their bodies with his typeface.

Claiming “designers have to take responsibility for the work they choose,” Barnbrook showed the work he created for Adbusters and Occupy London. He has turned Coca Cola down three times as they represent “the worst of American Capitalism.”

Jonathan Barnbrook | Creative Director Barnbrook

GFT Short Film Programme

Throughout the night there were short films from Glasgow Film Theatre and a screening of Stuart Murdoch’s (Belle and Sebastian) God Help the Girl, as well as performances by Ella the Bird and James Yorkston. With such a busy programme, unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to see these. Overall, this event marks the beginning of something exciting happening in Glasgow. In a city renowned for its visual art, The Lighthouse is actively encouraging new dialogues amongst designers and creatives.

Words & photos by Kim Stewart

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®®®®® Soothes the mightiest beast on your darkest day

®®®®  Interesting, meaningful, merits attention

®®® Worth consideration

®® I’m Thirsty

® Maybe don’t take my word for it and judge for yourself.

GI SPIN: is a group sponsored by the Glasgow City council to introduce audiences to contemporary art.  http://www.spinscotland.co.uk

The reason I like it so much is that as a part of GI they co-ordinate tours that hit 5 to 6 Gi exhibitions in close proximity to each other, often having the director, curator, or sometimes even the artist to speak about their particular event.( and it’s FREE)

Today we were lucky enough to keep company with Jean Cameron the producer of the Gi who talked about the hub and was able to add information as we went along that only Jean could. Lucky us, she’s lovely and generous. ®®®®

GI GOMA Tomorrow by Fiona Tan  Need respite from complication, have a moment at the Goma, it’s clean, visually and

technically, it is seemingly simple and accessible and it goes at a pace that calms the mind from the hectic nature of the festival (especially if you are doing it my way). This work is straightforward and I felt the longer I looked into the faces the more vulnerable the space became between the piece and me. ®®®

GI Mary Mary Inside Arrangement International II Gerda Scheepers

This Gallery is one of my favourite spaces in Glasgow. I was left disappointed with the show. The work itself felt stiff, minimal, lacking in content, or content that I was interested in or could relate to or could care less about and there was something lacking between the formal presentation and the intentional  informal simplicity. This lacked any kind of… well it wasn’t an interesting show to me. ®

GI Ten to Ten  Heather Cook and Carla Scott Fullerton Suite 2/26 (right next to Mary Mary)  Collage, site-specific sculptural drawing/poetry.  Cook and Fullerton have really complimented each other in their individual languages. They both have worked and installed to the utmost of the environments they were given to respond to. The works are very different but both fluid and full of tension. Physical and intellectual synergy. (The best work I’ve seen done by Fullerton as of yet.)®®®®

GI Susan Philipsz, Lowlands at the City Centre Bridges  This work fills a space and place that surrounds you and penetrates. It exists in an un-space or un-place or one that you can only contemplate treading on. If you are going to see one thing, only one, this should be it. It  is effortless, and ephemeral.®®®®®

This wasn’t on the  Spin tour; it was the launch of Atypical Root

David Dale Gallery A-Z Risa Tsunegi and Theodoros Stamatogiannis. This was my first time on the East side of Glasgow, I’ve never had a reason to go and I took the train to Bridgeton and walked the two blocks to the gallery. Totally worth it and easy. Don’t miss the moving aspect of this installation, it’s a beautiful love story intentional or not. Fantastic space and lovely physical relationship to the work. ®®®®

There’s a video attached to the group page. Enjoy.

19/1 I need to regroup and rehash my routes a little tomorrow and make sure I have clean clothes to scoot about town, kiss my partner and clap my dog, so I’m not sure where I will go tomorrow, my family misses me.