Glasgow artist led charity, Strange Field announces its first major exhibition and events programme
Glasgow East End-based and artist-led charity Strange Field announces its first programme of major exhibitions and events.
Article Source: Strange Field
Last Updated: 4 April 2024 13:25
Beginning in May at its French Street venue in Dalmarnock, the programme, which operates alongside its regular community events and open source programme, includes a series of large scale solo exhibitions from early-career and under-represented artists, queer-led performance events, and a marquee Heritage & Community Exhibition showcasing the photography of Chris Leslie.
This 2024/25 exhibition and events programme is designed to test the limits of the French Street exhibition space and provide artists a rare opportunity to operate at a large scale with a budget not often available to artist-led organisations.
Beginning the major exhibition series at the former 19th century Barrowfield weaving factory, French Street is Flywheel, a film and visual arts installation by Harriet Rickard showing between Friday 31 May and Sunday 23 June – coinciding with the city’s festival of contemporary visual arts, Glasgow International. Rickard’s work draws on humour and the absurd, with concepts of the body and childhood permeating her art in unexpected ways. Flywheel will premiere her new film in the UK, a surreal moving image work that explores movement, music and memory. The project is the result of an extended period of international research, including trips to Iceland, Japan, Austria and various other places in the UK to document ideas around literary nonsense, with the exhibition designed specifically for the exhibition space at French Street.
The next exhibition in the space will be Chris Leslie’s Heritage & Community Exhibition, Beyond The Games, the culmination of a six-month residency with Strange Field. Marking ten years since the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Leslie revisits his Disappearing Glasgow collection which documented the displacement of residents from Dalmarnock in order to demolish and rebuild the area ahead of the Games. This work was spread far and wide, being featured in a BBC documentary, book, and the Glasgow Life collection, placing Dalmarnock and its community at the centre of a national conversation. Beyond the Games is open to the public from Friday 5 July until Sunday 28 August it is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and William Grant Foundation.
A well-known face in the area, Leslie is holding Open Studio Oral Archive sessions between January and June 2024, alongside more informal conversational and photographic sessions to document the changes that have been made to Dalmarnock since ‘Disappearing Glasgow’ as part of his Strange Field residency. He will be discussing the exhibition with Dalmarnock residents he met a decade ago, aiming to amplify the voices of the members of the community where Strange Field now calls home and is committed to providing artistic support, facilities, and opportunities.
The autumn sees the final two exhibitions of Strange Field’s 2024 programme take place. Performance artist Philip Ewe holds court from mid-September, bringing their iconoclastic commentaries on social behaviours and public spaces to French Street. His work is large-scale and site specific, with unpredictable and absurdist interventions interrogating audience relationships and the politics of space – marking this performance exhibition as one of the most ambitious builds in the space to date. Finally, local Glasgow-based visual artist Morwenna Kearsley exhibits Devilled Eggs through November. Inspired by the industrial manufacture of albumen papers in the 19th century and the motifs of the wishbone and the egg, the work tentatively connects rituals of process and prophecy, drawing on tangled anxieties lying just below the surface, like veins under the skin. For her first major-scale solo exhibition, Kearsley transforms the old Dalmarnock weaving factory into an immersive space with a new series of large-scale photographs and a moving-image work. More details on all exhibitions will become available closer to their opening.
Several one-night-only performance events are peppered throughout the year between these major exhibitions, hosting several artists with strong ties to Glasgow and its East End communities.
Just before Harriet Rickard’s opening exhibition, Strange Field hosts four artists on Saturday 18th May. An alum of Glasgow School of Art, artist William Joys has co-curated an evening of performance with Strange Field Programme Director Jenny Tipton. An evening exploring the dynamics that change the status of a performer and an audience; from intimacy to indifference, the holistic to the hooligan, from a teacher to a tyrant, from the prosecution to the defendant and vice versa. Joys takes his cue from the theatre of Bette Bourne and the Bloo Lips; and influences drawn from the teachings and writings of the mother of the acting method, Stella Adler; England’s raconteur Quentin Crisp; the histrionic plays of Maxwell Anderson; Machiavellian and Marxian analysis; and Oscar Wilde.
Joining Joys will be Wales-based absurdist basket-maker Lewis Prosser, who will be working with themes of intoxication, anonymity, paganism, hooliganism and social etiquette in an improvised score using wearable wicker. Two Glasgow-based artists join Joys also, as performance artist and theatre-maker Stephanie Black-Daniels and British-Moroccan visual artist Tamir Amar Pettet take to the French Street space, with music and sound supported by artist Dirt Brooks.
In late August, Glasgow firebrand artist Trackie McLeod brings a performative dinner party to Dalmarnock in collaboration with Durty Beanz and Len Goetzee. McLeod is a long-time collaborator with Strange Field, having hosted their first solo exhibition at The Pipe Factory, and created the first piece of purchased art that now hangs in the French Street venue. McLeod’s work is often humorous and touches on subjects such as nostalgia, British culture, masculinity, and growing up queer in nineties Glasgow – concepts that have shone through recently in his collaboration with Scottish band The Snuts for tongue-in-cheek billboard advertisements for their latest album Millenials. For this dinner party, McLeod will curate an evening inspired by tea at your gran’s, with creative courses made by Durty Beanz and accompanying performance by up and coming artist Len Goetzee.
More performance events with a mix of early-career and high-profile artists such as Christian Noelle Charles and Chao-Ying Rao are to be announced in due course.
Further plans for late 2024 and into 2025 include innovative talks and events on the concepts of intersectional radical care and governance, further large-scale exhibitions, and more events that place the Calton and Dalmarnock communities at the centre of what Strange Field do.
Jenny Tipton, Programme Director for Strange Field, said: “We’re very excited to launch our first-ever major exhibition programme. Strange Field is very proud to provide artistic opportunities within our communities in Calton and Dalmarnock, and we’re very thankful to our funders for making our largest-scale series of artist-led performances and visual arts exhibitions possible in our evolving French Street venue.
“We have been looking to work with Harriet, Philip, and Morwenna for some time now, so it is extremely exciting to bring all three of them to our space for their major exhibitions and to explore their ties to the space and our communities. Having worked with Chris Leslie in his residency with us over the past months, we also can’t wait to see the result of a decade’s worth of work with Dalmarnock residents past and present following 2014’s Commonwealth Games. It will be a real event by and for the community, which is at the core of what we do, and we couldn’t be happier to have Chris on this journey with us.
“This will be an exciting 18 months, as we expand and evolve our approach to sustainably developing artist led spaces at French Street and The Pipe Factory alongside our programmes. We hope to see a lot of familiar and new faces come through our doors to experience exciting and unexpected approaches to art and performance”.
This programme has been made possible through support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, The National Lottery Community Fund and The William Grant Foundation.
Sponsored Links
Latest Glasgow News
Scottish actor Joe McFadden to lead acclaimed stage adaptation of The Shawshank Redemption at the Theatre Royal Glasgow
The Theatre Royal Glasgow is delighted to announce that The Shawshank Redemption, the acclaimed stage adaptation of Stephen King's 1982 novella, will come to the venue in March!
READ MORE
16.5 million visits make 2025 best year yet for Silverburn
Silverburn has welcomed a record 16.5 million visits over the past year, marking 2025 as its busiest year to date and underlining its status as Scotland's leading shopping and leisure destination.
READ MORE
Scottish Ensemble spotlights future string stars with Musical Encounters
Scottish Ensemble begins an exciting 2026 with the return of their Young Artist programme, helping to develop the next generation of Scotland's young string players.
READ MORE
Celebrate love with your PAWfect Valentine at Dobbies Garden Centres
Dobbies Garden Centres is inviting pet parents to celebrate Valentine's Day with their beloved furry friends in selected stores across the country!
READ MORE
Primary schools in Scotland given chance to win specifically curated Burns Supper from Aldi
Aldi Scotland is giving primary school pupils across Scotland the chance to enjoy a truly traditional Burns Supper, complete with all the trimmings, including a bagpiper.
READ MORE
Glasgow International Comedy Festival launches 2026 programme with over 100,000 tickets on sale
Glasgow International Comedy Festival has announced the full programme for 2026's event with 560 shows in 40 venues across the city from 11th - 29th March, and over 100,000 tickets now on sale!
READ MORE
Glasgow Film Festival 2026 to open with UK Premiere of Everybody To Kenmure Street
A documentary about one of Scotland's most spontaneous and successful acts of civil resistance in recent memory will open Glasgow Film Festival's 22nd edition on 25th February!
READ MORE
Celebrate Burns Night 2026 at Flight Club
If you're looking for a fun way to celebrate Burns Night this year, head to Flight Club!
READ MORE
Calling all Gingers!
The IRN-BRU Carnival is showing appreciation to any fellow fiery headed pals by offering a bonus ride voucher to anyone visiting with ginger hair on Sunday 11th January!
READ MORE
Everything you need to know about Celtic Connections 2026
The renowned festival which every year transforms Glasgow in January into a must-visit destination for music lovers is now just over a week away.
READ MORE
Zizzi launches their January Birthday Jackpot
Zizzi's January Birthday Jackpot guarantees a special gift for adults born in January, with some lucky birthday guests receiving the jackpot prize - £100 towards their bill!
READ MORE
Litter picking dog charity aims to remove 44 million pieces of rubbish in 2026
Dog owners making an environmental New Year Resolution are hoped to boost the ranks of the Paws On Plastic charity to over 30,000 in 2026!
READ MORE
Full casting announced for Legally Blonde: The Musical
Full casting has been announced for Legally Blonde: The Musical which will have its Scottish premiere at The King's Theatre Glasgow in April!
READ MORE
Brand new craft event encourages mindfulness, creativity and relaxation
Dobbies Garden Centres is inviting customers along to an afternoon of creativity, connection, and cake this January, with a brand-new Crafternoon Tea Club.
READ MORE
Famous faces share their DofE Award memories in celebration of their 70th anniversary
Anyone with a connection to The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is being invited to celebrate the charity's 70th anniversary by sharing their fondest DofE memories.
READ MORE
Silverburn expands leisure offering with new Pilates studio
Silverburn guests can kick-start their 2026 wellness journey with the arrival of the first Haus of Pilates studio.
READ MORE
Dry or Try January: Flight Club is your go to January social spot
Whether you're ditching the booze and going dry for a month or embracing Try January with the goal of experiencing new things, Flight Club, ticks all the boxes!
READ MORE
Christmas has come early! Glasgow youngster wins the entire DreamToys list in national competition
One very lucky youngster from Glasgow has been crowned the winner of an incredible festive giveaway – taking home all 15 toys featured on this year's coveted DreamToys list.
READ MORE
Christmas has arrived in Glasgow, The IRN BRU Carnival returns for its 106th year
Europe's largest indoor fun fair, The IRN-BRU Carnival, has opened to the public at Glasgow's SEC with its greatest show to date!
READ MORE
The River Inn launches dream wedding reception giveaway worth thousands
One lucky couple to win a luxury wedding reception for up to 100 guests... completely free!
READ MORE
Christmas Carol Goes Wrong crashes into the Kings Theatre Glasgow
Multi-award winning company Mischief return to the King's Theatre Glasgow with their new stage show – Christmas Carol Goes Wrong!
READ MORE
Christmas drawing by 11 year old Glasgow schoolgirl lights up the city
An 11-year-old Glasgow schoolgirl has seen her Christmas drawing light up the city after it was transformed into a glowing display as part of this year’s festive light trail.
READ MORE
Scottish Doctor Who actor to lead The Woman in Black at the Theatre Royal Glasgow
PW Productions is delighted to announce casting for Susan Hill's The Woman in Black, as it returns to the Theatre Royal Glasgow.
READ MORE
Scottish dancer to appear in The Red Shoes in first tour stop in Glasgow
The King's Theatre, Glasgow is delighted to reveal the full cast and tour dates for Matthew Bourne's double Olivier award-winning, smash hit production of The Red Shoes.
READ MORE
Braehead Shopping Centre is your place for festive fashion, food and fun this Christmas
Christmas is in full swing at Braehead Shopping Centre, and Scotland's leading retail and leisure destination is once again the place to celebrate the magic of the festive season!
READ MORE
Solasta Residence supports Beatson Cancer Charity through festive giving tree initiative
Solasta Residence in Glasgow has launched its first Giving Tree in support of Beatson Cancer Charity.
READ MORE
The Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow unveils exciting new programme for 2026
The Pavilion Theatre Glasgow is set to light up 2026 with a thrilling year of music, theatre and comedy.
READ MORE
Wingstop UKI opens its doors at Silverburn
Leading retail and leisure destination, Silverburn, has turned up the heat on its dining line-up with the official opening of Wingstop UKI, bringing even more flavour and choice to guests.
READ MORE
90s pop icon joins the cast of Mean Girls
Faye Tozer to star alongside Kiara Dario as Gretchen Wieners in the award-winning musical Mean Girls, coming to the King's Theatre in Glasgow from Monday 29th June!
READ MORE
DF Concerts & Events launches The DF Academy
DF Concerts launches the DF Academy to strengthen pathways between education and Scotland's live music & events industry.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links