the morningside mirror 01.2012 edition
The Morningside Mirror was a magazine published by patients and staff at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital between the years of 1845 and 1974. This new edition of ‘The Mirror’ is part of Artlink’s contribution to examining the Royal Edinburgh’s 200 year-long history in the lead up to the hospital-wide Bicentenary commemoration in 2013. If you would like to find out more about this and other related projects call Anne or Alex at Artlink on ext. 46127.
Contributors to 01.2012 edition: Anne Elliot, Laura Spring, Ciara Phillips & Alex Wilde.
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What a difference a year makes! 1
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It feels like only yesterday that we were setting up our new workshop in the Glasshouses and inviting you all to join us for a pre-Christmas celebration of art, music and festive treats. Since then we’ve had a great year of activity...
There have been lots of other things going on too. Maybe you came across Mrs. Plant Pot during Growing Week, or joined us for a Picnic Lunch in the Glasshouses? You might have taken part in the Summer BBQ or seen Alex cycling around during the Harvest on her apple wagon?
Anne’s weekly art workshops have been busier than ever and some wonderful new drawings, If you missed all of those things, prints, paintings and sculptures perhaps you encountered have been made. Eididh with her ukelele in the mobile Jukebox just before Lots of you will have come Christmas? across Ciara, Claire, Laura and Nicolas as they travelled get involved around the Hospital taking We hope you’ve had a chance photographs, making banners to take part in or enjoy some and printing bags, t-shirts and of these activities. There even curtains! will be much more to come this year... Alex and Tom’s Thursday afternoon Garden Club has been a huge hit, and many of you have put your gardening skills to use during Growing Week or in your very own Growing Plots.
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1 Artist Laura Spring screenprinting the wallhangings for Spiritual Care.
4 Jim and Tom working hard at Garden Club.
8 Alex with the Apple Wagon.
5 Eilidh and her ukelele in the mobile Juke Box.
9 Enjoying the sun at the Summer Picnic.
2 Picnic Lunch in the Glasshouses.
6 Ciara, Grace and Maggie screenprinting up a storm.
10 Taking in The Mirror.
3 Cushion designed and printed by Maggie and Grace.
7 Teamwork!
12 Pick your own at the Royal Ed’s own orchard. 13 Early Victoria apples.
anyone for mini golf?
11 Artist Nicolas Party: “Anyone for egg & chips?”
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15 Glasshouses transformed into Grace’s Diner. 16 Elvis (Anthony Schrag) and Sandy (Shona McVey). 17 One for the money, two for the show... 18 Guiseppe’s Rocket Lantern lights up the Glasshouses.
Dancin’in the Glasshouses To round up 2012, and in honour of the Royal Ed’s very own Rock ‘n Roll King, we held pre-Christmas dance party at the Glasshouses – it was a full house!
Garden Club who became the sign makers, cleaners, decorators, and rocket makers and who made this event such a success.
Elvis was here ladies and gentleman, but he has now We transformed the Glasshouses left the building! into a Rock ‘n Roll venue complete with a stage, dance floor and our very own ‘Grace’s 18 Diner’. We sang along with Eilidh and her Ukulele Jukebox whilst eating homemade cakes and sipping on fruity Shirley Temples cocktails (remember that ginger ale, lemonade and grenadine combination from your childhood?). Two celebrity guests graced our stage – Sandy from Grease (Shona McVey) and the one and only Elvis (Anthony Schrag) – and there was some fantastic dancing and some very impressive Elvis impersonators! It was a great joint effort and we would like to thank everyone from the art workshops and
19 Gordon Shepherd, aka Mr. Rock ‘n Roll.
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Gordon Shepherd, Security Officer at the Royal Edinburgh, is into Rock ‘n Roll – big time! So Gordon, tell us about your hobby, Rock ‘n Roll music. I got into it when I was growing up – that’s what people were listening to then. I used to play the bass guitar in bands years ago and now I just like to go along to Rock ‘n Roll events in the North East.
14 Welcome to 1950s everybody!
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Where might we find you on the weekend? I’ve been known to go down to Newcastle on a Friday night, then home on Saturday and back down again on Saturday night, then home on Sunday and back down again on Sunday night. I go to Skegness every year in March for a five day Rock ‘n Roll event at Butlins. Thousands of people go there and everyone is dressed the part. Every day about seven bands play - it all starts at 1:30 in the afternoon and goes until 4 in the morning.
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What kind of dancing is everyone into? Original 50s jive and rockabilly. There are the Boppers, dances for the men, and the Strollers, dances for the lassies. You don’t have to go in couples because there are dances for men on their own and dances for lassies on their own. There’s always lots of partners to dance with anyway! And what do you wear? I got my first made-to measure Drape jacket and trousers when I was 16. I have 3 other suits that I wear – a red tartan one with red creepers to go with it, a kingfisher blue one with matching blue suede shoes, and a black one with cherry red velvet on the front of it. Can we see a picture of you in the red tartan suit?Ah, I think they’re all tucked away in the attic at this point. That’s a shame – I guess we’ll just have to imagine it!
ANSWERS: a Tom Arnott, b ‘Tam Thomas’ Dixon, c Jim Hill, d Laura Shepherd, e Colin Bright, f Katrina Arnett, g Katie Smith, h Julie McPherson, i Heather Spencely, j Jean White, k Maxwell Reay, l James Dodds, m Laura Turnbull, n Catherine Whitson, o Jim Foy, p George Todd
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2012
EXHIBITIONS
keep an eye out for...
How to...
Plants for All at Anne and Debbie’s Stall!
23rd January – 6th April 2012, Link Gallery How to... is an exhibition of artworks made in the Royal Edinburgh in 2011. Ciara, Claire, Laura and Nicolas have been seeking out Hospital talent and coming up with fun ways to combine skills and collaborate. Works made in the Orchard Clinic, North Wing, Meadows, Ettrick and Eden Wards will be included in this show. Come along to see the outcome of some interesting collaborations!
is set to be another busy year and there’s going to be lots for you to take part in... GET INVOLVED EVERY WEEK
Here’s a taster of some of the activities and please do get in touch with us at any time if you have ideas for an activity or event that we might be able to help you with. Call us on ext. 46127 and ask for Anne or Alex.
Last year, the Volunteers’ Centre and Artlink approached Anne and Debbie to set up a weekly Plant Stall in Mackinnon house. The two women, who didn’t know each other beforehand, now come together in the spring and summer months to offer you a chance to buy a wide array of indoor and outdoor plants and herbs. Anne, who says that this new venture has greatly increased her interest in gardening, also likes the fact that the stall gives her a chance to meet new people. Situated in the main hallway of Mackinnon house just outside the WRVS shop, it’s a very sociable spot! Something to look forward too when springtime rolls around...
COME ALONG...
Anne and Debbie’s stall is on Tuesdays from 11am – noon outside the WRVS shop in Mackinnon House.
Growing Spaces Art in the Glasshouses
Work with Anne to develop new artworks based on your interests or contribute to making artworks for Hospitalwide events. This is a drop-in session and all patients are welcome to attend. Tuesdays, 10:30am –12noon Wednesdays, 1pm – 3pm
Travelling workshops
Laura and Claire will be on the move this year bringing tailormade art workshops to different wards and departments. If you would like Artlink workshops to take place where you are, contact Anne on ext. 46127. Mondays, 10.30am – 12noon & 1.30pm – 3pm
20 Summer picnic at the Glasshouses. 21 Anne with her sign for the stall. 22 Planting during Growing Week. 23 Vicky and Kirsty with a game of Giant Dominoes. 24 Homegrown tomatoes.
news news news NEWS THE Glasshouses
Garden Club
This is a drop-in group for all enthusiastic gardeners [both patients and staff]. Tom, our resident expert gardener, is always on hand to offer practical advice and instruction. Come along to learn about planting and pruning or just to spend some time with us in the Glasshouses and garden. Thursdays, 1pm – 3pm
Early this year the Glasshouses will be undergoing some renovation work to ensure that they meet current Health and Safety regulations. This means that we’ll be able to use both the workshop space and greenhouses for workshops and events all year round and in ALL weather conditions. Our regular activities will continue during this time and we hope you’ll all come by to have a look when the work is complete.
25 Mike and Katrina at the BBQ.
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Spring: Let’s get planting On 29th March we’ll be kicking off a Growing Month (not a day, or a week, but a whole month) with lots of activities and events running alongside our regular Garden Club to get everyone sowing and planting for the year ahead. A new gardening course with the Volunteers Hub and the Community Gardens will start in March for people that want to learn more. Summer: Games & Picnics As 2012 is an Olympic year we’ll be organizing a summer of games – giant dominoes, mini golf, egg and spoon races to name a few. Or perhaps you enjoy something more meditative? Keep an eye out for posters advertising outdoor yoga sessions. After last year’s successful Summer Picnic we will be hosting another one this year in our new-and-improved picnic area.
“ This year we’re going to start doing salads, flowers and posies, seeds and bulbs, bird food and compost. People have asked if we’ll start taking orders so we’ll be trying that out too.”
Autumn: Harvest We’ll be kicking off the Harvest season with an open day at the Growing Plots and the announcement of the Growing Competition winners. Could this be your winning year?
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