Almost Nothing But Blue Ground! Performance lecture and discussion
- Tickets
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Free
- Dates and times
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Wednesday 20th Nov 2024
2:00PM
Come join us for an unforgettable afternoon of at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum! Immerse yourself in a world of colors, emotions, and imagination. This in-person event promises to be a feast for the senses. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to experience Almost Nothing But Blue Ground!
Almost Nothing But Blue Ground is a research project by artists Matthew Benington and Tom Pope.
It started in 2017 with the intention to explore and celebrate the life and work of Anna Atkins, the first ever person to publish a book of photographic images. After 2 years of research, we began to focus attention on her second publication, Cyanotypes of British and Foreign Ferns, made in collaboration with Anne Dixon. Out of 100 images, 25% represented Jamaican ferns, this led us to question why so many originated in Jamaica. Our research into the UCL Legacies of British Slavery database we discovered that Atkins husband, John Pelly-Atkins, and father in-law, Alderman Atkins, owned 9 plantations in Jamaica, thousands of slaves, boats, and docks. This shifted the focus of the project from celebrating the achievement of Atkins (particularly being a woman at that time) to acknowledging the origins of the privilege that allowed her to achieve it. The research informed a performative weeklong walk (2021) towing a trolley which exposed prints from Atkins home in Tonbridge to Ferring, where Dixon, her collaborator lived. Our walk went via Sir John Herschel's House in Hawkhurst, Herschel invented the process and would have shared it with Atkins. This research is presented in our work in a considered manner.
The completion of the walk created an archive of cyanotype prints, negatives, artefacts, research, and diary entries. In the performance assets are shared via a speaker, spoken word, visualiser, data projector and OHP.
Roger Griffith MBE (specialist in decolonisation), author and poet Dr Zakiya Mckenzie (Oral Testimony on the History of Jamaica, Rough Trade) and Dr Caroline Douglas (PHD, RCA in early Scottish photography) are important contributors to the project, with their work incorporated in the performative lecture.
Please Follow us @almostnothingbutblueground on instagram
Accessibility guides
Read the accessibility guide for Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum on AccessAble
Further information on accessibility can be found on Euan's Guide website
View the Kelvingrove Floor Plan. Documents can be requested in Braille and large print.
Accessible toilets
The accessible toilets are available on all floors.
Assistance dogs
Guide and assistance dogs are welcome.
Hearing loop
Hearing loop available within venue.
You can also visit our British Sign Language and International Sign Video Library here to watch a welcome video for every Glasgow Museum.
Wheelchair access
There is wheelchair and pram access to all public areas using the lifts.
Baby changing
Baby feeding
Cloakroom
£2 charge - cash only.
Cafe or restaurant
KG Café
Our café is situated in the lower level of the museum with some tables positioned in the conservatory area overlooking the park. The café is operated by table service and is licensed serving spirits, wines, and bottled beers as well as a range of soft drinks. The menu offers options for starters, mains, and desserts but also a range of handmade sandwiches for a lighter option. Hot beverages are available as well as a range of home baking. Dietary requirements are well catered for, including vegan, gluten and dairy free options. Where possible we work with local suppliers and capture seasonality within the menu.
The KG Cafe opening hours are listed below.
Monday 10:00 – 16:00
Tuesday 10:00 – 16:00
Wednesday 10:00 – 16:00
Thursday 10:00 – 16:00
Friday 11:00 – 16:00
Saturday 10:00 – 16:00
Sunday 11:00 – 16:00
KG Coffee Shop
The coffee shop situated in the main hall on the upper ground floor is a more casual option with counter service but offers a magnificent view of the main hall. The coffee shop offers a range of hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, light bites and home baking. Dietary requirements are catered for, including vegan, gluten and dairy free options. Where possible we work with local suppliers and capture seasonality within the menu. Seating can occasionally be limited due to daytime events taking place in the hall.
The KG Coffee Shop opening hours are listed below:
Monday 10:00 – 16:30
Tuesday 10:00 – 16:30
Wednesday 10:00 – 16:30
Thursday 10:00 – 16:30
Friday 11:00 – 16:30
Saturday 10:00 – 16:30
Sunday 11:00 – 16:30
Parking information
There are 142 parking spaces in the car park, 10 of which are for blue badge holders and 2 are for Electric Vehicle charging.
Payment can be made either by coins, no notes or cards, or by the RingGo phone /app.
For more information about the RingGo process, please visit the RingGo Cashless Parking page on the Glasgow City Parking website.
Up to 1 hour £3.00
• 1-2 hours £5.00
• 2-3 hours £7.50
• 3-4 hours £10.00
• 4-5 hours £10.00
• 5-6 hours £10.00
• 6-7 hours £10.00
• 7-8 hours £10.00
• 8-9 hours £10.00
• 9-10 hours £10.00
• Overnight Flat rate 6pm - 8am £3.00
Please note these machines take coins only and no change can be given.
Maximum stay 10 hours
Cashless parking is available as a payment method via RingGo at our surface pay! We advise downloading or registering for RingGo prior to your visit. To register or find out more please visit https://myringgo.co.uk/.
This car park is operated by Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability for more information please visit https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/carparks
Blue badge parking
There are designated parking spaces (10) for Blue Badge holders and parking is free with no time restriction, subject to display of a valid permit. The spaces do not have to be booked in advance. For car park enquiries please contact 0141 276 1830.
Parking
There are 142 parking spaces in the car park, 10 of which are for blue badge holders and 2 are for Electric Vehicle charging.
Payment can be made either by coins, no notes or cards, or by the RingGo phone /app.
For more information about the RingGo process, please visit the RingGo Cashless Parking page on the Glasgow City Parking website.
Up to 1 hour £3.00
• 1-2 hours £5.00
• 2-3 hours £7.50
• 3-4 hours £10.00
• 4-5 hours £10.00
• 5-6 hours £10.00
• 6-7 hours £10.00
• 7-8 hours £10.00
• 8-9 hours £10.00
• 9-10 hours £10.00
• Overnight Flat rate 6pm - 8am £3.00
Please note these machines take coins only and no change can be given.
Maximum stay 10 hours
Cashless parking is available as a payment method via RingGo at our surface pay! We advise downloading or registering for RingGo prior to your visit. To register or find out more please visit https://myringgo.co.uk/.
This car park is operated by Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability for more information please visit https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/carparks
Blue badge parking
There are designated parking spaces (10) for Blue Badge holders and parking is free with no time restriction, subject to display of a valid permit. The spaces do not have to be booked in advance. For car park enquiries please contact 0141 276 1830.
Photography and video recording
Please follow this link to read guidelines on photography, filming and sketching in all Glasgow Life Museums.
Free wifi
The building has free WiFi.
View Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum on Google Maps.
Use Traveline Scotland to plan your visit via public transport.
Train - The closest train stations are Partick (PTK), Charing Cross (CHC) and Exhibition Centre (EXG). These stations are roughly 1 mile away from Kelvingrove.
The lines for these stations run through the Low-Level platforms, at Glasgow Central (GLC) for Partick and Exhibition Centre and Glasgow Queen Street (GLQ) for Partick and Charing Cross.
Glasgow Central and Glasgow Queen Street are roughly 1.5 to 2 miles away from Kelvingrove.
Underground - The closest Subway station is Kelvinhall, which is roughly ½ mile away.
Bus - The bus stops at the front of Kelvingrove, on Argyle Street, have regular services from both directions. Services include:
- First Bus- services 2, 3 & 77
- McGill’s - service 17
- The City Sightseeing buses
Please note: If you are coming into Glasgow by train and planning to use a PlusBus ticket, the 100 bus and the City Sightseeing buses are not covered.
Bike Hire - The Next Bike bicycle hire scheme is also in operation around Glasgow, with locations to pick up and drop off around the city.
Car - Please note: the A814 Clydeside Expressway Westbound will be closed due to major roadworks from Monday 26 October for 6 weeks. Diversions will be in place, if you would travel via this route please allow a little extra time for your journey.
Accessibility - In case it is of use to anyone in your party, the AccessAble website has some useful accessibility information.
We have two cafe spaces in Kelvingrove Museum. The KG Cafe on the lower ground floor and the KG Coffee Shop in the Main Hall. The opening hours for both are listed below:
KG Café
Monday 10:00 – 16:00
Tuesday 10:00 – 16:00
Wednesday 10:00 – 16:00
Thursday 10:00 – 16:00
Friday 11:00 – 16:00
Saturday 10:00 – 16:00
Sunday 11:00 – 16:00
KG Coffee Shop
Monday 10:00 – 16:30
Tuesday 10:00 – 16:30
Wednesday 10:00 – 16:30
Thursday 10:00 – 16:30
Friday 11:00 – 16:30
Saturday 10:00 – 16:30
Sunday 11:00 – 16:30
KG Coffee Shop
Monday 10:00 – 16:30
Tuesday 10:00 – 16:30
Wednesday 10:00 – 16:30
Thursday 10:00 – 16:30
Friday 11:00 – 16:30
Saturday 10:00 – 16:30
Sunday 11:00 – 16:30
Access our translated tour guides in Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian and Spanish for the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery collection.
Translate our webpages
It is easy to translate our webpages to a language of your choice. The Glasgow Life website uses an accessibility toolbar, ReachDeck, which can auto-translate any page into different languages.
Scroll to the very bottom right hand corner of any Glasgow Life webpage and click on the icon of a white figure in a red circle. When the toolbar opens, select the fifth icon along to translate the page into a selected language – then choose your chosen language in the drop-down menu.
Please note this function is currently only available on desktop.
