2 December 2008

'Crystal snips' for hairdresser Alan

Photo opportunity: 2pm - 4.15pm, Wednesday December 3rd
Cooper Gallery, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design
Alan will be cutting hair in the 'Straylight Cavern' ice cave installation.

Alan Grieve, an experienced hairdresser and artist, will be giving festive season haircuts in a unique setting this week - a giant ice cave installed at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design.

Alan will be cutting hair in the 'Straylight Cavern' art installation in the College's Cooper Gallery on Wednesday (Dec 3rd) as part of the 'Nine Trades of Dundee' project.

Created by London group Cell Project Space, 'Straylight Cavern' features a a huge ice cave installation where contains further art works. The icy theme had led Alan to christen his temporary studio 'Crystal Snips'.

The Straylight Cavern exhibition runs in Cooper Gallery until December 13th.

The Nine Trades project, developed by Duncan of Jordanstone's Exhibitions Department, aims to unite art and trade and examine the relationship between both.

It is one of only 13 project proposals - out of 423 applications - to be shortlisted for the Scottish Art Council’s 'Inspire' Fund, which was created to encourage the development of innovative projects to inspire and encourage the people of Scotland to take part in the arts.

NOTES TO EDITORS
http://www.exhibitions.dundee.ac.uk/NINE_TRADES/ALAN_GRIEVE.html for photos and more info about 'Nine Trades of Dundee'. We have high res photos available.

Here, Alan Grieve describes his ideas about being a hairdresser and an artist:

'The old-fashioned hairdresser has passed away. In years gone by they were notable tradespeople. They were many-sided people of business; they cut and styled hair, made wigs, shaved, bled, dressed wounds and performed other offices. When the daily papers were not in the hands of their clients, they retailed the current news, and usually had an ear for the latest scandal, which they were never slow to make known - in confidence, and in an undertone, of course. They were intelligent fellows, with wit as keen as their razors; urbane, and having the best of tempers. It has been truthfully said of these old time workers that one might travel pole to pole and never encounter an ill-natured or stupid hairdresser'

'I have worked as a hairdresser for 25 years. I began my training in a small salon in Dunfermline, learning the rudiments of the craft; shampooing, blow drying and setting many ladies of advanced years. I quickly moved to Edinburgh to complete my training, gaining invaluable experience in a very busy city-centre salon. I worked both on the salon floor and as part of the education team, travelling throughout the UK and Europe conducting seminars to other hairdressers. Eventually, I returned to my home town of Dunfermline to begin working part-time as a hairdresser, allowing me to pursue an education in the Arts. I have maintained my position as busy stylist through five years at Art College.

'My practice as an artist concentrates on Scotland’s renowned tradition of Oral Culture. The contentious nature of our storytelling over the past three hundred years underpins my work. I endeavour through social engagement, to provide catalysts for new narratives. Through various media, I record the storytelling process and the stories themselves. The work I produce represents a trawl through Scots history, from myth, popular culture, local anecdote to outright lies and petty gossip.'

Straylight Cavern : Cell Project Space
15 November - 13 December
Cooper Gallery, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, 13 Perth Road, Dundee, DD1 4HT.
Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5pm, Saturday 10.30am - 4.30pm
All Welcome, Free
01382 385330
www.exhibitions.dundee.ac.uk.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk