‘Now that the traffic engineers have had their say it’s clearly about time that the public, not the notionally public servants, have a say about this space. I still hold to the view that sculpture – and new work in particular , the 4th plinth idea – would work here.’
Culture
Blow winds…rage, sing, make music
there’s something comforting about listening to the music made by a different natural force over which we have no control.
Covid, conspiracy theories and ‘truthpapers’
“These calls to action are taking place in the context of an increasingly dangerous atmosphere. We already know that conspiracy theories have the potential to promote political polarisation, extremism and violence. Recent months have seen numerous examples of COVID-19 conspiracy theories influencing real-world activism.”
How the first African American doctor fought for women’s rights in Glasgow
“McCune Smith’s activism showed aspiring African Americans that becoming a professional black physician could be more than simply treating patients. For him, being an expert in medical science also included using his training to fight injustice and inequality.”
A kind of healing: poetry for endings and beginnings
How and when do you mark the passing of a pandemic which is not yet done? Politicians stumble, their messages swaying between promises of better days ahead and threats of worse to come. Can poets help us?
Win or lose – enjoy the games
Craig Angus takes a moment to dream. But whatever the result, Euro2020 reminds him how good it is to be there, among the crowd.
Poems for the dawn
Here is truth that we need to hear and confront in this viral age. Gordon Munro finds it in new work by Ben Okri and Marianne Faithfull
A sustainable web
‘Research estimates that by 2025, the IT industry could use 20% of all electricity produced and emit up to 5.5% of the world’s carbon emissions. That’s more than most countries’ total emissions bar China, India and the US’: the case for an internet powered by renewables.
A proper underdog story for Scotland’s Euro 2020
Having lived with Coronavirus and all that comes with it for almost 18 months, can Scotland’s Euro 2020 campaign bring the nation together? Fresh from St Johnstone’s historic domestic season, Craig Angus see reasons for optimism.
Memeification of the Metro
“It’s the kind of elitist statement that rescues failed experimentation from the paper bin (or “recently deleted” folder) and forces the viewer to deny the evidence of their own eyes and join the art world and its enablers in nodding approvingly over the emperors’ new clothes.” In her first post here a young artist comments on a Tube makeover…