It was a day on the town for CAPetc today. Talbot Rice Gallery to start where assistant curator James Clegg gave us an introduction to both the galleries current shows. First up was The Beguiled Eye, Christopher Orr’s first solo show in Scotland, bringing together new and recent paintings and featuring, for the first time, the artist’s remarkable sketchbooks.

‘Orr’s oil paintings and watercolours offer enigmatic glimpses into other worlds where modern characters appear within expansive environments, laden with drama. The intriguing scenes derive from an appropriation of images from a vast range of visual materials, including National Geographic magazines, scientific manuals, 1950s snaps, art historical images and Super 8 films.’

Also on at the TR is gap in the air: a festival of sonic art which is “a celebration of music and sonic art in Talbot Rice’s Georgian Gallery, including performances by experimental musicians and artists, work by staff and students, workshops and academic discussions. The programme is dedicated to the experience of sound, the neo-classical space of the Georgian Gallery becoming a sounding-box for the most prescient themes in contemporary sonic art”

Next up was a quick walk up to Edinburgh College of Art for a talk by Mark McGowan aka The Artist Taxi Driver. As anticipated the talk was excellent and Mark gave us all a great deal to think about in relation to politics, culture and the role & responsibility or art & artists in contemporary society. Below is one of Marks videos which was playing as we took our seats in the lecture hall.

Thanks to Rhubaba Gallery & Studios for organising the event and for inviting CAP.