What to SEA at Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums...
It’s officially Summer and this month Aberdeen Archives, Gallery and Museums are all about life on the ocean wave! Pay us a visit and navigate the changes around the harbour in our brand-new exhibition From the Archive: Aberdeen Harbour opening 8 June, set sail and enjoy a screening of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World courtesy of Belmont Community Cinema Ltd on 28 June or dock and learn about The statistics of sea Monsters at our lunchtime talk on 4 June.
Our Gallery and Maritime shops are full to the rigging of treasures for you to take home and the Gallery café offers breakfast, brunch and lunch options fit for the captain’s table.
Come aboard, we can’t wait to SEA you!
Exhibitions and displays
Monsters of the Deep: Science Fact or Fiction
Opening 17 May
Art Gallery (bp Special Exhibition Galleries)
£10 adults / £7 concessions / £14 exhibition pass
Children aged 12 and under free
Get ready to discover monsters!
Legend, myth and modern-day science combine in Monsters of the Deep - a journey from the medieval mind to the modern-day mysteries of the ocean. This summer, take a deep breath and plunge down into the dark murky depths as we seek to explore the unexplained.
Discover centuries-old myths and legends represented in medieval maps such as the Carta marina with its vividly-illustrated sea monsters, and the shapeshifting Selkies of Scottish folklore. Find out how stories of strange appearances and unexplained sightings continue to capture imaginations, fuelled by fake news and conspiracy theories, and surviving in science fiction books, comics and movies like Creature from the Black Lagoon and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
From a terrifying Feegee mermaid to the spindly legs of a giant Japanese spider crab, there are lots of strange and wonderful things to see in Monsters of the Deep. Come face to face with the skull of a terrifying killer whale, marvel at the double-tusked skull of a narwhal and the tooth of an extinct megalodon. Examine eerie deep-sea specimens and see some of the technological tools scientists use today to explore the bottom of the ocean – then you decide what lies beneath.
BSL Tour: Monsters of the Deep – Science Fact of Fiction?
19 June, 14:00 – 16:00
Art Gallery (bp Special Exhibition Galleries)
Free with exhibition entry
Get ready to explore the historical, scientific and cultural impact of deep-sea exploration, set against the persistent belief in sea monsters and myths. Fascinating analysis of ‘monster’ sightings, fake news and conspiracy theories sit alongside the history of deep-sea exploration and beyond, highlighting incredible discoveries and advances in our understanding of the oceans.
From the Archive: Aberdeen Harbour
Opening 8 June
Art Gallery (Gallery 2)
Free
The archive of the Port of Aberdeen contains hundreds of photographs that bear witness to the technological change that has taken place at the quayside over the past 100 years. This exhibition, timed to coincide with the Tall Ships Races arriving in Aberdeen this summer, displays some of these fascinating images from the collection. Not only do they illustrate how much has changed, but also how familiar many of the features are to the modern eye.
All Fired Up: The Art and Science of Ceramics
Opening 14 June
Art Gallery (Level 2)
Free
This major new display showcases more than 170 pieces from the exceptional Sandy Dunbar collection of studio ceramics. Studio ceramics are unique items or small runs of works made in clay by independent artist-potters, dating from the early 20th century to the present day.
Sandy Dunbar (1929-2012) of Pitagaveny, near Elgin, was a lawyer, farmer, conservationist, former Director of the Scottish Arts Council and lifelong patron of the arts. Dunbar said of his passion for pots, “Having come rather late to pots, I am now deeply interested, and go round visiting the potters I like and forming what unwittingly is becoming a collection.”
We invite you to pick up the pots, explore the art and science of pottery and discover ceramics by a wide range of potters including Michael Cardew, Clive Bowen, Svend Bayer, Chris Keenan and Walter Keeler.
Listen at lunchtime!
Lunchtime Talks
Wednesdays, 12:30 (45 mins)
Pay what you can
4 June
Art Gallery (Seminar Room)
Lunchtime talk: The statistics of sea Monsters
Talk by Dr Charles Paxton, Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews
From kelpies to the legendary Loch Ness monster, Scottish folktales are full of weird and wonderful descriptions of sea monster sightings. But do they actually exist? Dr Paxton reveals how statistical analysis indicates that there is evidence of large animals to be discovered in the sea, and that witnesses are in fact sharing real experiences - even if they might not actually have spotted a mysterious creature.
18 June
Maritime Museum (Education Suite)
Lunchtime talk: Man-made structures and their value as artificial reefs
Talk by Dr Kate Gormley, Interdisciplinary Fellow, Megan Squire, PhD Student, Dr Alethea Madgett, Research Fellow National Decommissioning Centre, University of Aberdeen
This talk highlights research from the University of Aberdeen and the National Decommissioning Centre (NDC) on how man-made ocean structures such as decommissioned oil and gas installations and those generating offshore renewable energy can support marine ecosystems and their potential as artificial reefs.
Combining industry expertise with academic excellence, the NDC is working in partnership with the energy sector to lead research and development (R&D) that supports the sector to achieve cost and emissions reductions, improve environmental outcomes and transform approaches to deliver sustainable net zero decommissioning.
Events and Workshops
Scottish Ensemble: Concerts for a Summer’s Night
11 June, 20:00 (1hr)
Art Gallery (Sculpture Court)
£22 adult / £11 concession / Under 16s free
Scottish Ensemble’s annual summer concert brings vibrant music to the heart of Aberdeen Art Gallery. The Ensemble is joined by soprano and composer Héloïse Werner, creating a bright and vivid sound world that takes listeners on a sunlit odyssey through beautifully evocative arrangements of Baroque songs to Héloïse’s own dramatic and playful works.
Baby Boogie
14 June, 10:30 – 12:00
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
£8 (1 adult and 1 Child) / £15 (2 adults and up to 3 children)
Enjoy a fun-filled morning of popular music with DJ Nina in the Cowdray Hall at our monthly daytime disco for little ones and their adults! The café is open for coffees, cakes and juices to keep you well-fuelled and boogey-ing away.
Welcome to Aberdeen Art Gallery
21 June, 14:00 – 16:00
Art Gallery (Learning Space / Cowdray Hall)
Free, drop in
Everyone is invited to join us for an afternoon of music, crafts and discussion as part of Refugee Festival Scotland.
Workshop for all: Postcards Home - your stories and journeys
Postcards Home invites everyone to leave a message on a card about your life - it can be about your favourite food, your family, what you love or what you miss. You can decorate the other side with designs, images, sketches or photos.
Workshop for families: Creature Crafts
Creature crafts will get young hands busy making their favourite animals. Why not create a sea creature in advance of the Tall Ships arriving!
Feast and Fusion (15:00 – 16:00)
Enjoy an afternoon of food, music and discussions. Hear from photojournalist Angela Catlin about her work with refugee communities and enjoy a performance by local musicians.
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
28 June, 14:00 – 16:30
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
Free, ticketed
Age 12+
Peter Weir's adaptation of one of the ‘Master and Commander' novels by Patrick O'Brian. After conquering much of Europe already, Napoleon's forces have set their sights on taking Britian, so Captain Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) and the crew of his ship, the HMS Surprise, take to the Pacific to intercept any attacking ships from the French fleet. When Aubrey eyes a renegade French super-frigate, the 'Surprise' pursues, leading to an adrenaline-charged chase through the distant reaches of the sea.
Film brought to you by Belmont Community Cinema Ltd in association with Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums.
Look after you wellbeing!
Stitching with the UFOs
3 June, 13:30 – 15:30
Art Gallery (Learning Space)
Pay what you can
UFO stands for Unfinished Objects! Come along to this monthly stitchers’ meet up and take part in their latest project. Collectively, the group has created some incredible pieces of work in the past, including a panel for the Great Tapestry of Scotland and kneelers for Westminster Abbey. Join in with the group work or bring your own unfinished small craft project and use this session to meet new people.
Our Aberdeen
5 June, 14:00 – 15:30
Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Pay what you can
Museum misfits
Aberdeen’s collection hold over 150,000 objects, collected over 140 years. Come along to hear about our new project that's reviewing over 1,000 applied art and social history objects that we might now consider to be ‘misfit’ objects in the collection. What stories do they tell and do you think we should keep them?
Musical Memories
13 and 27 June, 13:30 – 15:30
Art Gallery (Cowdray Hall)
Pay what you can
Musical Memories is a friendly singing group for people with dementia, their partners, families and friends. Established and delivered by a dedicated group of volunteers, these sessions support wellbeing and improve brain activity, encouraging creativity and participation.
The series is supported by Alzheimer Scotland.
Inspired Gallery Meets
20 June, 11:00 – 12:30
Art Gallery (Learning Space)
Pay what you can
Illustrated Photos with Flying Lion - SEA CREATURES Edition!
Let photographer, illustrator and graphic designer Flying Lion help you unleash your creativity and playfulness through photography and illustration, finding sea creatures, and mythical beasts in our surroundings. Inspired by the Monsters of the Deep exhibition, you’ll discover unexpected ways of seeing and explore processes such as doodling over prints and experimenting with drawing tools to build a different point of view. Maximum fun guaranteed!
Artroom with GHAT
7, 14,21 and 28 June, 10:30 – 12:30
Art Gallery (Learning Space)
Pay what you can
We are delighted to partner with Grampian Hospitals Art Trust to bring Artroom to Aberdeen Art Gallery. Led by professional artists, these weekly sessions are person-centred and welcome adults of all abilities to experiment with art making in a variety of materials.
Support us and volunteer!
Are you interested in art and history? Share your ideas, experiences or just your time and make a real difference to Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums.
Volunteers are involved throughout our Gallery and Museums and provide both public facing and behind-the-scenes support. Their commitment and dedication help us to research, interpret and care for our culturally important collection.
We welcome anyone who is over 18 and has the right to work in the UK as a volunteer. All we ask for is enthusiasm and an interest in the work of Aberdeen Archives, Gallery and Museums, our city, and its heritage.
Our volunteers work in collections care, event support, administration, visitor experience and on special projects. No experience is necessary as we provide training for each volunteer role, so you will always feel comfortable and confident when you volunteer with us.
Join our volunteer mailing list to receive regular emails about upcoming volunteer opportunities. Download our Volunteering Mailing Form and send your completed form to: aagmvolunteers@aberdeencity.gov.uk
To receive monthly Bulletin alerts from us please email info@aagm.co.uk.
