Glasgow

Another long drive to start the day - 3 hrs from Inverness to Glasgow. It was a scenic, easy drive though, and we are now settled in our roomy, comfortable accommodation.

Our first point of call in Glasgow was St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art. This was a gorgeous little museum and I wished that it was available in Brisbane - everything we are required to teach in primary school Religious Education was right there on display! The museum's main display was ordered using significant life events from Birth through to Death, exploring people's religious lives with regard to these events. The following gallery told the story of religion in the west of Scotland. Another gallery looked at the role of angels in religion, with an aural background of contemporary songs about angels playing through the speakers in this gallery. There was a beautiful vibe of tolerance and peace throughout our visit.

We headed over to the Glasgow Cathedral after St Mungo's. What a gorgeous cathedral! The docent was telling us about the German windows in the cathedral in the 1850s, and within a few decades they were so covered in pollution (industrial revolution!) that they were removed and put into storage and replaced with plain glass. They have plans to clean them off and reinstall them one day.  Another story was of the beautiful stained glass panels telling the creation story, installed in the 1950s. When the ladies of the committee (beware the church committee!) saw that Adam and Eve were naked they were most affronted and wanted the windows taken down! Thankfully no-one obliged them.

A wander through town to a board games shop, an afternoon tea in a Russian restaurant, and a purchase of blue velvet shoes topped off the day.

Shiva dancing.  One of the Hindu trinity: Creator (Brahma), Preserver (Vishnu), and Destroyer/Regenerator (Shiva).  

A bodhisattva.  Each of the arrayed arms has an eye in its palm.  The heightened ability to perceive human need (the eye) cannot be separated from actions taken to attempt to relieve that need (the hand).

West African shrines to successful ancestors.  In this case, the "success" of the ancestors was probably due to collecting slaves for sale to Europeans for export to the New World.

Islamic modern art.  Explanation given above.  Lovely interplay of positive and negative space, allusion to the Kaaba, and the use of different styles of script for a different emotional impact.  That before getting to the translations of the script.

Glasgow Cathedral.  Like most of Scotland, the architectural style of choice is "soot-encrusted stone".

The main western window with (gasp!) pubic hair visible!

As at St Giles in Edinburgh, the darkness of the walls significantly enhances the intensity of the stained glass.

St Mungo's grave in the cathedral's crypt, with tapestry behind.