Birds of a feather
Thursday 7 September 1pm
Events
Wednesday 2 August 6pm
Exhibition Tour
Audubon’s Scottish
Links
Lunch Time Talk*
Birds of a Feather:
Audubon’s Adventures in Edinburgh
Dr Graham Hogg details the significant impact that Regency
Edinburgh had on Audubon, drawing on extracts from his few
surviving journals that show how the city’s architecture, society and
intellectual life proved to be the catalyst for one of the world's most
famous and valuable books.
Scottish Wildlife Photographer of the Year and self-taught naturalist
Laurie Campbell shares his passion for wildlife and the rich variety of
species and habitats that exist in Scotland. Laurie has photographed
every kind of bird species over the past 30 years, from golden eagles
to garden birds. He outlines how composition, lighting and
imagination all play their part in taking stunning wildlife photography.
Thursday 14 September 7pm
Saturday 14 October 2-4 pm
Talk
A brief look at the origins and history of Europe’s largest
conservation charity; the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
(RSPB). A leading representative from the RSPB highlights some
Scottish wildlife reserves and the organisation’s work to improve
habitats for birds such as the capercaillie and the corncrake.The talk
also touches on topics from the broad spectrum of their work, such
as re- introducing species, protecting species, education, working with
farmers and policy and advisory work.
Family Event
The Big Draw
The Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow G3 7DN
Follow in the footsteps of Audubon and join in with our Big Draw
event for an afternoon of drawing, colouring and other fun activities,
ideally suited to families with young children. You and your family can
get involved in recreating one of the amazing giant images from Birds
of America and really let your creativity flow by inventing and
drawing your own fantasy birds.
Birds of America… in Scotland
Wednesday 9 August 7pm
One volume of Birds of America will be on display in the
Mitchell Library (Level 2) from 4 July – 14 October with a
different stunning original illustration on view each week.
There will also be an opportunity for visitors to browse
through a selection of some 40 images from this fabulous book in
digital or in print format. The book was generously donated by
Robert Jeffrey, a wealthy cotton spinner and bibliophile with a broad
collection of illustrated works.
See below for details of two events hosted in partnership with
NLS at the Mitchell Library during the autumn.
Talk
The Extraordinary Tale of an 8.8 Million
Dollar Book
The production of Audubon’s The Birds of America is a remarkable tale
of grit, determination and artistic ability. Professor Michael J Thomas
charts the incredible journey of a self-invented frontiersman of French
origin, whose portrait now hangs in the White House, in creating a
book that now sells for the price of an Old Master painting.
Tuesday 22 August 5pm
Talk
Birds of Scotland: A Photographer’s View
The RSPB in Scotland
John Chalmers, author of Audubon
in Edinburgh and his Scottish Links,
recounts the Scottish experiences
of the great American wildlife
artist. Chalmers sets the scene
with a vivid depiction of
Edinburgh’s social, scientific and
creative milieu in the 1820s and
1830s and outlines the roles that
some of the greatest figures of
the Scottish Enlightenment played,
in helping John James Audubon’s
vision for Birds of America become
a reality.
Friday 6 October
Exhibition Tour
Tuesday 19 September 6.30pm
Talk
Audubon’s Scottish Links
The Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow G3 7DN
Birds of a Feather:
Audubon’s Adventures in Edinburgh
See Wednesday 2 August for a full description. several volumes of
Birds of America will be on display.
Exhibition curator Dr Graham Hogg gives a guided tour of the
summer exhibition. Please note restricted numbers, booking
essential.
* In the interests of protecting the historic materials on display in this talks, we
politely remind visitors that food and drink may only be consumed in the Readers’
Canteen, on the ground floor of the George IV Bridge building.
Mitchell Library
North Street
Glasgow
G3 7DN
Phone: 0141 287 2999
Fax: 0141 287 2815
Email: [email protected]
www.glasgow.gov.uk/libraries
For more information
Booking a Place
Admission to all events and exhibitions is free unless specified.
Our events programme sometimes changes at short notice and
space is often limited, please phone or e-mail in advance to
book or confirm on the Events Line 0131 623 3845 or
[email protected]
Events
For more detailed enquiries and suggestions on the events
programme, please contact Lynne Kontou, Events Officer on
0131 623 3842 or at [email protected]
Exhibitions
All exhibitions are open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm,
Sunday 2pm to 5pm.
Audubon’s Adventures in Edinburgh
4 July-15 October 2006
Learning at the Library
For information about the free service on offer to schools,
colleges and community groups, contact the Education and
Outreach Officer on 0131 623 3841.
Access
There is level access to the George IV Bridge building from the
pavement, through doors that open automatically. Wheelchair
access to the exhibition and events hall is via a lift to the right of
the stairs. Assistance from staff is available if required.
Directions by bus and car
Buses, 23, 27, 41, 42 and 45 (Lothian Buses) all go via the city
centre and stop on George IV Bridge. If traveling by car, follow
signs for Edinburgh city centre; there is metered parking on
Chambers Street.
If you would like to subscribe to our new, free customer
magazine, Discover NLS, or would like to learn more about it,
please email [email protected] or call 0131 623 3762/3764
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EW
Events Line: 0131 623 3845
Typetalk: 18001 0131 623 4835
E-mail: [email protected]
Free
Exhibition
Paisley University Library
Paisley is home to four volumes of Audubon’s work, one of which is
currently on display in Paisley Museum. At the same time information
about Alexander Wilson, the father of American ornithology, will be
displayed in Paisley Library.
Birds of a feather
www.nls.uk
at the National Library
of Scotland
Opening Times:
Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm
(8pm during Edinburgh Festival)
Sunday 2pm - 5pm
Birds of a feather
A
s one of the world’s
greatest wildlife artists,
John James Audubon
(1785-1851) is forever linked to
the National Audubon Society,
an environmental organisation in the USA dedicated to the
conservation of birds and other wildlife.The production of
his most famous book, The Birds of America, began in
Edinburgh, aided by the city's leading lights in science and
literature.The exhibition charts the relationships among this
circle of brilliant men, offers a glimpse of how his
magnificent books were made and showcases plates from
Birds of America, one of the world’s most valuable books,
alongside a complete volume on display.
Audubon’s Adventures
in Edinburgh
Step back in time to a Georgian
drawing room in Edinburgh and learn
about the lives and work of the seven
influential figures who helped make Birds
of America possible.
Robert Jameson (1774-1854)
was Professor of Natural History at
Edinburgh University.
William Home Lizars
(1788-1859) was a talented artist
and engraver.
4 July-15 October
See Audubon’s work for yourself,
including life-size plates from
The Birds of America.
Learn how Audubon’s legacy has
influenced wildlife conservation, from the
19th century until to the present day.
Robert Knox
(1791-1862)
was a brilliant anatomist who
gave lectures and performed
dissections to packed audiences.
Sir Walter Scott
William MacGillivray
(1771-1832) was one of the
main reasons that Audubon
visited Edinburgh.
(1796-1852) was a keen ornithologist
who had worked with Robert
Jameson at the University natural
history museum.
George Combe
Captain Basil Hall
(1788-1858) was
a lawyer who
practised the
pseudo-science
of phrenology.
(1788-1844) travelled widely as a
navy commander and became a
prominent member of Edinburgh
society in the 1820s.
Visit a typical
engraver’s workshop
form the 1820s and
discover how these
remarkable works
were produced.