The Edinburgh Reporter November 2020

@EdinReporter /EdinReporter edinburghreporter theedinburghreporter.co.uk WHAT'S ON 19
Raise a glass to Fizz Fridays
Wine expert Diana Thompson is
hoping to chase away the winter
blues with an online winter wine
festival.
Although there are mid week
events we think the best idea is to
rev up towards the weekend with
one of her Five Fizz Fridays each
one featuring a different kind of
fizz.
Diana said: "Even though we
can't have Fizz Feast this year, it's
not going to stop us enjoying a
bonanza of bubbles this autumn.
We're going to be popping plenty
of corks together across Zoom
Andrea Wirsching of the Hans Wirsching Winery,
left, and Diana Thompson. PHOTO: Shannon Tofts
Largest Harryhausen exhibition on now
By Phyllis Stephen
The largest and most
comprehensive exhibition of
Harryhausen paraphernalia ever
shown is now on. The movie
maker and producer who inspired
others like Stephen Spielberg and
George Lucas was a one man band
who nowadays would be replaced
by the thousands of animators and
artists creating CGI films.
The National Galleries of
Scotland are devoting the
entire gallery to a thrilling and
immersive exhibition all about the
unparalleled work of the late Ray
Harryhausen (1920-2012), who
would have celebrated his 100th
birthday this summer.
It was his work and his movies
Ray with camera and Krakan (Clash of the Titans)
during five very special Fizz
Fridays. It is a chance to get
together safely, learn something
new and enjoy ourselves. What
could be more fun than trying
out fabulous fizz and starting
your weekend off with a touch of
sparkle?
"These online tastings are a great
way to join with friends, family and
like-minded wine lovers to find out
more about your favourite fizz, or
try something new. I switched my
regular tastings to Zoom during
lockdown and they all sold out, so
I know people enjoyed them. The
which shaped the face of modern
cinema. The exhibition is the
largest and most comprehensive
exhibition of the art of the
Harryhausen to date. He elevated
stop-motion to an art-form
between the 1950s-1980s, with
films such as Clash of the Titans,
Jason and the Argonauts with the
iconic skeleton warriors, and The
7th Voyage of Sinbad.
I joined an online talk about the
exhibition hosted by the Director
of the Scottish National Galleries
of Modern Art, Simon Groom,
speaking with Ray Harryhausen’s
daughter, Vanessa Harryhausen,
and filmmaker, John Walsh, both of
whom are trustees of The Ray and
Diana Harryhausen Foundation.
tastings are giving people a reason
to get together online – as much
fun as a quiz can be, it’s quite nice
to have other options too. I’ve
designed all of these tastings to
be unique, so different sparkling
wine styles feature in each one,
and I’ve kept costs as low as
possible."
Each live tasting is hosted by
Diana and lasts an hour. Three
sparkling wines are tasted during
each session, with information
about the wine itself, where it is
from, the history behind it, as well
as what to drink it with.
Teaming up with independent
wine producers and merchants
Diana offers wines including
French Crémant, made using the
same technique as Champagne,
but is from outside the
Champagne region, sparkling rosé,
Méthode Cap Classique wine from
South Africa, also made by the
same bottle-fermented method
as champagne, and a Taittinger
Champagne tasting.
"Best of the Bubbles’" will
highlight special offers on
sparkling wines available in
supermarkets that are particularly
good value."
wineeventsscotland.co.uk
They discussed Ray's life and
work. For Vanessa, the memories
of coming home from boarding
school and running upstairs to see
her father were all associated with
him drawing and making models in
a little annexe off his attic studio.
She commented that it might have
been a bit of a lonely existence for
him, working alone, and that he
was a very hard worker. She said:
"He had so many talents, and he
never turned me away. He was
very kind and patient and always
welcomed me in. He put a lot of
thought into his characters and
wanted people to enjoy the magic
of the films. It is astonishing that it
is now 40 years since Clash of the
Titans and 80 since his work on
film began. This exhibition takes
up a whole gallery and he would
have been so thrilled to see it."
Her fellow trustee, John
Walsh, was fortunate to meet
Harryhausen in his home studio
several times, the first when he
was making a documentary about
his work narrated by Tom Baker.
The Foundation was set up
to gather and maintain all the
artefacts of the artist's life and
work, of which there are around
50,000.
Needless to say they are not
all on display in Edinburgh, but
you should expect something
remarkable when you book your
visit to Modern Two.
Ray Harryhausen | Titan of
Cinema runs at Scottish National
Gallery of Modern Art (Modern
Two) until 5 September 2021.
www.nationalgalleries.org/
Rosie's new
single release
Edinburgh singer songwiter
Rosie Nimmo is releasing a single
'Choices' from her forthcoming
album Where TIme Suspends
this month. The album will
be published in the new year,
although it is available online now.
Rosie says about the new song:
"Is it just me who finds decision
making really hard? I don't think
so.... I had just learned to play the
guitar part for My Funny Valentine,
a song I sing in the jazz duo I'm
in and really loved some of the
descending chords, so I wrote
my own song using some of
these chords to try to incorporate
some more skilled playing in my
repertoire."
Author Ian Rankin has already
tweeted about the album. He said
it is one of four albums which were
making up his soundtrack of the
week. He also called it 'beautiful'
which is high praise indeed.
Rosie has been singing jazz and
blues for several years, including
performances at the Edinburgh
Jazz Festival and the Book
Festival.
www.rosienimmo.com
Book Week
Scotland 2020
Scottish Book Trust has
launched Book Week Scotland’s
2020 programme, which focuses
on the theme of Future.
The national charity changing
lives through reading and writing,
will stage this week online - and
you can join in.
Book Week Scotland is the
country’s biggest celebration of
reading and writing and it returns
for its ninth year from Monday
16 November to Sunday 22
November. Although there will be
no face-to-face events this year,
the Digital Festival has a stellar
line-up including award-winning
author Denise Mina; actress and
comedian Ruby Wax; bestselling
crime writer Louise Welsh and
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
To begin the programme, writer
Luke Winter joins Book Week
Scotland for Dial a Story, a live
writing service that will take
place in Edinburgh on Monday
16 November. Stationed at the
Scottish Book Trust phonebox,
Luke will be available to write
personalised stories on his
typewriter, which will be mailed to
the participant. Members of the
public can call Luke on 07818 173
266 between 11am and 2pm.
There will also be the opportunity
for the public to take part in
an online treasure hunt on
Scottish Book Trust’s social
media channels to win a Zoom
appointment with Luke Winter.
During the session, he will write
a unique story for the winner: a
perfect Christmas present for a
loved one or friend.
Fallas blossoms
at Southside
art gallery
Southside gallery, Art & Craft
Collective, presents an exhibition
of Deborah Fallas’ still life original
acrylic paintings of flowers and
fruit until 19 December.
This is the first in a new series of
‘featured artist’ exhibitions which
will each run for an eight week
period.
Deborah explained the
background to her art. Her
favourite subject is flowers, as
it reflects her love of colour and
nature.
She said: “I also only paint what
I myself would like to have on
my wall at home. If I wouldn’t be
happy looking at it every day, I
won’t paint it.
“I particularly love big full blooms
as I feel they are a celebration
of colour and life. I feel happy
creating my work and I would love
to think my paintings make other
people happy too.”
Deborah’s work is bright
and joyful with strong colour
combinations. Energetic and
impactful with loose, bold
brushstrokes.
Originally from Aberdeen, she
has lived in the Scottish Borders
for more than 30 years after
moving there to study.
After graduating she worked in
the clothing industry, and then
started to work for herself in the
late nineties. In the past few years,
looking for an additional outlet for
creative ideas, she has returned to
painting, which she always loved.
She paints exclusively in acrylics
as she loves the bright colours she
can achieve with them and their
versatility.
She has taken part in the Borders
Art Fair, Art at Ancrum and a
number of local exhibitions in the
Scottish Borders, an area which
will always be a huge source of
inspiration.
Opening hours: Tuesday to
Sunday 11am to 4pm.
Art & Craft Collective 93
Causewayside, EH9 1QG. 0131 629
9123 / 0780 1581674.
www.artcraftcollective.co.uk