Fun by degrees
(Street Party to celebrate Degree Show: Glasgow, Scotland)
It has been a busy busy couple of days here in Glasgow. Degree Show hit me square between the eyes on Thursday night at the opening. It hit me harder on Friday night when the street party opened, attracting all manner of arty types and their plastic bags of drinks. There was a rather grungy feel this year, with a lot of people in greys and muted tones – it seems that gone are the days of colourful craziness. The recession has taken it’s toll on art school, sartorially speaking. The street party starts at 6pm with DJs pumping out reggae and ska tunes to loosen up the early revelers such as our small party arrival at 8pm. The street is closed to traffic for the evening, allowing general dancing and tomfoolery to take place. Although there are outdoor bars, they are pricey, especially when one has to suffer a warm pint in a plastic cup. Instead of queuing at the bars, we opted for bringing our own beverages and drink them at a sensible pace, unlike these miscreants you can see standing atop the pillars at the gates of the Mackintosh. Security were making attempts to pull them down before they yanked off the rest of their clothing. This public display of chest is very unusual, even at the art school and the staff were attempting to contain the madness before somebody fell in a fit of fun. You can just see a high visibility vest clawing at the farthest ‘reveler’ to bring him to safety.
On the Thursday, I gained admittance to the actual Degree Show of my former department, Product Design. I am now too old to recognise the faces of any of this years graduating class, but there were many familiar ones from staff and former students that I was able to catch up with. I find that upon attendance to the show, there are certain inescapable facts; I will always note that this show is more professional than the last, that the free bar is far better and I will bump into a particular three of my former tutors who will engage me in conversation, some of them for an extended period of time. This I do not mind at all which is fortunate, since I don’t think I will ever manage to wheedle my way out of some conversations, nor steer them in a vaguely sensible direction. Some of the staff at the art school are surely dancing along the cusp of insanity – or if not, they have taken eccentricity to a commendably high level. The quality of the banter this year was impeccable and I have enjoyed this year’s show as much, if not more than any previous one. I met so many friends and former classmates that I haven’t seen in a long time, celebrated the last show in the current buildings and said my goodbyes to the Vic Bar.
Friday tickets for the Vic were hot property – there have never been tickets for this night since I have been connected with the school. The union works on a first come, first served basis every year. Hence, I was caught out this time and ended up ticketless through non realisation. I was very dismayed; the Vic has remained one of my favourite venues of all time as I don’t recall ever having had a bad time there. I have enjoyed being there each time I have attended (which have been numerous). Ying held a fundraiser there, I have celebrated birthdays there (most recently the ‘Nasty Nineteen Eighties Cocktail Costume Party), I have attended many a ‘legendary’ Hallowe’en Ball there, danced with my last three boyfriends there and was given my analoguegirl.co.uk domain whilst in there, the list is long. So is my love affair with that place, I went there for the first time in 2003, almost eight years ago.* Despite my mature approach to the upset caused by the sold out situation, I was still disappointed on the night, but resigned myself to other plans – especially since I was having so much fun wherever I was. The street party is held a mere three or four minutes walk from my flat so instead of using the portaloos provided, friends and I traipse home to use my facilities before heading out again. This is a very successful practice that has been going on for years. I was having so much fun on the way home, at home and on the way back with everybody that I hardly minded about the Vic. That was until my friend Anna managed to procure four tickets for the final night at the Vic bar, just in the nick of time and even free of charge. I believe I kissed the boy responsible on each cheek and perhaps called him “a diamond” before entering the Vic to dance for the last time. A perfect end to a wonderful night.
* Yes, I am that old. Hopefully I will never grow too old to enjoy Degree Show.
– Today Rosie is at a picnic, seeing more of the Degree Show, watching the Grand Prix and attending an Oxfam meeting in Glasgow, Scotland –
