A major portrait of Alasdair Gray is to be unveiled on Wednesday 23rd June at Oran Mor, 731 Great Western Road, Glasgow.
The painting was commissioned from leading Scots artist Sandy Moffat by Democratic Left Scotland, Scotland ‘s radical, feminist and green organisation. The unveiling will be at 6.30pm at Oran Mor. All are welcome for the ceremony.
The portrait will be unveiled by the Scottish Arts Council’s head of literature Dr Gavin Wallace.
Alasdair Gray is the author of a number of influential books, including Lanark. Originally a lecturer at Glasgow School of Art, Gray wrote Lanark over a 25 year period. It is the greatest inspiration on the new Scottish urban literature of, amongst others, James Kelman and Irvine Welsh.
Oran Mor was chosen to house the painting both because of Gray’s links with the building and its role as Scotland’s leading centre for popular culture. Alasdair Gray painted the ceiling murals in the main hall. Sandy Moffat is one of the most significant Scottish portrait artists of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. His most prominent works include portraits of Dame Muriel Spark and Iain Hamilton Finlay, as well as the “Poet’s Pub” featuring Hugh MacDiarmid, Norman MacCaig and Sorley MacLean.
Stuart Fairweather, convener of Democratic Left Scotland said: “Alasdair Gray is an inspiration for all Scottish radicals. His contribution to Scottish culture has been enormous and we wanted to honour that. We are delighted that Alasdair Gray allowed the commission and that Sandy Moffat has been able to it for us. This shows an enormous generosity of time and spirit on both their parts. We hope it will become the definitive image of Alasdair Gray, and that it will add enormously to its surroundings in Oran Mor.”
Colin Beattie, of Oran Mor, said: “It is fantastic to be able to hang this painting. We are enormously grateful to Sandy Moffat, Democratic Left Scotland and of course to Alasdair Gray for giving us this opportunity. We hope that it will add to the cultural life of Glasgow and to Scotland.”
It is worth noting that Sandy Moffat, the ”onlie begetter ” of the painting,waived his fee saying that he was doing Alasdair’s portrait ”for the common good, ” warming sentiments in a chilly ,neoliberal world.
Colin Beattie, proprietor of Oran Mor, waived his fee for the hire of the splendid Auditorium where the painting will be unveiled.