‘Refuge Garnethill’ was an exhibition that took place in Garnethill, Glasgow, Scotland, in 2019. It explored themes of heritage, culture and home through photographs taken by students from St Aloysius Church’s ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes.
Coming from a diverse range of countries - as widespread as Syria, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kurdistan (East, West and South), Iraq, Iran, Egypt, DRC, Kuwait, China, Vietnam and El Salvador - the ESOL students explored what these themes meant to them in their new home of Glasgow. With the aim of growing language, creativity and self-confidence, the photographs were taken through a series of six workshops with photographer Betty Meyer. ESOL tutors then supported the students in their research into and writing about, the history and heritage of Garnethill, Glasgow. Garnethill is built on a drumlin: an oval-shaped hill, largely composed of glacial drift, formed beneath a glacier or ice sheet. Formerly known as Summerhill, Garnethill is on the highest hill in the city. The area was named after Thomas Garnett (1766-1802), Professor of Natural Philosophy at Anderson’s Institution. The streets of Garnethill are as follows: West Graham, Buccleuch, Hill, Renfrew, Garnet, Garnethill, Scott, Dalhousie, Rose, Shamrock, Cambridge, New City Road. |
This website presents the ESOL students’ photographs with their writing. It provides some glimpses into the histories and buildings of Garnethill, Glasgow.
The exhibition was a collaboration between St Aloysius Church and The Glasgow School of Art, funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund. The exhibition took place at Fleming House, The Glasgow School of Art, 9-13 Sept 2019, touring to the Mitchell Library 16–22 Sept 2019 and Tenement House 1 Oct – 30 Nov 2019. St Aloysius ESOL Students: Aboubaker Hamed Hamil Javid Maryam Mohammed Mohammedi Nabil Salem Semira Zryan With thanks: Kevin Wyber, Father Dermot Preston, the ESOL students and teachers, Betty Meyer, Harriet Simms and GSA Exhibitions team. |