To celebrate the bicentenary of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson‘s birth a programme of events and activities have been planned to take place throughout 2017. We will continue to update this calendar throughout the year with more and more exciting events as these are confirmed so please keep checking back. You can also sign up to our e-mail newsletter here to stay up to date.
![ATS Talks: Gary Paul - Palladio @ The Lighthouse](https://www.alexanderthomsonsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Andrea_palladio_fourth_book_image-300x189.jpg)
American architect and Renaissance architecture expert Gary Paul will discuss the work of Andrea Palladio, whilst also referring to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Alexander Thomson.
Andrea Palladio’s work has been valued as the quintessence of High Renaissance calm and harmony. His reputation is based on his skill as a designer of villas, located in what was the Venetian Republic in northeastern Italy. Palladio’s teachings, summarized in the architectural treatise, The Four Books of Architecture, gained him recognition around the world.
Gary Paul is a graduate of the schools of Architecture at the Boston Architectural Center (B Arch) and Harvard Graduate School of Design (M Arch). He has maintained a design practice in New York City for 30 years, working on homes, apartments and small commercial projects. Gary’s work has been featured in magazines such as House Beautiful, House & Garden and Veranda, Country Living and The Chicago Tribune/Homes, NY Women; and in articles in the Detroit Free Press, and The New York Observer, and The New York Times.
Gary has taught and served as Design Critic in Architecture and Interior Design Courses at New York University, City College, Harvard, Yale, the Univ. of Illinois (Chicago), the Roycemore School, Parsons School of Design, NY Institute of Technology and The Boston Architectural Center. A lifelong love of the work of Renaissance Architect Andrea Palladio has taken Gary on countless research trips across the north of Italy to study Palladio’s many villas and public buildings.
Gary has sought out the work of Palladio’s late Renaissance predecessors, such as Giulio Romano, Alberti, and Scamozzi, as well as the frescoed interiors by artists such as Veronese and Tiepolo, (father and son), in many of these buildings. He has also researched the political, cultural and religious forces which shaped the Veneto in the 16C giving greater context to this rich period of artistic endeavor.
In order to share his passion Gary has orchestrated and has led tours for clients, design industry professionals, and other architecture enthusiasts Gary’s tours traverse the backroads of the Veneto and up into the pre-Alps, from Mantua to Treviso, incorporating time for detours to view modern works such as those of the 20c architect Scarpa, to hidden treasures such as the Canova Museum, and, to magnificent walled towns such as Marostica and Sabbioneta and Asolo as well as, of course the Museum Palladio in Vicenza.
![Speculations On Infinity @ John McLintock Hall](https://www.alexanderthomsonsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Portrait-196x300.jpg)
“SPECULATIONS ON INFINITY”:
Short one-man play narrated by the man himself. This will be accompanied by a 1960s film on Thomson’s architecture from the NLS Film Archive. Thursday 13th April : 7.30pm in the John McLintock Hall, Dunmore St., Balfron. FREE but ticketed in advance (due to numbers). Tickets from Balfron Library
![St Vincent Street Church Thanksgiving Service @ St Vincent Street Church](https://www.alexanderthomsonsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/canmore_image_SC01023547-205x300.jpg)
A service will be held to remember Thomson’s work in gratitude at St Vincent Street Church on Sunday 7th May at 11.00 am to which all are cordially invited.
This will be a wonderful opportunity both to celebrate Thomson’s legacy, and to experience Thomson’s last remaining Church being used for its designed purpose.
![Southside Fringe Festival: Thomson on Tape @ Bungo-Lo](https://www.alexanderthomsonsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_2005-200x300.jpg)
Hosted as part of the Southside Fringe Festival, join us for an evening exploring a selection of rarely screened archive film about the life of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, his buildings and how his unique architectural style influenced Glasgow in the 1800s and today. Thomson’s legacy is particularly prominent in the Southside, having completed villas, terraces, churches and urban planning projects in the area. Whilst his personal life during his most creative period also centred here, as on completion of his terrace at Moray Place Thomson also chose to relocate his family to the area.
![Things as they are / as they ought to be @ Caledonia Road Church](https://www.alexanderthomsonsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/canmore_image_SC00382137-300x229.jpg)
Things as they are/as they ought to be is an exhibition of works spanning sculpture, film and textiles by artists Olivia Jones and Alberta Whittle. Taking place inside the ruin of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’s first church, the building’s context and style have acted as catalysts for conversations surrounding memory, history and appropriation between the curator and contributing artists. Experimenting with the tensions around dominant/collateral narratives and attributions, Jones and Whittle’s work seeks to explore such pressures and focus on historical interpretations or connotations that are often neglected.
![Symposium: Save Egyptian Halls @ The Lighthouse](https://www.alexanderthomsonsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Eventbrite-Header-copy-300x300.jpg)
The Save Egyptian Halls symposium brings speakers together discuss the significance of this A-listed building and how it might be saved.
Timetable tbc, speakers include:
Niall Murphy – Glasgow City Heritage Trust
Fiona Sinclair – Fiona Sinclair Architects
Scott Abercrombie / Mark Baines – The Alexander Thomson Society
Ben Adam – David Narro Associates
Andrew McConnell – Glasgow Building Preservation Trust
Dara Parsons – Historic Environment Scotland
Jamie McNamara – Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
![ATS Talks: The Alexander Thomson Lecture - Amin Taha @ St Vincent Street Church](https://www.alexanderthomsonsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Poster-300x300.jpg)
We are delighted that this year’s Alexander Thomson Lecture will be delivered by Amin Taha. The London-based, Stirling Prize nominated architect of buildings such as 15 Clerkenwell Close and Barrett’s Grove will deliver a talk reflecting on his work and his approach to architecture.
The Society were interested by Amin’s approach to the use of stone masonry, texture and pattern, and his abstracted use of classical forms in his Upper Street project.