AILSA TURNER – Dynamic Directions: an introduction to the paintings of Stanley Cursiter (1887-1976).
Stanley Cursiter was a gifted artist from Orkney who became an enlightened Director of the Scottish National Gallery, in fact, the last professional artist to hold the post. He also championed the foundation of a Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. Cursiter’s paintings reflect his fascination with light, colour, contemporary life and landscape but also his engagement with the art of the past and present. He is one of the few artists whose work is represented in all three Scottish National Galleries. The talk will focus on a range of paintings in Scottish collections including his striking painting ‘Girl with Pewter Jug’ in the Hunterian Art Collection and at present on display in Kelvin Hall.
Ailsa Turner has recently retired as a tutor in Art History for the University of Glasgow’s Short Courses (Life- Long Learning) programme. Over the last seventeen years working for the University of Glasgow, Ailsa has provided courses and specialist study days on Renaissance Art and Architecture, 17th Century Dutch and Flemish Painting, Spanish and Scottish Painting.
Ailsa is a graduate of the Courtauld Institute of Art and before moving to Glasgow with her family was a full- time lecturer for ten years in the education department of the National Gallery in London.
