News Archive
PRESS RELEASE – 25/01/2007
Stars Turn Out for Exhibition
TV presenter, Lorraine Kelly was the special guest at an opening reception and dinner held in London’s Fleming Collection earlier this month to mark the opening of ‘Consider the Lilies’ exhibition which will be in the Berkeley Street gallery until 5th April 2007.
City of Discovery Campaign Chairman Lord Provost John Letford hosted the event for around 80 invited guests including City of Westminster Lord Mayor Alexander Nicoll, Lord and Lady Airlie, MPs Jim McGovern and Stewart Hosie, Robin Fleming (relative of Sir Ian Fleming, creator of 007 James Bond) and Andrew McIntosh Patrick, son of Dundee's landscape painter James McIntosh Patrick.
The occasion was part of an ongoing effort by the city to boost the profile of the project and put forward some valuable sponsorship opportunities for one of Dundee’s best-loved buildings to invitees.
Closing its doors in October 2005 and due to re-open in Spring 2008, the £8 million project entitled ‘Who We Are’ reflects the importance of the 150,000 objects in its collection to the identity of Dundee and its wider region.
The ’Consider the Lilies‘ exhibition consists of some sixty modern Scottish masterpieces from the period 1910–1980, by forty-eight artists, which are rarely shown outside Dundee. Many of the leading artists of the period will be featured including Edward Baird, John Bellany, the Scottish Colourists, Stanley Cursiter, John Duncan, Will Maclean, Alberto Morrocco and James McIntosh Patrick.
Consider the Lilies is the title of a painting by Peter Collins in the exhibition, while a pot of three lilies is Dundee’s coat of arms, symbolising the Virgin Mary, the city’s patron saint. The exhibition provides an exciting opportunity to see the best of Dundee’s modern art in the Scottish and English capitals.
City of Discovery Campaign Chair Lord Provost John Letford is delighted Dundee is being showcased in the Nation’s capitals. He said, “Dundee as a city prides itself on developing its world class cultural provision."
“The regeneration of McManus will elevate the museum to stand alongside many of the city’s other flagship developments adding to this positive profile, keeping Dundee punching well above its weight.”
Director of Leisure and Communities Stewart Murdoch said, “The reception and dinner hosted by the City of Discovery Campaign in London was a significant opportunity to target vital and specific sources of funding for this great enterprise."
“The benefits are long lasting, long term and literally ensure a place in history for all who are and become involved.”
Project Director John Stewart-Young said, “We were delighted to have been given this opportunity to showcase this magnificent collection and to use the occasion to appeal to funding decision makers that being involved in this landmark project will be monumental.”
An accompanying publication will celebrate Dundee’s modern collection and the re-development of McManus Galleries and Museum.