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Mack Memories: Remembering the Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art

Mack Memories: Remembering the Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art

by Robyne Calvert

Arts Society & Culture

Season 1

Mack Memories: Jade Halbert

Jade Halbert has a different connection to the Mack than some other guests - she never studied or worked there, but saw it nearly every week of her life when visiting her Grannie in Cowcaddens. I met Jade when she was a twenty-something proprietor of a wee vintage clothing shop downstairs from my old Skirving Street flat. Now, she is an expert academic, a BBC Next Generation Thinker who specialises in the histories of manufacturing in fashion. Her research is focused on recovering the unwritten histories of making with emphasis on the transmission of manual expertise across a range of production environments, from the factory to the home. Concentrating on oral histories and other first-hand accounts from the workroom and the wardrobe, Jade was the perfect critical friend to help me test out both my interview questions, and my equipment. She was in fact the first person I chatted with, which is why this one is a bit shorter, and I don't hit her with my usual opening question of 'Describe the building' - it was Jade who suggested that one! Music is nearly 100 other performers by jeye.

Mack Memories: Bruce Peter

Here is an anecdote about my third wonderful guest: this one time, in 2013 or so, Bruce Peter and I took a bunch of GSA students on a study trip to Budapest. As we sat across the RyanAir aisle, I watched him type out his latest tome with just two fingers! This becomes even more amazing when you know he is the author of over 40 books, although I have to wonder what he would accomplish if he'd used all 10 digits. But Bruce has certainly earned his Professorship of Design History! His research interests encompass twentieth century architecture and design with a particular focus upon environments for transport and leisure. He has also advised on the selection of exhibits for the Victoria & Albert Museum’s successful ‘Ocean Liners: Speed and Style’ exhibition. His recent publication ‘Art Deco Scotland: Design and Architecture in the Jazz Age’, published by Historic Environment Scotland, won the Saltire Research Book of the Year Award 2025. He is a font of knowledge, and also just a super fun and collegial guy! Music is nearly 100 other performers by jeye.

Mack Memories: Catherine Owen

Dr Catherine Owen is a woman about town: you'll find her at a gig, chatting at a gallery opening, or hauling yet another Georgian chair home on the train to reupholster for the fun of it. By day, she's a Lecturer at the University of Glasgow's Adam Smith Business School, teaching Strategy and Risk Management. Her research asks what non-human actors - objects, spaces, systems - contribute to strategic outcomes, and her PhD used the Glasgow School of Art and the Mackintosh Building as a case study to illustrate how theories of material agency can further understanding of strategy. Catherine also consults widely across Scotland's creative and destination industries, including past work advising GSA on its internationalisation strategy, and with the CCA and Creative Scotland. Here she eloquently talks to me about her more social, personal relationship with the Mack, and its vitality for the city. Music is nearly 100 other performers by jeye.

Mack Memories: Sam Ainsley

Who in the arts community in Glasgow doesn't know and admire my very first guest, Sam Ainsley? A member of the Royal Scottish Academy, Sam is an artist and teacher who taught on the Environmental Art programme at The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) from 1985 to 1991, before co-founding the Master of Fine Art (MFA) programme in 1991, where she remained Head until 2005. Her artwork is held by a number of public and private collections nationally and internationally, and she is a tireless advocate for the visual arts in Glasgow. She also has a collection of necklaces that I deeply envy. Photo by Alan Dimmick ca. 1989, courtesy Sam Ainsley. Music is nearly 100 other performers by jeye.

Mack Memories: Johnny Rodger - What is 'The Mack' anyway? - Trailer 3

What do we mean when we say 'The Mack', or 'The Art School'? For many (locals especially) the Mackintosh Building is The Glasgow School of Art; for vintage alumni & staff, the 'Mac(k)' is the School of Architecture. My chat with the dyanamic Johnny Rodger afforded an opportune moment to clarify this, and to talk about 'other' buildings on campus, some of which are now long gone. Enjoy this illuminating outtake of the full (and rather epic) interview coming in a few weeks time.

Mack Memories: Microchat with Karen Mailley

I didn’t get to do a full interview with the brilliant Dr Karen Mailley as we were testing Zoom audio quirks for this and her fantastic podcast ‘Round the Studios’ - which you should definitely follow! But we did manage a wee chat reminiscing how the building affected us as historians of the Glasgow Style era. Here is a clip with some related images - some my own, and a few from @gsaarchives which has an amazing collection of photos. Dr Karen Mailley is an academic and heritage professional who has worked in the museum and heritage sector(s) for over a decade. She specialises in heritage outreach and engagement with a community focus using archives, material culture and feminist and intersectional methodologies as the core foundation of her work. Music is nearly 100 other performers by jeye.

Mack Memories Trailer 2 - Bruce Peter

An outtake of me and Prof Bruce Peter reminiscing about the Tableaux Vivantes my students designed and performed in 2012-13. More about these with images here: https://robynecalvert.com/2013/11/22/tableaux-vivants-redux/

Mack Memories Trailer 1 - Catherine Owen

An outtake with Dr Catherine Owen, where we get into the emotional impact of the building.

Mack Memories: Introduction

Just a quick teaser to say what this will all be about.