Sandra George: Glasgow International

Sandra George: Glasgow International
7 – 23 June 2024
5 Florence Street, Glasgow
Part of Glasgow International 2024

Born in Nottingham, Sandra George (1957-2013) lived the first seven years of her life in Jamaica with her mother, before moving to Birmingham, and then Edinburgh, to live with her father. George was a community worker in Craigmillar, Edinburgh, taking thousands of images of community projects across Scotland between the 1980s through to the late 2000s. Social justice and equity was at the heart of both George’s community and her artistic work, which was not exhibited during her lifetime. This solo exhibition presents George’s photography and a selection from her wider artistic multi-disciplinary practice, including printing, painting, bookworks, textiles and jewellery.

Her black and white photography includes subjects ranging from Braille classes at Royal Blind School Edinburgh, to capturing sessions with disabled musicians. Her perspective and insight as a Black female social documentary photographer and artist add further importance to this collection – women photographers of colour capturing community life in Scotland over this period are significantly underrepresented. The message of her work – community, care, accessibility and equality in the arts and workplaces, ethics in working with others in under-reached communities, and exploration of identity – remain important issues today.

This exhibition, curated by GSA Exhibitions Director Jenny Brownrigg, and the and accompanying programme is developed in collaboration with Craigmillar Now, a community-led arts and heritage organisation based in Craigmillar, Edinburgh. Craigmillar Now holds George’s archive and works with her family to digitise the photographs, and to grow George’s photographic legacy through greater visibility and profile.

Sandra George studied at Napier University gaining a BA in Photography; then a BA in Fine Art at Edinburgh College of Art in Drawing and Painting. In 2004 she graduated in Community Education at The University of Edinburgh. George was a freelance photographer for over 30 years for organisations and publications such as the Sentinel, the Tollcross Community Newspaper, Shelter, and the Craigmillar Festival News and the Craigmillar Chronicle. In the 1980s she worked in Community Development in Wester Hailes. In the 1990s she worked in Craigmillar, Edinburgh for organisations including McGovan House, the Thistle Foundation, and the Craigmillar Community Arts Centre. In 2008 she was Youth Services Manager with Hunter’s Hall Cooperative, Craigmillar. That year she launched Niddrie Community Youth Group.

Whilst George did not exhibit in her lifetime, Craigmillar Now have curated Sandra George, Craigmillar 1988–1994; The White House, Craigmillar 2022; Sandra George, Craigmillar 1988–1994, Oman’s Pub, Craigmillar 2023; and in the group exhibition We © Craigmillar, at The Craigmillar Heart’s Community Club 2023.

Supported by: The Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow Life and Assumption Studios. Also supported by Glasgow International with funds from the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund.