Legendary city poet to be honoured with exhibition at University of Dundee
The life of an inspirational author and teacher will be celebrated in a new exhibition at the University of Dundee.
Jim Stewart, who lost his battle with cancer in 2016, taught creative writing at the university and was described by Dundee’s Makar, W.N. Herbert, as “one of the most significant poets of the last decade”.
A Makar is a Scots poet laureate, with Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh Stirling and Aberdeen each having one.
A celebration of Jim’s work, including poetry, prose, pictures and personal letters, will open in the Tower Foyer Gallery in the university building on Saturday October 5.
The University of Dundee
Susan Haigh, co-organiser of the exhibition, said, “It has been a real privilege to pay tribute to Jim through this exhibition.
“He wrote poetry from childhood and went on to become one of Scotland’s finest nature poets.
“He rarely published his work, however, and often supplemented his income with bouts of window-cleaning and proof-reading, as he describes in letters included in the exhibition.”
Born in 1952, Jim grew up on Lochee Road after surviving a near-fatal bronchial illness in early infancy. He went on to study English at the University of Dundee and developed a deep reverence for nature and music which remained throughout his life.
The Tower Foyer Gallery in the Tower building University of Dundee.
Having graduated with a first class honours degree in English Literature in 1984, he returned as a lecturer and researcher in 1987, remaining at the university until his death. Regarded as an inspirational teacher and a loyal colleague, he was known for his formidable intellect and love of poetry.
Though modest about his talent in life, he had started to compile a collection of his poetry following his cancer diagnosis.
Though he lost his battle with the disease before completing the text, colleagues at the University’s English department completed the volume, entitled THIS, which was released last year.
Jim Stewart’s life and work will be celebrated at a special exhibition at the University of Dundee.
Central to this new exhibition is a portfolio box designed and created by Marion Archibald at her studio in The Old Printing Works, Thornton. The box contains a hand-painted book of tributes to Jim in the form of poetry and prose.
Created by Marion and Jim’s former student Keren Macpherson, the book folds out to five metres in length.
The exhibition also features several of Jim’s poems along with paintings and etchings by Keren and fellow artists Kirstie Behrens, Merran Gunn and Derek Robertson, interpreting and illustrating Jim’s poems in a personal way.
When
The exhibition runs from October 5 to December 14, Monday to Friday, 9.30am-7pm, and on Saturdays from 1-5pm.
A special event will take place on Friday October 11, between 5pm and 7pm, where readings of Jim’s poetry and harpsichord music by Claire Luxford will be performed.
FIND OUT MORE
Find out more about upcoming events at the University of Dundee here.
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