A Renga with Ian Stephen
A collective walking & writing event in memory of Gerry Loose, mastered by Ian Stephen.
Gerry Loose (1948-2024) was a well respected poet with long connections to both Lapidus Scotland and Glasgow Botanic Gardens. As Poet-in-Residence at the Gardens, Gerry organised events and created poems for slates and stones.
Renga is a communal form of writing practiced by Gerry, with roots in Japan. This is the third in a series of renga organised by Lapidus Scotland to remember Gerry. During these events we visit those poems of Gerry's that remain in the Gardens, and use them and their settings as prompts for writing.
Facilitated by Ian Stephen and hosted by Ken Cockburn.
Please note this event was to have been mastered by Alan Spence. Unfortunately Alan has had to withdraw, and we are pleased that Ian has agreed to take his place.
Ian Stephen is a writer, artist and storyteller from the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. He graduated from Aberdeen University (B Ed with distinction) before working for 15 years in the coastguard service, based in Stornoway. Since 1995 he has worked full-time in the arts, after winning the inaugural Robert Louis Stevenson award. From the late 70s on, his poetry and short fiction have been published in numerous UK journals, and in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland and the USA. His poetry collections include Varying States of Grace (1989), It’s about this (2004)and Maritime: new and selected poems (2016).
*
Please note this is a drop-in event. You're free to join us at any point, and to stay for as long as you'd like.
The event is free, but if you would like to contribute to its costs please consider buying a 'donation' ticket. Suggested donation £10.00.
Please note that you only need to book once – either a free ticket, or a 'donation' ticket.
If you book a free ticket, and later decide you wish to make a donation, you can do so via the Lapidus Scotland website here.
A collective walking & writing event in memory of Gerry Loose, mastered by Ian Stephen.
Gerry Loose (1948-2024) was a well respected poet with long connections to both Lapidus Scotland and Glasgow Botanic Gardens. As Poet-in-Residence at the Gardens, Gerry organised events and created poems for slates and stones.
Renga is a communal form of writing practiced by Gerry, with roots in Japan. This is the third in a series of renga organised by Lapidus Scotland to remember Gerry. During these events we visit those poems of Gerry's that remain in the Gardens, and use them and their settings as prompts for writing.
Facilitated by Ian Stephen and hosted by Ken Cockburn.
Please note this event was to have been mastered by Alan Spence. Unfortunately Alan has had to withdraw, and we are pleased that Ian has agreed to take his place.
Ian Stephen is a writer, artist and storyteller from the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. He graduated from Aberdeen University (B Ed with distinction) before working for 15 years in the coastguard service, based in Stornoway. Since 1995 he has worked full-time in the arts, after winning the inaugural Robert Louis Stevenson award. From the late 70s on, his poetry and short fiction have been published in numerous UK journals, and in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland and the USA. His poetry collections include Varying States of Grace (1989), It’s about this (2004)and Maritime: new and selected poems (2016).
*
Please note this is a drop-in event. You're free to join us at any point, and to stay for as long as you'd like.
The event is free, but if you would like to contribute to its costs please consider buying a 'donation' ticket. Suggested donation £10.00.
Please note that you only need to book once – either a free ticket, or a 'donation' ticket.
If you book a free ticket, and later decide you wish to make a donation, you can do so via the Lapidus Scotland website here.
Images: River Kelvin; Ash tree; part of a work by Gerry Loose in Glasgow Botanic Gardens; Ian Stephen; Gerry Loose; renga at Glasgow Botanic Gardens, May 2025
Good to know
Highlights
- 4 hours 30 minutes
- In person
Refund Policy
Location
Kibble Palace
Botanic Gardens
Glasgow G12 0UE
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