Exhibition: Origin of WA – Before the Mask

Willie Sutherland at French Street Studios
103 – 109 French Street, Dalmarnock, Glasgow G40 4JS
“I was a solitary child obsessed by drawing, dressing up and telling stories with my toys, I have explored how these characteristics formed me as an adult and forms my creative practice as I continue to tell stories through my makings.”
“I have created a tale of childhood and loss of innocence including themes of self-awareness, community and forming relationships which I hope will provoke an emotional response from the viewer as well as opening a dialogue around such issues as childhood trauma, autism and the healing power of art. “
“I will encourage the audience to create and write their own stories based on the images they are presented with and will collate these on the website.”
“Bob’s journey is told through a series of large-scale paintings, diorama and sculpture created in a naïve and nostalgic manner reminiscent of children’s story books and churches where a narrative can be followed visually.”
“The story explores Maslow’s hierarchy of needs food/shelter/relationships/self-esteem/self-actualisation and portrays these in an accessible relatable manner whilst provoking the viewer to create their own narrative for individual pieces and the exhibition as a whole.”
www.williewawa.com/origin-of-wa
Dates & Times
Opens Friday 15 July 2022 4pm – 9pm
Sat 16, Sun 17, Fri 22, Sat 23, Sun 24 (11am – 6pm)
French Street Studios
French St Studios is a beautiful old red brick building, once a weaving factory, now repurposed for use as an exhibition and gallery space as well as to be used by the local community for cultural endeavours.
Getting there
There is ample free parking directly outside the venue and surrounding streets. It takes only 5 minutes to drive from the city centre to the venue. You can catch a train from Low Level Glasgow Central to Dalmarnock Station – only 6 minutes walk to the studios. There are trains every 10 – 15 minutes.
This section: Art & artists Glasgow West End, Art, Photography, Exhibitions what's on-glasgow, Pat's Home Page Blog, What's On Glasgow West End: cinema, clubs, theatre, music, events, festivals, community and more
Related Pages
- Gentle, Angy Women at GFT
- The Lost Bus at GFT
- Glasgow Youth Film Festival 2025
- Take 2: Fantastic Mr Fox at GFT
- Brides at GFT
- The House of Mirth at GFT
- Reality Is Not Enough at GFT
- One Battle After Another
- Andrew O’Hagan In Conversation with Kirstin Innes
- Amplify Guitar Slam – Guitar Taster for Kids
- October 2025 Programme at GFT
- Document Human Rights Film Festival, Glasgow
- Ocean with David Attenborough: Community Screening & Q&A at GFT
- Woodlands Community – Anti Racist Film Club
- Aye Write 2025: Denise Mina and Helen Fields in conversation with Bryan Burnett
- Love Letters To A Murder – The Mythology of Madeleine Smith
- Book Launch: Benbecula by Graeme Macrae Burnet
- Reclaim the Clyde – Poetry and Music to celebrate our river
- The Glasgow Shanty Festival
- Terry Neason Songs and Words