‘In the eyes of LISA’
“While others slept, the Lithuanians still worked – as if forever at their workplace. They were carrying the duty of their fellow workers, who for many years slaved in the Scottish coal mines, unknowingly, as the strike breakers. Many an amateur typesetter would complete his usual day at the coal mine to work all night on Lithuanian press. What they lacked in technical ability and experience they made up by tremendous enthusiasm and willingness to work for the good of the worker.”
‘In the eyes of LISA’ (2019) A written fragment based on texts by James D. White.
‘In the eyes of LISA’ draws on the history of the Lithuanian migrant community in Lanarkshire in the 19th and 20th centuries and their role in the heavy industries that contributed to the wealth of Glasgow. The exhibition serves to commemorate a fraction of the migrant labour engraved within the fabric of the city.
‘In the eyes of LISA’ is the final exhibition featured in the ‘Of Lovely Tyrants and Invisible Women’ programme investigating themes of spatial politics, gender and racial hierarchies within imperial architecture. ‘Of Lovely Tyrants and Invisible Women’ is co-curated by Director, Sarah Strang and Associate Curator, Alasdair Campbell and is generously funded by Creative Scotland with additional project funding provided by Heritage Lottery Fund and Glasgow City Heritage Trust. Civic Room receives support in-kind from Oran Mor, Carson & Partners and Civic Room Advisory. Included as part of the shadow programme of Lithuanian Days in Scotland.
With thanks to The Lithuanian Social Club Bellshill, Cait Mcglinchey and her family, Alan Poutney, James D. White, Gintare Venzlauskaite, Daina Bytautiene, Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life – Culture NL, National Mining Museum Scotland, Motherwell Heritage Centre and “Saduta” Lithuanian folk group for their input and support of the project.