We’re thrilled to present the first public exhibition of Riverside Topographies I, a collaborative research project undertaken by 16 Collective and resident artist Eleni Wittbrodt, with communities in Govan from 2024 to 2025.
This day-long launch event at Elder Park Library, Saturday 5, July, from 10:30am – 4pm, will showcase our long-term initiative, which connects artists with communities along urban waterways to envision more equitable and democratic futures for these sites.
Drop-in, Free & Family Friendly!
Event Schedule:
🗓️ Saturday 5 July
10:30 – 16:00 @ Elder Park Library (family-friendly!)Film Premiere of First Light/High Tide tide by Eleni Wittbrodt
Publication launch: A Reader for the Govan Graving Docks
11:00 – 15:00 Model-Making Workshop with Gonca Yalçin 🎟️ Register Here!
We’ll be presenting a new photographic collection from Eleni Wittbrodt, archival materials of Govan’s history, and a premiere of Wittbrodt’s newly commissioned moving image work, First Light/High Tide (2025).
We also bring you our new publication: Riverside Topographies: Phase I – A Reader for the Govan Graving Docks which collects essays, poetry, interviews, archival materials and a photographic survey of the Govan Graving Docks 2024-25. The publication dives deep into Govan’s past and future — from speculative sculptures for a reclaimed riverbank to reflections on the area’s links with military infrastructures and histories of migration.
A key component of the project was our Govan Camera Club, an initiative led by Wittbrodt and Młyńczak and based at Elder Park Library during 2024, so we’re pleased to be back to share their work. This is phase I of our long-term project connecting artists with communities along urban waterways to envision more equitable and democratic futures for these sites.
Come for an open day of reading, workshops, archives and art, and the chance to grab your own copy of the publication:
🎈Saturday 5 July, 10:30–16:00 @ Elder Park Library
🔺Drop-in, Free & Family-friendly!
🎞️ Premiere screening of First Light/High Tide by Eleni Wittbrodt
📘 Publication launch: A Reader for the Govan Graving Docks
designed by @anne_buettner
✂️ Free Model-Making Workshop with @yalcingonca (11:00–15:00 — link in bio to register!)
About the event:
This iteration features exhibitions of our moving image and photography commission by Eleni Wittbrodt “First Light/High Tide” alongside a curated archival material display from the Elder Park Library records. Wittbrodt’s photographic work and our collective research — from speculative sculpture designs for a reclaimed riverbank to reflections on Govan’s ties to military and aerospace infrastructures — will be compiled in a new publication titled “A Reader for the Govan Graving Docks“.
A key component of the project involves the work with the CCA Seed Library and our Govan Camera Club members, initiatives led by Wittbrodt and Młyńczak and based at Elder Park Library during the summer and autumn of 2024.
Gonca Yalçin, PhD researcher and 16 Collective intern, will offer a hands-on drop-in workshop using model-making as a way to explore urban memory and imaginative futures locked in the Govan neighbourhood. You will also get a chance to animate puppets.
We would be thrilled to welcome you on the day, and warmly encourage you to share the invitation with your networks.
Access:
For accessibility details, please refer to the Elder Park Library Access Page. We are able to offer travel cost reimbursements of up to £5 per person to support workshop participation. If you have higher travel costs, please don’t hesitate to contact us on info@16collective.org in advance to discuss further support options.
Credits:
- Resident Artist: Eleni Wittbrodt
- Lead Curator: Aga Paulina Młyńczak
- Project Curators: Kelly Rappleye, Nell Cardozo
- Publication Editor: Nell Cardozo
- Workshop Facilitator: Gonca Yalçin
- Graphic Designer: Anne Büttner
- Contributors: Hamshya Rajkumar, Peter Breslin, Khem Rogaly, Govan Camera Club
- The book was produced and published by 16 Collective CIC 2025, www.16collective.org
Thanks to:
Glasgow Seed Library, Turning the Tide, Fablevision and Liz Gardiner, Clyde Docks Preservation Initiative, Sunny G, Marine Projects, Govan Community Project, Portal Arts, Maslow’s Community, Elder Park Library, and GALLANT.
Generously Funded by Creative Scotland, Open Project Fund
***
Join us for another screening and an opportunity to purchase the publication at the launch of Wittbrodt’s window exhibition at our 173 Trongate location on Friday 11th July at 6.00 PM – 9.00 PM.