Greer Pester, Mother Clyde

Saturday 10th May - Sunday 11th May 2025

Location: Outer Spaces, 30 St Vincent Place, Glasgow, G1 2HL

For this work Greer Pester draws inspiration from the bust of Father Clyde, an emblem of prosperity placed above the entrance to Glasgow's oldest bank in the 1800s. The title of the commission, Mother Clyde, offers a counterpoint to the traditional myth of the river as a provider of material wealth. Instead, Mother Clyde invokes a new imagined deity that embodies the feminine power of the river, challenging the capitalist ideals upheld by the original bank. This reimagined mythology critiques the ongoing environmental toll of material wealth, envisioning a sacred space for slowing down, reflecting, and embracing the river’s roles of fragility, resilience, and renewal.

Mother Clyde, a spoken word piece by Greer Pester read by her mother Angela Cummiskey and soundtrack by Curlew (Gill Higgins) accompanies the installation. Live sound interventions by Pauline and the Matches and Amulet, created in response to the installation, were performed during the opening weekend. Watch the performance by Amulet below.

Greer Pester is a Glaswegian visual and social artist whose multidisciplinary practice is deeply rooted in community and social engagement. Pester’s diverse practice spans cut-outs, collage, inflatable and textile sculpture, painting, drawing, and installation. Her approach is deeply informed by her role as a social artist, where she works with community groups and in art education settings to engage with a range of societal issues and themes.

Throughout her career, Pester has participated in artist residencies in the UK, Mexico, and Senegal, each enriching her practice with new cultural and social perspectives. Currently, she is delivering projects for the Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh as part of their Creative Connections programme, as well as leading storytelling and creative evaluation workshops with The Village Storytelling Centre in Pollok.

A performance by Amulet, composed in response to Pester's commission, took place on Saturday 10th May 2025. Video by Nat McGowan

Amulet make repetition-based experimental folk to keep you safe. The Glasgow-based band draw inspiration from the built and natural environment of Scotland, gathering intimate fragments to paint vast sonic landscapes. Using looped electric guitar, analogue synthesiser, field recordings and samples from multiple folk cultures, the project creates moving soundscapes from moments of melody and texture.

Artist’s website

Find out more about the Outer Spaces Bank Commissions here