Happy 100th Birthday Norman McLaren!
On this day, 11th April 1914, animation pioneer Norman McLaren was born in Stirling, Scotland. This year will see a year of celebration to mark McLaren’s centenary, which officially started this morning in Stirling with the unveiling of a Historic Scotland commemorative plaque on his former childhood home, where he lived for the first 22 years of his life. Amongst those present for the unveiling was Artistic Director of McLaren 2014, Iain Gardener, who has been instrumental in this year’s celebrations.
James Roberts of the NFB, Iain Gardner (2nd from left) and McLaren’s nephew, Douglas Biggar (right) at the unveiling of the plaque
Other centenary events will include:
- A Dream of Stirling: Norman McLaren’s Scottish Dawn photographic exhibition at the Smith Gallery;
- A Chairy Tale, an innovative cine-dance show by French dance company Compagnie Natalie Cornille, based upon McLaren’s short film of the same title, at the Macrobert Centre, Stirling.
- Norman McLaren Centenary Film Tour – will start in Stirling on the 11th of April, and will travel nationwide showcasing classic McLaren short films and his enduring legacy, in partnership with the National Film Board of Canada.
This year also sees the 25th anniversary of the McLaren Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, which was won last year by Mikey Please for Marilyn Myller.
But it isn’t just Scotland who are hosting celebrations; there will be many more in his adopted home of Canada, where he produced the main body of his pioneering work at the National Film Board of Canada, including the Academy Award winning Neighbours (1952). Other celebrations include:
- McLaren Now – a specially curated programme of short experimental films exploring the influence of McLaren on artists who came after him.
- From 11 April to 1 June 2014, several contemporary projects incorporate McLaren’s iconic images into videos projected on architectural facades in Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles.
- McLaren’s Workshop iPad App – launched last year, and includes 51 films and 11 short documentaries that explore techniques and themes of his work
For further information on McLaren 2014 please visit the website: www.mclaren2014.com or Facebook group: facebook.com/mclaren2014