Joanna Black

Photographer
Christine
Biography: I was born in Edinburgh to Polish parents and studied photography, film/media and art briefly upon leaving school over 25 years ago but changed direction on the advice of my Mother who in her thick Polish accent said “Joanna, dat is all... MORE
Public Story
Christine
Copyright Joanna Black 2024
Updated Feb 2012
Topics Photography

Scotland Street School was designed by the famous architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. It is now a museum and open to romantic interpretation just like the arts and crafts movement or the book by Muriel Spark, The prime of Miss Jean Brodie. 

I brought my Fuji Instax camera thinking perhaps I could capture something special. As I entered the hallway I wondered what secrets it shared with the children who went there.

Christina (her son smiled when he told me saying that was her Sunday name) is 88 and can't walk or speak. I met her by chance, as she revisited her school, this school, which she attended until 1936. She was being taken around by her son and his wife. I noticed them when I heard the corridor echo her son's words "look Mum, the sink you would have used only has cold water, but hot water was for softies wasn't it"!

Turns out she was one of the poster girls from an exercise session which was a main display piece! Her eyes lit up when I took two pictures of her, one for her to choose and keep, and one for me. 

Her stories of her being there are still her secret. She never spoke about her schooldays to her son.

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