Speaking to some members of the London Art club I heard about the Metropolitian walking group, on Saturday I joined them for a walk around the Isle of Dogs. The day was somewhat grey however parts of the Docklands area was interesting, the flash part is a little like the Rocks end of Circular quay in Sydney.
In the evening I went to New Malden, to an Egyptian dance show in the upstairs room of a pub. It was an interesting mix of performances by students some of whom were of a certain age where though the mind is willing the body is not quite in tune and some great dancers from Egypt.
On Sunday I went on a walk with the London Art Club round some of London's City churches. Probably the best find of the afternoon was the restaurant, bar and roof garden at the roof top of 1 Poultry Street where we stopped for coffee, we finished off the day with a Bangladeshi off Brick lane.
Monday 26 February 2007
Tuesday 20 February 2007
Monday 19 February 2007
Holland
Holland was where I spent the weekend. I flew to Rotterdam and stayed in the Room Hostel there, had the dorm to myself so slept well.
Saturday was spent in Amsterdam, an hour by train from Rotterdam. The Saturday market was full of the usual trash, here I sampled the famous Frites with mayonnaise. I visited the Jewish History museum in an old Synagogue. There was a Jewish children museum that explored the day to day features of Jewish life as well as a large exhibition on Jew life in Amsterdam, worship and traditions. The Van Gogh museum had quite a few Van Gogh works but also has a number of works by artists that were his contemporaries.
Anne Frank's house was a must see, I found it moving seeing the space that they lived in and the video of her father discussing her death and reading her diary. I had a good wander along the canals which are very pretty and had a quick look the red light district. The red light district is a bit strange with women in the brothel windows and rather large groups of male tourists wandering about.
Rotterdam is quite different to Amsterdam it lacks tourists and old buildings (most of it was destroyed during the war). It does have a lot of interesting new architecture such as the cube houses. I took harbour cruise that explained the importance of shipping in Rotterdam.
Saturday was spent in Amsterdam, an hour by train from Rotterdam. The Saturday market was full of the usual trash, here I sampled the famous Frites with mayonnaise. I visited the Jewish History museum in an old Synagogue. There was a Jewish children museum that explored the day to day features of Jewish life as well as a large exhibition on Jew life in Amsterdam, worship and traditions. The Van Gogh museum had quite a few Van Gogh works but also has a number of works by artists that were his contemporaries.
Anne Frank's house was a must see, I found it moving seeing the space that they lived in and the video of her father discussing her death and reading her diary. I had a good wander along the canals which are very pretty and had a quick look the red light district. The red light district is a bit strange with women in the brothel windows and rather large groups of male tourists wandering about.
Rotterdam is quite different to Amsterdam it lacks tourists and old buildings (most of it was destroyed during the war). It does have a lot of interesting new architecture such as the cube houses. I took harbour cruise that explained the importance of shipping in Rotterdam.
Tuesday 13 February 2007
Primrose Hill
Thursday 8 February 2007
Faust
I went to an amazing dramatic production last night of Faust. It was in an old warehouse in Wapping over five floors. You were taken into a room in groups of twenty, then all the audience was given masks to wear for the whole evening. We were then taken up in a lift and four people dropped off on each floor. You then wandered round the different floors exploring different scenes occurring in different spaces. The light was very low in a lot of the rooms, and times you saw hardly anyone and then you would arrive on a floor and their would be over a hundred people.
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=19369
It has been snowing this morning so travel is disrupted again
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=19369
It has been snowing this morning so travel is disrupted again
Monday 5 February 2007
Sotheby's and the Imperial War Museum
Sotheby's on New Bond St is having some big auctions in the next week so the works are out for viewing, I went along with The London Art Club. It was interesting to see some paintings that are rarely seen in public and to to see who was looking to buy; a mix of old money in furs with toddlers in Burberry and Euro trash. We then had Yum Cha in Soho.
On Sunday I headed to the Imperial War Museum near Elephant and Castle. It has a Blitz experience, a reconstructed trench both with authentic smells, a big display on the Holocaust, information and displays on a number of wars and a film about wars against humanity as well as various vehicles used in war. It was very interesting even for someone whose interest in weapons and uniforms is limited.
On Sunday I headed to the Imperial War Museum near Elephant and Castle. It has a Blitz experience, a reconstructed trench both with authentic smells, a big display on the Holocaust, information and displays on a number of wars and a film about wars against humanity as well as various vehicles used in war. It was very interesting even for someone whose interest in weapons and uniforms is limited.
Friday 2 February 2007
Ceramic Painting with The London Art Club
The London Art Club organised a ceramic painting evening this week which was fun. I'll find out on Wednesday after the firing has been done whether I have created a masterpiece or a mess.The one male in this photo is James who set-up The London Art Club.
I have uploaded some pictures to Flicker this week, the link is on the left side of this page.
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