Wowee. I've been busy. I sat down yesterday morning and began a list of things I've been up to since I last blogged: Words for the Wild - I've had two poems published on this beautiful site, as part of their autumn 'Fruit' themed issue. I love the mix of poetry and fiction, and the …
Category: art
An extraordinary house, and promming at Battersea Arts Centre
On Tuesday I was privileged to go on a free tour of the National Trust property 575 Wandsworth Road. This was part of an event for the National Park City Festival, a week of events to celebrate London being declared the first National Park City in the world, and encouraging Londoners to get out and …
Continue reading An extraordinary house, and promming at Battersea Arts Centre
By Our Own Hand – first outing
Last Friday was the preview of the very first showing of By Our Own Hand, a collaborative artwork devised by the artist Richard Grayson. It was also the first exhibition in Matt's Gallery's new space in Nine Elms - a double celebration! The finished artwork is made up of 42 panels designed and stitched primarily …
walking to art
I'm lucky to live within walking distance of both Tate Britain and Tate Modern. Neither is a short walk - about 40 minutes to Tate Britain and closer to an hour to Tate Modern - but if the weather is fine it's great to combine mild exercise with some culture, and along the way take …
a week in the Thrive Hut
This hut, in Thrive’s main garden in Battersea Park, was my home for five days last week. Well, between around 10 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon. No sleeping over! In the run up to Thrive's Chelsea Fringe week of events at the end of May, invited local artists have had the opportunity …
what I told the canvas
I tell myself I can't draw, that I've got no visual sense. So what was I doing in an art workshop called Tell the Canvas on Saturday morning? Testing myself a little, and enjoying myself quite a lot. This was a one hour drawing and collage session facilitated by Mel Barry, and held in Thrive …
strung
On Wednesday afternoon I witnessed a thought-provoking performance, strung. It took place in the grounds of Bethlem Royal Hospital, and tied in with the opening of the Bethlem Gallery's Reclaiming Asylum exhibition. strung was devised by artists Jane Fradgley and Shane Waltener and performed by dancer Laura Glaser and sound artist Zoë Gilmour. A video …
strong stuff
Clothes can change your state of mind. Imagine you live in late Victorian times. You are in a state of extreme mental distress, and have been admitted to Bethlem Hospital. Perhaps you believe your soul has been lost, or all your organs have been removed, or some great harm is imminent. Early in your stay, …
eight week review
It's just over eight weeks since I quit my job and time is doing that weird thing it seems to do of speeding up and filling up the more 'free' time one has. So I thought it might be good to take a step back and reflect on what I've done in that period. I've …
hippo haiku
Late yesterday afternoon we walked up towards Vauxhall, along the narrow and uneven pavements of Battersea Park Road and Nine Elms Lane, construction sites lining both sides of the road. Then tucked in to follow the river path and soon spotted up ahead, in the cloud-darkened waters, a large curved honey-coloured structure being towed towards …
Hilaire 