The Wishing Tree

A conceptual wishing tree greets you as you enter the Victoria and Albert Museum.  Kalpataru is an Indian mythical wish fulfilling tree.  This one was made in Delhi by a group of artists.  Inspiration for the piece comes from nature with trees and plants used in Indian rituals being represented, including the mayo tree, banana plant, champ flower, jack fruit and lotus plant.  The parrot and bright yellow and orange make me think of sunshine.

Adam and Eve

"Day's of Judgement" by Laura Ford is today's sculpture in the city.  Tall skinny cats portraying Adam and Eve in deep thought pondering their anxieties.  I think they might need a holiday too.

Another Bench

There is still a few more weeks left to enjoy the book benches.  Today's bench is inspired by author Jacqueline Wilson.  I wonder if the girl seated is a fan of her books.

Dr Seuss Bench

Another bench in the books about town series.  You'll find this one near city hall.

Panda Bench

Another bench in the "books about town" series.  This one a hit with tourists as they cross the millennium bridge heading towards St Paul's Cathedral. 

Another Story

Today's book about town is the the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, a C. S Lewis tale, created by kiwi artist Mandi Pope.  This one is in St George's park in Bloomsbury near the Foundling Museum.

Not only do we get to enjoy these 50 "books about town" throughout the summer, but there is an opportunity to own one.  They are to be auctioned on 7 October.  To register an interest you can bid in advance here.

Sit and Read

Summer with a good book, somethings just go together don't they.

Over the coming weeks 50 benches in the shape of a book will appear around the city.  Decorated by local artists and illustrators, the titles will all have a connection to London.

This the first of the books about town I will show you: "Jeeves and Wooster" the work of artist Gordon Allum.  Look for it at the Brunswick shopping centre in Bloomsbury.

Bohemian London

Cobbled streets, veteran cars and a house where an artist from the Bloomsbury group once lived.  (identified by the blue plaque.) Where is this I hear you ask?  The interesting thing about London is that there are a number of areas that this could be.  It's what makes this city so appealing, turn around a corner and suddenly you have stepped back in time.  This street is in East London not far from Spitalfield's Market, a now trendy place for emerging artists to sell their works.

Leicester Square Artists

While the renovations to Leicester Square took place the street artists were banned from the area.  They popped up at various venues as they fought for the right to go back to the square after its £15 million refurbishment.  They have attained the right to be have short periods of time in the area but have to constantly move on.  And so their battle against the council continues.  

Electric Landladies

Shimmy and shake, you won't be able to stand still if you go to a gig where the Electric Landladies are playing.  The six women musicians play everything from rock to retro, soul to jazz, and with a bit of country to get you shimmying.  Check out where to find their next gigs here.

Meet the Artists

Make Space Studios opened their doors over the weekend giving the public the opportunity to chat to seventy six working artists and see them at work. An encouraging and creative environment for both established artists and up and coming artists to work together.  Painters, jewellers, film makers, designers, all of the arts were represented.

Dead Rooms

The current Somerset House was rebuilt in the early 18th century.  How much of the original Tudor Palace still remains is unclear.  However beneath the grand building is this walkway with small cell like rooms dotted along the walls and one large hall at the end.  Known as the deadrooms and housing a few old tombs, it is now a wonderful space for artists.

Everyone was interested in the crafts on display at the artists open studio day.

Pullens  Yards was purpose built in Victorian times to enable artisans and small traders to live and work there. They were designed with a small flat upstairs and a workshop at ground level. Then you would have found clog makers, brush makers or manufacturers of ships' fans.

There was a period of abandonment but they were brought back to life in 1979, continuing with the original intent of providing space for artists.  Now you'll find silversmiths, artists, bookbinders and furniture makers.

Tawny Owl

A surprise at the Pullens artists open winter studio, a group of owls.  What is the collective name for a group of owls?  

They are all rescued owls, given up or abandoned when their new owners realised how much work is involved in keeping an owl as a pet.  See the hand of the man who is these owls best friend.  This is how they love you, it's just the way they are, very territorial! 
I did learn an interesting thing about owls.  Their eyes are fixed, so although they can zoom in and out they don't have any peripheral sight, hence why they are constantly turning their heads. 

Jeunesse

Head to Shoreditch to find London's "happening" art scene, with emerging artists very much front and centre. Three different exhibition openings in one street alone last night, and yes!! I went to all of them.

  These pieces are showing at the new Jester Jacques "pop-up"Gallery. The gallery is show casing the work of several young and talented artists, with work across a variety of genres until Monday 5th November. 
 
Jacques gallery is located in the Blackball Studios, 73 Leonard St, London EC2A 4QS - get along there as soon as you can. 

Bedlam

Art or madness?  The two meld as you enter the Old Vic Tunnels (near Waterloo station) to see the latest collaboration of conceptual art by gallery owner Steve Lazarides, titled Bedlam.

Bedlam was derived from Bethlem hospital that was founded in 1247.  An institution for the poor and the insane,  that until 1770 was open to the public at certain times for them to see the  "freaks" for entertainment. 

You are guided into the tunnels via a path in total darkness to be plunged into the enormous space of the tunnels. Fifteen artists then take you on a journey of their interpretation of Bedlam.
Volunteer to be strapped into a chair and look into the moving screen in front of you.  This art goer found it a bit too realistic as faces appeared to leap out at him. 

Lie down on a fake grass platform and watch lovely patterns beam down at you. a form of therapy.  No?  How about a crazy old woman who appears to leap out of a screen and fire a gun at you while repeating over and over "I love you".

The exhibition is full of suprises and takes you on a journey as both an inmate and a member of the viewing public.

Open until 21 October.  It's free but you must book.

Waltzing

The abandoned Heygate Estate where the annual elefest annual creative festival took place over the weekend. Waltzing in the old playground while a zombie film being shot in the background seemed rather fitting for this controversial estate.

The Artist and the Ballerinas

I met Katya Gridneva quite by accident, and we got chatting. She invited me to take a look around her studio.  She works with oils, pastels and charcoal creating beautiful figurative images, especially ballerinas.

As a child Katya trained as a gymnast at one of Russia's top schools, until she fell from a bar and sustained an injury that brought her career to an abrupt end. She then studied at the world renowned Academy of Fine Arts in St Petersburg, and many of her dance models are from the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, where she has privileged backstage access to study the dancers.


Katya's new exhibition will be at the John Noott Gallery 13 October 2012 to 28 October 2012

Exiled Artists

The portrait artists of Leicester Square were forced to leave their patch during the £15 million refurbishment of the square. Although the work has now finished and the artists are still paying their expensive monthly licences, the council still refuses to give them permission to return.

In the meantime the square looks like this:

No where to sit and all the statues have gone. The artists were always on the outside of the square and a big hit with tourists.
A lot of money has gone into making our square dull and lifeless.
Bring back the artists!

Jealous at Heal's

Try your hand as an artist. For on week (until 5 February) Jealous Gallery have a pop-up studio in the window of Heal's in Tottenham Court Road and see first hand original and limited edition art work being created.
Among the artists you can meet are Jayoon Choi and Diana Taylor . The window is set up like three mini studios and each will have 3-4 artists working.
You can even get to partake in making your own print.