Flux in Space exhibition.

I entered a quirky exhibition a little while ago called Flux in Space, link to exhibition page here

I liked the idea that the exhibition would be part of the space mission." 127 artists from 26 nations created an original postcard sized work of art in various media interpreting the themes of Space Exploration & the Arts, the Shuttle Program, Outer Space, Rockets, Astronauts, Astronomy, etc. In addition, they submited a portrait photograph of the artist with their artwork - which had bee n uploaded by the artists to NASA and then transferred to the Space Shuttles

."My work was about myself and my sisters watching the moon landing mission on our old black and white TV, with words associated with space.

Prince Charles" Garden Party to Make a Difference"

I had seen the event at Clarence House advertised for a few days before deciding to go on a day when there was to be an ethical fashion show at St James Palace (on the same site).

I hadn't been there before and didn't know that Clarence House, Marlborough House, Lancaster House and St James's palace were all on the same site, just across from Buckingham Palace. Actually I have never been to the openings of Buckingham Palace and only went to look at the Palace on a trip when I was about 12 years old.

It was the ecological theme that drew me to "The Garden Party to Make a Difference." Though I was curious when I went there to see Prince Charles vegetable patch and gardens. Actually there were some inventive containers for the fruit and veg.


There were marquees and displays set up across the gardens and all along various walkways and quite a few people looking around. I don't know if it will make a difference, but maybe it will to a few people.

The fashion show had a celebrity front row, not that I am good at spotting celebrities either!
But I did recognise Boris Johnson.

Higate Village and David Hollington

I picked up my photograph from Lauderdale House and found a really great exhibition of work there by David Hollington. His site here. I was intrigued by the mixture of Hindu and Christian/British symbolism and landscape and drawn to the delightful energy and expressions of the animals and birds in the painting.

It's always great to find another artist tackling the subjects of spirituality, myth and symbolism and combining traditions or cultures. I wanted to find out who he was and what had lead to these paintings. On David's site there is a good description of how his passion for Indian and Hindu art, culture and religion developed and I thought the quality he mentioned of devotion, is something that is conveyed in the work
.

While I was there I walked up into Highgate village and took some photographs. The only problem being the constant traffic, I could see how lovely a place it must have been without all the cars and vans constantly driving through.

There was an artist working in bright colours with his easel set up on the pavement, outside a traditional tea room. Only one or two people spared a glance his way. Maybe he was a common sight there.

E17 Art Trail, Art Grows On Trees.

I managed to have a look at a few more exhibitions last week, as part of the Art trail as well as putting up some more free art for Art Grows on Trees.

Dean had made some more of his great apples and bananas for the trees, and Alban had brought more of his fridge magnets for the trees and around the Trail.

Dean had some more of his work at the Vestry House Museum, Sculptures and drawings including a great piece Bogstack Blocks. Dean's site here



Alban was also showing Magnetic Walthamstow, featuring some of his drawings of Walthamstow, on fridge magnets.Alban's site hereAlso at Vestry House were New paintings by Andrea Humphries, bright still life paintings, and Scenes from The High Street:E17 by Joan Gibbins. I liked her screen prints of the fruit boxes from the market.

Raewyn Harrison was showing some of her architectural ceramics, themes included the Victoria and Albert Museum. With the peeling textured glazes and printed images the pieces were both mysterious and quirky. Reawyn's site here

Deloitte Ignite at the Royal Opera House.

I'm just catching up with some of the photographs I've been taking over the last couple of weeks, there seems to have been a lot on this time of year, including the Deloitte Ignite festival at the Royal Opera House. I was drawn to Ignite by the Forest theme, curated by Joanna macGregor and Marina Warner's introductions to a number of short films.
I did find the Opera House, which I hadn't been to before, a bit of a nightmare to navigate, a bit like a smaller version of the Barbican. I did enjoy the amazing costumes on display in the Faded Forest by Richard Williams, David Collis and Janey Gardiner. They used discarded opera costumes, animals, mannequins and a sound track from the Amazonian forest , in the Crush Bar.

Downstairs in the Pit Kathy Hinde had created an installation of One Thousand Birds, origami birds and projections, which was part of a misty forest of tree trunks.

Mark Simmonds had created Fall Forest, which included an installation of colourful balls, that adults and children alike were playing with.

The Floating Forest in the Paul Hamlyn Hall was a series of suspended tree trunks that seemed a little sad to me. On the stage I was lucky enough to watch a couple of performances by Royal Ballet dancers. It was great to be right by the side of the stage, somewhere you'd normally not be in regular performances.

I got to watch Joan Ashworth's How Mermaids Breed, which was funny and engaging, and The Mushroom Thief, which told of the move from childhood to adulthood. It was good to hear about the films from Joan Ashworth herself, interviewed by Marina Warner, and Marina Warner's own response to the films. Joan's site here

E17 Art Trail and Illumini opening

Today I was putting up some more free art around the trees by the bus station in Walthamstow, with Dean, Dean putting up more of his great plaster fruit, his children helping out and Alban putting up some of his mini art works as fridge magnets. Alban's site here.



Quite a lot of people were looking and picking art as soon as they were going up.

I managed to have a look at the Walthamstow and District Photographic Society's exhibition in the Central Library, John Parish's Willow caught my eye with it's subtle sepia tones and texture.

Peter Hall's Flower Forest and Stefan's photograph of 2 birds, Looking Both Ways, also stood out for me.

Upstairs there were some colourful canvas's by Sonia, Masks in Every Day Life where faces/masks were intertwined in complex shapes and forms.

Downstairs Ronald Bowman was showing a large series of watercolours, painting animals, birds and flowers, which were proving popular by the visitors.




On Friday Illumini held their opening at Shoreditch Town Hall. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, the variety of illuminated art works and performances. The event is on now info at Illumini

5000 Morris Dancers at the South Bank.

The Southbank was filled with Morris Dancing and Folk Music the weekend 4th and 5th Sept.

I managed to see a number of Morris troupes, take some photos and listen to a bit of music while I was there. I have been bringing these aspects of pagan and folk traditions together in my mind and thinking about a body of work in this direction for some years.

The connection to the land or environment is important as well as the aspect of spirituality for me in the folk traditions, somewhere there also needs to be the contemporary political and urban experience too. I am pleased to find this particular focus for part of my art work.

At The Southbank I really enjoyed Boggart's Breakfast. their site here. I liked the rag jackets, or tatters, their semi goth black and blue colours with sparkly bits and the energetic performances with great musicians.
Belles of London City, danced with traditional bells and hankies site here and the Stone Monkeys site here, wove intricate dance steps and swords.
Gog Magog were the Molly Morris Dancers, with fab brightly coloured clothes, hair, faces and shoes.

E17 Art Trail and Art on Trees

On Saturday I went armed with prints and badges to the Lime trees outside the bus station in Walthamstow to put up some free art work.
I always really enjoy putting it up and having passers by surprised by the gifts offered. The work didn't stay there long, I enjoyed seeing one young woman hugging a print to her chest looking really happy. I had a bit of time on Sunday to go exploring some of the art trail in Walthamstow. I went to Dolores Rocket in Shaftsbury road, Dolore's site here where she had laid out a really vaired exhibition including artists responses to designing a dog kennel. Examples here and her lovely dog who came out to the garden with me. In the tiny garden gallery Amy Blum had some photo and text work that I liked listing shops in given areas in London.
Along Grosvenor Park road was Mantle Piece and Street view. Artist Paul Lindt was outside to talk about his work photographing all the houses in his road. Paul's site here There are some really lovely buildings, I hadn't been up that road before. One thing about the Art Trail is that you end up in places you didn't know before.
Walking round to Orford road I called in Curnucopia where Fiona McGregor's bright abstract paintings hung from the washing line and on the garden chair and mugs stood on the garden table.

I enjoyed Kitty Brown's photographs, Merry England in the Queens Arms Pub and Matt Taylors new photographs Secret in the Village Bakery.
As usual Penny Fieldings was full of great works including Max Bainbridge's furniture light box which I would love in my flat if I had the room and Clive Mahoney's bath converted to a sofa with mosaic and cushions. Paul Tucker was also showing some atmospheric local photgraphs and Johanna Melvin had some striking abstract paintings on the walls.

I hope to be able to see more this week.

Installing the visitors and Private view at The Hornbeam.

Yesterday I joined Katja, Martin, Brenda, Valeria and other artists installing the visitors, as part of the E17 Art Trail, in the Vestry House Museum gardens. It was good to work with the team going backwards and forwards finding the right spot for all the beings and lovely weather, what more could you ask?

I think people will enjoy going round looking for all the visitors. After the E17 Art Trail they will be going on tour to Portugal and other places. Visitor exhibition site here
Vestry House is housing a lot of art work for the Trail. I shall be back to check it all out. The launch of the Art Trail is on Friday 3rd Sept. 6.30-9pm the Vestry House Museum Museum info here



Last night was also the press opening and private view of Common Grounds, the exhibition I'm part of at The Hornbeam, Hornbeam's site here It was a great evening, I enjoyed seeing everyone's work and talking to people about my work and hearing from the other artists there.



Julian Beere had finished his book works, a complex and fascinating piece chronicling journeys. Julian's site here

Mary Pullen was showing some great drawings, One Line, done in situ in the Hornbeam cafe. Mary's site here Michelle Reader was showing her amazing sculptures made with recycled materials, Dandelion downstairs and Self portrait upstairs. Michelle's site here

William Goss was showing a series of his photographs, Man & Nature exploring the complexity of the interaction between man and nature, with some intruiging work. At once beautiful and questioning.


Barnaby Tidman was showing his poetry and photography poetry books upstairs with Cath linton's textile pieces, with some Cecil Collins inspired angels which I really liked. Gayleaf and Oriana Campbell Palmer were also showing lovely mixed media pieces about recycling.