London Part 2b

Where were we?  Ah yes, in India. (Its taken me far too long to finish this post, I started over a week ago I think, so I better get on hadn’t I?) The Chola bronze in the centre is stunning.
More information on these amazing sculptures here. 
After taking the online course on the History of Indian Art it makes it easier to understand the context of the items seen in (the rather sterile) context of the museum setting. 
As the MA is financially out of reach atm I’m considering signing up for the Islamic Art course next, but that's another story.

I love looking a the the shapes and patterns. 
I find this Eastern Art is just so beautiful and pleasing to the eye.

The Jina Rishabhanatha, Uttar Pradesh, Northern Indian. 800-900.

Vishnu.  Eastern Indian or Bangladesh 1100-1200.

The journey continues from India to Old Britain.....

The British Galleries contain some super objects, so important in the history of Britain.

Leather gloves with silver and silver-gilt. 1615-1625.

Head Cloth for a Bed. 1554-1575.
Woven silk damask, silk and metal thread.
For the wedding of Henry Wentworth and Elizabeth Glemham.

Long cushion ~1600. Silk velvet with applied linen canvas.
The label reads “Patterns composed of isolated motifs such as these were almost exclusively English and owed little to outside influences”.
Elephants? In Elizabethan England? In the Tower menagerie maybe.

Womens smock 1575-1585.
Linen with silk in Blackwork style.  Almost 500 years old.  How utterly amazing is that?

The V&A has beautiful views around every corner. Only the V&A could give you a view such as the above.
The Friday I was there was a “late night” opening until 10pm.  It was a wonderful atmosphere and though not all the galleries were open it felt special to be there after hours – and NO KIDS!

Each time I visit the V&A I come across something new – this is the Cast Court, looking down from a balcony as I was on my way to the Ironwork section I couldn’t believe this sight.

I think the above is Trajans Column, originally in marble, erected AD113

Can you see how quiet it was in the galleries?  In that time between the schools leaving and the workers arriving, it was magical.

This is a Grille, Copper Gilt, Italy C16th, said to be from Venice. 

There is a beauty in all items here.  

Sometimes I think the V&A should be renamed the 

“Museum of Beautiful Objects”

The Chihuly Glass sculpture. 

(See more of his work in museums here).

Around 8pm I wandered a few minutes down the road to the Natural History Museum.

I had a wonderful evening here too.
Had a look around the dinosaurs gallery (again no kids – pure bliss), the atmosphere was wonderful with the bar and band. 
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition was busy but a stunning display of photography, I came away inspired to capture the animals of Northumberland as well as the landscape.

Though I wondered what Darwin would make of all this as he sat on his chair behind the band?

The morning view of Kensington was very different to the usual view of garden and fields.
These chimneys caught my eye. A huge number per house. 

London Part 2a V&A

Back to memories of London.  I’m not sure where the last week has gone….. its just… erm…. well… gone I guess!

At the V&A I was really excited to visit the new Fashion Galleries. 

Beautifully set out, rather dark, so please excuse the dim and wobbly photography. Here's a small selection of my pictures.

Even photos that aren’t quite sharp are enough to trigger the memory, along with sketches and thoughts its a great inspiration.

Alexander McQueen.  Autumn/ Winter 2010
Part of his last collection, digitally printed with an image from a German altar piece.  (I always photo the information plate before I photo the item too).
This dress was stunning and I must make some of my own clothes using digital imaging.

Christian Dior 1954
I’ve long admired this garment, its in a book which was a present from DH a few years ago.  I have just looked up the reference on Amazon and can’t believe the price.  I know it wasn’t cheap at the time but now there’s an extra “1” in front.
What an investment piece (! – get it? couture?, investment piece, yes I know I’m sad).  I shall tell DH that books are a wonderful way to invest money with a huge % return and we must buy more!
No, I don’t think he’ll run with it either!

Dior by Farid Chenoune (Author),

Price:
£160.00

These are the undergarments.
I really, really could wear this outfit.  Well, not literally of course as I’m a good few dress sizes too large, but its my colour and shape.  I love the shoes too.

Seeing the inside of garments is almost, if not more, exciting than seeing the outside.

Jacket bodice 1886-88.
Ribbed silk and silk satin lined with cotton and whalebone.
Poor whales.

Its also interesting to see how the undergarments played such an important role in the shaping of the outer garment.
Note the sleeve support from 1825-30, cotton filled with feathers.
The chemise is 1835, linen trimmed with cotton.

The clothes were displayed beautifully.
My only complaint is that there were far too FEW on display.  I wish I could get to see the archives sometime.
This is a Day Dress 1795-1900. Block printed cotton.
This is the time when embroidery on cloth was superseded by block printed cotton from Indian.

I’m not sure whether to be sad that embroidery rather died, or to be glad to see the beautiful block printing from India. 
Very much mixed feelings.

This is another garment I’ve long admired.  I stood for a while sketching this item, as its only by sketching that you truly see. I no longer care what people think of me, nor what they think of my sketch book when the look over my shoulder (not hard at my height).

This glorious sumptuous costume is an Evening Coat by Marshall and Snelgrove 1895-1900.
Velvet embroidered with silk thread and wool felt.
Yes, I can see me wearing this too.

I’m often told I should be making things for myself.  So lets see what I can do this winter.  This is sure to be great inspiration.

I also visited the Ballgowns Exhibition where no photography and most annoyingly, no sketching was allowed.  The “no sketching rule” really annoys me.  I won a free ticket to this on Facebook.  It was a great excuse for a London visit.

If you want to see more go and Google “Ballgowns V and A” and click on “Images”, you’ll see the exhibition online.

When I’m at the V&A I always end up in India.
You can see me here in comfortable trainers, sketchbook clasped between my knees.

Again I’ve admired this image in numerous books, but seeing something for real is so, well, special.
If I ever do get to India I think I may be overwhelmed and have a total meltdown not knowing where to look or what to photograph!

Mughal Hanging Late C17th, cotton embroidered with silk.

And jewels of course…Mughal c.1600.

Gold engraved and set with rubies,emeralds and diamonds.

Next instalments – more of India then the British Galleries at the V&A followed by the Natural History museum at night and then onto Tate Britain.

All coming soon to a Blog near you.

The Parallel Universe

Have had a fantastic week at Grasmere. 
It was like being in a wonderful parallel universe.

Great company, lots of laughs, delicious food and fabulous surroundings.

Inspirational friends, motivating DVD’s and a beautiful view from every window kick started the art/design process and resulted in the plans and ideas being formed for two new series of works. 

One full of colour, vibrancy and pattern. The other project more subdued, sketchy and the colour of the Northumbrian moors.

That should keep me busy for the winter.

London part 1

Back to London again.  For so many years I was too ill to travel to exhibitions however this year I’ve been able to visit twice. 
Its been wonderful.

(Please, please – if you are female, feeling shattered and ill, INSIST on an early menopause assessment.  Its quite hard not to be distressed that the medical profession wouldn’t listen to me years ago).

I had a short break of two days, leaving Berwick on the 8.11am train arriving at 11.54am.  I took a taxi to Monmouth Street and headed into this shop.  I’ve waited a long time for this!  I love their clothes but the sizing can be unpredictable so it was wonderful to grab a handful and try them on.

There was also a 20% off for 3 pieces offer, how could a girl resist.

I’m not sure about the tag line “for the most colourful women in the world” as I came out with mostly grey and black pieces!

 

I walked to Leicester Square, headed out again pretty quickly and decided to walk down the Mall.  One of the things I love about being a tourist in London is walking, looking and exploring.

The history hidden down little lanes and behind walls is amazing.

This is St James Palace, built by Henry VIII.  More info here.

I saw a group of tourists taking a picture and I joined in. 
These poor guys must get so fed up!

As I walked down the Mall I loved seeing the flags and I felt proud to be English… British….. English.

More later on the museums and exhibitions – I need to get the pictures processed but just now I need to pack to get to Grasmere for a week of stitching!!!  Yippee!!!!

38,675

 

I have a task for the winter. To be started before it gets too unwieldy.

38,675 photographs to look at, check the filing of, upload to Smugmug (for extra safety) and print about 1/10 into Blurb PhotoBooks.

You have no idea how long its going to take to upload with the crappy internet connection we have out here.  Plus it “uses up” all the Wi-Fi and makes anything else online impossible, so has to be done when no one else is working / surfing.

How many months years will it take?

Oh yes, and there’s that small box of loose photographs that need scanning and sorting – starting with DS’s birth in 2000.

Not to mention the 6 10 files of slides.

Nor the numerous photo albums stretching back to 1985.

Maybe I should have started a few years ago?

All good fun anyway.  Nothing beats looking at photos of a sultry summers day or DS when he was younger.

A HUGE part of the joy is discovering the ones you’d forgotten about.

Mums Shoes

That's my boy at 1.5yrs old. 
Can I have another one now please?

I tried

I didn’t win the C&K challenge.  The winning piece was an intricate illustration/drawing.

I’m not going to Istanbul for three nights in four star luxury. 
 
Am quite sad not to get time out with DH and not to be going to see lots of Islamic art and architecture.

However I do have a lovely piece of art for my house.

For anyone who has ever worked in sales

This cartoon is hilarious, I just had to share it with you, takes me back in time to when I worked as an area sales manager with Life Technologies Inc!  I had tears in my eyes reading this last night

The last picture is my favourite.

http://www.jacobsen.no/anders/blog/archives/images/project.html

Inspired by India revealed

The work will be on display this evening, I thought it was OK to show you all now, a little early. 
Think of it as a private preview.

Size is A2, (42x59.5cm) depth 20cm.

Will let you know if I have won the challenge (its exciting!!!)

Finishing touches

Have you guessed what it is I’m making?

Hint; its a development of a piece I made several years ago which you’ll find on my website.

This afternoon it was finished and mounted and is ready to be packed in copious layers of bubble wrap.

Another day of being Inspired by India

A mix of machine and handwork today.

The highly embellished background now has images sewn into place.    

The machining was a short break from sitting here in my studio working at the frame.  (104 hours to date).  Note the two lamps to give enough light, it feels as if summer has well and truly gone from Northumberland - along with the best light after midday.

Tomorrow is the last push before it all gets framed ready to ship to London on Monday. 

The work will be on display at the Royal Geographical Society on Wednesday night at a special Indian event hosted by Cox & Kings, a travel company who run luxury holidays and escorted tours to wonderfully exotic places. 
You can still buy tickets for the evening from here.

Goldwork Paisleys

Well the last few days, today and tomorrow will be more of this;

Cut and pin.

Tack into place.

Stitch the edging.

Fill with chippings.

Stretch your back (think Waterhouse here).

John William Waterhouse

1916

Or maybe Millais

Sir John Everett Millais

1851

Of course this is how I look when I’m working; young, thin, sexy, wearing a beautiful medieval dress, in a castle, waiting for my Knight.
I was born in the wrong age - I’ve known that since I was about 5yrs old.

With 79 hours of work to date the end is in sight, it should all get put together on Sunday and the courier is booked for Monday to arrive in London on Tuesday morning.

I love a deadline.

Oh and I must tell you that I’ve been listening to the British History Podcast for the last few days. 

Its free, fantastic and informative. 

So far the Romans have been and gone and I’m into the Dark Ages. The podcast is one of the best (if not the best) on history that I’ve listened too. 
This guy can tell a story.

Archaeology Results!

In all the excitement about Inspired by India I forgot to tell you about the course results.

Do you remember I was studying Archaeological Theory as a bridging module towards acceptance on the MA?  Well I found it really hard going at first, so many new concepts and ideas and –isms! 
Totally alien to someone who has never before studied social theory / philosophy / a humanities based subject.

The whole summer seemed to pass in a blur of exhibition work, birthdays, visitors and highlighter pens.

Well, I passed!  With distinction.

Now I could enrol on the MA straight away, except I can’t as I need to save some money first.  Not sure where I’m going to save it from though!
A problem to contemplate.

The University suggested I apply for a bursary which I intend to do and hopefully I’ll soon be a postgraduate student of Archaeology and Heritage.

Reflections

I thought that it would be interesting to blog the journey in more detail than usual and with such a short deadline it will be a fast journey!

Of course it is my fault that I have set myself so much to do. 
I honestly think, that this time, I’ve outpaced / excelled / idiotically challenged myself with ambition!

Yes, this is far above and beyond the necessary artwork required for a blogger challenge.  BUT I realised I really wanted to make an Indian inspired work for myself, and had wanted to do this for a long time.

What better to combine the two?

Hence the concentration of 2 months work into two weeks.  The last few days I’ve been working for five hours in the studio and another two in the evenings.  For the next five days I need to work around 10 hours a day. 

I started at 10.30am this morning, after getting DS off to school, having a shower, sorting the washing and setting the machine off… doing the dishes, having breakfast..sorting some post.  I dare not look at emails on the laptop, so if you have written to me in the last week or so please forgive me, but its going to be Monday before I reply.

I stopped at 4.30pm to cook an early dinner for DS who has football practise, I’m just about to drop him off and then head back to the studio for another hour or so before my own supper.

So this is what I’ve been doing today.

If I tell you that this section below represents somewhere in the region of 1/30 of the goldwork to complete, well, you might understand my ambition.