feb, 19th - light show....

day 1099 / 198:

i should be posting about Limi's birthday party but I'm a bit all-partied-out right now.....so thought I'd just slip in a post about a fantastic exhibition that I went to last week at the Hayward Gallery on the Southbank.

it's called the Light Show and looks at how artists have experimented with 'the visual and sensory effects of artificial light' since the 1960s. since i've been lusting after a bespoke neon sign for years now and have always loved Tracey Emin's neon messages {see day 554} this is my kind of exhibition.

the exhibition guide says the following:

"Light Show explores how we experience and psychologically respond to illumination and colour, and also encompasses more conceptual and political concerns. Almost all of the 25 works use artificial light to conjure a sense of sculptural space that directly calls into play our individual perceptual responses. Some require our patience and attentiveness before they fully reveal themselves. The exhibition invites us to wonder at, contemplate, investigate and, in some cases, to interact with, illuminated environments and sculptures. In doing so, it asks us to reconsider our relationship to our surrounds and how we see the world."

it's a show that really stretches the sense of sight.....

we have tickets to take Limi along in a couple of weeks time.....i think that she's going to love it.

p.s. there is a no photography policy inside the exhibition.....otherwise this post would have been pages and pages long.

jun, 28th - studio in umbria....

day 870:

our good friend, Lucy MacGillis, is an American artist living in the area of Umbria that we frequently visit {see day 856}. she's just finished renovating her home which includes the perfect studio with a view over the valley....

the rest of Lucy's home has just as much atmosphere. she painted all her walls herself in tones of white and grey. the raw cement work surfaces in the kitchen, beautiful original beams and rustic doors all have me swooning. she's done an amazing job.

outside is just as lovely.

to see Lucy's work, you can view her portfolio here.

jun, 7th - garden of disorientation...

day 850:

A. plays cricket with a fantastic bunch of people. not only does it mean that he gets to play in some of the most gorgeous spots in England {see day 152 and day 507} which gives us a chance to see parts of the country that we never would otherwise but they also have very interesting lives off the pitch.....

a couple from cricket are taking part in a new movement which has started this year, the Chelsea Fringe. as an alternative to the infamous Chelsea Flower Show, the fringe is run entirely by volunteers and will be on for three weeks. it is all about the accessibility of gardening with a quirky, anything goes as long as it has something to do with gardening, attitude. it's a wonderful opportunity for up-and-coming gardeners or even those interested in creating an art installation around a gardening theme......

our friends have created The Garden of Disorientation in an old meat packing space in the middle of vibrant Clerkenwell. sandwiched between a two trendy restaurants and the railway line, the space is raw and beautiful. the theme of the installation is mint which has been crammed into old crates, tumbles down walls with jasmine and even features in a living mobile. 

as you step into the space, the scent is heavenly. a rustic mojito bar has been set up in one corner and there's space to sit and enjoy live music.....it's a brilliant idea and in this space, beautifully realised. 

to see other projects by this dynamic couple, take a look at this website.

here are some other Chelsea Fringe events that caught my eye:

Floating Forest at Grand Union Canal

I Love Vanessa

Oranges and Lemons Garden

Incredible Edible Flowerble

may, 14th - bringing drawings to life....

day 827:

Limi's recent drawings....always lots of circles.

we've painted two doors in the Shoebox with blackboard paint which means that she can grab her chalk tin anytime. it's not surprising that i love to watch her draw.

a friend reminded me of this great company today. they create soft toys out of a child's drawing. such a brilliant concept.

mar, 8th - the vintage harley driving artists....

day 761:

my sister and her husband built their holiday home from the beach sand up. they used local builders and found Thai artisans to carve their wooden doors, create oversize plant pots and make stone carvings for the pool. as sisters, we both love attention to detail and taking time to find the special and the unusual .....this house has local, interesting input everywhere you look.

one of the most beautiful elements, is the seated Buddha who greets you as you enter. he was created by a group of local, vintage-harley-driving sculptors.....i think that i may have a bit of a crush on them....

we went to their studio to see some more of their work. incredible work. i would love to spend some time in this studio learning their techniques......what a great apprenticeship that would be....island living and hands covered in clay. maybe one day.

aug, 23rd - tracey emin....

day 554:

we went to see this exhibit a few weeks ago. i've always been a bit of a tracey emin fan but this show convinced me that i am a HUGE fan....

in fact, i don't think that Emin's work should ever be shown in isolation. when you see it all together, it works beautifully. the intricacy and intimacy of her needlepoint, sketches, neon signs, installations and movies all weave together to produce something raw yet completely captivating. 

the exhibition is on until Monday at the Hayward Gallery. 

definitely worth seeing.

plus, i haven't been down to the Southbank in ages and wow, it's looking fantastic. it has a complete English seaside (think a trendy and creative Margate) vibe going on. 

and we definitely need to bring Limi back to this fountain.

jun, 16th - new project....

day 491:

i've been working on a new project this week....more to come on that soon.....it's reminded me how much i love to paint.

and i can collect these films tomorrow {see day 480} whoohoo....holding thumbs that i'm not going to be staring at blank negs.

apr, 1st - crayons....

day 419:

i often think that whatever you get exposed to as a child is largely dependent on what your family are interested in.....so, it's a bit luck-of-the-draw.......who knows, i could have been a talented fencer (the bee-keeping-mask and sword type)....but it wasn't a big sport in our small town in South Africa.....

anyway, if you love books or swimming or baking...then i think that your children will probably develop a similar love or at least an appreciation of the same things......so, i've been waiting for Limi to get old enough to start drawing......

sadly, our first sit-down-and draw together was more about me drawing and Limi....eating the crayons?.....no, in fact she didn't even try and eat the yellow...she spent the entire time packing and unpacking the crayons from their container......with intense focus.....

good thing i haven't invested in these yet.......she could lose whole days with her packing and unpacking obsession.

ps. we're off to visit the lovely gen and james in the countryside this weekend. 

hope that yours is also filled with fresh air and new blossoms. x