1 It was our Gallery Day today so we started off in Tate Britain to see the fabulous Folk Art exhibition (where photos were not allowed) and the Turner galleries, always a favourite.
Tate Britain
2 Next it was off to the Royal Academy for the Summer Exhibition, a feast of modern art, about 1000 pieces of art – some clever, some quirky, those that made us laugh and those that made us gasp, protest pieces and dramatic pieces and in an enormous range of media. The ones that have stuck in my mind are the wonderful Cake Man by Yinka Shonibare, a very moving transcript of an Eddie Mair interview with Dr David Nott, a conflict zone surgeon, made into a huge canvas by Bob and Roberta Smith, an enormous piece of charred sequoia called Tumble block by David Nash where the wood grain was enhanced but the way the charcoal absorbed light and a beautiful little etching called Midsummer which was affordable! Sadly, though the sign said 100 were available and there were only about 50 red spots on it (meaning sold), when I went to enquire they said that the artist, Flora MacLachlan, had only released 57 to the gallery to sell. That was a disappointment. However, as the lovely Mr S said as we left, ‘That was a really uplifting few hours!’
Cake Man
Charred sequoia
All schools by Bob and Roberta Smith
3 On our way round the back of the RA to see the photos of Dennis Hopper , the burst of colour from the sunflowers on every cafe table was a delight to see.
Sunflower
Hudson Howl
June 27, 2014 at 1:59 pm
Drats. to pictures not allowed at the Tate, so I went here just for a taste http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/british-folk-art
I have never been to the Tate nor to the Royal Academy, just was not time when I was in London, so thank you for taking me (us) there vicariously.
The world of art is much more than the punctuation of the finished piece, whatever it may be. Seeing the pieces you chose to show here, demonstrates the journey of creativity – the artist does her or his thing, plants the seed and whoa-la a new beginning, the viewer takes it out into the world. Art is very much an intricate part life and society. If it ever were to vanish, we’d be up the creek without paddles and oars.
‘ALL SCHOOLS SHOULD BE ART SCHOOLS’. i get and appreciate the message, but would settle on maintaining it as part of education, would be nice if expanded a little bit more. I assume, given the talent one sees in and coming from the UK is still in the education curriculum as is Canada. And not had its head removed on the axe block of budget cut backs. Math, science and the new technologies is important, but how far will it get you without a creative mind to implement and expand it.
Mr. S’s quote, does sum it for you and yours day outing into treasures of discovery. ‘Time well spent’.
mybeautfulthings
June 28, 2014 at 2:12 pm
Sadly, art is being squeezed out of the curriculum here in the Uk as the pressure is on tests and targets. The powers that be don’t seem to appreciate that the arts are a great gateway to all learning. Funding for music is being so reduced that many schools can’t afford it and many families can’t afford private tuition. It’s very sad. Austerity bites hardest on those who can least afford it.
Hudson Howl
June 28, 2014 at 2:39 pm
There are 63.23 million more or less heads in the UK -full of common sense, hopefully the others will come around to seeing that ‘great gateway to learning’ (bravo on that phrase).
Don
June 26, 2014 at 8:35 am
You must have had a wonderful time. I just love the Tate Britain, especially the Turner wing, as you said. Such a joy to go there. When I see your images they invoke a longing. 🙂
Charlie@Seattle Trekker
June 25, 2014 at 10:32 pm
I love art exhibits; I find that they pull me in such different detections, force me think in ways that are so outside my normal patterns…They make even someone as stogy as me, grow a bit.
alisonsye
June 25, 2014 at 9:15 pm
I will be doing the same double very soon. Can’t wait
mybeautfulthings
June 26, 2014 at 7:32 am
I hope you enjoy it all as much as we did. 🙂
alisonsye
June 26, 2014 at 3:12 pm
I’m sure I will 🙂
darwinontherocks
June 25, 2014 at 8:29 pm
Nice pictures !