Here’s a welcome poster from Jonny Hannah, a timely reminder that the end is nigh, not long to wait now until the publication of his eagerly awaited book, Greetings from Darktown. It promises to be a rich treasury of many and various eye-catching mementos and proclamations. Continue reading “Greetings From Darktown”
Paco de Lucía
I’m out of the frame for a while. Whilst I’m away I’m leaving Paco in charge. This is some of the most suprising and exciting music ever invented. It’s diverting and engaging and definitely worth a look. He begins solo, then he’s joined by cajón, fingersnaps and handclaps, then voices and eventually a whole band of virtuosos, including a great flamenco dancer. The concert culminates in a dynamic duet finale with Al Di Meola. ¡Olé!
The Sky At Snape
SNAP HQ, a cor-ten steel shed at Snape Maltings, nerve centre of the SNAP visual arts programme for this year’s Aldeburgh Festival, directing our gaze towards the great Suffolk sky. Continue reading “The Sky At Snape”
The Gown Of Green
The Gown of Green is a song by The Collection from their album Ars Moriendi. This video comes via NPR Music. I first heard of them from Bill at Practicing Resurrection, his blog from White Flint Farm, a good place to wander and always full of wise words.
Sgwd Yr Eira
I just found this lovely little video from Dominick Tyler of Sgwd Yr Eira in the Brecon Beacons. It translates as Fall of Snow and it reminds me of a delightful wood engraving by Howard Phipps. Continue reading “Sgwd Yr Eira”
Wells & Mells
Cathedral Green at Wells, the eternal stone partnered with an inflated upstart. We arrived just in time for the Somerset Schools Folk Dance Festival, a ceilidh for more than 2,000 primary school children, all stepping and skipping and turning circles on the green. Continue reading “Wells & Mells”
Beetle, Crayfish & Mussel
Two new prints just arrived from Beatrice Forshall, both drypoints printed from multiple plates in small editions and hand-coloured, which means they’re short-lived and not designed for mass production. It’s a form that suits the content, since these are images of endangered species. This tansy beetle is just a detail; for the complete picture, and Bea’s thoughts on the subject, please see below. Continue reading “Beetle, Crayfish & Mussel”
Mike McInnerney At Kensington Place
We recently installed a green wall at Kensington Place. Mike McInnerney is the seventh artist to occupy their Art Wall and he’s filled it with a fantastic forest of trees. Continue reading “Mike McInnerney At Kensington Place”
For Charlie Haden
I first knew Charlie Haden from his Liberation Music Orchestra in 1970. It still stands as my favourite album. I later discovered his work with Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Carla Bley, Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, Alice Coltrane, Bill Frisell, Geri Allen… He stood as a signpost to some of the best music of the past 50 years. His death last Friday from post-polio syndrome is a sad loss of a truly great artist. There’s a beautiful reminder of him here, but the best way to know Charlie is to listen to his music…
Charlie Haden: Song For Ché
Mondrian In Amsterdam
Whilst I was preparing the Malevich In Amsterdam post I kept uncovering photos of Mondrian paintings from last year in Amsterdam. There are presently exhibitions in Margate and Liverpool marking seventy years since his death, so it seemed appropriate to post some of those photos here, in memory of Mondrian in Amsterdam. Continue reading “Mondrian In Amsterdam”