A good friend, a college friend of Herself, who is a very good artist, had an opening at the Mall Gallery, in the Mall next to the ICA earlier this evening, and we went. Three or four rooms full of the paintings, some very dark, some of her children all of whom were present and one of whom, the obvious one actually, gave the speech with a light touch. (Anyone who likes paintings may well enjoy a visit over the next what, fortnight? Week? In any case Telegraph readers may have noticed the long piece about her, with the paintings, in last Saturday's colour supplement). I didn't ask if the paintings were for sale but if they are they won't be super-cheap.
It was a very crowded and rather posh occasion with many faces vaguely familiar from the media. I noticed Alan Yentob who saw me noticing him and gave ma a regulation hard-eyed I-don't-know-you stare, tee hee! The champagne wasn't poisonous but I didn't drink much.
We went by train to avoid hassles, one tube stop and a half-mile walk at the London end, no problem. But the train on the way to London was freezing cold, what is this the second world war? Jeeze! The one on the way back was slightly, but only slightly, warmer. What the hell is the matter with Southern or whatever it's called? Heads should damn well roll.
The artist is a Parkinson's sufferer and has had mental health problems in the past, shown in the paintings, they being often associated with creativity. She's a really great girl but of course was somewhat buried under a permanent shifting scrum tonight and didn't have time for individuals.
Last edited by: Armel Coussine on Mon 7 Sep 15 at 23:57
|
Somewhat naive style, but looks powerful.
Personally I like impressionist paintings better and also the Art Nouveau stuff such as Klimt and the like.
tinyurl.com/pt88k9e
|
>> Personally I like impressionist paintings better and also the Art Nouveau stuff such as Klimt
>> and the like.
And here was me thinking you would be a fan of islamic iconography.
|
>> But the train on the way to London was freezing
>> cold, what is this the second world war?
Air con on too high?
|
Perro: yes.
Roger: there's no accounting for taste which varies between individuals.
Focus: no doubt. I can remember trains that had passenger-operable heater controls though. This one didn't have any.
|
>> Focus: no doubt. I can remember trains that had passenger-operable heater controls though.
You mean "windows".
|
|
In BR days I remember when a: there was no heating in winter, b: there was too much heating in summer, c:the windows were stuck shut.
|
|
You could always open the windows on the old slam doors. Remember the smoking carriage?
|
>> You could always open the windows on the old slam doors. Remember the smoking carriage?
On our BR Network SouthEast class 421 slam door stock, the windows were jammed shut. You had to use that great big silver slide thing on the inside of the door. Sometimes so stiff you need two hands to open it.
|
>> You could always open the windows on the old slam doors.
>>
Lifting glass and a leather strap. Put it on the hole you fancy, or lean out for a breath of lovely coal smoke.
|
True, I remember all those things too. Yesterday 'too much heating in summer' would have been just the ticket.
And I do remember, longingly, smoking compartments and carriages. Or standing in the corridor for a cigarette if there weren't any.
Last edited by: Armel Coussine on Tue 8 Sep 15 at 13:18
|
|
Can you remember smoking on planes?
|
|
Yes. But the thin air made it less satisfactory than smoking at ground level.
|
And bringing back packs of 200 cigarettes from trips abroad for all the friends that smoked.
Nobody seems to smoke nowadays!
|
The OP does. So does That Woman.
:}
|
That woman does, I will certainly continue to do so as long as I continue to enjoy it and can afford to pay for my ciggies.
If anyone has a problem with that I suggest they keep it to themselves.
Pat
|
>> I noticed Alan Yentob who saw me noticing him and gave ma a regulation hard-eyed I-don't-know-you stare, tee hee!
The hostile stare gave me an impulse to clap him on the shoulder and give a hearty cry of 'Botney! My dear fellow!', but I suppressed it. Herself says it's just as well, and I'm sure she's right. It must be tiresome being recognized all the time. And Yentob looks, actually, quite capable of delivering a bunch of fives.
One of our friends had gatecrashed shamelessly, and I doubt very much that she was the only one. There were numerous third-generation Johnsons sloping about in tee shirts...
I repeat, anyone within reach who likes paintings should fall by the gallery. They're terrific, and they contain a narrative. They are only there until the end of the week, five days in all.
Parkinson's sufferers feel tired all the time, and poor Charlotte was knackered. She had a constant succession of two-minute visits. These occasions are so damn busy. There was a TV camera crew shouldering around in the throng.
|
>>And Yentob looks, actually, quite capable of delivering a bunch of fives.
He is a black belt in Krag Mega, most likely.
|
>> There was a TV camera crew shouldering around in the throng.
The programme was last night. Charlotte says her Parkinson's makes her 'look mad'. Not really, I'd say, just enough to show that she's er, one of us all right.
She's a great girl. Everyone loves her.
|
London eh? I dunno, ... - Dog
