Archive for the ‘London’ Category
Venetia Norris Pop Up Exhibition at Fenton House
Tuesday, April 10th, 2012
Image: Venetia Norris
One of our favourite artists, Venetia Norris has a new pop up exhibition opening in April at Fenton House in Hampstead, London. Linear Collections is an exhibition of drawings by Norris inspired by the beautiful walled gardens of Fenton House. Her passion for drawing directly from life allows her to present a detailed snapshot of the organic world as she plays with tradition versus modernity. We particularly like Norris’ strong lines and depictions of the natural world through her beautiful drawings.
Image: Venetia Norris
Although this exhibition focuses mostly on flowers and plants, Norris finds their shape and form more captivating than the subjects themselves. Some of Norris’s drawings are displayed in antique frames that create an interesting visual dialogue with the delicacy of line. Coming from a resolutely feminine art history, flower depictions have been pursued and developed over the years, recently by such notable artists as Georgia O’Keefe and Dame Elizabeth Blackadder. Norris has followed in their footsteps and her detailed studies focus on the intricate forms in nature, analysing their structures in a beautiful and mesmerising way.
Fenton House, Hampstead
Fenton House is well-known as a collection of collections and the temporary installation of Norris’s exhibition enhances this theme. As Norris has spent time in, and come to know, the gardens at Fenton, she has found inspiration in a wider range of plant forms including vegetables and fruit.
To coincide with the Open Garden Squares Weekend and Fenton’s Summer Tea Party, the artist will be holding a number of 30-45-minute drawing workshops on 4 th and 9 th June 2012 (these will be held at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm on both days). Materials will be provided. Classes are free of charge but a donation is requested to contribute to the upkeep of the gardens.
Exhibition Dates: Wednesday 4 th April – Sunday 1 st July 2012
Location: Fenton House and Garden, Hampstead Grove, London NW3 6SP
Opening Hours: Wednesdays-Sundays, 11am-5pm (last admission at 4.30pm)
Monkey Shoulder Chocolate Trail – Easter Egg Hunt
Friday, April 6th, 2012
We were invited to take part in a Easter-egg hunt with a twist. Instead of searching for traditional Easter eggs, we had to hunt down Easter eggs in a hive of urban foliage and swap them for cocktails.
Monkey Shoulder Whiskey is curating the event in Soho, and have gathered together outdoor designers Bobby Peterson and Anna Garforth to create specially grown moss and grass sculptures to give the effect of the outdoors, indoors.
We had to hunt for eggs in the green and swap them for bespoke whiskey cocktails; and also be on the lookout for the rebellious Easter bunny!
The reclaimed chairs are fitted with speakers to create an outdoors beat:
Delicious new cocktails have been created with London Cocktail Club and chocolatier Niko B has developed flavoured chocolates to go alongside. Here’s the recipe for one of our favourite cocktails served with a lemon, ginger and cayenne pepper truffle:
Rhubarb & Rose Julep
50ml Monkey Shoulder Whiskey
15ml Sugar syrup
15ml Rose Liqueur
Dash of Rhubarb bitters
Pinch of Mint
Build in a julep tin with crushed ice.
This will be paired with – Lemon , Ginger and Cayenne Pepper truffle ( a dark chocolate ganache truffle with fresh ginger infused cream, lemons and cayenne pepper)
Dates: Open to the public from Friday 6th to and including Monday 9th April; 12.00 -7.00pm
The Monkey Shoulder Chocolate Trail is free to attend and discover, drinks are also available to buy.
The pairings will be available at all three London Cocktail Club bars from 30th March -15th April, and at the Monkey Shoulder Chocolate Trail itself at 63 Broadwick St, from 6th -9th April.
inmidtown Wildlife Habitats Exhibition
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
Image: inmidtown
A Central London business initiative “inmidtown” have teamed up with The Architecture Foundation to install a collection of innovatively designed bee hives, bird boxes and planters throughout Bloomsbury, Holborn and St Giles in the area later in the year. They decided to run it as a design competition, and received a huge amount of submissions; before they decide on the winning designs they are opening it up to the public. Visitors can see the prototypes first hand at Renzo Piano’s Central Saint Giles, and vote for the winner. The design remit calls for distinctive yet functional designs that can help enhance biodiversity in the inmidtown area. Definitely worth taking a look!
Tuesday, 27 March 2012 – Tuesday, 17 April 2012, Monday – Sunday: 09:00 – 21:00.
Free entry
Central St. Giles, St Giles High Street, Leicester Square, WC2H 8AG
New Pothole Garden
Friday, March 23rd, 2012
Image: The Pothole Gardener
You may remember a few months ago we featured Steve Weheen’s blog, The Pothole Gardener and we were delighted to see that he has created a new Springtime garden. This time Steve collaborated with Time Out and re-created the London Eye at the foot of the Ministry of Defence building. Whilst Steve was building the garden a curious policeman popped by to see what they were up to and told the team that he had made their day!
Time Out created a video depicting the creation of the garden which you can watch here.
Vintage Fair – Sunday 25th March
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012
Image: Judy’s Vintage Fair
We love nothing more than scouring for some vintage pieces, but sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start. Car boot sales and markets are great, but it can take a while to find a gem. That’s where Judy helps. Judy started organising vintage fairs in 2005, she scoured for the best and most affordable vintage traders in the UK and started putting them together in one place – “Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair” (and also made sure that plenty of tea and cake were served at the same time).
This Sunday the Vintage Furniture Flea Fair arrives in Bethnal Green, taking home at York Hall. The Fair is aiming to do away with expensive replicas and focus on quality and affordability. They are celebrating mid-century living from the 50s and beyond, and the event is offering up to 40 top vintage traders, all offering furniture and homewares without costing the earth. Happy Shopping!
Judy’s Vintage Furniture Flea, 25 Mar 2012 , 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM York Hall 5 Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PJ
Open: Earlybird – 11:00, General – 11:30 – 4:30; Price: Earlybird: £3, General £2