LONDON MARATHON APRIL 2012

SUNDAY, 22 APRIL LONDON MARATHON, 2012

I went to see the runners again this year. As last year, I made my way to Wesminster Tube station, and admired the interior escalator and exit of the tube station yet again, it's in the Brutalist style!

Once outside the sun was shining and the large plane trees looked very lovely, in small leaf.  By the river, on the Embankment, I stood and did this pen drawing. 

Waiting for the runners, near Wesminster Bridge

I got talking to a man who said he drove a minibus up to London every year with his local running club, from Berkshire, and he said it was a great occasion which ended in a celebratory meal in a local pub in the evening.  He said he had been doing it for 30 years, and was now 70, so this would be his last year (something to do with insurance, I think).

This year I was not in such a good position for taking photos, but was able to get a shot of the Women Elite runners, powering through.  The Kenyan women were in the lead, including Edna Kiplagat, who was third last year.  I made a painting which included an image of her, which will be at Bankside Gallery soon.

Edna Kiplagat runs 2012 Marathon

This year Mary Keitany won the women's title.  I did not see the winners and their triumph until I got home later, when I watched it on the TV.  It is very exciting, though, even if you cannot see  the winners.  The atmosphere is frenetic, and what makes it even better is the crowd of supporters, including children (and dogs), shouting their encouragement.

BANKSIDE GALLERY,  GROUP EXHIBITION OF SOUTH LONDON WOMEN ARTISTS.

It starts on Wednesday, 2 May and is on for a week.  There will be work from about 100 artists, all kinds of painting and sculpture.

Edna runs London Marathon, 2011, oil on canvas

SUSAN WOOD TALK AT SOUTH LONDON WOMEN ARTISTS GROUP EXHIBITION, BANKSIDE GALLERY, LONDON

Susan Wood, an artist member of SLWA, gave a fascinating talk on Saturday, 1 May 2010.  She explained how the Exhibition Group, lead by Moira Jarvis, had worked so hard to put on this, the first group exhibition of the SLWA.
Susan likened our group to the artists' colonies, such as the ones at Newlyn and Pont-Aven, but said we were more a 'virtual' colony, as we participate with each other on the internet, since we do not all live in a small area of London.
Susan went on to talk about the exhibits, and set out to point to various groupings, the first one being 'colourists' such as Anne Lynch and Janet Tod. Next was a group of 4 works based on 'people', this included the portraits by Julie Bennett and Joley Goodman, the scene of the Smithfield Nocturne cycle race by me, and the painting of a bar front in Alburquerque by Carol Cooper.
I was pleased that Susan remarked on my vibrant colours, and remarked that my painting was not just of athletes, but of athletes in relation to their city surrounding, a city context.
Marnie Pitt has used egg tempera and oil for for her surreal image, Susan Short has a print, the only woodcut in the show and Leonie Cronin (founder member) was mentioned for her acrylic, of a mythological theme, with a background of women playing in a brass band (which her daughter does).
Jane Higginbottom has a small sculpture, stone on wood;  Jane has work in Burgess Park also.
Selina Jane Steele has a collection in a display cabinet, and is influenced by the 19th century idea of cabinets of curiosities.
City scapes are represented by Tory Wilkinson's Blue Skys, Moira Jarvis by Trees in Autumn in Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon Common and water reflections by Liz Charsley-Joley, a view from water level entitled 'Putney Pier'
The subject 'Layers' included Kim Thornton's vacuum cleaner 'Domestic Alchemist' and Sarah Willet's acrylic where circles are gouged out, creating visual ambiguity, and suggesting an interest in Aboriginal art. Finally Susan finished her talk mentioning the two blue Cyanotypes of Zoe Burt, made at Brixton Lido.

BANKSIDE GALLERY AND COUNCILLOR ROBIN CROOKSHANK-HILTON, DEPUTY MAYOR OF SOUTHWARK

At the South London Women Artists Group exhibition I had an interesting talk to Councillor Robin Crookshank-Hilton, who is Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Southwark, and represents Dulwich Village Ward as a Liberal Democrat.
I wish her well during the coming local and general election day.

The photo was taken at the private view, of Councillor Robin Crookshank-Hilton, me and the purchaser of my painting, John Runnette. You can see the Smithfield Nocturne Cycling painting behind us.

Councillor Robin told me she is very interested in the collection of work by Pre-Raphaelite artist Evelyn de Morgan, which was held by the South London Art Gallery in Peckham.
Evelyn de Morgan was the wife of artist William de Morgan, whose ceramics and other work can be seen at the De Morgan Foundation Museum in Wandsworth, 38 West Hill, Wandsworth, SW18 1RZ. I must confess that despite my good intentions I have not yet been to see this museum!
De Morgan Foundation Museum

Link to more about Evelyn de Morgan:

Evelyn de Morgan

Unfortunately this woman artist's work is not on view in Southwark now. There might be work by her at the De Morgan Foundation Museum in Wandsworth.

FOUNDING MUSEUM EXHIBITION, BRUNSWICK SQUARE, LONDON, SLWA VISIT

The South London Women Artists Group had a fascinating visit to see this small museum, near Russell Square tube station, in Brunswick Square, Bloomsbury.
The museum is not in the original building that was designed for the Foundlings in the 18th century, but nevertheless it was extremely interesting to read about the philanthropic gentlemen including William Hogarth and Captain Corum, who started up the charity.
Even more interesting was the work on show of Paula Rego, one of our top women artists in London, who has made a series of pastels and an installation with reference to the Foundlings. As usual her images shock and surprise, scenes of rape, and giving birth outside under a lonely moon, putting babies in a well, and generally ill-treating young women. I found the preliminary images downstairs in the basement particularly disturbing, without an element of humour which has lightened the earlier work of Rego.
Also in this temporary exhibition at the Foundling was some monotype drawings by Tracey Emin, some installations by her of baby clothes, and some excellent photographs by Matt Collishaw.
We were a small group of artists, and the visit was organised by the wonderfull Julie Bennett. After looking at the museum, some of us had a very good snack in the museum cafe which I can recommend.

BANKSIDE GALLERY, LONDON SOUTH BANK, EXHIBITION SUCCESS

The South London Women Artists group exhibition Private View was last night. The gallery was the Bankside Gallery, Hopton Street, London near the Tate Modern Gallery.
Masses of people arrived towards the end of the evening.
At first it was just possible to look at the art work, and have wine and salmon nibbles, but later it was just very hectic. Atmosphere electric, everybody talking and enjoying the buzz.
I sold my painting on show, Smithfield Nocture Cycling, which was very good news for me.
This painting you can see on my web site,

http://www.sportsportraitartist.co.uk

The exhibition ends on Monday next, 3 May, so get along quick. A total of 16 works have so far been sold.

SOUTH LONDON WOMEN ARTISTS GROUP AT DULWICH LIBRARY

South London Women Artists Group has a web site, unfortunately I cannot get the links to work on my computer. The link appears in my text but does not display when published.
Here it is anyway http://southlondonwomenartists.co.uk


There is an exhibition at the moment, of some members work, including mine. It is at the Dulwich Library, 368 Lordship Lane, Dulwich.
My piece is a photo etching, one of an edition of 10, from a photo I took at last year's London Marathon. At the time of the photo it was pissing down with rain, and the runners were soaked. I was waiting for my son to run past - it was at Mile End, Stepney, Mile 13. My son got very wet feet and his socks caused painful blisters which spoiled the run a bit! Poor him, but I also have good photos of him with his medal, and he did a good time too.

The exibition ends on Tuesday 31 March. It is part of Southwark Council's Celebrating Women Artists month. I have not been to see it yet so cannot comment on the works. There is another group of art works at the ArtDog gallery

GERHARD RICHTER AT NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, LONDON

GERHARD RICHTER PORTRAITS EXHIBITION
at National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Lane, London
Lind http://npg.org.uk
Don't expect a large exhibition! The book on sale as you go in suggests a huge collection of his work, full of the iconic black and white portrait paintings, but no, there are no more than 34 pieces on display, and of these, the last one is merely a large mirror, entitled 'Spiegel (Mirror) Mixed media, 2008'. So you can look at yourself.
There are the usual printed notices in each of the five small exhibition areas, with quotes from GR and as usual, you have to read these to get the slightest idea of what the galleryists think is behind his working. In other words you can read what they think or you can think for yourself, and in fact I did, coming to the conclusion that it was unchallenging, flat, uninteresting and lacking in the sensuality of oil painting which I love.
I went with a group of friends from South London Women Artists group http://southlondonwomenartist.co.uk
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More to follow, though - I did have second thoughts .....