Last Thursday evening turned out to be rather a busy one with the opening of not one, but two exhibitions which, although not exactly musical, had musical connections.
Alison Gardiner Sketches
The first was showcasing Alison Gardiner‘s wonderful drawings – which many of you will know from her sketches of the musicians playing at our concerts. Here are James Girling and Lotte Betts Dean at our Thomas Hardy poems concert last summer.
I met Alison through the Islington Festival whose concerts she has been recording for a couple of years as she is particularly fascinated by musicians at work – which was my excuse for inviting her to our concerts in the hopes that she might be moved to draw some of our performers.
But musicians are absolutely not the only subjects to attract the attention of her paint brushes. Sports people, portraits, life drawing, landscapes and townscapes all populate her sketchbooks – my particular favourites being some of her townscapes. This is a street in Shoreditch.
A great selection of her work is on display, rather appropriately, at After Noah in Upper Street, just opposite St Mary’s Church where a number of the Islington Festival concerts take place.
After Noah is a fascinating shop – part antique shop, part contemporary design home-store, part gift shop, part toy shop, part furniture restoration workshop. Well worth a visit in itself. And at the back of the shop they have a charming small garden and a gallery, Gallery 121 – a space that they offer to artists, artisans and craftspeople to showcase their work in the heart of Islington. Which is exactly what Alison will be doing until August 11th – and she will be there herself for most of that time if you would like to chat to her about her sketches.
Alison Gardiner at After Noah 121 Upper St N1 1QP – until August 11th.
Christopher Baxter – Sculptures in Slate
My second exhibition had no musical connections at all as such, except that my harpist friend Hugh Webb (whose playing I had been enjoying only ten days ago at Paul Archbold’s 60th birthday concert) and violist Anna Beilby were playing at its opening and Hugh had invited me to come and see Christopher Baxter’s amazing sculptures.
And amazing they really are. The wings you see below are each well over two foot high and are made from meticulously crafted slithers of slate, so finely layered that it is hard to believe, even when you touch them, that they are not real feathers. It is only a small exhibition – the other major piece is a giant slate bird’s nest encasing four open mouth slate chicks. But, if you happen to be in the West End of London with 20 minutes to spare, do drop by.
The exhibtion is on till the end of the month at the Music Studios 29 Marylebone Lane W1U 2NQ
As for the music… That was delightful. Among other short pieces Hugh and Anne played a harp and viola sonata by Sir Arnold Bax (a rarity in that it was actually composed for those two instruments) and some wonderul Spanish and South American music including Astor Piazzolla‘s nuevo tango Oblivion.
Meanwhile, coming up…..
Sunday 18th August – Highgate
Salon Music’s summer jazz garden party with Sol Grimshaw and his group. Bread, cheese, wine and beer on offer from 1.30 – 7.30pm. Book here.
Wednesday 4th September 6pm – Highgate
Rush Hour Recital – songs by Fauré, Rainier, Benjamin Britten and Jonty Lefroy Watt with mezzo soprano Mia Serracino-Inglott and guitarist Declan Hickey. Relax after a hard day with a glass of wine and an hour of gentle music.
£15 to include a glass (or two) of wine. For more details and to book go here.
Tuesday 24th September 6.30pm – Highgate
The Portrait Players, Claire (soprano), Kristiina (theorbo/lute) and Miriam (cello/viol da gamba) love playing the music from the 17th and 18th centuries but they are also fascinated by the brilliant creative women who were the inspiration for so much of it. In their programme they introduce us to many of these women and the songs they inspired. Followed by a 18th century supper.
£30 for the concert, supper and wine. Book here.
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