(Frieze Frame!) Frieze Frame!

Day One at Frieze Art Fair:
I made it through only 1/5 of the 170 gallery stalls in my 4 hours at the fair today. I will be going back tomorrow to check out the Sculpture Park, and again on Saturday to see the rest of the fair. Tomorrow I must also squeeze in a few of the satellite fairs going on in the city, including P.A.D. (Pavilion of Art & Design).

And now for a little postmodern nostalgia. It has been in my head all day, and now it will be in yours too! (you're welcome)

Fancy a Pint?

I survived another Tuesday- my longest day of the week. A full day of lectures on emerging art markets- today was trends in the Arab and Iranian market since 1998- a seminar with presentations on individual artist valuations, a lecture on estimating for the modern market, and an evening of British Gothic architecture; I could sure use a cold one.  Funny that in the last 15 minutes of my Architecture lecture (yes, this is the EXTRA class that I signed up for), he showed these two Hogarth prints: "Gin Lane" and "Beer Street", published London 1751.
As a commentary on the "evils" of gin drinking and the "benefits" of beer drinking, it coincides with The Sale of Spirits Act (or Gin Act) of 1751. "Gin Lane" depicts the debauchery which was associated with the the availability of cheap gin. As pointed out by our esteemed lecturer Harry Mount (he is the primary reason that I am taking the class), the architecture depicted within the first print includes views of the slums of  St. Giles in the Fields, with Hawksmoor's St. George's Church (Bloomsbury) in the distance. In the second print, the benefits of drinking beer, rather than gin, are apparent in the health and well being of the Londoners depicted. And in the background, a new public house is under construction.  By 1830, the Beer Act further relaxed the laws around beer sales and led to the mass building of Beer Houses throughout London, especially as part of terrace house developments. Within the first year over 400 Beer Houses were built across England; over 40,000 within eight years.  

There are actually a lot of things to be discovered in these prints. So pour yourself a pint and have a look!

Bright Young Things

David Batchelor @ Saatchi Gallery

This week it is all about contemporary art here in London. The art-smart set lands in Regent's Park from 13-16 October for Frieze Art Fair. Sotheby's and Christie's host contemporary themed sales this week as well.
Today we received special preview tours of both sales. In my opinion, the lots that Christie's has on offer are more impressive in terms of variety and quality of works. However, Sotheby's does have a Fausto Melotti sculpture as part of their Italian 20th Century collection sale. He is a personal favorite of mine!
My "contemporary week" actually started last week with First Thursday in East London. A few classmates and I met up at Whitechapel Gallery to start our evening walking tour of galleries in the east end. Passing, but not stopping, the delicious Indian Restaurants of Brick Lane, we made our way to Redchurch Street winding our way up to Hoxton Square where we capped the night with a few drinks. Not bad for a first "first".
Friday night was spent wandering Victoria & Albert Museum and enjoying the free concert by tango revolutionaries Fugata Quintet. The nuevo tango of Astor Piazzolla filled The Gamble Room, the elegant original refreshment room at the museum. It was spectacular!
As it happens, I have been spending a great deal of time at the V&A. Between research visits to the National Art Library and special viewings in the Prints & Drawings Room, I have been making my way through the galleries one by one. This is not a museum you can see in a day, or three even!
Saturday hiatus...working on research for my next essay...
On Sunday the weather continued to amaze! I set out for the Art London (another art fair) at the Royal Hospital Chelsea followed by a swing through Saatchi Gallery and the "The Shape of Things to Come: New Sculpture" exhibition. New-ish works from 20 sculptors. I'm afraid that the show made me mourn the loss of traditional technique- something I have been conflicted about since my visit a few weeks ago to Gagosian Gallery to see Mike Kelley's "Kandor/Exploded Fortress of Solitude" installations. I never realized just how ubiquitous polyurethane foam has become in contemporary art.
Now, I must rest up for the week (and finish my presentation for class tomorrow). I will be sure to post images from Frieze- our class has tours of the fair on Thursday and Friday. So be sure to check back!

Study Aid

Been a bit busy lately, but I've got some time before I need to start worrying about essays again, and, oh yeah, exams!
So, more to come soon...

Remembrance

I came across this towering piece by Richard Serra near Liverpool Street Station today. At first I was drawn to it, and then I was drawn into it. I found it to be a solemn place to reflect on this anniversary.

Die Brücke

Line.

  Shape.

    Color.

      Texture.

     Form.

  Value.

Space.

Bully Market

Sometimes when I set out in a new place I actually try to get lost once or twice. 
It usually starts as a challenge- can I get from point A to point B without looking at the map? What will I remember, what will I recognize, and how well tuned is my inner compass? Being in Central London there are lots of clues to work from, plus, I have a pretty good visual map in my head. However, anyone who has been here knows this is no NewYork or Chicago. There is no grid imposed on this city. Its organic, chaotic and exciting. You can't always guess what is around the next corner, and most of the time you are pleasantly surprised by what you find. Of course its always disappointing when you can never find it again!


Today was an off day for classes. I had some business to to take care of at school and in town, but afterwards I was free to get lost.
Challenge
Point A: Bedford Square
Point B: Get to the Thames, cross a bridge to the south bank and catch a bus home to South Lambeth.


I know generally major landmarks and streets to look for between A and B, so I added that I was not allowed to walk any street that was familiar once I left Bedford Square. This would keep me mostly to side streets, closes, and a few alleys, turning and diverting, making it all the more interesting and confusing. The real challenge came at crossing the Thames: I have walked across pretty much every bridge from Tower to Westminster! 


Somewhere between Endell Street and Drury Lane I found a fantastic vintage clothing store. I wandered in and spent more than a few minutes picking though the basement and the wonderful winter tweeds. 


With the sense I was heading too far east I cut back and there I was, in Covent Garden Market. Wandering the market a bit and dodging the tourists I passed through a covered walkway and found the broadside bearing the "Covent Garden Market Rules. Orders & Bye-Laws" (circa 1830). Posted after the rebuilding of the market by the sixth Duke of Bedford by way of an Act of Parliament to deal with over-cowding and bad dealings in and around the market. (click on my photo to enlarge and read Rules XVI, XVII, XVIII)
The Act also contained provisions for the dayto-day management of the market. The Duke was empowered to make bye-laws, and (with certain minor exceptions) nothing was to be sold in the market but fruit, vegetables and flowers. Waggons were only to be placed on the standings provided for them, and obstructions placed in the gangways of the market or in the surrounding carriageways could be seized. (ref. and more on the market here)


Leaving the market I made my way crossing The Strand and down hill via Villiers Street. This street was teeming with people rushing to and from trains at Charring Cross station. Reaching the Victoria Embankment I had essentially reached the Thames, but I had walked the Embankment earlier in the week to reach Westminster Pier. I needed an alternative route. Passing under the train overpass I emerged at the base of the stair to the Golden Jubilee Pedestrian Bridges which flank the Hungerford Bridge. 
Challenge met! I had never crossed these bridges before. I can't wait to get lost again!

[pyä'nô nô'bē-le]

Under a Turneresque sky we ventured out on a site visit today to explore Greenwich. Leaving from Westminster Pier we traveled via boat taking in the incredible variety of architecture visible from the Thames. This Palladian gem, The Queen's House by Inigo Jones (1616-1635), was at the end of our tour. Unfortunately, we reached the galleries off the orangery (which are part of the National Maritime Museum) at closing time. Three of us stood looking thoroughly disappointed at a closed door. "Right. Just you three. In you go. Have a look." The guard opened the door to this most spectacular painting.

Artspeak

UNTITLED Bloomsbury Square, London, 5 September 2011

Although an early work, this piece spans a significant transitional period in the artist's oeuvre. The separateness of the objects within a vast field of uniformity reveals a  struggle with individuality and authenticity. Tension is further emphasized by the gesture to roll-down one of the pair representing the cultural dichotomy between youth and age. Whereas the political overtness of the piece- left vs right- is understood, one cannot readily distinguish whether movement is progressive or regressive. Furthermore, the artist has never conceded to the supposition that a subtext to this piece is the tenuous future of native cultures of the world due to deforestation,  over-urbanization, global corporate land seizures, and the misappropriation of cultural wealth by illegitimate governments for touristic schemes as a means of propping up their failing economies. 

Two Jammy Dodgers and a Cup of Tea

I imagined my inaugural post to this blog would be inspiring, possibly radical, and imbued with the spirit of revolutionary change!
Alas, it was no Sunday to write home about. In fact, I think it was a little taste of things to come.
After an uneventful voyage from Charlotte to London consisting of 2 planes, one train and a taxi, I arrived safely at my destination: SW9 (or South Lambeth). I made arrangements with my flat host, Emma, to arrive between 2 and 2:30 pm, which was my best guess at timing landing, border control, baggage, Heathrow Express train, and taxi from Paddington to get to her place. Upon opening the door there was no initial "Hello" or "Welcome" it was "You must be Patty. You're Spot on! 2 O'clock! Brilliant!" Yep, I have arrived.
The flat is lovely and well situated for the first week here as classes get started up. Friday I took a walk around the neighborhood to get my bearings. Walking through Kennington Park the sun was shining, locals were relaxing and sunbathing on the grass, and I overheard more than one person comment that it felt "like the first day of summer."
For me though, Friday was officially my last day of "vacation" before getting down to the serious business of being a student (again). So I had a pint of Stella Black at the local (The Oval Lounge) along with a meal that would make certain people very jealous. Let's just say that caramelized figs and goat-cheese crostini were involved and leave it at that.
I set several goals for Saturday and, thanks to another perfect weather day, all were achieved via the #159 bus (my new favorite). I will spare all the boring details, but most notably I now have a new mobile phone- technology circa 1997. Wait, I take that back. It has a color LCD, so, 1998? No matter, it does the job.
So here it is Sunday, the day before orientation day at SIA (for those who don't know that's Sotheby's Institute of Art). I have just completed my first assignment given to us via email. After a morning run through Kennington Park and a trip to the very super Sainsbury's (supermarket), I settled down to work with two Jammy Dodgers and a cup of tea just as it started to rain outside.
Perfect.