In the mean time...

The glaze firing was ok, but most masks needed another firing. That's on now.  I'm still struggling; it's the tonsillitis! It is back! I'm resting very well today. I hope I feel better soon!

Today I will share some recent photos!

Daisy playground

Box making

The mask went to t a lovely lady in the US.

Pocha was wrapped up!

Two weeks ago, we went to see Grayson Perry at Turner Contemporary, Margate. It was very good! I loved one of prints best.

At Turner contemporary. we both played the cymbals! 

despite the warmth, dogs are coping well in their own way.

Evening walk

Pearl the whippet usually cries for a blanket, but she sleeps like this now! :D

Where is my navel? 

 

A visit to Turner Contemporary at Margate

The UK is in the middle of a long holiday weekend. But it is my working weekend again. I have written about 2300 words in the last few days. But I finally finished all writing up!

In the previous post, I mentioned that I had delivered my work to the Cecilia Colman Gallery. Now my work is on their New Arrivals Article. Yay! : )
 
http://www.ceciliacolmangallery.com/pages/newarrivals.asp?ArtistID=103

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This morning, however, Mike and I went to Turner contemporary to see Mondrian. It is about 30 minutes drive. It was getting close to the end of the exhibition, so we thought we had better go!

In the town, I spotted this street art influenced by Mondrian.

Street art in Margate

The best part of Mondrian exhibition was this film about his studio. He made his studio as a 3D art work. I enjoyed it so much!

Mike was interested in this installation art by Dutch artist, Krijn de Koning. I became a model. :D

In other room, people seem to be most excited by this cloud. It was made of very thin plastic sheets held together with wooden cloths pegs. Mike said I should store all my wrapping papers like this! :D I was tempted to undo a few pegs, but restrained myself. :D 

Plastic sheet with pegs!

 The view from the upstairs was nice!

Back home, I have worked through until ten in the evening. Phew! : )

Alex Katz at the Turner Contemporary

Hello everyone. I had a hectic day. First in the morning, I went to see a doctor at the hospital at the other side of the city. In order to avoid commuting rush, we left just after eight for the appointment at 8:50. (Mike took a day off and drove me) If the road is quiet, it takes only 10 minutes or less. We arrived much earlier, of course, but took about 10 minutes to find the exact spot to see the doctor. There were maze-like corridors in the hospital. When we finally reached the reception, I thought we had walked about 1 km. Mike thought it was a half km. I guess it was between two. Luckily I was given a clean bill of health, and already back home just after nine. So quick! Then I had a difficult morning in the office. There are lots of companies issuing profit warnings for Q3 2012. It has been tough going.

After having Mike's cooked lunch, pasta with leek, peas and Parma ham. (very yummy!), we headed to The Turner Contemporary at Margate. Alex Katz exhibition is on. His iconic 'Red coat' was one of my unforgettable images in the 80's. When I went to NY for a short break around that time, one of my purposes was to see Katz' paintings in person.

Margate against the blue sky

We had a glorious blue sky. Margate is being regenerated, but against this blue sky, everything looked prettier.

We also spotted urban fox...

Fox

...and a staffie. 

Staffie

There was a nice tea and coffe shop, and at the window I found this hook. 

After we cross here, the smell of seaweed hits the nostrils, and we are at the Turner Contemporary.

Turner Contemporary

Current exhibition-Alex Katz

 'Red coat' was not there, but I liked 'Cut out', 'Black hat' and 'Beige water'.

A view from the window.

There was an installation at the foyer. Tempo para Respirar by Maria Nepomuceno. We had a fun playing here. 

Maria Nepomuceno

After seeing art, it's a coffee time! Mike is ordering coffee and a walnut and coffee cake. It was huge. We shared it. The cake she is serving is the one.

There was a girl rabbit.

While I was waiting for coffee and the cake to come, I took some photos.

At the Cafe. 

Entrance

Continuation

Blue sky

My  saucer

When we finished, it was suddenly cloudy and dark.  Our glorious time was over.

A Visit to Turner Contemporary at Margate

Ta-da! Mike was right! Tuesday after Easter holiday was sunny. I needed to work longer than I expected in the morning. So we headed off Turner Contemporary after a lunch with a glass of wine for me, instead of before lunch as we planned.

The road was clear. We parked in the middle of the town. It is a small parking surrounded by the back of the buildings. This sign amused me a lot.

Parking

  

Old Town Hall-17th century building

The building built in the same era

The current exhibitions are Turner and the Elements and Hamish Fulton: Walk.
I am not a big fan of Turner only because I like figurative paintings more than landscape. But I liked his oil paintings; dark clouds and stormy sea almost appear moving toward us, and light on them were beautifully painted. The cloud over us was also moving fast; wind was picking up. How appropriate to see Turner in his elements!


Hamish Fulton's works are very different. They consists of letters and straight lines. He walks from point A to B, usually a long distance. Then he makes posters about the walks. I just couldn't help wondering if all jars are lined up in a straight line facing toward the door in his fridge. I asked Mike what he thought about the works. I expected him to say something revealing of his inner self because he likes walks and he likes geometric patterns, more strairght lines than curves. But his thoughts were not much different from mine.  

'The Kiss' by Rodin

New look on the shop

We took a coffee break at the cafe. I had ice cream and espresso, Mike had a chocolate muffin and cappuccino. After that, we walked around the site.  

On the top of sea defence wall

Lighthouse

Turner Contemporary and Tourist Information

After we came home I found the market board was mainly red. I ended up working until bedtime.

Visit to Turner Contemporary

Mike, our friend, Margarita and I went to Turner Contemporary at Margate this morning. Mike found in the paper that the Queen and Prince Philip visited there yesterday. He was reading it loud to me, when local artist, Tracey Emin greeted the Queen, she asked her "Do you exhibit internationally, as well as in Margate?”


This is the largest gallery nearest to our house, and I am avid gallery & museum goer, We decided that we come anytime they change exhibitions. It is about 30 minutes by car. So we decided to give our friend is interested in contemporary art a ride anytime we come here.

Dreamland car park

Unused jet coaster rails

Mike found this car park in his most genius way. Dreamland was apparently once an amusement park, but now unused and derelict. We could see rusty jet coaster rails in the distance.

Approaching to Turner Contemporary

Last time when we came, it was a glorious day with blue sky. Today we have no such a good luck.

'Welcome, Margarita, Mike and Midori!'

But when I found this large seagull chick was waiting for us next to the gallery, my heart suddenly brightened up. I love birds! What a pretty pattern she has got!

Here is Rodin's 'The Kiss'. This one is quite large. I have seen other 'The Kiss' over the years. This one reflected in the infinite mirrors, appeared to me to have added another dimension. My applaud to the curator.

This is the first floor at the landing. 'The Kiss' and this part are only exhibits we are allowed to take photographs of.

Mike and Margarita looking out grey sea.

There are much more exhibits this time than the last time. Theme is 'youth'. I quite liked off-beat 'On the balcony' by Peter Blake.

I also liked a large portrait of a blond girl, but forgot the name of the artist. Let me know if you know.

There are some big names too. A Hockney, (I like the colours), Henry Moore, of course, several small Turners, etc. An elderly lady watching a small Moore's sculpture, 'Girl with clasped hands', turned back and whispered to me, 'It's Henry Moore'. Then we discussed why the sculpture looks very masculine, and exchanged our opinions on her hair style. I like Turner Contemporary's this casual atmosphere. I think it is very much the style of this corner of Kent.

Another view of 'The Kiss'.

A nice display.

A plaque I found at the entrance. 

After lunch at the cafe, we were going to trot back to dreamland car park. Then I found this dog waiting for his owner. The flags were for the Queen's visit. There were still here and there.

'Master, are you coming back yet?'

More flags

When I was younger, I was a sort of classical old painting loving girl. I have spent most of my holiday abroad visiting galleries and museums. I have been to most of the best ones in the world, except for Boston and Hermitage, as well as small exquisite ones.

As I get older, I started having more interest in contemporary art. I like to see something I have never seen. I love to be surprised. I like to know how other people see world.

Our day out is usually schedule with our dog walking routine. We had to come home by about three. Once back home, we walked dogs, fed parrots, checked on Mochacino the lonely finch, and Pupmkin the chicken, and then dashed out to town for errands. We went to Madame Oiseau, our favourite chocolaterie for my birthday (next Monday!), a bank (already closed) and a super to do grocery.

When we came back, my calves were tight. Getting old...? I need a couple of nights to digest what I have seen in Margate.