Lock Down Life

 LOCKDOWN LIFE

I've spent my time through our 3 lockdowns making masks, repairing broken items, (ongoing) watching nature, growing plants & making sketches/collages of appealing things. 

Last year's weather was quite different compared to 2020. The weather was exceptionally warm, so much time was spent in the garden or on our allotment.

Other exercise was via Zoom classes x 2 per week, aching joints followed. We watched our hair grow, exchanged notes about jabs! I even bought skipping rope to try & get breathless to avoid mixing with countless out-door joggers - hard to avoid. The garden felt safer. This activity has waned due to poor weather & lack of enthusiasm. I was hoping to dance whilst doing it which proved less easy!! Got tangled in the rope.

It's been difficult & frustrating, in bad weather during 2021, to meet friends outdoors. Missing the regular visits to museums with friends. Online tours of museum galleries have been good.

I had my 1st hug with my brother in April - not seen him in person for 1year. 

We had our 1st outing to the BM for Middle Eastern Art, which was impressive after 6 months of online-only events. A snack in the Members' room. 1st meal out inside a restaurant with two local friends @ 'The Flying Frenchman' on Newington Green. 

Also went to Tate Mod for Zanele Muholi - just before it closed!! Impressive & exhausting amount to take in. Had a lunch @ Etsi near St Pauls. Another novelty!! All this in the space of one week!!! Felt culturally hammered!!

Home meals tend to get repeated - spanakopita, pasta & broccoli, cauliflower & potato curry, then 2 meat & one fish dish. Chicken is getting swerved & we're going for rabbit, lamb or pork.

Jams have been made with our fruit from the lotty - I've enjoyed designing the labels.

Feels odd not venturing far in London, stuck in a rutt doing same journeys week in week out - collecting groceries keeps the car turned over.

Finally we got away for 4 days in Blythburgh with 4 jabbed friends of similar age. An uplifting time was had by all. Swimming in the pool & sea. A long walk from the Isokon house to Walberswick, via forest & field, was quite exhausting but I made it. 4miles - in the heat. 

Other outings have been driving to Yorkshire to visit my brother. Partly to test-run his car (we needed to get a better one to qualify for LEZ) which included a trip in his wide berth narrowboat to see several bridges, a lock & then camp overnight after a barbecue.

In November we drove to Kent to celebrate Richard's 70th birthday - stayed in room over a garage in Chislet. Faversham was a good meet-point to see couples 1 &  2. Then a visit to Birchington to meet couple 3, & Herne Bay couple 4. Then home - home exhausted from so much talking.

Sketching - British Museum 25th February

The Islamic Gallery was the meeting point for myself, Janet Knechtel & Judith.

Carole went to the Hellenistic Crafts, Joyce was upstairs in Room 90 for 'Living with Art', 'Picasso to Celmins'.

Here are pictures of our work:
Carole's 2 studies:

A 'shrine' 350 BC from tomb @ Olbia, Crimea, & Aphrodite & Eros terracotta 300 BC.














Joyce's page 1:
Matisse 'Bending Head & Fishbowl' 1929, Joan Miro 'Figure in the Sun' 1936-9



Joyce page 2:
Left: Brice Marden Zen studies for cold mountain 1991 & Right: Victor Passmore 1948



My choice was a Ceremonial Axe with interesting shadows. Omdurman Sudan 1800-1900
& an Egyptian wooden comb 900/1100
   

Janet K sketched a lovely detail with an ibex Iran 1450-75 from a ceramic piece in the Islamic gallery.



Judith 's study was of a decorated shield in sheet bronze, 400 -300 BC from  
River Witham near Lincoln.

Lastly, an extra-mural - Joyce showed her interpretation of 'A Fairy' 

- one of a '30 day sketch' subject! 

susan.sharples@btconnect.com

Wellcome Gallery 24 September

Wellcome Gallery 24 September

The heavens opened and flooded the roads but we three got there!

Thereís a new Gallery on 1st Floor, a permanent show entitled ëBeing Humaní showing 50 objects & artworks covering Genetics, Minds & Bodies, Infection and Environmental Breakdown.

    

Janet K chose the colourful Yinka Shonibare in this display. The figure had various survival implements inset on the dungarees made from African Fabric.

Judith went to Medicine Man Gallery, chose a variety of glass vases arranging them to overlap and create lovely shapes. 

She then went on to study a figure from the Congo 1880-1920: 'Nkisi' - which had a container for spiritual forces with the power to protect. 

Sue made a study of 'World under Pressure': a pressure cooker and 2 gas flagons. Dangerous objects in to be found in many Moroccan kitchens - placing a global impact on poorest sector of society.

Guildhall Sketching 10 September

Guildhall Gallery Tuesday 10th September

It was a fine sunny day to show our sketches outside in the square.

Here's one of 4 stained glass windows, which depicts a view of London Bridge, overlooking the main square.



Janet B had to depart early, and produced 2 sketches, one of a wrestling match from the amphitheatre, the 2nd a carved bust of a dignitary.  

 

Carole sat outdoors (bravely in the shade) to sketch the Guildhall church white on grey with black to add depth.



I stayed in the amphitheatre sketching the flight of stairs through a curved window.
I was taken by the reflections in the handrails etc.



Janet K found a very colourful French landscape painting by Sir Matthew Smilly



Judith found this elegant statue of Mignon by E Roscoe Mullins & a study of St Mary at Bow.

    

Jo tackled a very complex painting by Tissot of a Civic procession down Ludgate. 

Sketching Tuesday 13th August

Sketch meeting @ Golders Hill Pergola and Park, 13th August

Three of us turned up on a lovely sunny day, which was in-between two wet & windy ones!
We found each other on the Pergola, then divided up to search for a suitable view/subject.

Jo settled on 'blind' drawing of a tree.



Judith did a sketch of a huge tree trunk with white highlights.



I stayed on the pergola working on a view along the walkway.

Docklands Museum July 23rd

Docklands Museum July 23rd

It was a very hot day for sketching! Four of us turned up and braved the elements, mostly outside, given the Docklands have 50 sculptures scattered around the area. 

Judith chose two sculptures, one by Giles Penny "Two Men on a Bench' the other by Lynn Chadwick, 'Couple on Seat'

I was inside, to keep cool, at the 'Secret Rivers' exhibition. I chose the Tyburn Salmon cast in bronze by Simon Gudgeon.

Janet B found a bronze sculpture by Igor Mitoraj 'Centurione' in Columbus Courtyard.

Carole was outside, sketching the view across the harbour from the Docklands Museum side.

Brunei Gallery Empire of the Sikhs 4th September

The exhibition was attended initially by 7 of us, but lack of stools drove Janet B to BM, Michelle left early and Janet K made a sketch,  but had to leave early.

Firstly, Carole chose a painting which was 'very colourful and complex' so she chose to do in black and white.



Here's Najlaa's study on blue paper:



An armlet for the Koh-I-Noor Diamond (a rock crystal was the replacement jewel)
and a pair of golden Earrings of the Maharani Katur.

Then Joyce chose a quick study of people going about their everyday activities:



Judith made a study of Old Lahor (from a painting) in terracotta and ochres with white highlights.



Mine was a Sikh Turban Helmet which was decorated & forged to accommodate a turban & topknot. There was a protective woven mesh in a zig-zag pattern.



Janet K decided to study a Kashmir shawl c 1835 - very elaborate weaving which took years to complete.