London – Page 3 – Home Office Charm

Art about Black Lives: It Really Does Matter Where Displayed

Who would have thought that Margate would be where I would discover a gallery floor full of art about the black lived experience. This blog tells the story of what I discovered and what it meant to my own future art practice, especially when considering how and where I would like my art displayed.

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A reward for giving to the arts

Personal Reflections

This week I have been developing my mixed media practice by doing an intensive full 10-day course at CSM. More on that in a later post.

However, the weekend took my sister and me out to explore our local high street, introducing her to all the amazing colourful things the different shops provide.

I took her to our local cinema, an art house cinema converted into a cinema from an old library on the high street. It also has an art gallery which you can see in the featured picture, above. They do life drawing sessions there on a Wednesday.

I was one of the founding members. During covid, I donated more money than I would normally to a project or charity because I love film and I like my local high street.

The cinema developers/ organisers then rewarded us by calling us early donators, The Founder Members. And to express their appreciation, they recently put our names on a plaque in the cinema doorway.

A long gold plaque with names against a white wall a sign on the left pointing to toilets and tables on the right for a seating area. The plaque is titled Founder Members Act One Cinema — The plaque at the doorway of Act One cinema celebrating and thanking donators

Recognition

It was a delight to see my own name on the plaque. I remember them asking how we wanted our names in an email. I can see other people who asked to express themselves, their groups, or their family. However, I am with just my name on the plaque. It is nice to get recognition and public reward for giving to the arts.

Raising funds for another screen.

The cinema has another goal to get a second screen. If you would also like to give to the arts, here is the link for their current fundraising round. https://www.spacehive.com/actonesecondscreen

Spotted: Lux Nail Head at F&M’s High Tea

London Culture & Places

I had the famous High tea at Fortnum and Mason’s to celebrate my big birthday this week. I was delighted to see in their 2012 refurbished Diamond Jubliee Team rooms that the chairs had lovely little strips of decorative nails.

The shop’s website tells us that the 300-year-old space (where the world comes for Afternoon Tea- when in London) was originally the Fortnum’s family apartment and the shop’s interior decor section before its refurbishment in 2012. So I felt really in good company. The significance came together when I spotted the clever use of nailhead trim, adding some classic lux detail to their beautiful teal upholstery.

Above are some examples of the coordinated tableware and beautiful tablescape that comes with High Tea.

What is the difference between English High Tea and Afternoon Tea?

The images above show how they gave us a nice portion of protein at my High Tea. I had a lobster omelette, and others had fish and strips of steak on light vegetables. It made a nice change from the sandwiches you get at Afternoon Tea. There, I learned the difference between English High Tea and Afternoon Tea.