renaissance man
As is so often the case, stuff I’m interested in happens without my being aware of it. In this case I’m talking about a London exhibition of Late Paintings, by Willem de Kooning.
The show itself took place in Autumn, 2017, at the London gallery Sarstedt. See more on that here. There was an exhibition catalogue, now sold out. Which I’d love to have.
Most of Skarstedt’s publications are on artists I rather dislike, po-mo’ art wank. But there are a couple of others I’d love to see:
I was in the rather delightfully named Wiggenhall St Mary, down Church Lane. There must be a church here, I surmised. There’s certainly a chapel. I was right by it. Now turned into a domestic residence. But the road, or track, to be more accurate, carried on. So off I went, for a look see…
And lo, there is a church. Hidden away, accessible only on foot. And, sadly, closed. And in this case, properly closed. For repairs, due to falling masonry. No calling a churchwarden for the key in this instance, alas.
I’m keen to revisit this church, as and when she’s made ready. She’s in the care of the CCT. I hope it’s not too long, afore we can get inside her? She’s in a fabulously pretty and secluded location. Just my cup of tea!
I chanced upon this church just as some folk were going in. So I thought, I’ll stop; I know she’s open! And she was. For a service! This is the first time in all my church visits that I’ve coincided with active religion!
The best thing about the porch is the mini door-inside-a-door. Very cute!
But the best thing about the church overall? Well, it’s a no-brainer. As these photos, I hope, attest… it’s gotta be the stained glass, right?
The ‘lights’ of St John The Baptist’s, Morton, are sublime. They have that intensity of colour and genius of design that numerous windows at Ely Cathedral possess. Can it be they’re the work of the same artist/craftsmen, and/or workshop?
Definitely one to re-visit. A real gem.
Got my hair cut today. At the Turkish barbers in the market square. I love the hot towel and arm/shoulder massage!
And lastly, Teresa snapped the rear view, as obviously I couldn’t! I’m pleased.
And the day after. I’m not usually one for selfies, tbh. But with a newly minted Barnet… why not?
This church was nearby the final drop of my 1st shift. It was locked. Fortunately the local churchwarden, Jill, answered my call, and came and let me in. The first gallery is exterior stuff I shot before Jill showed up.
St Andrew’s, Haconby, isn’t a Miss World amongst churches. Rather she’s a bit of a humdrum dowdy ol’ spinster. But like most old churches, keep looking, and you’ll generally find something.
After the splendid glass of (?), St Andrew’s had a lot to live up to. And, sadly, perhaps, doesn’t really rise to the occasion. Nonetheless, there are one or two points of interest. In the next gallery (?)thC. graffiti is visible, scratched into several walls.
And just as I was getting ready to leave, I noticed an old chest. There was a protective plastic sheet and sundry modern junk on top. I robed these (and replaced them after), so as to get a better look…
A final snap, with the organ in view. And off I toddled. Returning the key to Jill was a minor Odyssey! Not an earth-shattering or even very remarkable church visit. But, as very much is normal, well worth the look.
I finally got to look around inside St Peter and St Paul, Wisbech, earlier today. Last time I tried, I’d just missed closing time (2pm!). This time I got there at 1.55pm. They were open (just!). And they had a school event on.
So I wasn’t totally free to snap away as I pleased. But the photos here convey some of what was most immediately appealing. One thing this place is strong on is stained glass.
I had work in the later afternoon. But I went to Wisbech early, specifically to visit this church. Then I got waylaid, visiting CGL, a charity in Wisbech, based near the church, who helped me during my difficulties of this last year and a half, or thereabouts
As the galleries attest. The biggest attractions of points of interest, to me at any rate, are the stained glass windows. There might be more to unearth?
I’ll have to re-visit, well before closing time, and when they’re not doing a school event. Anyhoo, with that in mind, I left…
I got this book many years ago. And I’ve always loved it. It’s now just one of three or more books I have dedicated to this most excellent of jazz labels.
What special about this one – and there’s a second volume I’m keen to acquire as well – is the decent number of large reproductions of album covers, near enough full original size. Plus lots more at smaller sizes.
I’m thinking of buying a second copy of this first volume, purely for cutting out pages and framing a load of them. Indeed, I shall do so. Though I’d better put in an extra shift or two to raise the funds.
I’ve also decided to pick up a copy of the book pictured below. By the same editorial team. I very much look forward to perusing that, in dew coarse…
A bit of trivia for the discerning bop-cat? The trumpeter on the cover of California Cool is Jack Sheldon. I know Jack best through two sources/routes: as a talking head on Let’s Get Lost, reminiscing about Chet Baker (he’s great, an absolute card!), and as a featured musician on several sublime Tom Waits recordings, from the latter’s purplest of patches (mid ‘70s to early ‘80s).
The range of styles across the board is pretty huge. From ‘scenes’, such as the above, to the more typical ‘in session’ portraits, by Francis Wolff, often massively cropped by Reid Miles, such as Grant Green’s Idle Moments…
… to bold typographic or graphic stuff, such as these doozies…
Sadly these personal faves don’t feature:
Maybe they’re included in volume 2? R
Rather oddly, the second volume appears to have come out in several different editions. But hardly any of these are easily or economically available.
As if the incredible music were not in itself enough, we are truly blessed to have had the combined skills and passion of all at Blue Note. As well as the artists themselves, the vision and passion of guys like Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff, is to be rightly commended and celebrated.
And then there were all the engine room guys, like Paul Bacon, in the earlier years, even (very briefly) Andy Warhol, and of course Reid Miles, the classical music lover whose visual genius has helped make classic Blue Note both a byword for sublime music, and a whole aesthetic, based around albums as total works of art.
Fabulous. Essential stuff!
FOOTNOTE:
Rather shockingly, it’s next to impossible to source a photo of Reid Miles. I can’t recall where I originally found the above image. But one website – see photo at bottom! – has a mis-attributed photo of Woody Allen!
Miles stopped working for Blue Note in 1967. And after that, their album cover design grew ever less uniquely stylish.
I finally got to look around inside St Peter and St Paul, Wisbech, earlier today. Last time I tried, I’d just missed closing time (2pm!). This time I got there at 1.55pm. They were open (just!). And they had a school event on.
So I wasn’t totally free to snap away as I pleased. But the photos here convey some of what was most immediately appealing. One thing this place is strong on is stained glass.
With work in the later afternoon, I arrived in Wisbech nice and early. But I then got waylaid, as CGL (a place I got some help during the worst parts of the last 12-18 months) is nearby. So I dropped in there, on the off chance. Feeling rather shite. They were helpful. Thank goodness for such organisations!
But the upshot was that I nearly missed seeing inside the church… again! As my photos hopefully attest, the chief attractions here are the stained glass windows. There may be more to see?
I’ll have to return, earlier, and when they don’t have a school visiting. And with those thoughts on my mind, I left…
This is interesting. A friend has mentioned this guy to me numerous times. Not re this video, but more his off-grid and smithying, etc.
I was watching a video about making a super cheap forge (below), and trying to find the follow up video, about making your own charcoal.
I failed to find the charcoal video. But I found this instead. I’m watching it with great interest.
Well, I’m having a glass of red wine. Please let me be capable of self control! I had a pint of shandy a few days ago. And I survived that. The issue is: 1) Can I refrain from drinking too much? 2) Can I also refrain from other foolishness?