Old and New

View in East LondonThe eclectic nature of a city is evidenced in this photo.  The new, conical building you see is lovingly called “The Gerkin”.  It also has other slang titles such as the “Towering Innuendo”.  It’s actual name is the Swiss Re Building, in the financial district.  It replaces a traditional structure which was damaged beyond repair by an IRA bombing in the late 1990’s, The Baltic Exchange.

I had  wonderful lunch and visit with Susan (Jacobs) Teare, our friend who took us around to Bristol, Bath and Oxford during Dave and my first days here.  She was in town for a science conference, so we were able to spend some time together.  I took her to my exhibition at The Brick Lane Gallery, and was pleased that she liked my pieces even better in person!

On Sunday, I had visited not only The Brick Lane Market, but also the Old Spitalfields Market which is nearby.  At that time, I had picked up a brochure  for a gallery named  “Sphere Gallery”,  which drew my eye.

Sphere Gallery 73 Brushfield Street Not knowing the area very well, I was not able to find it in amongst the crowd that day.  I was drawn to return yesterday… the art showcased on their brochure was compelling.  So, upon finding the gallery yesterday, I was not only very pleasantly surprised by the wonderful variety of art, I was welcomed and had a wonderful visit with the gallery owners.  There is a wonderful feeling in that gallery, and I encourage all who are in the area to check it out!

To Be Continued

"Brick Lane Street Art"

To Be Continued

Street art by it’s very nature is intended to be temporary… think of that… Art that has been around for centuries, gracing museums and in everyone’s collective minds… created for all time.

Below is the full view, thus far.  I saw the artist painting it, and by the time I came back down the road, it was radically changed.  These artists have to work fast!  Street Art is clandestine, snuck upon walls and appearing over night.  Just as often, is eradicated just as quickly, or is painted over by the next street artist.

Art which is living in this way… changing and altered… to be continued…

More Street Art in Brick Lane

This is the front of the gallery: The Brick Lane Gallery on Brick Lane in England.  Now, you must appreciate: the front of the building was white when I first contacted them…. it was black with silver detailing when I dropped of my art… and now it is multi-colored… look closer, and you will see that it is painted by the same artist whose work hangs in the front window!

My work hangs just inside the front door.  It looks very nice, and I know it is very different than anything that has hung there before!

The Brick Lane Culture

Street Sign for Brick lane The Brick Lane has a prominent Middle Eastern culture.  This is a sign from a building on Brick Lane, in English and Bengali.

The people, the stores, the restaurants… it is all a wonderful cultural experience to explore.  I am reading Brick Lane by Monica Ali… especially poignant while immersing myself in this region.

Entrance to Brick Lane This is the highly ornamental entrance to Brick lane.  It is mirrored by matching lamp posts going up and down several of the blocks.  The scale of the gate is evident by the comparison to the car driving under it.  The street is all inlaid brick and stone.  I’m told that prior to WWII, this was a Jewish neighborhood, but it was the victim of the German’s first attacks on London.

Street art on Brick LaneStreet Art as seen on Brick Lane.  The abundance of color and boldness of design reflect art placed on this street… in all languages!

Weekend shopping crowd on Brick Lane

Brick Lane Street Art, Continued

Street Art

Street Art created with tape saying "Fragile"

This piece of street art is not only the message, but what the message is created with.  I sat in front of it for awhile, before it really hit me.  The fragile nature of everything has been impacting me with this trip: it is all so easily destroyed and lost… we are all so fragile!

This ancient city is intriguing to me:  The Manzers and I went to the Museum of London, tracing the heritage of London from pre-history to the great fire of London.  There were artifacts of stone tools, leading to bronze weapons, to Roman luxuries, to Medieval devastation,  to plague and fire… all showing how impermanent what we build and rely on is… fragile!

The Brick Lane Gallery

The Brick Lane Gallery

This is the exterior of The Brick Lane Gallery in London, where my paintings are currently on display.

I love how they have decorated the exterior to match the painting in the window… not my painting, but how cool!

The vibrant exterior of this gallery reflects not only the gallery, but the feeling of the entire Brick Lane community:  very street art, very vibrant and young… very fun!

There was a violinist playing today… so wonderful!  I enjoyed his music very much.  A great deal of sound from one man and one instrument.  It filled the entire area, and it was hard for me to leave!

I am looking forward to tomorrow.  Sunday is a big market day on the Brick Lane, and it will likely bring a lot of people, as the weather is supposed to continue to be beautiful as it was today.  It should be a fun thing to witness!

London in Bloom

London is beautiful this time of year… blooming trees and flowers everywhere… a site for sore eyes, as it was snowing when we left South Dakota!

It has been so fun to try on another life this past week: fit into someone else’s shoes for a bit.  Exciting to travel and see so much.  I don’t think I could happily do the subway commute every day.  Dave and I thought his 10 minute drive to work every day would seem mild in comparison!  He heads back tomorrow, and then I will be really hoofing it: checking out many galleries in the area.  I will learn and grow from this experience.

Street Art

Brick Lane Street Art

Street Art is not something seen in Spearfish, SD.  If it “appears” it is quickly erased!  Street Art is what The Brick Lane Gallery is about:  and as you look around the neighborhood, it is prolific!

Colorful and creative, it is fun to look at, in my opinion, and when it isn’t applied to someone’s private property, it actually ads to the environment: much preferable to looking at gum stains on the sidewalk!