Happy Halloween

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V&A - The Power of Making

V&A exhibition about the power of making 

till 2 January 2012

The exhibition is showing works by amateurs and leading makers. Will have to have a look this week and find out about the V&A interpretations.

I find this picture already amazing. Can you spot the alphabet? (you probably have to check out the original website pic). 

Visual Note - London

found here via

Half Term

via

Have a lovely Half Term!

Wapping Project

found here

What was once a Hydraulic Power Station is now a gallery, bookshop, event space and restaurant. The building itself is only transformed by light, art and drama "an idea, consistently in transition". Not much has been done to alter this impressive industrial building, you will still find the old machinery, green with age, holding their own in this inspirational environment. It was closed down in 1977 and only re-opened in 2000.

Since moving West I have not been back for years now and it is definitely time to re-visit Wapping Project (situated somewhere between the City and Canary Wharf), its art and its food. They do have a very yummy looking menu, and special offers for table for 9. Check it out here and here

found here

Just a Thought

found here via

Visual Note - V&A Museum

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Big Book

Amazing approach to children's fairy tales by Mao Fujimoto (one of the winners of the Mitsubishis Junior Designer Award). Interactive, touchable and literally drawing you inside the story. Read more here and here. A serious competition to digital books, I think.

Alice in Wonderland

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Urashima Taro

all via

Sunday Cafe

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Found a lovely, new independent coffee shop in a nice little cobbled area off New Bond Street, called "Everbean" - very relaxed style compared to the racy glitz just down the road. It's on Avery Row, which is part of a nice tiny Quartier with a few more small but sophisticated shops and restaurants (it is Mayfair after all), and around the corner from the Handel House, if you like to fit in some culture, too.

Have a lovely weekend!

Visual Note - London

found here

Tutoring

And still on the subject : tutoring at home begins right here

Eva Korae via

English Education - Part 1

I just come back from the shops and yet another chat with a desperate mother trying to stay on top of London schooling. I know how she feels. Pre Prep was relatively easy, now we that we are entering the next stage I need to learn a whole new set of words or better abbreviations that refer to tests and more tests.

I have the distinct feeling that the educational system here is ignoring childhood in general and the different pace in development quite a bit. Recently the government has implemented a kind of toddler testing in nursery, swamping kindergartens with even more paperwork ....  But then, the whole educational system has quite a few exams and tests on offer:

via

Going the private road, kids have to sit assessments for various independent schools, lasting from 1 to up to 3 days (when they are 6/7 and at any age depending when they want or need to move). Under the National Curriculum all pupils will be tested in Literacy, Numeracy and Science around the age of 10/11, called Sats or ITC (the government is reviewing this approach at the moment). Then there is the 11+ exam, taken by students in their last year of primary education as a type of admission for different secondary schools, mainly in the private sector and some Grammar schools.
GCSE tests are taken at the age of 14/15. The government had introduced another round of tests for the 11/12 year olds, which they abandoned recently due to problems with the marking procedure (but I am quite sure they are already thinking of something else, or maybe the next government ...).
During the last two years of school, if you decide to stay on after the GCSE, the kids can now choose between A levels, IB, Cambridge Pre-U or a mixture of it all, depending on the private school (I had a few interesting chats about this with some heads recently). All these may or may not lead to University (again, who will except what is not always clear).

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This can all be very confusing and quite stressful for kids (and parents). London especially is a hothouse when it comes to education and schools. A lot of parents pay for extra tuitions for their kids on top of an already quite intense school timetable.

Of course and apart from all this, there is the question of which school to choose, which road to go: Private or State, Boarding, Grammar or Church or (very new) Free Schools - oh, and: co-ed or single sex schools.

Sometimes I think we need a degree in education to muddle through! I am not sure I got it all right yet, but as you can tell, I am learning.

And there I thought years ago I will go and choose the school with the nicest uniform! (but was immediately told, still breastfeeding, to get the kids on several school waiting lists, pronto).

On the plus side, a lot of schools are trying very hard to find a balance between demands made by the government, parents and the needs of the children. The challenge is to find the right school for your kid (and your purse!).

via

Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I understand.

Visual Note - Harvest Festival II

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Apple crumble has become part of our staple diet since, believe it or not, we have a lovely apple tree in our London Garden. Try sprinkling chocolate flakes over the apples before your put the crumble on (we always double the crumble amount from the receipt since we have some family members who prefer just that), or mix the crumble with some marzipan or almonds ..... Hmmmm

found here

Visual Note - Harvest Festival I

via

For your (and my) diary

Here are some dates for your diary - I normally feel like chasing my tail trying not to miss out or actually learn about an event when it's already sold out or finished - so from time to time I am ahead of myself .... just:

Gerhard Richter at the Tate Modern (till 8 January)

found here

Rem Koolhaas' architecture practise at the Barbican Art Gallery with OMA/Progress (till 19 February) - the first major exhibition by the Office of Metropolitan Architecture in the UK.

Frieze Contemporary Art Fair (13.-16. October) 

found here

Cheese & Wine Festival (14.-16. October) at the Southbank Centre Square, behind the Royal Festival Hall. 

via 

London Film Festival (12.-27. October) and the Young Film Festival (8.-13 November)

found here

and much, much more ...... Enjoy your weekend!

Cycle Apps for London

Here are a couple of useful apps to help you cycle around London. Cycle Hire app tracks down Boris Hire Bikes and available free docking spaces etc. The Cyclestreets app helps planning your journey, for beginners or regular commuters.

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Have Fun!

London prepares for 2012

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Boris Bikes (rental bikes a la Paris, named after the current mayor) will probably be transport of choice till the Olympics, and possibly during the event, too - London is one big building site. The rent-a-bike idea is lovely, though still quite dangerous in a city where cars are not used to watch out for bikes and bike lanes a few and far between. 

There is some light at the horizon though: 4 Super Highways for bikes have recently opened, they are wider and painted a light blue. At least it is a start, and more are being planned.

found here

Autumn in the City

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In the Sun!

via

Am enjoying the sun we missed out on over the last two month. Have a lovely day!

Royal Court

Went to see the Faith Machine by Alexi Kaye Campbell at the Royal Court. To put it in one sentence, it's about ideologies, believes and faith and the loss of it, religion, consumerism, capitalism and love. Sounds a lot, which it was  (the play even brushed Alzheimer), but although 2 1/2 hours long, there was hardly any length, some very good dialogues, some very good monologues, some stereotyping (intentional?!) and it was thought provoking and entertaining.

via

The theatre is dedicated to new and innovative work by British and foreign writers. Risky is what they like and the audience can also easily take a risk with ticket prices not more than 10£ on a Monday. And all this right in the middle of Sloane Square, the epicentre of Posh London. Fantastic.

London Buildings

found here

For inspiration and when you cannot get out of the house or the office as often as you would like!

found here

Life on Earth, Mars and more

Too much is going on in this city. Do you know that today is not only the first day of Autumn but also European Researcher Night, which the Natural History Museum is celebrating from 16.00-23.00. You can meet scientists, go behind the scene and much more.

via

Very fitting then, that earlier the people at Cern have announced that they have detected particles appearing to break the speed of light. Let the mind boggle!

And have a lovely weekend!

Cinnamon

I just came across an article that claims that cinnamon buns will be the new cupcakes here in London!! Well, I am all for it, not being a fan of rainbow icing at all. It's is not quite so colourful, but I think the smell (and taste) will make up for it (especially when eaten warm)!

Joy the baker

Since I am slowly getting into my autumn baking mood, this amazing looking cinnamon pull-apart bread will be on my to-do list this weekend. I mean, I think I can actually smell it already ....

Floating Walkway

Earlier in the year I was slightly obsessed with swimming swimming pools (look here and here).

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It now seems that we will get a pool on the Thames after all!! Incorporated into a floating walkway. Fully funded, it now awaits planning permission - dare we hope? And will it be finished in time for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and/or the Olympics?

Degas

Last weekend we went to see the exhibition "Degas and the Ballet - picturing movement" at the Royal Academy of Art.

The kids wanted to see little Marie. They had read about her but were slightly disappointed that she seemed rather small. Their curiosity had been fired by the book 'Degas and the little dancer' which very nicely brings to life the background story of the sculpture, the artist and indeed the little model.

both via

The exhibition documents Degas' interest in the human figure in movement and sets this in context with the photography and film of the time. It is this aspect which makes the exhibition really worthwhile in my opinion. Without the link to film and photo it would have been a few ballet dancers too many assembled in one room. 

People

The time to make your mind up about people is never. 

(The Philadelphia Story)

Benjamin Phillips

London

Visual Note

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Timber Wave 

by Amanda Levete Architects

London Design Festival at the V&A
main entrance

The Weekend!

Check out other people's houses and buildings usually closed to the public at open house  this weekend (their fab app seems really helpful to find your way around)

via

incl. Guardian article

London fashion week starts today, dress up for the weekend, but whatever you do, enjoy!

the Satorialist

Perspectives

The London Design Festival at the V&A will start this Saturday (till the 25.9.) One of their commissions though can be seen at St Paul's Cathedral to celebrate its 300th anniversary. It is an optical installation at the bottom of the Geometric Staircase, a christal lens on a stainless steel top, reflecting Christopher Wren's amazing staircase, the visual effect will be heightened by a mirror in the ceiling - designed by minimalist architect and designer John Pawson.

via

P.S And for Harry Potter fans: in the film "The Prisoners of Azkaban" this staircase lead to Professor Trelawny's classroom.

London Art Book Fair

For your diary:

The London Art Book Fair will take place from the 23rd to the 25th of September at the Whitechapel Gallery. The fair is devoted to international art publishing, presenting works of artist publishers, galleries, magazines, rare book dealers and colleges together with talks and events.

found here

So, apart from browsing you can also meet photographer Wolfgang Tillmans, signing copies of his new book or watch parts of The Wanderer by Laure Prouvost, which sounds very intriguing (both on Saturday).

"Laure Prouvost's The Wanderer will develop from a fictional story in which a character undergoes a series of increasingly bizarre and mysterious experiences. As he tries to hold onto reality, it seems to melt from under him. Mixing everyday footage with staged interludes, the plot will constantly be undermined by disparate audio/visual elements and misunderstandings. "The Wanderer" is based on a work by artist Rory Macbeth, who has translated a Kafka novella from German into English without any knowledge of the German language and without a dictionary." (found here)

Linguists and experimental art lovers should equally enjoy this.

found here