The Jewels of JAR Paris
The Gilbert Collection

Somerset House
The Strand,
London WC2

through January 26, 2003

They say that a diamond is forever, and the collection that Christie's has put together for the JAR exhibit illustrates that jewelry is so much more.  It's as much a fashion statement as any other accessory.

Joel Arthur Rosenthal, known as JAR, is an American-born jewellery designer whose fantastical designs and exquisite craftsmanship have inspired connoisseurs to compare his work to that of Fabergé and Lalique. The elusive qualities that set his work apart have made his virtuoso jewels among the most evocative and desirable objets d’art of this century.

Rosenthal designs jewelry for women with taste.  And through the jewels on display you can see that these women (or men who commissioned the pieces) also display a unique originality and personality in inspiring such beauty.  So much so, that the pieces on exhibit at the Gilbert Collection are more than just the simple statement, "diamonds (and rubies, emeralds and every other precious and semi-precious stone) are for ever".  They are also a statement about the subtleties and extravagance of designing and wearing your own personalized jewelry .

A pink and purple 'butterfly' broach
set with rubies, sapphires, amethysts and diamonds.

The pieces may be flamboyant and on occasions outrageous, but behind each one there is an individual in a fabulous outfit wearing other sensational accessories.  And you can conjure up these images in your mind as the jewels come to life.  Visitors - amazed by the glittering collection - flash their torches on each stunning piece as they walk around the darkened rooms. 

And this exhibition is not just for women.

Anybody who visits will never again be able to buy 'just another piece of jewelry'..........  

The exhibit is inspirational.  For those who are prepared to stand in line (or book a ticket in advance) there is a payback.   From then onwards, they'll desire much more than just a diamond is forever!

Sponsored by

with additional support given by Ellen Barkin and Ronald O Perelman,
and The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation
in honour of
Lord Rothschild, Chairman of the Gilbert Collection Trust.

The Gilbert Collection, in a major coup, is staging the first exhibition of his work in Europe, a retrospective of pieces produced over the last twenty-five years in Paris. Held in four of the galleries of the Gilbert Collection, the rooms have been darkened and specialist lighting effects installed to highlight the jewels. This is enhanced by torches provided for each visitor, bringing the jewels to life. The three-month show offers the rare opportunity to see over 400 of these unique and dazzling pieces, including flowers, butterflies, animals and abstract pieces with an abundance of gems, many of which have taken years of meticulous work to produce. All are kindly loaned by his clients from all over the world.

The Editor, November 8, 2002

Admission:
Tickets: $10 approx. plus concessions.

Opening hours:
10.00 hours - 18.00 hours with last entry at 17.30 hours
Closed all day: December 24-26, 2002

Contact details:
+1 207 420 9400

The Science Museum
Exhibition Road
London SW7

October 16, 2002 - April 27, 2003

I

If ever there was an exhibit for the boys, it must be the new Bond- James Bond - the Official 007 exhibition, at the Science Museum, London.  

Curator, Michael Harvey disagrees.   He believes that the exhibit is one for all the family, but I am firmly of the view that the line (queue) going round the block will be made up of boys.......  boys of all ages!

And there is bound to be a line!

With space for only 2000 visitors on an average day, this is the one time when arriving early is a must.  Or alternatively, book in advance by calling +44 870870 4868.

What makes this exhibit so much fun is that once - upon entry - you are given your swipe card, and you pass through the one piece of actuality - a montage of historical images that show the historical context of why there was a requirement for James Bond to save the world from a series of criminal terrorists -  you then move neatly onto rest of the 'show' which is all fiction!  

And this is the part where you get to enrol as a secret agent......

I, of course, decided to jump right in as a senior agent because I believed I would be able to answer the most difficult questions and solve all the problems posed by the various interactive terminals.  In fact, I could have spent a good 3 hours honing my secret agent skills,...... but time pressed on.......  and at the end I got demoted to trainee agent.....

What makes the exhibit so much fun is that there is not only the opportunity to test your knowledge of Bond movies, hear the soundtracks, see the credits, catch the Bond girls, assess the skills of the James Bond actors and make believe you might also be secret agent material?; but you also get too see nad hear a condensed summary of the Bond trademark 'tongue in cheek' humor.

The exhibition covers two floors, and after you have played at being James Bond, you can tour the upstairs floor to see fabulous life size Aston Martins and midget models Aston Martins, designed to swim through the water.....

Everything has a element of 'spoof 'humor attached to it and nobody can leave this exhibit without a smile on their face.

Back home you can take you personal secret agent code from your swipe card and log onto the exhibition web site and enjoy many hours of Bond bonding.

And as for the new Bond movie, 'Die Another Day' which opens on November 20 following a Royal Premiere at the Royal Albert Hall, you get a chance to see some of this movie's more  unusual props 'in the flesh'..

In truth, a truly 007 experience.

And don't forget the final quick trip to the museum store for that 'must have' memorabilia.

The Editor, October 17, 2002

The exhibition runs until April 27^, 2003

There is a charge of $14 approx. for the Bond Exhibition but admission for the rest of the museum is free.   Children/concession tickets: $11 approx.

Who's Afraid of Red, Yellow and Blue II 1967
Staatsgalerie Stuttgart
© ARS, NY and DACS, London 2002

Adam  1951-2
Tate. Purchased 1968
© ARS, NY and DACS, London 2002

Eve  1950
Tate. Purchased 1980
© ARS, NY and DACS, London 2002

The Stations of the Cross
1958-66
First Station  1958
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collection
© ARS, NY and DACS, London 2002

The Stations of the Cross
1958-66
Thirteenth Station  1965/6
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collection
© ARS, NY and DACS, London 2002

Janis, Visual Arts Editor, September 23, 2002

The exhibition runs until January 5^th 2003 and is open Sunday-Thursday. 10:15 – 18:00 and late until 22:00 on Friday and Saturday evenings.

There is a charge of $12 approx. for the Barnett Newman Exhibition but admission for the permanent collections is free.

Kasimir Malevich
Two Figures in a Landscape, 1931-2
oil on canvas
48 x 58.5 cm
Mr and Mrs Merzbacher,
the Merzbacher Foundation and Carafe Investment Company

Ends November 17, 2002.
The Royal Academy of Arts
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1.

Janis, Visual Arts Editor, August 26, 2002

Transport:
Nearest underground stations are Green Park and Piccadilly Circus.

Tickets:  US$11 approx.

Marion Jones

Norwich Union Grand Prix

Crystal Palace Stadium, London

Friday, August 23, 2002
Doors 16.30 Event 18.30

highlights and updates
Grand Prix Athletics at Crystal Palace, London, England, August 23, 2002

Brits take to track and field after the phenomenal success of their team at the Commonwealth Games.   With only 72 countries eligible to enter the Commonwealth Games, this is your chance to see the world's best at Crystal Palace on August 23.

The cream of UK and world athletics celebrate the return of one of Britain’s most popular sporting traditions.  It's six years since the last top class Friday night athletics at Crystal Palace.  And the Norwich Union Grand Prix brings the season's calendar to a dramatic conclusion with a crowd of 17,000.  Athletes, fans, coaches and the BBC hailed this event as the greatest Grand Prix meeting to be held in the UK for over a decade.

Colin Jackson

At the 2001 Norwich Union Grand Prix, Maurice Greene, Marion Jones, Colin Jackson, Hicham El Guerrouj, Paula Radcliffe and Steve Backley all competed.

A starting list of equal stature is   lined up for 2002, including:

Olympic, Commonwealth and World triple jump champion, Jonathan Edwards:
Edwards - "It's a hectic season for me this year, but they don't come any bigger than Crystal Palace.......I jumped 18m here in 1995 - the second longest in the world at that time - so it's a venue I have a lot of time for.

****

Steve Backley will be attempting to match his incredible performance at last years event, winning the javelin with his best throw in nearly a decade

TRACK

Olympic champion Maurice Greene renews his rivalry with Dwain Chambers.  Beaten by Greene twice this year - this is his chance to settle old scores.

****

The Moroccan World 1500m champion, Hicham El Guerrouj will meet a strong field, including world number two Bernard Lagat of Kenya. El Guerrouj says his world mile record will be in danger when he runs the historic Emsley Carr mile at the Norwich Union Grand Prix:
El Guerrouj - "There’s going to be a pacemaker in the field and that suits me fine. Yes the world record is possible. I don’t see why not if the conditions are right.......Running at Crystal Palace is something special. Britain has strong claims to be the home of middle distance running with Coe, Cram and Ovett.......It’s an honor to follow in that tradition and hopefully it will give me the inspiration I need to chase the record.....I have won this race for the past three years and ran 3:45.96 two years ago. I want to put on a show for the British public again.......Lagat is the strongest competition I can get. He has run me close already this year and I expect him to push me on again in London."
El Guerrouj set his world record mile time of 3:43.13 in Rome four years ago.

****

Olympic sprint champion Marion Jones will make her only appearance in the UK this year and it represents the long-awaited showdown between Jones and Zhanna Pintusevich-Block – this year's fastest woman in the world:
Jones - "I love this venue and I love running in London. With no major championships for me this year, this is my opportunity to remind people what I am capable of."
Pintusevich-Block beat the highly fancied Jones to win the world title last year, but the in-form Ukranian has yet to meet her rival in 2002.:
Pintusevich-Block - "I think this is the match up that everybody wants to see. A lot of people have been asking when I would race Marion – well here’s your answer."
The pair will be joined by the three next best sprinters in the world this year: Commonwealth double winner Debbie Ferguson, Jamaican Tayna Lawrence and Chryste Gaines of the USA.

The Norwich Union Grand Prix is regarded as one of the premier meetings on the athletics circuit, along with the likes of the Zurich Weltklasse and Oslo’s Bislet Games. Both these events are held on a Friday night.

Seb Coe, Steve Cram and Steve Ovett are just some of the athletes who contributed to some memorable evenings at the stadium, cementing the UK’s position as a leading venue for the sport:
Steve Cram - "My Crystal Palace memories are of late nights and a packed stadium. When I raced Steve Ovett there in 1983, there was a phenomenal atmosphere – more like a football match. The Friday night meetings definitely had something special about them."

Hours:  Doors open at 4.30pm.  Trackside pre event entertainment starts at 6.30pm with the first star-studded track event at 7.15pm. 

Transport: Buses, accessible tube links and extra overland trains arriving at Crystal Palace Station.

Free Parking

Tickets: Online at www.ukathletics.net or in person at the Crystal Palace stadium box office

ends September 29, 2002
Atlantis Gallery
Old Truman Brewery
146 Brick Lane
London E1

It took several months before I made the decision to  go to the "critically diagnosed" exhibit, Body Worlds.

Body Worlds is definitely not for everyone...... and should be seen only having read the small print.

The exhibit - known in German as Korperwelten, is an anatomical exhibition with real human bodies.  Using a process named plastination the specimens are permanently preserved.  They are not however in tact, as each is stripped down to illustrate the structures of the human body.

The first room of the exhibit walks you gently though familiar images of the human form, but as you move to the second floor it becomes clear that this exhibit is shockingly revealing and it takes a totally clinical approach to exposing the the body form.

Humans bodies, systematically stripped of their various components, are preserved using a process which allows you to see - for example - the skeleton of a man next to his muscular structure.

Looking at the exhibits though an abstract clinical eye, we are introduced to a new understanding of the anatomy of man.  It is hugely informative and at the same time horrific. 

The question that underlies the virtues of the process is whether an identical result could have been achieved without using humans.

If we assume that this exhibit would not be possible without using the plastination process then in some respects the means justify the end.  And the amount of information gleaned from the figures bears no comparison with anything I have seen before.

However, this exhibit is really only for the student of anatomy and/or medicine etc., or the person who wants to better understand the working of the human body.

The exhibit differentiates between the muscular formation of an swimmer and a runner; and shows a series of organs with/without tumours, clots on the brain, hip replacements etc.  All of which is hugely informative, but to some may prove very distressing...

The medical profession describes two types of patients.   Those who want to know as much as possible in order to better understand, and those who do not want to know anything.

But be advised, the final rooms are the most like to offend.   It is in these rooms that science is replaced with a desire to dwell on the more grotesque aspects of malformation.

German Professor Gunther von Hagens developed a process which has enormous educational benefits.  But once he has covered the critical human organs, he appears to  move towards more gratuitous images, which in my view detract from the benefits gained by seeing the majority of the exhibit.

Prior to coming to London, more than 8 million visitors had seen plastination,  in Germany, Austria, Belgium, and Japan but Body Worlds is definitely not for everyone.

As the publisher of the web site it is important to advise visitors to London of the exhibit with the necessary 'health warnings' attached.

Girl with a White Dog 1950-1 
© The Artist Photo credit © Tate, London 2002

LUCIEN FREUD – A Retrospective
at TATE BRITAIN

ends September 22, 2002

Very recently both admired and critiqued for his 'brutally honest' official portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (prior to her happy demeanor at the Jubilee celebrations), Freud is the artist of the moment.

Typically, the predominant images used to present the artist to the public are his monumental nudes with their vast expanses of flesh.  Uncompromising representations. 

So, what would this exhibition have to offer?

Happily, I was convinced that from the very first painting in the show, entitled "Box of Apples (1939)", that there was so much more to discover about Mr Freud. As an artist we quickly discover that he paints portraits - whether they are of faces, places, bodies or objects, and he does so with masterly artistic skill.

What is special about Freud’s style is that you see the face, the body, the object on the canvas and not the paint. Although, he uses thick brushstrokes, they are somehow part of picture and not separate from it.

Lucien Freud was born in Berlin in 1922 and is the grandson of Sigmund Freud. He moved to England in 1933 with his family and has lived in London ever since.

His early portrait heads are those of distinctive faces with big emphasized eyes that demand we look into them to discover the personality inside.

Freud’s portraits are there to present his model within the confines of the space in which they are painted. The outside world does not intrude, making the images very calm and personal, but not isolated or distant.

In this context, those big monumental nudes such as "Benefits Supervisor Resting 1994" and "Leigh Bowery (Seated) 1990" no longer seem outrageous, but in time have become easier to look at, to comprehend and enjoy.

Perhaps, in real life these people would keep their clothes on, but here their flesh has been revealed to us in a most distinctive, visually dramatic and memorable manner.

Beyond life there is still life, and Freud has painted beautiful plants and flowers with an almost photographic likeness. This is not lush fantasy greenery but lifelike plants in large domestic interiors or outdoors captured exactly as nature intended.

One of the final pictures in the show is Freud’s "Self-Portrait Reflection, 2002", which was just finished for the opening of the exhibition.  This is your opportunity to see the man "in the flesh" on canvas.

William Feaver, curator of the exhibition, explains that he has "concentrated on the paintings, drawings and etchings…that have the greatest emotional charge."  His hope was that "the exhibition will delight and perhaps surprise" and with this I can agree!   Pure pleasure for grown-ups!

Janis, Visual Arts Editor, September 25, 2002

Nearest underground station: Pimlico.

© Ponti
'Villa Planchart in Caracas'

at the
Design Museum

ends October 6, 2002

If you plan to get some fabulous ideas for design, interior design and architecture don't miss out on the Gio Ponti exhibit.   I loved.. and coveted ... almost everything on display.  Although less interested in the "neo-classical" pieces, the vast majority of modernist designs would look perfect in my dream 'Villa Planchart in Caracas' look-alike home.  Ponti - a poet, painter, writer, curator and industrial designer stamped his exuberant modernist style over everything from furniture and lighting, to stage sets and ocean liners.

The Design Museum celebrates his life and work.  One of the 20^th century’s most influential architects and designers and the doyen of decorative modernism he is the subjec tot the museums latest major exhibitionin their latest major exhibition.

Born in Milan in 1891, Ponti studied architecture there before being drafted into the army in World War I. After the War, he worked as an industrial designer and, in 1928, founded Domus, the architecture, art and design magazine. Originally a vehicle for the ideas of Ponti and his friends, Domus was to become the world’s most influential architecture magazine.

Ponti edited Domus for most of the rest of his life while continuing his work in design and architecture. As a designer, he created such iconic products as the 1948 La Pavoni espresso machine that became a symbol of 1950s coffee bar culture, and the 1957 Superleggera chair, which is so light that even a child can lift it on the tip of a finger. In architecture, Ponti is best known for his elegant 1956 Pirelli Tower in Milan and the magical 1955 Villa Planchart in Caracas.

This landmark exhibition, supported by the Italian Cultural Institute and organized by the Design Museum in collaboration with the Ponti family, draws on Gio Ponti’s archive to present a vivid portrait of one of the 20^th century’s most important and engaging architects and designers.

TICKETS: $9.00 Adults; Concessions $6.00; Family Ticket $24.00 approx.

PUBLIC INFORMATION: +4420 7940 8790

Design Museum
First Floor Gallery
near Tower Bridge
Butlers Wharf
London SE1

in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, SW3.
May 21-24, 2002

The first two days of the Show (Tuesday and Wednesday, May 21 and 22) are reserved exclusively for Members of the RHS. 
Public tickets for Thursday and Friday (May 23 and 24) can be booked by calling the 24-hour credit card hotline.
There is a one off handling fee of £1.50 on all public bookings.
Public tickets: +44870 906 3781
Online: Information & tickets: www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea
Ticket prices Tuesday, May 21 & Wednesday May 22
8am-8pm RHS Members only: £23
3.30pm-8pm RHS Members only: £13
5.30pm-8pm RHS Members only: £8
Thursday 23 May
8am-8pm RHS Members & Affiliated Societies: £18
8am-8pm Public: £28
3.30pm-8pm Public £17
5.30pm-8pm Public £10
Friday 24 May
8am-5.30pm* RHS Members & Affiliated Societies £16
8am-5.30pm* Public £26
* Sell-off starts at 4.30pm.
All ticket-holders who have reserved plants are allowed re-entry to the Show.
* For their own safety and comfort, children under five and babes-in-arms are not admitted
* No dogs, except guide and hearing dogs
* No discounts for parties, children or senior citizens
* No readmission once visitors have left the showground
* There are no tickets available on the gate

2002 news

RHS opens Small Gardens competition to all gardeners The Royal Horticultural Society extended the entry criteria of the Chelsea Flower Show to allow all would-be garden designers a chance to enter the small gardens competition at this year's show. The Small Gardens competition was previously only open to colleges and RHS Affiliated Societies. There are now three categories open for application; Courtyard, City and Chic Gardens. Each category has a different brief and will be situated in different areas of the Showground but all are a similar size (around 4.5m x 4.5m). This is the first time so many people will be eligible to apply for space at the world's most famous flower show. Bob Sweet of the RHS Shows Department said of the move, ' There has been a huge surge of interest in the competition with all kinds of people submitting designs even before the application process had been finalised. We see this as a great way to introduce new blood to RHS flower shows and keep Chelsea moving forward. The Chelsea Flower Show represents the pinnacle of horticultural achievement and opening this competition at Chelsea has ensured the widest possible exposure for new talent'.

Application forms for 2003 can be obtained by calling Viv May in the RHS Shows Department on +4420 7821 3357 or Clare Greene on +4420 7821 3336.

* Courtyard Gardens: in the open, in Ranelagh Gardens - 4.5m x 3.5m, or 16m² if irregularly shaped. These gardens should present designs suitable for small spaces located in a rural or semi-rural setting. The aim is to inspire Show visitors with small front gardens, back gardens or roof gardens. A practical approach is important.

* City Gardens: under cover, inside the Floral Pavilions - 4.5m x 4.5m These gardens should represent urban gardens (or roof gardens) which, although subject to the constraints imposed by adjacent properties and the city environment, are designed for modern living, entertaining and a busy lifestyle. The aim is to show how a busy city worker or professional couple can use a small garden for work, entertaining and relaxation.

* Chic Gardens: in the open, in Main Avenue - 5m x 4.5m These gardens should incorporate new ideas, modern materials, planting for an urban environment, and imaginative and innovative design. Stylish and possibly controversial, these spaces will be striking and bold. The Sunflower Street section of the small gardens competition will remain unchanged. It is open to garden centres and colleges inside the Floral Pavilions and is sponsored by The Sun newspaper. More Overseas Exhibitors than ever at this year's Chelsea Flower Show 2002 Exhibitors from all over the world will travel thousands of miles this May to bring the best of their country's flora and culture for visitors to enjoy. In the Floral Arrangement category alone, Flower clubs and Horticultural Societies from Barbados, Dominica, China, India and Australia are preparing for the Show. In the Floral Marquees, exhibitors from such diverse countries as Equador, Jamaica, Mauritius, Grenada and Denmark will add to what can only be described as a feast of flowers. This impressive list, along with Show Garden exhibitors from America, Japan and Abu Dhabi makes Chelsea a truly international show. Show Gardens Japan Kowa Creative Art Co Ltd, Japan USA Beth Miller (Clifton Nurseries) Abu Dhabi His Highness Shaikh Zayad bin Sultan Al-Nahyan USA Urban Thickets Landscapes Ireland Mary Reynolds Floral Marquee Barbados Barbados Horticultural Society Equador First Euro International Ltd Grenada Grenada Jamaica Jamaica Tourist Board/Air Jamaica Ltd Jersey States of Jersey S.Africa Kirstenbosch Mauritius Mauritius Horticultural Society Denmark Poulsen Roser ApS Guernsey Raymond J Evison Ltd Trinidad/Tobago The Horticultural Society of Trinidad & Tobago Holland WS Warmenhoven Floral Arrangement Barbados Barbados Horticultiural Society Dominica Dominica Horticultural Association Hong Kong Hong Kong Flower Club India Pushpa Bitan Friendship Society Australia Royal Horticultural Society of New South Wales Ireland Flowers by Lucy Lifelong Learning in the Garden Ireland Irish Garden Plant Society Chelsea - the world's greatest flower show The RHS Chelsea Flower Show has long been hailed the world's most famous, well-loved and greatest floral spectacle.

For four days each May, the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, come alive with the sounds, sights and smells of the finest collection of blooms in the world. Together with the wealth of talent, effort and expertise that goes into making this the RHS Chelsea Flower Show - it is difficult to dispute its superiority.

The Floral Pavilions will house thousands of fabulous blooms from a selection of the world's finest specialist nurseries and societies. It is these nurserymen and women who make Chelsea so unique - new plants, never seen before, will be unveiled, all at their peak, and expertise in cultivation of these beautiful and rare specimens will be on hand for the duration of the Show. Not only is Chelsea an inspiration to aspiring horticulturists and enthusiastic gardeners, it is a place where some of the best garden accessories can be purchased. It is the start of the gardening season and the perfect opportunity to pick up new products for 2002.

Organisation RHS staff, exhibitors and contractors start planning for the Show 18 months in advance of the four magical days in May. Work is already underway for the Show in 2003! The Show really starts to take shape once RHS staff and contractors move to the grounds of the Royal Hospital. It takes 800 people 3 ½ weeks to build the Show, laying 5 km of piping, installing 185 toilets and using enough canvas to cover 6 football pitches. The new Pavilions cover 13,000m² and 7,000m² of turf is relayed after the Show. The RHS faces a tough challenge to select only the best exhibitors out of a growing number of applicants each year. In all, around 600 exhibitors will travel to Chelsea to stage the finest display of horticultural talent in the world. 

Since 1988, visitor numbers have been restricted to 170,000 to increase visitor comfort. For the same reason, children under five are not permitted on the Showground. The RHS currently has over 300,000 Members and the Tuesday and Wednesday are reserved exclusively for RHS Members. Non-Members can purchase tickets for Thursday and Friday. Members of the Royal Family make a private visit to the Show in the afternoon of the Monday of Show week, (Monday 20 May in 2002). News of who will attend is not issued to the Press. The Visitors In 1987 more than 247,000 visitors attended the Chelsea Flower Show. Since 1988, visitor numbers have been restricted to 170,000 to increase visitor comfort. For the same reason, children under five are not permitted on the Showground.

The RHS currently has over 300,000 Members and the Tuesday and Wednesday are reserved exclusively for RHS Members. Non-Members can purchase tickets for Thursday and Friday. Members of the Royal Family make a private visit to the Show in the afternoon of the Monday of Show week, (Monday 20 May in 2002).

RHS Awards Panels of RHS judges - all experts in their field - complete the judging process before the Show opens on Tuesday 21 May. All exhibits are judged using standard criteria - they are not judged against each other. There is no limit to the amount of medals that the judges can award. Certificates indicating medals are placed on exhibits early on Tuesday morning. There are four grades of medals that can be awarded - RHS Gold, Silver-Gilt, Silver and Bronze.

During the course of the week they sell 3,000 bottles of champagne, 18,000 glasses of Pimms, 8,000 bottles of wine, 60,000 pieces of cake, 110,000 cups of tea and coffee and more than 28,000 rounds of sandwiches.

Chelsea Gala Evening The Charity Gala Preview is equally as renowned as the Chelsea Flower Show. The event, which is held annually on the Monday evening of Show week, allows 5,000 guests to enjoy the Show Gardens and floral exhibits in the greatest of comfort.

The Editor - May 4, 2002

The Genius of Caspar David Friedrich:
German Romantic Art for Russian Imperial Palaces

April 20, 2002 - August 18, 2002
The Hermitage Rooms
Somerset House
Stand
London WC2

The Hermitage Rooms - part of the Somerset House complex - once again hosts the best from The State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Russia.

German Romantic Art from the Imperial Palaces in Russia formed 'the purpose' of this stunning collection of German romantic art acquired by Tsar Nicholas I and his German born wife Alexandra Fyodorovna, who was sister of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia.

Casper David Friedrich (1774-1840) is now acknowledged to have made the most important German contribution to European Romanticism.   Perhaps one of his most evocative works  stands centrepiece in the elegant surroundings of the Hermitage Rooms in Somerset House - "On A Sailing Ship".

Friedrich shares the exhibit's limelight with other artists, including Franz Kruger and his  foreboding Portrait of Emperor Nicholas I, which dominates the first room.

But what makes the exhibit so unusual and a recommended 'must' are the fabulous collection of five sepia drawings by Friedrich and the Menzel gouaches.

The five examples of the sepia technique were all from Friedrich's latter years, in the twilight of his career.  Technically superb, the subjects of these works made close to his anticipated death, represent the finest examples of how this technique embodies a magical depth and beauty.

However, my favorites are without doubt, the Menzel gouaches.  The ten enchanting works by Menzel (1815-1905) were commissioned in 1853 for Alexandra by her brother Friedrich Wilhelm to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the festival 'The Magic of the White Rose'.  The festival took place in 1829 when Alexandra returned to Berlin to attend the wedding of her brother.   "Blanchefleur" was a stunning evocation of medieval chivalry with a tourney of knights, tableaux vivants at the Court Theatre, and a Ball in the Grotto Hall.

The set of Menzel gouaches which many years later illustrated the fabulous occasion, were presented to the Empress in a silver case which is also on display.  Simply sensational.

The Editor - April 22, 2002

Julia Morris in Show and Tell

Spring finds stand-up at the Soho Theatre.

I caught the internationally renownded Australian comedienne - Julia Morris in her show,
Show and Tell.

Leaving little opportunity to catch her breath, we were invited to enjoy an insider's view of an Australian living in London.

Morris started off by reminding us that her ancestors were sent to Australia as a punishment.  The beautiful climate seemed a strange form of punishment to an Aussie, but we Brits know there is nowhere else in the world like London!

After all, not many cultures invite ongoing criticism about the men, the weather, ...in fact, almost everything.  But if you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?

So grit your teeth and enjoy the best in international stand-up, during this spring at the Soho Theatre

Spring Schedule Highlights

Barb Jungr’s Every Grain of Sand:  March 19 - 23 & 26 - 30 at 9.45pm

The inspired, provocative chanteuse Barb Jungr and her virtuoso musicians perform songs from her new album Every Grain of Sand - a celebration of Bob Dylan.  Barb Jungr won the Perrier (best Comedy act at the Edinburgh Festival) with Arnold Brown in the 80s and has worked extensively with British comedians, Julian Clary and Alexei Sayle.

Brendon Burns: March 20 -23 at 8pm in the studio

Brendon Burns uses his confrontational and up-front style of comedy to capture his audience with a proverbial slap in the face.  It may initially appear that Burns is a purveyor of hate but his approach means that he is continually throwing up questions - both of himself and of the audience, on subjects most comedians would shy away from. He is not politically correct or incorrect; perhaps the first socio-political comedian to commit himself to neither. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that Burns has been compared to: Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, Sam Kineson and Bill Hicks.

PROBE: April 16, 23 & 30 and May 14, 21 & 28 at 8pm (16 April show is at 9.30pm)

After selling out two seasons at Soho, London's finest character comics return again in this innovative comedy showcase - part improv, part game show, part stand-up where the audience probe the characters and shape the show! Each week new and regular characters are probed, prodded and persecuted by the audience.

Theatre of Science: April 17 - 18 and 24 - 25 at 8pm in the studio

Simon Singh and Richard Wiseman present Theatre of Science, entertaining science lectures by two witty little devils, created by qualified scientists for people who know nothing about science.

What are the chances of that happening? by Simon Singh asks whether the mathematics of gambling can help us to live longer and predict the future. Mental trickery by Richard Wiseman will show how to become a master of deception using magic tricks, video clips, mind games and lots of audience participation.

Suki Webster in Best Man: April 25 - 27 at 9.30pm

Storytelling, stand-up, killer ad-libs - join regular Comedy Store Player guest and professional hand model Suki Webster with her sold out show from last year's Edinburgh Festival.

Mat and MacKinnon: May 2 - 4  at 8pm in the studio

Mat and MacKinnon have a chemistry akin to Pete and Dud and the madness and energy of Mayall and Edmondson. This is the London debut of their surreal twist on the sketch show.

Mark Maier: May 7 - 9 8pm in the studio

Following two sell-out seasons with The Comedy Rep, Mark Maier returns to Soho with a show that combines comedy monologues, character comedy and a  rehearsed reading of a sitcom offering the male antidote to Bridget Jones’ Diary.

Paul Putner in Earl Stevens - Puhleez!! May 15 - 18 at 8pm in the studio

The Stateside stand-up takes us on a rollercoaster ride through the highs and deep lows of his extraordinary life.

Venue Soho Theatre Lorenz Auditorium (or studio if indicated)
Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, LondonW1
Box Office: +4420 7478 0100  (24 hours)

Thelma Barlow and Sophie Millett

Smoking with Lulu
Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, LondonW1
thru'  March 30, 2002

'Smoking with Lulu' can be summarised in a few brief words.

A mesmerising performance by three talented actors, reflecting the bitter-sweet side of life.

The play, written by Canadian playwright, Janet Munsil was first performed under the name "Emphysema (A Love Story)".   Emphysema defined as an enlargement of the air sacs of the lungs causing breathlessness (The Oxford Modern English Dictionary) is often due to excessive smoking.   And therein lies the story.  Indulging in life's pleasures - drink, cigarettes, drugs and sexual fantasies, can lead to loneliness and death.

But this is not a story about the depraved lives of wanton souls.  This is a piece that would fit well under the covers of a collection of Dorothy Parker short stories.  The protagonists are a woman and a man.   The woman, the subject of "Smoking with Lulu" is Louise Brooks, one of the most beautiful stars of the silent movie era, and the man is Kenneth Tynan, celebrated British theatre critic and author, who has spent his life fantasising about Louise Brooks in her role as the amoral Lulu, in the immortal film "Pandora's Box".

Tynan - played by Peter Eyre - asks the ascerbic Brooks - played by soap star Thelma Barlow - for an interview.  Brooks who is now old and forgotten after her demise as a screen goddess, grants him an audience.

The plays wafts like cigarette smoke between Brooks' bedroom as she lies sick in bed and Tynan's home filled with the fantasy of the character Lulu.  Sophie Millet  plays out his fantasy on stage as clips from the movie are shown on screen.  Fact, fantasy, and fiction intertwine, as Tynan interviews  Brooks.

The play unfolds and we realise that their fondness for each other is like a mislaid lover affair. Never to be fulfilled as they are both dying of emphysema.

Unlike many plays, it runs the right length, the production and staging are simple but effective, the performances are remarkable, and the 'sharp' dialogue leaves that bitter-sweet after taste of missed opportunities and lost love.

Although this run ends on March 30, 2002, keep your eyes peeled for further productions, and if you get the chance, go see Pandora's Box.

Portrait Mrs GL

The Nature of Creation
The Hayward Gallery
South Bank, Waterloo, London SE1
thru' April 1, 2002

As it can be grey, wet and dull outside in February, at some point in time everyone will ultimately crave some light, bright colours in their lives. And this year, the place to go to find dazzling brilliance is the Paul Klee exhibit – The Nature of Creation, at the Hayward Gallery on the South Bank.

I observed to myself as I took inspiration from Klee and his incredibly modern and fresh works of art that, although he may have died in 1940, he certainly knew how to give our lives a good, positive workout.

The show is all about colour. Colour, colour and more colour. In fact every colour, shade and nuance of the rainbow.

A backcloth of white walls - with one or two bold coloured areas – permits the paintbox palate of the artwork to stand out as the ‘centre of attention’. Klee is quoted as saying "colour possesses me" and the colours will definitely possess you, as you walk through the gallery.

The crowd at the Hayward shows the wide appeal of Paul Klee’s work. Everyone from students with dreadlocks and bohemian artists, to cool urbanites and the refined country set.

The show starts with the early "Square Paintings" where squares of colour are timeless enough to be transformed into this season’s fabric designs…I’ll have a silk scarf please!

And check out this season’s fashion pages as stripes are in!

Klee’s series of paintings using stripes of colour – pastel sorbet colours in this case – from which shapes and forms emerge, no doubt acted as a source of inspiration for some of this year’s fashion statements. One of my favorites is Lonely Flower (1934), with its sugar iced colours of turquoise and apricot.

But it’s not all serious stuff. The man had a sense of humour. There are some engaging whimsical sketches over colourwash backgrounds. In An Equilibrium Caprice (1923), a woman is balancing her arms, legs and eyes on top of her head in a most precarious fashion – just how your average working woman must feel most days!

And check the horticultural pages to find out if pink is in! Feast your eyes upon all shades of rose reds and pinks as you study Rose Garden (1920). And at if gardens are your thing, there are many more flower and green leafy pictures to see.

There is of course one "catch" to a Klee painting….you just have to go to a gallery and see it! The nuances and layers of sheer colour simply cannot be replicated.

This exhibit is truly full of ‘one-off originals’.

Janis, Editor Visual Arts- February 4, 2002

Autumn/Winter 2002

Ronit Zilkha
Russell Sage
Paul Costelloe
Michiko Koshino
Amaya Arzuaga
Maria Grachvogel
Arkadius
Julian And

For more Information and general enquiries: +44(0)20 7636-7788

The BFC venues are: West Lawn Tent, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 /

Porchester Hall, Porchester Road, Queensway W2 5HS

THE V&A Museum
Cromwell Road, London SW7

Step back into the past or the future…

As I entered the Radical Fashion exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in Kensington V&A there were two questions on my lips….is it fashion or is art? And would the ‘show’ live up to its "radical" name? Perhaps my questions had more to do with the changes to the museum itself.

If you have not visited the fabulous V&A as it is known to the regular visitor – it’s a must since it recently and metaphorically dusted off the cobwebs and switched the lights full on.

The V&A, historically a bastion of Queen Victoria and her very 'Victorian' taste in all things art and fashion has just taken a giant leap into the 21^st century. The Kensington based museum, just a few minutes from Harrods and surrounded by trendy South Kensington restaurants, bars and cafes is a bright and shiny vast treasure.

One of the many museums in London that have removed their pay kiosks, the V&A is now free and as a result the whole space appears more open, fresh and inviting.

The galleries really are a slice of Britain through the ages. Contrasting exhibits fill the corridors and galleries, and there’s something for everyone, of all ages.

And back to the answer to the question. Radical Fashion is both art and radical!!

If you think that you’ve seen some far out fashions on the catwalk, this exhibition is from another galaxy. Usually when I look at the latest fashions, I ask myself …do I like it? Would I wear it? But this exhibition is fashion for arts sake!

It is an extraordinary showcase for some of the world’s cutting edge designers to go "far out". Most of the big fashion names, including Jean Paul Gautier, Helmet Lang, Issey Miyake, Comme des Garcons, Hussein Chalaya and of course Britain’s own Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood all took their creative imaginations to design limits. A feast for the eyes mixing colour, texture, form and lighting with specially commissioned ‘radical music’, the whole experience including the music was less "top ten" hits, and more "edgy and provocative".

Designer, Masion Martin made me feel like Alice in Wonderland stepping through the Looking Glass…. everything was either too big or too small. And Junya Watanabe - one of the Japanese designers produced a wonderous pleated fabric "sculpture" dresses. And finally a quick mention of Hussein Chalayan’s ‘flying dresses’ that were suspended in mid-air in a room surrounded by mirrors.

But enough of the future. Back to the past and you are best advised to pack you sensible walking shoes before you set off for a not so short course in everything British.

Fifteen newly designed galleries showcasing the permanent exhibit ‘British Galleries 1500-1900 has a mere 3,000 objects telling the story of British culture –art, design, style and taste. You can only wonder at society stretching from the reign of Henry VIII to the reign of Queen Victoria.

I just love those wall-hangings and my favourite enormous, tapestry depicting the grand garden, house and grounds from Stoke Edith, Herefordshire (1710-1720) was just fab. I can only encourage those "makeover your garden" TV programs to check out the "composite" of fashionable garden designs of the period depicted in this glorious wall-hanging

The huge Wine Cooler (Hallmarked 1719-1720) was extraordinary. Imagine a silver tureen large enough to hold at least a dozen bottles of champagne! Ideal for my next party. And The Panelled Room from a house at Bromley-by-Bow (London 1606) would make the perfect location. The richly panelled room of dark wood with its large, ornate fireplace conjured up all kinds of images of courtiers and finery. And then of course there’s the bed. Oh to climb into the Great Bed Of Ware (17^TH Century). Claimed to be Britain’s most famous bed, it’s over 11 feet long and 10 feet wide and even gets a mention in Shakespeare’s "Twelfth Night"

Modern gallery design and technology make the whole experience educational and fun for both adults and kids. Videos, audio programs and interactive "things" answer all those difficult to answer questions about the objects on display. And the hands-on "discovery areas" were most intriguing. Trivia such as "do you know what a "wig stand" looks like?" or "How to tie a Cravat in the old-fashioned way" makes the V&A a delight for all the family. I could not resist the computer, which designed and printed my very own monogram ‘Janis’…….

Janis, Editor Visual Arts- December 16, 2001

The museum is open daily 10:00 – 17:45 (closed December 24, 25 & 26, 2001). Wednesday and the last Friday of the month the museum is open late until 22:00 (except December 26 & 28, 2001)

Yen
large Sphere Necklace

What makes the Fine Art Society pre-holiday season exhibition such a pleasure is that you can find a stunning and unique gift for anyone with good taste.   And when the price is right it's hard to miss the opportunity to visit the store which is an Aladdin's cave, sparkling with the unusual and splendid.

Rickie (not the one in New York) and I turned up on an early Saturday morning (around midday) to be confronted by a charming host offering us wine and the first of the season's mince pies!

We ate, drank and toured two floors of fine arts.

I expressed a particular interest in Ane Christensen's Fruit Bowls - check out "Nervous" on the home page which quivers every time you go any where near it; and I seriously coveted "Gravity" (see below) holding up a number of red hot peppers.

As I didn't get a 'bite' on the "work-of-art bowls", I moved on to the jewellery.   My eyes lit upon the necklaces of Yen, in silver and gold. 

Without a really long neck, I believe that a safer bet are bracelets, earrings and rings but the choice was enticing and I waxed lyrical.

As back-up, I also gave a strong thumbs up to Janice Derrick's rings, but unfortunately we left empty-handed!

Just in case you get there before Rickie returns to buy me my Christmas present??, I am not going to disclose my first choice from the selection of paintings, sculpture, furniture, ceramics etc., but I do recommend 'FAS now' as a great spot to stop and shop, ................and so strategically located in New Bond Street.

exhibit: from November 26, 2001 - December 21, 2001.

Ane Christensen- Gravity

The Fine Art Society Gallery
148 New Bond Street, London W1
tel: +44 207 629 5116

Katharina Fritsch is exhibiting her major works at Tate Modern between September 7, 2001 and December 9, 2001.

If you have the opportunity to visit Level 4 - you will be greeted by a selection of "surreal entertainment".

The larger than life, sculpture/installations both amuse and bemuse, and like every great artist, social comment and cynicism add to the humor.

Fritsch is one of the most significant artists to emerge from Europe in the last 20 years, and this exhibit illustrates her earlier works from 1979 to date.

Central to the collection is one of the most dramatic and interesting images: Company at Table (1988) showing 32 life size, identical men seated at a long table.

I recommend the show.

Gallery days: Monday to Sunday. 
Admission: $7.50 (concessions $5) 

FUNNY PECULIAR

28^th September – 10^th November 2001

Find yourself in a little corner of Chelsea and you will stumble across the studios of the Hulton Getty Gallery.  As part of the celebrations for his 70^th birthday the gallery invited Sir Terence Conran (Conran stores and restaurants) to select 80 images from a collection of archive material.

The result: under his "curatorship" the exhibit FUNNY PECULIAR is a clear entertaining illustration of Conran's humor.  “I love those unexpected, quirky moments that bring on a wry smile or a tear-inducing belly laugh.  Captured on film, these wonderful images have the ability to do just that.” 

Over the year's weird and wonderful images uncovered from the collections of Hulton Getty and the more recently acquired Archive from the USA, have been noted and saved until the show FUNNY PECULIAR emerged.  Sometimes funny, sometimes peculiar – and often a mixture of the two, each image has its own character and life, and yet nothing detracts from the exquisite composition and beauty of the photography.   

An extraordinary array of bizarre, humorous and unexpected photography, you can visit this working gallery and be tempted to buy any of the exhibits in the show!                                        

Gallery opening times: Tuesday to Friday 10am – 6pm (Mondays by appointment); Saturday 12pm – 6pm. 
Admission is free – all photography is for sale 

Enigma goes on general release
on September 28, 2001

Enigma is
the new movie with
Mick Jagger as the producer and
screenplay adaptation by Tom Stoppard  (Shakespeare in Love)

Starring Kate Winslett and Jeremy Northam

Produced by Jagged Films and Broadway Video

Based upon "The Enigma Files" by Robert Harris and the Enigma Machine which helped the Allies crack the German code during World War 2.

His Highness The Prince of Wales attended the Royal Premiere of the code-breaking movie "Enigma".  Mick Jagger, Dougray Scott, Jeremy Northam, Saffron Burrows, Tom Stoppard and guests such as Ronnie Woods and Sting were also in attendance. 

At the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2001, while wandering through the (Daily Mail) Pavilion which depicted the Four Seasons, I was particularly impressed with the Winter garden exhibit (lots of pretend sticky snow) when I stumbled across one of those things that inspire you to do a make-over of your tiny terrace. 

I immediately leapt at the opportunity to find out where I could buy a garden seat like the ones in the Spring exhibit that looked like a work of art, were extremely comfortable and weathered WELL.  No more moldy plastic chairs, rusty wrought iron or stained cushion covers......  

Tim Sharples, tim@landscaping.co.uk - the designer of the Spring exhibit informed me that these seats were not benches....but that they were sculptures.   And that the artist Nigel Ross'  "sculptural seating" can be found in public places across Britain....... as well as in people's gardens.

Ecologically correct Ross uses fallen trees, which he often carves on site.  Working with a chainsaw, a large sculpture is created in a few days. 

So next time you spot a fallen tree in the UK, e-mail nigelross@breathe.com and you too could be the proud owner of a very fabulous indoor/outdoor seating sculpture for only a few thousand dollars!