GIORGIO ARMANI
A retrospective

through February 15, 2004

at Burlington Gardens, just behind the Royal Academy

Woman's evening dress and trousers (detail), fall/winter 1994-95
Advertising Campaigh
Photo: Peter Lindberg

Giorgio Armani is recognized as one of the most influential and iconic designers of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. He has been universally credited with both radically changing the rules of contemporary fashion and creating a timeless vision of modern dress. By removing excess ornament and translating traditional sportswear looks into business and evening wear, Armani has developed the contemporary casual style that defines the modern wardrobe.

Woman's evening wear (detail), spring/summer 1985
Advertising campaign
Photo: Aldo Fallai

Giorgio Armani: A Retrospective is the first major exhibition to be presented at Burlington Gardens and the site-specific installation, designed by the acclaimed artist and theatre director, Robert Wilson, provides a unique and spectacular setting for Armani's designs. 

Man's suit (detail), fall/winter 1992-3, and woman's trouser suit (detail), spring/summer 1996
Photo: Tom Munro

The installation - designed by the acclaimed artist and theatre director Robert Wilson, who also designed the installation at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, and most recently at the Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin - is by far the best fashion exhibition I have seen.

A dramatic combination of architectural elements, light, music and customized mannequins, Robert Wilson's installation is specifically designed for the Royal Academy's new space in Burlington Gardens. Wilson's innovative use of materials and distinctive treatment of each of the thematic sections enhance and highlight the many aspects of Armani's vision.

If you like art; fashion; art and fashion; installations; old movies; or great new venues... this is a must.  Gaze in awe of the master  - particularly, the men's fashions!

Woman's evening jacket and trousers (detail), fall/winter 1990-91 by Giorgio Armani

For tickets telephone +44 (0)870 8488484.

US$15/£9 full price ticket

US$14/£8 60 years +, groups of 10+, Registered Disabled* *companion goes free

US$10/£6 RA Corporate Members, Corporate Associates and their families

US$10/£6 student with ID card

US$5/£3 Income Support and UB40

US$5/£3 12-18 years

US$3/£2 9-11 years

Free children aged under 8 years

editor, November 10, 2003.

Shared Experience

present

Madame Bovary, Breakfast with Emma.

Adapted by Fay Weldon

at

Lyric Hammersmith

November 4-22, 2003

After the exceptionally brilliant production of 'After Mrs Rochester', the very talented 'Shared Experience' present Fay Weldon’s adaptation of Madame Bovary, Breakfast with Emma.  

For those of you who are not familiar with Ms.Weldon, she is a novelist, screenwriter and journalist. 

Author of several novels including the Booker Prize-nominated Praxis, The Life and Loves of a She Devil and The Cloning of Joanna May, Fay Weldon has also written a television adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, many episodes of Upstairs, Downstairs and the series Big Women for the BBC.

Her subject - the beautiful Emma Bovary - is married to Charles, the doctor of a small provincial town. An ardent devourer of sentimental novels and Paris fashions, Emma soon becomes disillusioned when life among the local bourgeoisie fails to live up to her romantic fantasies. Frustrated with her marriage she takes solace in a series of tempestuous love affairs which leave her heartbroken and fail to satisfy her passionate need for love. An argument with her husband over breakfast results in a shattering confession that tears Emma’s life apart.

Fay Weldon’s adaptation shows how a single conversation can devastate a marriage.

Madame Bovary (1857) is generally recognized as Gustave Flaubert's masterpiece.  Flaubert (1821 – 1880) scandalized Paris when the book was first published.  Subsequently, he became supremely influential on later realist fiction and is now regarded as one of the great literary artists of the nineteenth century.

Shared Experience is renowned the world over for its powerful, imaginative and visually stunning productions including:

A Passage to India
Mill on the Floss
Anna Karenina
Jane Eyre
and most recently, Polly Teale’s acclaimed After Mrs Rochester at the Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End through November 1, 2003.

Directed by Polly Teale, Madame Bovary completes a regional tour before its opening at the Lyric Hammersmith. Designed by Jonathan Fensom, with movement direction by Liz Rankin, music by Howard Davidson and lighting by Chris Davey, the cast includes Amanda Drew as Emma Bovary, Maxwell Hutcheon, Joanna Scanlan, Adrian Schiller and Simon Thorp.

theatre editor, October 23, 2003.

at

Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Road London
SW7

The Victoria and Albert Museum opens its major autumn exhibition, Gothic: Art for England 1400-1547, on October 9 with an exhibit showing - for the first time - the glory of late medieval art from the reign of Henry IV to the reign of Henry VIII. The exhibition is the successor to the acclaimed Age of Chivalry (1200-1400) at the Royal Academy in 1987/88.

The V&A Gothic exhibition covers the period brought to life by Shakespeare's great history plays such as Henry V and Richard III, a period that evokes Agincourt, war with France, the Wars of the Roses and a time of English insularity. Against this backdrop, the huge wealth and extensive patronage of monarchs, aristocrats, the Church and merchants made the late medieval years one of the richest periods for the arts in England.

Over time, fires, war, and the Reformation destroyed much of the art of the period making the surviving art and artefacts extremely rare. This exhibit brings together a superb collection of surviving treasures with more than 300 objects including tapestries, manuscripts, sculptures, paintings, armour, jewelry, gold and silver chalices and reliquaries, plate, altarpieces, tomb effigies and stained glass.

Highlights include: the funerary helmet, shield and sword of Henry V; the crown of Margaret of York (sister of Edward IV), which has been in Germany for 500 years; the gold Reliquary of the Order of St.-Esprit owned by the wife of Henry IV and lent by the Louvre; a monumental stained-glass window from St. Mary's, Fairford; an early edition of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales printed by William Caxton in 1483; the gold and enamel Dunstable Swan Jewel; the silver salt and beautifully detailed silver-gilt crosier of the fabulously wealthy Bishop Fox, Bishop of Winchester, one of only three surviving late medieval silver crosiers.

Advance booking is possible (see below), and will likely be a necessity if this one is a t good as it sounds. 

Check back for a review in October!

Exhibition Admission

Full £8 (USD13)
Senior citizens and full-time students £5 (USD8)

Admission is free to under 18s, disabled people and up to two carers,
ES40-holders, V&A Members and Patrons,
and Art Fund/ICOM/Museums Association cardholders.

Advance Tickets

Advanced booking is strongly recommended.
Timed tickets are in operation.
A booking fee is payable on all pre-booked tickets.
Book by phone +44870 906 3883

Open

10.00-17.45 daily.
Last entry to the exhibition is at 17.20 (last ticket sold 17.15).
10.00-22.00 Wednesdays, last Friday of the month (except December).
Late opening last entry to the exhibition is at 21.20 (last ticket sold 21.15).
Closed 24-26 December.
Exhibition closes five minutes before Museum closing.

Visual Arts dept., September 8, 2003.

©Philip-Lorca diCorcia. Los Angeles 1993

through September 7, 2003

©Walker Evans  Interior Detail, West Virginia, Coal Miner's House 1935

©Rineke Dijkstra. Forte de CasaMay 20 2000

I’ve only highlighted a very small number of the photographs on display, because there are too many to do them all justice. So, go along for yourself, take a deep breath and plunge in !

Entrance to Tate Modern and the permanent collections are free but admission to Cruel and Tender is £10 (US$16).

Exhibition Hours

Sunday to Thursday, 10.00-18.00 (galleries open at 10.00)
Friday and Saturday, 10.00-22.00 (galleries open at 10.00)
Last admission into exhibitions 17.15 (Fri and Sat 21.15), however due to the number of works on display it is recommended that you allow more than 45 minutes in the exhibition

Janis, Visual Arts Editor, August 8, 2003.

Dwain Chambers

Norwich Union Grand Prix

Crystal Palace Stadium, London

Friday, August 8, 2003
Doors 16.30
Event 18.30

18,500 spectators will be there to see live TEN OF THE BEST.......

Men's 100m
With the World Championships kicking off in just over a fortnight, the world's leading sprinters will welcome a chance to test themselves over two races in close succession with semi-finals and a final here. Pretty much all the names in the hat for Paris are here: Brits Dwain Chambers and Mark Lewis-Francis, the Americans Tim Montgomery and Bernard Williams, Commonwealth champion Kim Collins and the largely unheralded Nigerian Deji Aliu. Also watch out for world indoor champion Justin Gatlin - returning from injury.
Men's 400m
World champion Avard Moncur, Commonwealth champion Michael Blackwood and the fastest man in the world this year Tyree Washington provide the glamour, but the real story could be found at the less celebrated end of the field. Brits Ian Mackie and Du'aine Ladejo need to post a 45.55 time here to send them to the World Championships. With the right conditions, the stellar field could well pull them along to that target.
Emsley Carr Mile
The 50th anniversary of a race that was set up to celebrate the most regal of athletics distances. The mile still retains a unique fascination in the sport and former winners John Walker, Said Aouita and Seb Coe will be in London to watch the best milers of today including the leading Kenyans Paul Korir and the Chirchirs: William and Cornelius.
Men's 5000m
Hard to think that Haile Gebrselassie stands just seventh in the rankings for the year, indicative of the changing times in men's long distance running. It's evolution rather than a revolution though and the Ethiopian is still the dominant name on any start list. He lines up in London with the reigning Commonwealth and World champions: respectively the Kenyans Sammy Kipketer and Ben Limo. Elsewhere John Mayock chases the world qualifying time of 13:21.50 and youngsters Chris Davies, Chris Thompson and Mo Farah get their first chance at this level.
Men's Triple Jump
With his growing TV commitments, it's hard to miss Jonathan Edwards these days, although appearances on the track this season have been a little harder to spot. This will be the only the third outing of the summer for the Olympic champion as he rests the limbs for one more world title tilt in Paris. A world-class challenge here is led by the Americans Tim Rusan and Kenta Bell, both ranked in the world's top ten.
Men's Shot
One of Britain's best chances of a medal in Paris lies in the not insignificant hands of one of the lesser-known names in the team. Carl Myerscough showed just a hint of his massive potential when taking bronze at last year's Commonwealth Games. Since then he has broken the national record - previously held by a certain Geoff Capes - and shot to second in the world. The only man to have thrown further this year, Kevin Toth of the USA, joins him at Crystal Palace, as do three more of the world's leading seven for a rare moment in the spotlight for the shot.
Women's 100m
Much has been made of the open field in the men's sprint, but in the absence of new mum Marion Jones this year, the women's 100m has been as much of a moveable feast this summer. Picking a winner here is tricky with the American trio of Kelli White, Chryste Gaines and Torri Edwards, reigning world champion Zhanna Block and the resurgent former European champion Christine Arron all a decent bet. For Britons Abi Oyepitan and Joice Maduaka there is the world qualifying standard of 11.27 to chase down.
Women's 5000m
Like Edwards, Gabriela Szabo has been an infrequent participant on this season's Grand Prix circuit, which makes her appearance here such a bonus. The Romanian will chase a fifth successive global gold medal in Paris, making her one of the most decorated female athletes in history. Another much-medalled lady of the track, Sonia O'Sullivan is in opposition as is world and Olympic 10,000m champion Derartu Tulu. Britain's Jo Pavey, outstanding over 1500m this season, will be out to set a personal best.
Women's Triple Jump
A chance to catch the best jumper in the world this year, who sadly looks unlikely to make this year's World Championships. A dispute with the Cuban athletics federation means that Aldama will not compete for the country of her birth in Paris. Now living in Britain, she is seeking UK citizenship, a process that unlikely to be completed in time for the Worlds. Tonight she takes on Russia's Tatyana Lebedeva, the second furthest female in the history of the event.
Women's Pole Vault
Yet another event where the field is a likely match for the World Championships in two weeks time. Top of the tree at the moment is Yelena Isinbayeva, who's late late show in Gateshead last month earned her a world record and a $50,000 bonus. That sum is up for grabs again and will be equally sought by the previous record holder Stacy Dragila and Svetlana Feofanova, holder of the world's best mark indoors.

As London bids for the Olympics in 2012 it is clear that the Norwich Union Grand Prix is a big one on the sporting calendar.  Yet again in 2003, athletes, fans, and coaches are looking to set the tone for London's ongoing ability to host major international events.

Each year the Norwich Union Grand Prix brings the season's calendar to a dramatic conclusion.  Last year and six years on, the cream of UK and world athletics celebrated the return of one of Britain’s most popular sporting traditions when the Grand Prix was scheduled on a Friday night at Crystal Palace.  It was a warm and balmy evening in August and it showcased Crystal Palace at its best.  A fabulous, intimate stadium and perfect for top class athletics!

In 2003, after the entire 17,500 seats at the venue sold out immediately they were made available, UK Athletics decided to install a block of 1,000 additional seats to give more fans the opportunity to attend Britain's top meeting.

So if you are not one of the lucky ones, there's always the TV coverage.....

Colin Jackson

With Colin Jackson bidding a farewell to outdoor track events in 2002, there's no doubt that this year will see some equally dramatic moments!

Olympic, Commonwealth and World triple jump champion, Jonathan Edwards said of the event, " 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.

And Olympic champion Maurice Greene, who  lost to Dwain Chambers in 2002, threatened that he would settle old scores in 2003.

CRYSTAL PALACE - COMPETING ATHLETES  - 
latest information July 29, 2003 

ASHIA HANSEN above (Triple Jump) - 2003 World Indoor Champion at Triple Jump 
HAILE GEBRSELASSIE (5000m) - 1996 & 2000 Olympic 10000m Champion 
DWAIN CHAMBERS (100m) - European Junior Champion in both 1995 and 1997 
MARK LEWIS-FRANCIS (100m) - World Junior Champion in 2000 
DANIEL CAINES (100m) - 2001 60m World Indoors Bronze Medallist 
MARLON DEVONISH (200m) - 6th fastest on the UK All-Time lists over 200m 
PHILLIPS IDOWU (Triple Jump) - Has a pb of 17.68 
ZHANNA BLOCK (100m) - Has a pb 10.82 for 100m 
SONIA O'SULLIVAN (5000m) - 5th on the World All-Time lists over 3000m 
KELLY HOLMES (1500m) - UK Record Holder over 800m & 1500m 

The Norwich Union Grand Prix is regarded as one of the premier meetings on the athletics circuit, alongside the likes of the Zurich Weltklasse and Oslo’s Bislet Games.  And both these events are also 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."

as at 29/7/03 9.30am. Subject to change

      Doors Open 16.30

the Editor, July 19, 2003,  updated July 29, updates August 8.

Cinema Italia: Classic Italian Film Posters

September 17, 2003 to January 25, 2004

at

ESTORICK COLLECTION OF MODERN ITALIAN ART

Italy's contribution to the history of cinema was of enormous significance throughout the 20th century and its story will be illustrated through this evocative exhibition at the Estorick Collection.

From early silent films, through to the great years of the sixties when the works of Antonioni, Fellini and Visconti, and Spaghetti Westerns were internationally acclaimed, Italy's films have seldom been off the world screen. The cinema posters to be exhibited offer an insight into the most important and innovative periods of Italian cinema and trigger memories of film magic. Film posters are now frequently seen as an art form in their own right and are also highly collectable historical documents.

The exhibition features a wide range of posters from the British Film Institute's collection together with rare examples from private collections. It will follow the history of Italian cinema from its early beginnings, the Fascist 1930s, through Neo-realism, the 1950s and the creative peak of the 1960s.

Cinema Italia: Classic Film Posters is devised, curated and designed by Mel Bagshaw who was born in Rochdale and studied Fine Art at Central St Martin's College of Art & Design, London. He previously devised and designed 60 Years of Batman for the Victoria and Albert Museum and designed Bollywood in Love for the British Film Institute. This exhibition will undoubtedly appeal not only to film buffs but also all those who admire the art of the poster and its ability to conjure up movie memories.

Review to follow.

The Editor, July 13, 2003

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

July 8-13, 2003

Reviewed July 8, 2003

I was thrilled to find that my choice of Best Garden coincided with the decision of the judges!

It is a myth that Hampton Court Flower Show is a showcase for the professional.  Indeed I was struck this year with the ever increasing diversity of the the exhibitors and of course, competitors,

Competition is key to all categories and as usual the gardens stand out... particularly for the likes of those with brown fingers who understand less about the flowers and plants and more about the design!

I was struck by the diversity of those who choose to show at Hampton Court.  Charities, educational establishments and health organizations use this platform as a way of increasing awareness.  Both the particular organization itself, and those who benefit from its existence  either by participating in the process of the competition or through the end result of making use of it - gain from enjoying a beautiful and functional garden.

My choice of best garden (see below for the full list) was Alternate Gardens designed by a very recent graduate of Writtle College and constructed by this year's graduating class.  Brilliantly designed it was (in my view) the perfect garden and I recommend that EVERYBODY goes to Hampton Court to take a look at the very talented work of Mark Ashmead and his team.   It exemplifies the best in creativity in terms of the low cost, functional and modern garden.

Leading disability charity, Leonard Cheshire - built a garden called "By The Seaside - Access to All Areas - and it is the product of a team which included disabled participants and volunteers. The Junior League of London's "Silent Witness Garden" showcases the domestic violence awareness program 'Silent Witness' with stark red figures highlighting a selection of past cases.    And "The SAUK Ereisma Garden" from the Scoliosis Association (UK) supported by world class athlete, Linford Christie, focuses its design on the lateral curvature of the spine that normally develops during childhood. 

Each of these gardens are original and fascinating in their own right, and set a great example for the value of gardening as part of the process of today's society.

On an equally serious note, the celebrities were out to enjoy great weather and support good causes including the very young, Sir Cliff Richard who met the press at The Shooting Star Trust Ssh.... It's Our garden - designed for kids at the Shooting Star Hospice; and Ringo Star and Barbara Bach turned up for the 21st Anniversary year of the Shaw Trust's Garden of Woods. 

And speaking of woods, the Woodland Trust were at the show to demonstrate how simple it is to build stuff from wood.   (Simple for the experts perhaps?)

Hampton Court is a delight.   And of course a temptation for the urban dwelling, small terrace visitor such as myself who is considering buying pot holders from Garden Gadgets Ltd., beautiful imported French candles from Margaret Roseboom; and a stylish (but somewhat expensive) fountain, water feature from Humphrey Bowden.

Please join the rest of the 200,000 visitors at the largest flower show in the world set over 25 acres of beautiful Hampton Court Palace parkland.  And don't hesitate.  It all disappears for another after July 13.

As the new-look Festival of Roses is launched at this year's Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) rose experts are ready with advice on how to get the best out of your roses this summer. Celebrating one of the best-loved flowers in the traditional English summer garden, the festival, co-ordinated by Roses UK, sees the launch of more than ten new roses, including the unveiling of Rose of the Year 2004.

Every year, Hampton Court offers up a tantalising new subject for visitors to take home and 'attempt' to emulate.   This year the RHS has combined two of the nation's great passions - boating and gardening - to try and find Britain's most attractive 'floating garden' on a narrowboat.

Britain's waterways have always been the inspiration for a number of features at Hampton Court.  Renowned for its water gardens, this year, the canals and rivers of Britain have influenced a number of the designers by reflecting its location on the banks of the Thames.

Seven stunning water gardens at Hampton include a hidden creek hideaway for Huckleberry Finn (Anglo Aquarium Plant Company) and a terraced waterside pub garden.  RHS Gold medal winner, Chenies Aquatics has designed a terraced garden which sweeps down to the waters' edge, against the backdrop of a typical canal-side building that has been lovingly restored and transformed into a pub. A contrasting area of native plants line the edge of the canal as if they have colonised a disused lock.

Or if you prefer your veggies, the National Trust and Guildford Borough Council commemorate the River Wey Navigation in Surrey with a stunning garden featuring a traditional lock keeper's cottage and canal scene, complete with vegetable patch.

Hot on the heels of Chelsea, the demands of modern urban living are no less of a strong influence at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.  Despite the leisurely, beautiful and spacious setting, thirteen gardens are on display designed specifically to cater for 'urbanites' requiring the minimal amount of gardening effort.  These urban sanctuaries combine contemporary landscaping with plenty of low maintenance planting.  Perfect for my taste!

The unique shopping experience is yet another summer delight of this relaxing show.  On offer: arts, crafts and produce for the home and garden; fantastic opportunities to buy new and unusual plants; and a vast selection of horticultural sundries for every gardening need and taste.

It's a fabulous day out so don't miss out.

Awards
RHS awards

Show Gardens
Tudor Rose Award
Hillier Landscapes

Most Innovative & Original Show Garden
Alternate Solutions 

Gold
Alternate Solutions
Hillier Landscapes 

Silver Gilt Flora
Guildford Borough Council - Department of Leisure Services
Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants

Silver Flora
Askham Bryan College
Boardman, Gelly & Co
Courtyard Garden Design
Enchanted Ltd
Loire Valley Wines
Mercedes-Benz
Richmond Adult & Community College
Shooting Star Trust
Summers Gardens Ltd 

Bronze Flora
Cedar Nursery
House Beautiful Magazine
The Junior League of London
Peter Rabbit (Frederick Warne)
RUKBA
The Scoliosis Association (UK)
Geoffrey Whiten in association with Stoneflair Ltd & Aegean Spas

Water Gardens
Tudor Rose Award
Anglo Aquarium Plant Co Ltd

Gold
Anglo Aquarium Plant Co Ltd

Silver Gilt Flora
Chenies Aquatics Ltd

Silver Flora
Dorset Water Lily Company
Marney Hall Consultancy
Lilies Water Gardens
World of Water

Small Gardens
Best Small Garden
Roger Platts Garden Design & Nurseries

Gold
Roger Platts Garden Design & Nurseries

Silver Gilt Flora
BBC Radio Kent
BBC London 94.9
Jeanne Coates & Virginia Lamb
Elizabeth Stoner
Woking Borough Council

Silver Flora
BBC Radio Humberside
Blossom
Designscape UK Ltd
Duchy College
Leonard Cheshire
Shaw Trust

Bronze Flora
BBC Radio Cornwall
Berwick Landscaping Services
Contemporary Gardens
Design in Green
James Foster-Pegg, Castle Gardens & Brimsmore Gardens
Garden Development
Gardens By Design
Janet Johnston & Wendy Clark
Landcraft Design
London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
The Oak Studio Garden Design

Floral Marquees
Tudor Rose Award
Orchid Answers

Most Original & Innovative Floral Marquee Exhibit
Clay Lane Nursery

Best Floral Marquee Exhibitor New to the Show
Ainsworth Displays

Gold
Allwood Bros: Carnations
Aries Export & Import Ltd: Cut flowers arranged to depict a sea theme
Avon Bulbs: Summer flowering bulbs & tubers
Steven Bailey Ltd: Carnations, pinks & alstroemeria
Ann & Roger Bowden Hostas: Hostas
Craig House Cacti: Cacti & other succulent plants
Devine Nurseries: Spray chrysanthemums
Dibleys Nurseries: Streptocarpus, foliage begonias & coleus
M C Dickerson / Choice Ornamental Plant Nursery: Japanese maples
Dysons Nurseries: Salvias
Fir Trees Pelargonium Nursery: Pelargoniums
Goldbrook Plants: Ferns, hostas & perennial plants
Hampshire Carnivorous Plants: Carnivorous plants
The Horticultural Society of Trinidad & Tobago: 'Taste of the Caribbean'
Jekka's Herb Farm: Herbs grown to Soil Association standard
Matthewman Sweet Peas: Sweet peas
Ken Muir Ltd: Strawberry plants in containers
Orchid Answers Ltd: Orchids in a range of genera
P W Plants: Hardy bamboos, grasses & associated plants
Park Green Nurseries: Hostas with supporting plants
Penhow Nurseries: Perennial diascias & nemesias
Rentokil Tropical Plants: Tropical & sub tropical foliage plants featuring bromeliads & palms
Roualeyn Nursery: Fuchsias
Southfield Nurseries: Cacti & succulent plants
Brian & Pearl Sulman: Pelargoniums
Philip Tivey & Sons: Cut flower chrysanthemums
UK Horticulture: Flowers, plants, vegetables & fruit
W S Warmenhoven: Hippeastrum & alliums
Westdale Nurseries: Bougainvillea
White Veil Fuchsias: Fuchsias

Silver Gilt Flora
Ainsworth Displays: Palm trees for inside, outside & conservatories
Bevere Manor Gardens (in association with Owens Bros Ltd): Conifers
Blackmore & Langdon Ltd: Begonias & delphiniums
Border Alpines: A small garden
Burncoose Nurseries: Trees, shrubs & other ornamental plants
Sheila Chapman Clematis: Clematis
Clay Lane Nursery: Fuchsias
Eagle Nursery: Sweet peas
Edrom Nursery: Woodland plants
Foxgrove Plants: Summer perennials with foliage plants & grasses
Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants: Herbaceous perennials for mid-summer
Hopleys Plants Ltd: Perennials, shrubs & grasses
Graeme Iddon (Maureen Iddon) Hardy Plant Nursery: Astilbe & other flowering plants
Long Acre Plants: Woodland perennials, ferns, diaramus & lilies
Lincluden Nursery: Conifers in an informal setting
McBeans Orchids: Exotic display of orchids
R A Meredith & Son Blooms Ltd: Range of hardy plants with emphasis on hardy perennials
Pine Cottage Plants: Agapanthus & other flowering plants
The Plant Lovers: Cacti & other succulent plants
Potash Nursery: Hardy & tender fuchsias
Proven Winners: Basket & container plants
Rickards Hardy Ferns Ltd: Hardy & half hardy ferns & tree ferns
Rushfields of Ledbury: Summer border for moisture & sun
Peter J Smith: Alstroemeria hybrids
South West Carnivorous Plants: Carnivorous plants in a naturalistic setting
Thorncroft Clematis Nursery: Clematis
Toobees Exotics: Succulents from tropical regions
Trevena Cross Nurseries: Restios, proteas, tree ferns, succulents & others
Vacherot and Lecoufle: Orchids

Silver Gilt Grenfell
Ohara School of Ikebana: Japanese flower arrangement
Somerset Postal Flowers: Themed tropical & temperate freestyle arrangements

Silver Flora
The Botanic Nursery: A Mediterranean-style garden
Ann & Roger Bowden Hostas: Hostas
Bushukan Bonsai: Bonsai trees
Churchtown Nurseries: Herbaceous, perennials & restios
Clematis Corner: Herbaceous clematis
Deva Orchids: Tropical orchid species & hybrids
Fibrex Nurseries Ltd: Hederas, hardy ferns & pelargoniums
Glasgow City Council - Land Services: Tropical plants from Glasgow Botanical Gardens
Herons Bonsai Ltd: Classical bonsai in Japanese style
Isle of Wight Lavender Ltd: Hardy & tender lavenders
Derek Lloyd Dean: National Plant Collection of Angel Pelargoniums
Norfields: Rare trees & plants including acers
North of England Bonsai: Bonsai
Notcutts Garden Centres & Mattocks Roses: Plants for problem places
Oakleigh Nurseries: Knot garden using fuchsia & angel pelargoniums
Oldbury Nurseries: A variety of fuchsias including species
Rougham Hall Nurseries: Cut hardy perennials
Robin Savill The Clematis Specialist: Clematis viticella
Squire's Garden Centres: Roses & companion planting
Three Counties Nurseries: Sunflowers & trachelium
Wilford Bulb Co Ltd: Lilium
Winchester Growers Ltd: Dahlias from the National Collection

Silver Knightian
Highdown Nursery: Thymes

Silver Lindley
Sparsholt College: Timeline Gardens

Bronze Flora
Burnham Nurseries Ltd: Tropical orchid species & hybrids
Cheshire Herbs: Culinary, medicinal & aromatic herbs including dye plants
Christopher Fairweather Ltd: Vireya rhododendrons
P Gardner: Sarracenia
Glenedd Violets: African violets
Hippopottering Nursery: Japanese maples
W E Th Ingwersen Ltd: Alpines, rock garden plants & other hardy perennials
B Johnstone & C Wilson: Verbascum
Mallet Court Nursery: Trees & shrubs
M Robert Mallet: CCVS
S Norton: Lathyrus
Oakland Nurseries: Tropical & sub-tropical plants
Riverside Fuchsias: Fuchsias
Rotherview Nursery: Planted troughs & sinks
Silver Dale Nurseries: Hardy fuchsias
Topiary Arts: Topiary shapes with herbaceous ground cover
Howard & Sally Wills: Sempervivum & phormium

Bronze Grenfell
Guernsey Tourist Board: Floral aspects of Guernsey
NAFAS: 'Through the Garden Gate'

Window Box & Hanging Basket
Best Window Box & Hanging Basket
Abbots Langley Gardening Society

Gold
Abbots Langley Gardening Society

Silver Gilt Grenfell
Dorney & District Horticultural Society
Hall Green & District Amateur Gardeners' Society
Louth & District Fuchsia Society
Shepperton Horticultural Association

Silver Grenfell
Binfield Garden Club
Bovingdon & District Horticultural Society
Cheddington Garden & Allotment Society
Dorney & District Horticultural Society
Friends of the Walled Garden (Basingstoke)
Houghton Regis Horticultural Society
Kidlington Gardening Society
The London Gardens Society
Nottingham District Association National Vegetable Society
The Royal Horticultural Society Japan
Royal Oxfordshire Horticultural Society
Sanderstead Horticultural Society

Bronze Grenfell
Basingstoke Horticultural Society
Churt Horticultural & Produce Society
Eckford Sweet Pea Society of Wem
Godstone Gardeners Club
Hampshire Federation of Horticultural Societies
Horndean Garden Group
Kidderminster Horticultural Society
Kings Somborne & District Horticultural Society
Reading & District Fuchsia Society
South Holland Horticultural Show Society
Woking Fuchsia Group 

Tickets
Ticket Hotline (Public) +44 870 906 3791
Ticket Hotline (Members) +44 0870 906 3790

The Editor, June 29, 2003

Davis Clarke

SILVER SPARKS : THE BISHOPSLAND CONNECTION

June 4, 2003 to August 31, 2003

at

GILBERT COLLECTION
Somerset House
London WC2R

Diana Greenwood

This small but fabulous exhibit celebrates contemporary British silver and jewellery. All the exhibitors are associated with the P&O Makower Trust. For the last 25 years the Trust has commissioned makers - whose work is then placed on long-term loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Crafts Council.

Ten years ago Bishopsland, a one-year postgraduate training programme was established. Work by several Fellows of Bishopsland together with 2003 graduates are on display - alongside permanent pieces from the Gilbert Collection and its setting. Work by many exhibitors is on sale in the shop.

However, if you are a real fan...... you may wish to take the opportunity to work directly with the designers and create your own special piece.  Then why not go to the Bishopsland Retrospective Silver & Jewellery Exhibition at The Jelly Leg'd Chicken Arts Centre between August 8 - 21, 2003.  The annual event is now in its tenth year. It showcases the diversity and skill of contemporary artists and all taking part have completed the Bishopsland postgraduate course for silversmiths and jewellers,

Silver and jewellery designed by 30 contemporary silversmiths and jewellers is on sale, ranging from work by distinguished artists with national reputations to recently qualified newcomers.  This is your chance to see, commission or just buy from a stunning collection of work for sale. Jewellery is available from about £25 (US$40 approx.) and smaller items of silver from about £70 (US$110 approx.).

Serious collectors will be able to commission work directly from the craftsmen without breaking the bank!

For more information apply to Oliver Makower, Bishopsland Workshops by phone +44118 972 4550 or to his mobile: +447768 734411 or email: omakower@compuserve.com  .

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SILVER SPARKS : THE BISHOPSLAND CONNECTION

Exhibiting Silversmiths and Jewellers at

Bryony Knox Phoenix

Gregor Anderson, Abigail Brown, Joanna Butler, Jennifer Caldwell, Shimara Carlow, Lin Cheung, Ane Christensen, Rania Clark, David Clarke, Amanda Coleman, Emily Collins, Gabriella Corbani, Angela Cork, Ndidi Ekubia, Andreas Fabian, Nina Gilbey, Rebecca Gillatt, Diana Greenwood, Rachel Jeffrey, Rebecca Johnson, Rembrandt Jordan, Nathalie Harris, Rod Kelly, Chris Knight, Bryony Knox, Andrew Lamb, Lisa Le Brocq, Frances Levis, Aimee Li, Lisa McConnell, Wendy Marshall, Lynn Miller, Jacqueline Mina, Pete Musson, Nigel Price, Linda Robertson, Jacqueline Scholes, Jane Short, Hannah Souter, Hiroshi Suzuki, Pete Stevens, Simone Ten Hompel, Ruth Tomlinson, Michiyo Tsuzaki and Lisa Watson.

Gregor Anderson Cherry Bowl, silver, 2003.

Rachel Jeffrey The Pearl of the Dee Brooch silver, 18ct gold, pearl, diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies, 2000. Private Collection.

Rembrandt Jordan Five Tea Boxes, silver and glass, 2002. P&O Makower Trust Commission, Victoria and Albert Museum

Rod Kelly Kelmscott Chaucer Cover, silver and gilt, 2003, The Keatley Trust & Upholders' Company Basin, silver, 2001, The Worshipful Company of Upholders.

GILBERT COLLECTION
Somerset House
London WC2

Public Information:
tel. +4420 7420 9400

Opening hours:
Daily 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
Last admission 5.30 pm

Admission:
Adult £5.00 (US$8 approx.) Over 60 £4.00 (US$6.5 approx.)
Under 18, UK full-time students and unemployed, free
Disabled helpers, free
Friends of the Courtauld Gallery: free
Adult groups (ten or more): £4.00 (US$6.5 approx.) per head, booked in advance
Annual ticket: £20.00 (US$33 approx.)
Joint ticket with one other collection:
£1 (US$1.6 approx.)discount
Joint ticket with two other collections: £2 (US$3.3 approx.)discount

The Editor, June 11, 2003

Clive james and Pete Atkins

Words & Music

30-DATE NATIONAL TOUR
MAY 1 to JULY 19
INCLUDING

The review of 'for one night only (drum roll) at The Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank, London SE1 on Friday, June 6, 2003 Clive James and his old college pal Pete Atkin took to the stage and played to friends, family and fans.............':

More a philosopher these days, than an acerbic wit, Clive James revealed to the audience his  offer to revive his TV career in the reality show 'I'm a Celebrity.  Get me out if here'.  But according to  James the world is not a better place for Reality TV and his great pleasure these days is to perform live to an intimate crowd.... so he chose to decline the 'generous offer'!

For more than two hours Pete Atkin brought to life the lyrics of Clive James.  The words revealed a man who fits better in the UK than in his home country, Australia.  Despite that 'reality', James entertained his audience with song lyrics and readings from his many autobiographies - always with a  great fondness for his Antipodean origins. 

And I feel sure that he has lived more happily believing that (for him), the pen is mightier than the sword.

The QEH may not have been the most appropriate venue for an evening sharing music and stories, but the stage lit up as we watched and listened to a pair of artists who seemed to share a fondness and familiarity for each other that had developed out of many years of like-mindedness.

A one-of-a-kind type of entertainment, it might have taken many members of the audience back to their childhood days of mono rather than stereo, black and white rather than color, and hearing the lyrics rather than the beat.

Check out the dates and locations of the rest of the tour below, if you are just a little curious......

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Clive James: intellectually 'brilliant' Australian-born poet, novelist, journalist, critic, creator of the ‘Postcard’ series of travelogues, and TV personality with a passion for the outrageous goes on tour

With over 30 years in the entertainment industry, Clive has seen the world and gathered many stories in the process.  He has over the years developed an art for narrative, as listeners to his recent BBC Radio 2 serialisation of his autobiography Unreliable Memoirs will testify. But not many people know that more than 20 years ago Clive wrote lyrics for six albums of songs with his Cambridge Footlights mate Pete Atkin, (a 'near-legendary' British singer and songwriter).

Now Clive and Pete are getting together on stage for a major 30-date national tour!

The collaboration of lyricist James and tunester Atkin has been revived by the timely relaunch of their albums over the internet this year. Back on the road, their new double act is a laid-back recap of their adventures in the music business since the late Sixties when, as members of the Cambridge Footlights, they forged a relationship that spawned six albums in the Seventies.

Pete sings the songs on guitar and keyboards and in their acoustic form, they can be described as sounding something between Pete Seeger and Alan Price.

Some are serious and some are funny, touching on subjects such as Apollo 13, jazz pianists, westerns and one about gangsters.

Clive, meanwhile intones poems on pieces of paper, with offerings that did not make it to lyric form, and even takes a stab at a vocal number. 

BIOS

Clive James was born in Sydney in 1939. He was educated at the University of Sydney where he was literary editor of Honi Soit and wrote for various university magazines. He was a contemporary of Germaine Greer and Robert Hughes. After graduating he worked for a time for the Sydney Morning Herald before departing for England in 1962 where he has lived ever since. James attended Cambridge University and received a second degree. After that he has earned his living as a journalist, poet, novelist and reviewer. Clive is the author of more than 20 books. As well as three volumes of autobiography, Unreliable Memoirs, Falling Towards England and May Week was in June, he has published collections of literary criticism, television criticism, verse and travel writing. His most recent novel was The Silver Castle. As a television performer he has appeared regularly for both the BBC and ITV, most notably as writer and presenter of the Postcard series of travel documentaries. He helped to found the independent television production company Watchmaker, and is currently Chairman of the Internet enterprise Welcome Stranger. Last summer saw the publication of two books of his essays, Reliable Essays: The Best of Clive James and Even As We Speak: 1993 - 2001. In 1992 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia, and in 1999 an honorary Doctor of Letters of Sydney University.

Pete Atkin’s songs earned him the respect of some of Britain's best rock and jazz session musicians. He was joined in the studio and on tour by a number of them, notably Chris Spedding, Herbie Flowers, Alan Parker, Barry Morgan, Kenny Clare and Ray Cooper, and though remaining virtually unknown to the popular record-buying public he built up a huge following on the UK college circuit. After his sixth album "Live Libel", he and Clive abandoned the struggle for fame, and Pete's musical career entered the 'legend' phase, which persists until today. Compilations of his work were released on LP, cassette and CD, but these are now deleted. Pete continued to write, contributing some of his own songs to TV, and after a thorough grounding in light entertainment production for BBC Radio 4 he eventually established himself as Head of Network Radio, South and West. He now works freelance, still mostly in radio production for the Beeb, for whom he created the epic series This Sceptred Isle, written by Christopher Lee and narrated by Anna Massey. All of Pete's back catalogue (with the exception of one or two tracks) has now been reissued on CD, including his first new album in 26 years, the 2-CD set The Lakeside Sessions.

FULL TOUR SCHEDULE

Thursday 1st May NEWTOWN Theatre Hafren Box office: 01686 625007 Friday 2nd May SHREWSBURY Shrewsbury School Box office: Saturday 3rd May AYLESBURY Civic Box office: 01296 486009 Sunday 4th May PETERBOROUGH Cresset Box office: 01733 265705 Wednesday 7th May CHESTER Gateway Theatre Box office: 01244 340392 Friday 9th May REDHILL Harlequin Theatre Box office: 01737 765547 Saturday 10th May WIMBORNE Tivoli Box office: 01202 848014 Monday 12th May SWANSEA Grand Theatre Box Office: 01792 475715 Tuesday 13th May WINCHESTER Theatre Royal Box office: 01962 843434 Thursday 15th May FOWEY Daphne Du Maurier Festival Box office: 01726 77477 Sunday 18th May DURHAM Gala Theatre Box office: 0191 332 4041 Tuesday 20th May WESTON-SUPER-MARE Playhouse Box office: 01934 645544 Thursday 22nd May BEDFORD Corn Exchange Box office: 01234 269519 Sunday 25th May FAREHAM Ferneham Hall Box office: 01329 231942 Tuesday 27th May COLCHESTER Mercury Theatre Box office: 01206 573948 Wednesday 28th May HARROGATE Harrogate Theatre Box office: 01423 502116 Thursday 29th May YORK Theatre Royal Box office: 01904 623568 Sunday 1st June PITLOCHRY Pitlochry Festival Theatre Box office: 01796 484626 Tuesday 3rd June ABERDEEN His Majesty's Theatre Box office: 01224 641122 Friday 6th June LONDON QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL Box office: 0207 960 4242 Saturday 7th June EDMONTON Millfield Theatre Box office: 0208 807 6680 Tuesday 10 June BRACKNELL South Hill Park Box office: 01344 484123 Thursday 12th June NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME New Victoria Theatre Box office: 01782 717962 Sunday 22nd June BARNSTAPLE Festival Queen's Theatre Box office: 01271 324242 Thursday 26th June STEVENAGE Gordon Craig Theatre Box office: 08700-131030 Friday 27th June HEBDEN BRIDGE Arts Festival Box office: 01422 842864 Saturday 28th June GRASSINGTON Festival Town Hall Box office: 01756 752288 Wednesday 9th July HIGH WYCOMBE Wycombe Swan Box office: 01494 512000 Friday 18th July EXETER Festival Northcott Theatre Box office: 01392 213161 Saturday 19th July LICHFIELD Garrick Box office: 01543 308796

add +44 and delete the zero if you are calling from outside the UK

The Editor, May 24, 2003 - and updated June 7, 2003

Help the Aged - 'SoHo Garden'
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