Three things to see in London in April 2024

 

Three things to see in London in April 2024

The Time Is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure. National Portrait Gallery. Ends 19 May 2024.

Curated by Ekow Eshun, who curated the fabulos The Black Fantastic exhibition at the Hayward Gallery in 2023. I so look forward to this one.

Photo linked from NPG. © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Unravel. Ends 26 May 2024. The Barbican.

Really looking forward to this textile show. 

Photo linked from the Barbican.

Entangled Pasts, 1768-Now. Ends 28 April 2024. Royal Academy.

I saw this two weeks ago and it still resonates.  One of the most amazing shows the Royal Academy has ever put on. 

Photo linked from the RA.

The End.

What's on (Spring 2024)

 

April 2024: Three shows I want to see in Cambridge this month

 Tensions of belonging  Fitzwilliam Museum. Tues-Sun. (free) 

Local people collaborating in displays: sounds intriguing.

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The Goddess, the Deity and the Cyborg. The New Hall Women's Art Collection, Murray Edwards College. Mon-Sun 10-6. Free. Ends 8 Sept. 2024.

Remember the 1970s and goddess feminism? 

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The Cambridge Drawing Society at the AKA Contemporary Spring Group Exhibition.

 AKA Contemporary. 54a Cherry Hinton Road (formerly Eddie's Barber Shop). Wed-Sat 12

I still have not got around to visit this newcomer to the CB art scene.

© 3.4.2024

Five Arty Things in April: What's on in Cambridge

After a hiatus: the return of the 'What's On' post!

Here's my personal pick of five arty things to do in Cambridge in April:

1.  Hide and Seek: Looking for Children in the Past
MAA (Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology)

I love the MAA.  In 2013, it was shortlisted in the final top ten for the Art Fund Prize of Museum of the Year.  In December, one of their curators won an award to build a collection of contemporary art works from indigenous communities in India (we wait for this exhibition with excitement; it will open in 2017).  And it is all round a fabulous place.

I look forward to seeing this exhibition.  It is free.  Opening times on the poster below.

2.  Generation Painting: British art 1955-1965
Heong Gallery, Downing College (just past the Porter's Lodge, to the left as you enter from Regent St)

The newest addition to Cambridge's art scene, and the only truly modernist and contemporary art gallery in town right now (while Kettle's Yard remains closed for refurbishing).  The present exhibition is brilliant and includes a wonderful painting by David Hockney.  The architecture and the setting are also really worth experiencing.  

Opening times:
Wednesdays: 10 – 8 pm
Weekends and bank holidays: 10 - 6 pm
It is free.
Ends 22 May 2016.

Coming up next: Ai Wei Wei!  Quentin Blake!

Follow the gallery on twitter:  @heonggallery

Watch out for my blog post on the gallery; it will soon appear here:  
http://artincambridge.blogspot.com/2016/03/british-painting-at-new-heong-gallery.html

3. New Hall Art Collection: Feminism and Gender
Murray Edwards College (the college formerly known as New Hall, up on Castle Hill)

My favourite art collection in Cambridge so of course I will include it in my first What's On post in months.  I've blogged about this collection several times before.

It's free, it's amazing, and it's open nearly all the time.

Alexis Hunter, Fear of the Intellectual Wife, 1987; source:  NHAC

4.  Conflicted Seeds + Spirit
The new David Attenborough Building, New Museums Site (accessible via Downing Street and via Corn Exchange Street which is that weird street behind the Grand Arcade with entrances to the car park and to the cycle park)

An installation by the artist duo Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey.  I look forward to seeing this, and (bonus!) to sneaking a peak at the brand new David Attenborough Building which is the old Arup Building, refurbished by architect bureau Nicholas Hare.


Opening times:  Wed–Sun, 10am–5pm
Ends 17 April 2016.

Source:  © Ackroyd & Harvey

5.  Crawling with Life:  Flower Drawings at the Fitz

Watch out for my review of this exquisite exhibition; it'll be posted next week!

Fitzwilliam Museum; ends 8 May 2016.

Enjoy your April!

Easter and art! What's on in Cambridge art, April 2014

My personal pick of five:

1.  Art and Life 1920-1931:

Winifred Nicholson, her husband Ben, and her friends (exhibition)

  

Winifred Nicholson, Roman Road (Landscape with Two Houses), 1926
Source: © Kettle's Yard.

Don't miss the incredible picture of a zebra on the roof terrace of Le Corbusier's iconic modernist building, the Villa Savoye (picture by Christopher Wood; click on the link to see it, or, even better, go to Kettle's Yard and be surprised!!)

My son's favourite was the white abstract relief by W. Nicholson.

Where: Kettle's Yard. 

Ends 11 May 2014.

2. Charlotte Hodes (event)

Charlotte Hodes, Proposition 17: Order of Things (detail), 2014
Source:  New Hall Art Collection.  © the artist

Charlotte Hodes in conversation.  Hodes makes intriguing paper-cuts and ceramics, with delicate female figures crawling, walking, dancing and lying among ornament and patterns.  And New Hall (Murray Edwards) is always a nice place to visit.

Where:  Murray Edwards College (New Hall), Long Room. 

When:  Sat, 26 April 2014.  4.30 pm.

 

 3.  Sue Shepherd (exhibition)

© Sue Shepherd; source: ARB Public Art blog

The Alison Richard Building is a nice venue and this artist's work looks interesting: combines photos, scribbled text and fluorescent lighting.

Where:  Alison Richard Building, West Road.

Ends 27 June 2014.

 

4. Nicola Powys (exhibition and event)

Nicola Powys, Male-blue; © the artist

Where:  Williams Art Gallery, Gwydir St.
Ends 4 May 2014.
What and when:  Talk, Wed 30 April 2014.  For info on how to book, click here.

 

5.  Irish Art in Cambridge (exhibition)

Zelouf + Bell, Oak leaf console.  Source:  zeloufandbell

An opportunity to pop into the Caius Library near Senate House, previously the Squire Law Library,  and to see some interesting paintings and interior design artefacts.  Late-night opening allows for flexible visiting!

Where:  Caius Library, Gonville & Caius College, entrance from Senate House passage

When:  Thurs 17 and Fri 18 April, 6-9 pm; 19-21 April 9-5

More 'What's On':

Nine arty things to do in March 2014 - Many of these are still on!  I especially recommend the Fiji exhibition at the MAA.

Art to see outdoors in the sun:

A visit to Haddenham Gallery  (outdoor sculpture garden)

Where to take family visitors:  A Cambridge itinerary

Looking up at Cambridge buildings  (wander around and crane your neck)

Visit the Cambridge Sculpture Trails

And:  yarn-bombed Mill Road Bridge!

Three shows to see in London (April 2013)

Three London shows, hand-picked for you, by me:

1. Light Show at the Hayward Gallery.

I am desperate to see this extremely popular show of kinetic light works.  Advance booking recommended!

What:  Light Show.

Where:  Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre, London SE1 8XX.

Tube:  Waterloo / Embankment / Charing Cross.

When:  Mon 12noon-6 pm.  Tues, Wed, Sat 10am-6pm, Thurs, Fri, Sun 10am- 9pm. 

Ends Mon 6 May 2013.

Cost:  £11.  Book tickets  via the Southbank Centre.

Edited to add:  I have now seen this exhibition!  Especially recommended with children:  interactive fun to be had.  It's a mixed bag of many works but three of them blew my mind.  Warning: may affect you physically; immaterial light can be that corporeally intense.  I felt dizzy and a little queasy afterwards but the café served goulash soup which revived me.  Best before lunch: the queues get very long.

2. Amongst Heroes in Cornwall

I have a liking for the Newlyn and St Ives painters of the 19th century (I wrote a book about rural artists' colonies, and these artists featured quite a bit).  I want to see the shiny fish and wet beach of Stanhope Forbes's picture (above).  An unusual exhibition among the London blockbusters.

What:  Amongst Heroes:  The Artist in Working Cornwall.

Where:  2 Temple Place, London WC2R 3BD.

Tube:  Temple / Covent Garden.

When:  Mon, Wed-Sat 10am-4.30pm, Sun 11am-4.30pm, closed Tues. Late opening Wed.

Ends Sun 14 April 2013. 

Cost:  Free!

3.  The Bride and the Bachelors at the Barbican

This is getting rave reviews and promises both cerebral and sensual delights.  I love modern dance so will try to get there on a Thursday evening.

What: The Bride and the Bachelors:  Duchamp with Cage, Cunningham, Rauschenberg and Johns

Where: Barbican Centre, London EC2Y 8DS.

Tube:  Barbican.

When:  Ends 9 June 2013.  Live dance every Thurs 6.30-8.30pm (incl. in ticket).

Cost:  £10.  Book tickets via the Barbican.

Bonus show:  David Bowie at the V&A

 

Well, who can resist?  Also, the V&A is always worth a visit (have you been to the cast courts? -- out of this world).

What: David Bowie Is.

Where:  Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL.

Tube:  South Kensington.

When:  23 March - 11 August 2013.  Daily 10am-5.45pm. Fri 10-10.

Cost:  Details on booking tickets.

For even more:

Follow my pinterest board of what's on in London. 

Related posts:

• Three Cambridge shows to visit in April
• Previous London shows:  January 2013

Happy visiting!  Let me know in the comments if any of these shows were fabulous (or not), and if you saw anything else worth recommending.

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