Immersive Experience
The art immersive experience has been around for a while. I had booked the Monet experience a while ago and had almost forgotten that I had the ticket. Luckily, the organizers sent an email reminder. It was at the same location as the previous one I went to last year, off of Brick Lane in one of London’s old ethnic neighborhoods that have seen different waves of immigrants enter into British life over the centuries. You still see signs of old Eastern European businesses beside more recent Indian, African, and Afghan stores and restaurants. The Monet Immersive Experience was enjoyable. Below are a few photos of the display of his famous works set as they might have looked in his study. And then, “the immersion room” where his works first are made to come alive, a wonderful experience of color, sound and music in a large, darkened space.
The part that I can’t share with you in photos, of course is the part where “the helmet” is placed on your head and you are taken on a journey to Monet’s world. In this case we travelled extensively around parts of Normandy, France, a place both he and I love. Seeing these places as they looked in his time and using the combination of photography and his work was truly a magical tour that I was sorry to see end. It was a delightful experience. I hope I get to experience Dali Immersive Experience when it is in town. My friend Jack Bond who directed and produced the famous film “Dali in New York” back in 1965 is still with us and I am hoping he is well and able to go the Experience and I would love to hear his views on it as he worked closely with Dali for so long.
A Special Month
Not only is October the last of my three-month sojourn in London, but it is also, back in the States, Italian American Heritage Month. The end of September coincided with the feast day of Saint Amato in Nusco, the small Italian City from which my paternal grandparents and eldest uncle immigrated to American in the early 20th Century. In honor and remembrance of them, I visited Saint Peters, also known as the Italian Catholic Church in the Clerkenwell section of London. Clerkenwell was once, London’s Little Italy. I have posted pictures of St. Peters before, it is very much in the tradition of Italian churches with colorful paintings of Saints, Jesus, and Mary. Many statues are placed around the church. I was sure that St. Amato or Saint Rocco, another saint popular in Nusco, was there last year when I visited, but neither could be found. So, I chose Saint Lucy, in honor of my late Aunt Lou, one of my dad’s three sisters who all of my generation of cousins loved dearly, and planned to light a candle in her memory. I did, sort of. Saint Peter’s has electric candles. You place money, change or bills in the slot, and an electric candle turns on! The Lord does work in mysterious and safety conscious ways.
The Secret Garden
One of my friends lives on a street just off Bedford Square. Bedford Square itself is a square of beautifully preserved townhouses that I believe to be Georgian. In the center of square is a “garden” that is secured with a wrought iron fence and gates. There are old-growth trees and shrubbery all around it with paths and some grassy areas visible. I’ve deemed it “the secret garden” and tease my friend about whether she has a key to it. Here are some photos I took of the secret garden (through the bars) and one of the fine houses on the square.
Mark In London 