Author: Mark in London

ANOTHER SOJOURN BEGINS

A month has passed since I arrived in London. This blog will cover the highlights of a most unusual August, the dryest and one of the hottest on record.

The trees, flowers and grass in Russell Square Garden had never looked so stressed as they did on August 1st.

But the kids found a way to stay cool in the fountain there.

Marilyn Monroe-The National Portrait Gallery

The exhibition of photographs and portraits of the late, great American superstar were grouped by photographer. She died on August 4th, 1962, at 36 years old. I became increasingly sad as I continued through the exhibition which reminded me of all she accomplished and how very difficult life was for her in an era where her voice was often muted by those who sought to use her beauty and “sex appeal,” mear years before a feminist revolution began which might have changed and saved her life. Here are some of the images.

They will only care when you’re gone. Marilyn

The Donmar Warehouse Presents “The Guilty”

Russell Tovey starred in this atmospheric production about a police officer temporarily assigned to an emergency call room. Americans would call it a ‘911 Center.’ His performance was breath taking. I recommend this production.

The Latest from the Esoterick Collection of Modern Italian Art

One of my favorite small galleries is just two Tube stops away from my temporary home in Bloomsbury. The exhibition of the work of Emilio Isgro was titled “Erasing to Create.” Quite literally he blacked out words in documents, maps, letters, and globes to force us to consider the layers of reality and hidden messages we encounter but never consider. This was a challenging exhibition, but one that reminded me of how important it is for me to be open to different possibilities.

I had to pass on visiting the permanent exhibit because parts of the building were not air conditioned and this visit was on one of the days that felt like the temperature inside was about 400 degrees F. However, I did get these photos of the funky new patio and garden furniture.

Fulham F.C. “Home Opener at Craven Cottage

Fulham, with a new manager and many new players opened their home season with a game kicking off at 8:00 PM, the first evening match I had attended. This was against local rival Chelsea whose home ground is also in the same part of West London, so this was a “London Derby” in local parlance. The “All Whites” made a valiant showing but ended on the wrong side of a 3-2 final score. The long walk back to Putney Bridge Station through a very dark Bishop’s Park was ‘interesting. Fans used the lights from their phones to guide the way along the paths.

Jeeves Takes Charge at the Charing Cross Theatre

I am a big fan of P.G. Woodhouse and his famous duo Bertie Wooster and his butler, Jeeves. Many will recall the series that starredHugh Laurie and Steven Fry. This production was a bit different in that one actor , Sam Harrison played both Wooster and Jeeves and all the other characters (male and female) by altering his voice and posture. He was amazing and the show was side splittingly funny.

James NcNeill Whistler at the Tate Britain

TheTate Britain gathered together an impressive collection of the American born painter’s works, including the famous portrait of his mother that is usually at the Musee D’Orsay in Paris. His paintings explored darkness and light and he used muted colors in interesting ways.

Since I had made the trip to the Tate, I also stopped in to visit the wonderful collection of Henry Moore sculptures. Below are a few examples.

An End to August and the Heat Wave

As August came to an end, so did the heat wave that had hold of the UK for most of the Summer. On the one of the first cooler days, I revisited two favorite places in the local environs, Saint Pancras New Church and the plaza of the British Library where the first rain and cooler temperatures perked up some flowers and a blue sky shone over this lovely part of London.

This ends my August update more regular updates to come. Thanks for your patiences.

The Long Goodbye, The First Noel, Secret Maps

The Long Goodbye

My last week in London is a time of reflection and of fond farewells to favorite places and friends. I’ll start with two pictures of the mighty trees in Russell Square Park as they go deeper into Autumn.

In summer these trees form a canopy over the park and shield much of the outside world from view. Now, though in various shadesof gold, green and brown, they remind me that my time in London is coming to an end for another year.

The First Noel

On a final visit to Covent Garden, I found that Christmas had come to the venerable shopping arcade, even before Halloween had arrived.

The weather outside has certainly been cold enough to remind us of the coming winter season, but this used to be a time in London when poppies were sold and displayed in honor of those who had lost their lives in defense of Britain, a tradition that goes back to World War 1.

Secret Maps

The British Library had one last gift for me in the form of its current exhbition “Secret Maps.”

The exhibit included ancient maps. secret maps, escape maps, an astrolabe and more. Below are a few examples.

All in all, an interesting experience

More of the Long Goodbye

A gathering took place at Caffe Tropea. A group of my friends, who I met at the caffe several years ago, came together for a chance to wish me farewell. It is one of the joys of my trips to London to have come to know this eclectic group of people. We laugh and joke, solve the world’s problems and drink delicious Italian coffee. It is always hard to wish this group goodbye.

As the last week continues, my friends Nigel, Gwynne, and Mike met me for lunch today. We spent a few hours chatting. It was warm enough to eat outside. We were, once again, at Caffe Tropea and thus able to enjoy the beautiful views in Russell Square Park.

Last Things and Things that Last

Last Visit to Wigmore Hall

It was another drizzling Monday in London and it was the day of the last Wigmore Hall Monday Afternooon concert I would see this year. It was a great one! Pianist Alexandre Tharaud played Mozart’s Piano Concerto in A. He then went on to play improvisations on songs by Piaf (Poulenc’s Homage), Jaques Brel (“Don’t Leave Me,” made popular by Rod McKuen as “If You Go Away”), Pesson abd Trenet. Theraud played brilliantly and even teased and joked with the BBC Radio 3 presenter. It was an uplifting and joyful experience.

A New Exhibit and an Unplanned Tour of the Wiener Holocaust Museum

I had looked forward to seeing the new exhibit at the Wiener Holocaust Library on Russell Square. The Exhibit is called “Finding Ivy-A Life Worth Living (The Story of British-born Victims of the Nazis’ T4 Programme). ‘Aktion’ or Aktion T4, as it was known after the war was a Nazi program in Germany and Austria from 1940-41 which killed some 70,000 adults with mental or physical disabilities, living in institutions. It was deemed so horrible that the Nazis were forced to stop it. The exhibit focuses on several British-born people caught in the horror.

The exhibit was difficult to view, heartbreaking and sad. But, as all the Wiener Library exhibits do, it reminds the visitor why we must never let such a regime into power. Never Again!

Unexpectedly, for me, the Library was offering free tours of the entire facility. One normally only sees the large double room in the front on the ground (first) floor where the exhibits are shown. We saw the “book store,” the basement floor containing an incredible number of books, newpapers, physical objects that the library owns and we heard the story of Dr. Albert Wiener who started the collection in the Netherlands after the Nazis took power in Germany and managed to get it shipped to London before they took the Netherlands. While he escaped to London, he could not arrange visas for his wife and three daughters. He did manage to get them false Paraguayan passports which saved them from the gas chambers, but did not stop them from being put into a camp for foreigners, once the war started in ernest. The four women survived the camps and did manage to be included in a prisoner exchange. Sadly, Mrs. Wiener had been very ill in the camp, giving all of her rations to her daughters. She died before reaching England. Their daughters did survive and join their father.

Among other exhibits we were shown during the tour were the tragic last message from a German nurse who had escaped to England and her family in Germany. We also had the opportunity to hold in our hands one of the horrendous yellow Star of David badges all Jews were forced to wear.

We also saw the research library where people with family members in Germany and Austria who were killed in the Holocaust can do research along with students and scholars from around the world. In addition, much of the collection has been digitzed and can be accessed on line.

Visiting a House that Preserves a Time Gone By

Standen is an Arts and Crafts style country house in East Grinstead, Sussex England. I met my friends Nigel and Gwynne Grant at the East Grinstead Train Station and we made our way the short distance to Standen and its extensive gardens. Arts and Crafts was a style greatly influenced by the designer William Morris.

As you can see, the furniture. wall coverings, and objets d’art are exquisite and preserved beautifully.

While it was past the prime viewing season for the gardens, they still were lovely.

I’m not sure, but this fellow might be just back from Portland Oregon’s No Kings Day.

Well, this leaves me with one week to go. I still have a few interesting adventures.

Above, Nigel and me standing in the Standen garden. Photo by Gwynne.

Antiquities, Post Impressionism and Thoughts on No Kings Day

A quiet Autumnal afternoon found me back at the British Museum revisiting the ancient worlds of Egypt and the Mediterranean. As we move further into a digital modern age and world of artificial intelligence, sometimes it good to reflect on the incredible ingenuity and creativity of those who came long before us.

Egyptian funerary art remains a mystery. In today’s world, so many have dismissed faith in a supreme being or an afterlife, that we can only imagine how Egyptians came to create and develop their belief systems.

The care and artistry that goes went into these items is remarkable and thought provoking.

Ancient Rome and its predecessor communities gave us such an amazing variety of artistic achievement.

Sculpture, pottery, mosaics, representations of mythical creatures and emperors, So much from this relatively small corner of the world.

I guess I should say that it is this time in my London sojourns, as the days dwindle down to a few, how much I love living so close to the British Museum and being able, on a whim to spend some time there.

Oh, Did I Forget to Mention More Late Bloomers?

The local parks continue to give us late blooms, as we head into the second half of October.

Helene Kröller-Muller and Her Post-Impressionist Collection

Helene Kröller-Muller was a German philanthropist whose impressive collection of Post-Impressionist Art was on display at the National Gallery in London’s Trafalgar Square. A dear friend, Rhonda with whom I share the honors of being a graduate of Oceanside, NY Senior High School and SUNY Oneonta, suggested we visit the exhibit during our day out during her brief visit to London. There isn’t a superlative that can capture this exhibit. The picture at the beginning of this blog is also from the exhibit.

Rhonda and Me in front of the National Gallery, with George Washinton (headless) behind us.

Bonus Photos

Two Interesting Bloomsbury Rooftops.

No Kings Day

It seems strange to be away from the USA on such an auspicious day. I sat this morning in the plaza of British Library on Euston Road, looking up at the Ann Frank Tree, grown from a sapling taken from the tree that sat outside the window of the Frank families hidden refuge in Amsterdam.

It seems impossible to me that 80 years after the world fought to end authoritarian rule by the German Fascist government that millions of Americans would be taking to the streets to peacefully protest what they see as a growing threat to our Constitution and our democracy. Can millions more Americans not see what is happening and can they not see the attempts to ignore and erode the rule of law? Young Ann and millions more died simply because a leader hated who they were. He did not have a system of checks and balances to stop him. Where are the checks and balances in our democracy today. Did our fathers and grandfathers fight and die in vain? I pray that the protests today remain peaceful and that we see all three branches of our Federal government acting within the law and according to our Constitution.