6.26.18- Tate Modern + Last Day of Study Abroad

Photo by Ashleigh Brown via Snapchat

The Tate first opened to the public in 1897 and only had just one location that displayed a small collection of British artworks. Today we have four major sites and the national collection of British art from 1500 to the present day and international modern and contemporary art, which includes nearly 70,000 artworks.

In 1889, Henry Tate was an industrialist who had made his fortune as a sugar refiner. He offered his collection of British nineteenth-century art to the nation and provided funding for the first Tate Gallery. He was much interested in the pre-Raphaelitie artists and donated 65 paintings to the gallery.

Photo by Ashleigh Brown

This oil painting is by Fernand Leger (1881-1955). He was born in France and was closely involved with the Peace Movement during the Cold War. Along with Picasso, they attended the Communist sponsored Peace Congress in Poland in August of 1948. He completed this painting right before the gathering and viewed the circus as a symbol of entertainment and the energy of modern life. The partner holding the ladder provides the stability for the energetic movement of the acrobat, said Leger. It stood out to me because of the colors and energetic energy of the subjects.

Photo by Ashleigh Brown

Amedeo Modigliani’s (1884-1920), who was born in Italy and worked and France, ‘Tete’ (head in French) was a series of simplified heads made with limestone with an elongated face and features. He made them between 1911-1913 and was inspired by art from Cambodia, Egypt and the Ivory Coast. His friend, Paul Alexandre said, “When a figure haunted his mind, he would draw feverishly with unbelievable speed…and sculpted the same way. he drew for a long time and then attacked the block directly.” That’s so interesting how he could be inspired so quickly and can finish a work of art.

Photo by Emily

I liked Rudolf Stingel’s interactive carpet. It let the audience determine what design was on it creatively. The carpet is called ‘Untitled’ and is encouraged by the public to mould and sculpt their own design through the thick carpet.

Video Screenshot by Ashleigh Brown via Instagram

This was by far my favorite display in Tate Modern. It was a tower of old school radios, each having a different broadcast going on at the same time. I loved this display because it shows an overload of information can cause the failed communication and a misread message, or no message at all.

Sources: http://www.tate.org.uk/about-us/history-tate

6.20.18- Imperial War Museum

Photo by Ashleigh Brown

IWM is in the Lambeth area of London that is composed of five museums which show how London was during war and conflict from World War I to the present day.  Many objects and videos in the museum tell the human stories of lives in the war and showed how conflict has shaped the world live in today.

IWM as founded during World War I with a mission to preserve and tell the stories of all kinds of people from all countries of its empire.

 

Photo by Ashleigh Brown

This display showcased Eva Allpress and her sisters Betty & Nellie who were all members of the Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) worked at their local hospitals to help prepare food and refreshments to soldiers who were bombed in areas of London. The WVS was founded in 1938 to involve women in war and civil defense. Volunteers has a wide range of jobs including assisting in the evacuation of children, running rest centers for soldiers and organizing clothing exchanges.

Photo by Ashleigh Brown

Eva Allpress who worked during World War II at a local draper’s. The shop sold fabric and dressmaking materials. She saw customers struggling to buy materials or making enough materials during the war when most things were rationed in June of 1941. The government encouraged everyone to ‘Make Do & Mend’ by fixing and sewing up their old clothes. Eva, her mother and sisters spent a lot of their time making clothes and altering them for the family.

Clothes rationing also released workers for war work and to save factory space. Everyone had an allowance for coupons and had to be handed over when buying new products. This was the first time ‘utility’ clothing was introduced to provide low cost and good quality clothing.  Large families handed down clothes to younger members and the government offered advice to how to mend old clothes. Organizations such as the Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) set up sewing groups and clothing exchanges.

Photo by Emily

In May 1999, the Dalai Lama opened the Tibetan Peace Garden next to the Imperial War Museum. It was commissioned by Tibet Foundation and built on land provided by Southwark Council. It has been donated to the people of the UK since then.

The Tibetan Peace Garden honors one of the valued teachings of the Dalai Lama. He felt the need to create understanding between different cultures and to establish places of peace and harmony in the world. The garden was created to establish a deepening awareness of the Dalai Lama’s values and a greater understanding of Buddhist culture.

Sources: http://www.tibet-foundation.org/page/peace_garden

https://www.iwm.org.uk/about

6.25.18- Southbank & British Film Institute Mediatheque

 

Photo by Ashleigh Brown

The British Film Institute was founded in 1933. The BFI is also a charity governed institution that combines cultural and creative aspects together into the BFI National Archive. Along with screenings, the BFI also does film distribution, exhibition and education through its publishing and festivals.

Photo by Ashleigh Brown

We went into the private movie rooms where we chose a movie of our choice to watch. The most interesting and most familiar to me was Alice in Wonderland. I watched the 1966 version by Jonathan Miller. I will say it was a very odd and trippy movie for me, definitely different than the Disney animation one I am used to.

Originally, the television play was not intended for child viewers. It was shot on 35mm black and white film, very different from the well-established tradition in pantomime and film. It also did not use animal costumes for iconic characters like White Rabbit and the Caterpillar. It also did not have any special effects.

Learning about this adaptation of the Lewis Caroll novel, I believed the movie seemed different to me from the lack of costumes, effects and slightly different storyline. The movie seemed a little bland and I was craving for more action.

Source: http://sensesofcinema.com/2018/alice-in-wonderland/jonathan-millers-alice-wonderland/

http://www.bfi.org.uk/about-bfi

6.21.18- Wellcome Collection

 

Photo by Wellcome Collection.com

 

Wellcome Collection is a free museum and library in the Euston section of London that showcases the importance and how we think about health and education. The museum’s main goal is to challenge how we all think and feel about health.

Through exhbitions, collections, live shows and other works of media and art, the museum and library allows for people to think deeply about the partnerships between science, medicine, life and art.

The Welcome Museum was founded by Sir Henry Wellcome’s will in 1936. It is also a global charitable foundation that strives to improve health for everyone. The Wellcome Collection supports scientists, students and researchers to take on big issues, be creative and think in different ways.

Photo by Ashleigh Brown

The braces ans grillz display stood out to me because it showed how dentist were in every point in time in history and eventually led up to braces and grillz as a fashion statement. Grillz became popular in the late 1990’s early 2000’s as a fashion statement and has grown into a cultural icon. Grillz can be customized from any jewelry for more unique looks.

Photo by Ashleigh Brown

This story of Ad van den Elzen was interesting to me because when he was 21 years old, he was shot with a bullet and had been left with very serious injuries. His facial features had changed and needed facial reconstruction surgery to fix his accident. His son, Arthur, wrote about his fathers experiences going through the surgery and credits his father, step mother and the skills of the surgeons for his life changing physical and mental recovery.

Sources: https://wellcomecollection.org/pages/Wuw2MSIAACtd3Stq

6.19.18- The British Library

The British Library is the official national library of the United Kingdom. It is also one of the world’s greatest libraries. The library includes more than 150 million items, in over 400 languages where three million new items are added every year. It is the home of every nationally produced book, magazine, manuscript, map, music score, newspaper, database, sacred items and text, print and drawing and sound recording ever made in the UK.

What I liked about the collections at the library is that they’re readily accessible to users for research time, information enquiries and for personal reading and enjoyment. The purpose of the British library is to discover and provide the relevant information readily available and possible for reach purposes.

This bookshelf was so big! I went from the ceiling all the way to the floor past the benches and regular walking area. It was established after one of the Kings here in England wanted to do something for society and create a library for everyone. I believed that was a really great face

Sources: https://www.bl.uk

6.18.18- Victoria & Albert Museum

Photo by Ashleigh Brown

The Victoria & Albert Museum is one of London’s leading museum’s. It houses over 2.3 million pieces of art since its opening in 1852. it includes collections that span over 5,000 years of human creativity of every art form. The mission of the V&A Museum is to be recognized as the world’s leading museum of art, design and performance. They also strive to enrich and educate people’s lives to promote the enjoyment of learning about art and culture.

Photo by Emily

 

The fashion collection at the V&A has collections spanning over 5,000 years and is the largest and most comprehensive collection of clothing in the world. Important items in the fashion collections include 17th century gowns, 18th century dresses, 1930s eveningwear, 1960s daywear and post-war couture, 1990’s casual wear by a host of designers and artists.

Photo by Ashleigh Brown via Snapchat
Photo by Ashleigh Brown via Snapchat
Photo by Ashleigh Brown via Snapchat

 

Some of my favorite collections were from Christian Dior, Helmut Lang, Valentino and Jean Paul Gaultier. Post war fashion was also very interesting to me because it showed that women were only allowed 3 buttons and it was the first time women didn’t have to have a skirt or dress to the ground, they had to ration materials during the world wars.

Photo by Ashleigh Brown via Snapchat

 

Photo by Ashleigh Brown via Snapchat

This bathing suit was deigned by Neyret around 1937 in Paris. It’s made out of machine knitted wool.

This striped trouser set was designed by Arnson around 1936/1937. It is made out of Linen.

The 1920’s and 1930’s saw a new freedom for women. A new ‘sporty’ and ‘leisure’ way of dressing became popular. Many designers introduced new ‘resort’ collections including Chanel. It was also the first time many designers introduced perfume into their brands.

Photo by Ashleigh Brown

I also found this open container made in the year 964 AD interesting and beautiful. It has a inscription of a prayer around the lid for And al-Rahman III’s successor. A similar prayer is also on the casket made for his wife in 964 as well. It is assumed the container held a scented substance and has a pierced lid allowing the fumes to circulate. I’ve noticed that the scared muslim pieces hold a lot of value in their culture and are usually small in size.

Sources: https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion

https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/about-us/

https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion

6.14.18- National Portrait Gallery

Our third trip was to the National Portrait Gallery in the Trafalgar Square area of London. This one one of my favorite museum’s during my study abroad experience. There were paintings, sculptures and other forms of artwork everywhere! During this trip, I focused mainly on women and their successful roles in society.

Photo by Derrica

 

The National Portrait Gallery was founded in 1856 with an aim “to promote through the medium of portraits, the appreciation and understanding of the men and women who have made and are making British history and culture, and to promote the appreciation and understanding of portraiture in all media.”

The gallery also aims to bring history to the forefront in its extensive display of paintings, exhibitions, digital programs and other art forms to allow everyone to stimulate their own opinion and address questions and concerns to stir up conversation.

 

Photo by Ashleigh Brown

This is a painting I found interesting of Emilia Francis, also known as Lady Dilke (1800-1899) by Sir Hubert von Herkomer (1849-1914). Emila began here career as an art historian who specialized in French art. She was very active in the women’s trade union movement. She was involved in the Women’s Trade Union League (1874) because of her commitment to social reform and improving the working conditions of women. She was the president until her death.

Photo by Ashleigh Brown

 

My favorite painting I saw at the National Portrait Gallery at this self portrait of Doris Zinkeisen (1897-1991) who was a painter and stage designer. She was mostly known for her posters she created during World War II and produced several liberation of concentration camps posters for Bergen-Belsen, railway company posters and murals.

Photo by Ashleigh Brown

This oil on canvas painting stood out to me by Richard Evans (1784-1871) of Harriet Martineau (1802-1876). She was a journalist, novelist and economist. She was also involved in the anti-slavery campaign where she travelled to America and recorded her experiences. She was also the only woman to attempt a full scale autobiography writing about her career and travels. Many believed a woman could not have as much success during this time as she did.

Sources https://www.npg.org.uk/about/

6.13.18- Richmond Theatre, 89 Charing Cross Road

Our second class trip was to Richmond Theatre which is in the Richmond area of London. We saw a show called 89 Charing Cross Road which was a favorite of the people of London with a lot of rich history.

 

Photo by Ashleigh Brown via Snapchat

 

Richmond Theatre was built in 1899 as the ‘Theatre Royal and Opera House’ and was refurbished in 1991. Richmond Theatre was established as one of the most successful theatres in the UK, presenting a wide range of quality drama, musicals, opera, dance and family entertainment for years. Richmond Theatre welcomes 250,000 people to over 40 theatre productions, performing for about 49 weeks out of 52 weeks each year. Richmond Theatre is a venue for local arts organizations and charities and for the public to enjoy all things theatre.

Photo from Google

89 Charing Cross Road was based on Helene Haniff’s novel about the unique relationship between a book keeper and his client who lives in New York. The bookkeeper and NYC woman established a strong friendship through letters from the 1940’s-1960’s from her signing out and having books shipped to her from a London bookstore.

The two eventually wanted to meet along with the other employees in the bookstore, but time, finances and life always got in the way. Unfortunately, right when the woman was going to meet the bookkeeper, he past away. She eventually made her journey to London to visit to bookstore herself.

The next day after we saw 89 Charing Cross Road, we went to visit the actual site of the play in the Charing Cross area of London…

 

Photo from Google

…now, its a McDonalds…

 

Sources: http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/history/

 

6.12.18- First Day of Study Abroad + Tate Britain

Welcome to my first blog post on my travel blog for my study abroad program! I’m so excited the share all of the great, new & exciting things I’m doing out her during the next three weeks.

For our first class, we went to the Tate Britain museum in the Victoria area of London. It is one of the oldest galleries in London opening in 1897. The Tate’s mission is to increase the public’s enjoyment, understanding and knowledge of British art dating back to the 16th century and of international contemporary art.

Photo by Ashleigh Brown

 

Photo by Ashleigh Brown of Joshua Reynolds ‘A Portrait in Different Views: Angel Heads’

 

One of my favorite pieces of art from our visit of Tate Britain was Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792)  ‘A Child’s Portrait in Different Views: Angel Heads’ (1786/7) The painting stood out to me because it looked very majestic showing kids in an innocent state.

Reynolds painting is oil on canvas that shows the head of five-year-old Lady Frances Gordon. It shows the little girl in five different angles. He originally took the idea from 17th century Italian paintings. It isn’t known which paintings exactly, but he would borrow different styles and meanings from the most admired artists in his time.

Reynolds was admired for his artistic ability. One critic said, “The hand of nature never formed a finer face than this: not like the general run…of cherubims, with ruddy cheeks and round unmeaning faces, but sentiment expression, and clearness and warmth of coloring that all must feel.” This was interesting to me because this showed that his artwork was on a different scale than other artists in his time. His art stood out as realistic.

 

Sources: http://www.tate.org.uk/about-us http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/reynolds-a-childs-portrait-in-different-views-angels-heads-n00182