Another day in Yorkshire

A visit to the Cartwright Hall in Bradford revealed some hidden gems. Built when rich industrialists processed a social conscience (wanting to ensure their place in heaven no doubt) the hall is named after Dr. Edmund Cartwright who invented the power loom. There's a great collection of contemporary prints, including Hockney's The Rake's Progress, a Rossetti stained glass window, a (disappointing) Clausen and even a Vasari. It was however the two early Hockneys that caught my attention.

After Cartwright Hall it seemed foolish not to visit Salts Mill (only 10 minutes by car). They'd even opened up the roof space for the annual Leeds Photographic Society exhibition. The pictures weren't up to much but the space and light in the roof were incredible. O yes...you also can't beat the steak and chunky chips in the restaurant.

Ursula Von Rydingsvard at the YSP

The Ursula Von Rydingsvard exhibition is a mixed bag of wonderful monolithic outcrops (which in reality are constructed using 2x4" and 4x4" cedar wood beams - the type we could all get from B&Q) and less successful oddments including some terrible large spoons and plates. Well worth the visit if only for the a handful of works and the, now compulsory, gallery video showing her at work.

Princess Street, Knutsford

oil on board (10 x 16")

Bank Holiday and the three Henrys

Spent a rather pleasant Monday at Tate Britain and ended up drawing in one of the Henry Moore rooms, after the most marvellous of light lunches in the members room. I thoroughly recommend the quiche lorraine and salad; simply but absolutely delicious (and if you're not a member simply ignore the stairs and head for the lift; this way one can easily sneak past the membership desk...everyone seems to do it...I thinks it's a deliberate Tate ploy to sell more cakes).

I also especially like what has been done to the Duveen Galleries. Are Phyllida Barlow's creations, entitled 'dock', good art? Probably not but they do make one smile...whilst simultaneous hoping that they might collapse.

Ceramics and Pie

A morning at the V&A continually interrupted by impromptu performance of Shakespeare; Ophelia, for example, waded through the quandrangle pond and Romeo and Juliet did their bit at the balcony in the Paul and Jill Ruddock Gallery. Then, after another of those shockingly good pies was consumed for lunch, I sought the quiet sanctuary of the ceramics galleries.

Another view from a bridge

My four scraps of paper are rather less successful than last nights spectacle at the Young Vic, but I battle on and publish failures as well as successes.

A View From a Bridge

****

A stark yet powerful portrayal of what Sophocles might have produced if reincarnated to live in 1950s America. Strong performances from all and a lovely symmetry between beginning and end. Almost perfect but for the British American accents and a too puny a lad cast as Marco...no way could he empty a ship alone.