the continuing conversation between art and life
Tonight, I got to listen to a lecture on Rembrandt, by one of my art heroes, Andrew Graham-Dixon (lecturer and TV presenter). This was part of the celebration of NADFAS' 50 years and also a spectacular Rembrandt lecture at the RSA, Edinburgh. I'm not particularly a fan of Rembrandt, but I do find the lecturer's …
Continue reading "Review (Edinburgh): Andrew Graham-Dixon and Rembrandt 2018-9-24"
Review of Barbara Rae's new stunning exhibition at the RSA Edinburgh, featuring the North-West passage
There will be a new Angie Lewin exhibition: Wednesday 2nd May - 2nd June 2018 The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh "Spey Path and Strandline". Circles, feathers and feather-like leaves abound in this collection of watercolours. Also known for her strong graphic images as a printer, Angie recently exhibited at City Art Centre, in a group …
exhibition of contemporary art and poetry, covering Eastertide, Resurrection to Ascension.
This day last week, I was in a writing workshop (led by Kate Hastie) on how to make a poem response to artworks ("Ekphrasis"). In response to this lithograph by Henry Moore, "Upright Motives" - I wrote this: For Henry Moore “Upright Motives” Reinterpreting the body with his pen, Henry watches his …
Edinburgh, Scotland: Last night, I was at the book launch of a pamphlet book of poetry "Seen/Unseen" written in response to the artworks in an exhibition "Hidden Gems" at the City Art Centre, Edinburgh. There was a brilliant turnout, in part due to the fact that there were 30 poets involved and most of them …
This weekend past, I was shown a beautiful and enjoyable way to start new writing - with a beneficial side effect of getting rid of writer's block: begin by responding to a picture. The technical term for this is Ekphrasis - see previous blog post a year ago, here. And for me, it is hugely enjoyable, …
Continue reading "The art of writing about art – a cure for writer’s block"
This is my late response to the creative prompt "Chain" - a view from the new Edinburgh bridge, Queensferry Crossing. This picture shows 3 Edinburgh bridges across the Forth. I'm being driven across the very new Queensferry Crossing bridge, beyond, you can see the upright of the older road suspension bridge - and in the …
click on me to hear
The Umbrellas of Edinburgh is a book of new poems, covering a wide range of city scapes. The Scottish Poetry Library has taken some of these, read by their creators, and made them into a podcast which lasts about 43 minutes.
Each brief poem is written specifically about a different place, ranging from well known central landmarks to deprived outer city estates. The voices in your ears will take you to a variety of places and times – including the resident who remembers catching his first glimpse of Rolls Royces in his street, during Festival time.
A delight to hear, and it will give a flavour (if ears can have tastebuds) of various parts of the city. A great addendum or introduction to a visit.
