October Arts Newsletter

Thank you to everyone who came along to Art in the Park on 19th September. We had a fantastic turnout, with over 2,500 visitors. We had the art fair (over 50 artists), sculpture trail, lots of classes, a community sculpture and a drop in Art Hub, there was creativity all over Cannizaro! It has been so rewarding to make this happen (with others) and widen my arty network around Wimbledon. We are currently discussing next year so watch this space…
In the meantime, there are lots of lovely new exhibitions to see, some suggestions below.

Poussin and the Dance celebrates the wonderful work of the Baroque painter and his love of joy and movement. Poussin spent much of his career perfecting the depiction of the body in motion, and this exhibition would be particularly interesting to anyone else who likes life drawing. This show has 20 of his paintings alongside some of the antiquities that inspired him. Any fans of Matisse’s ‘Dance’ can see where it started. National Gallery 9Oct-2Jan

Beautiful People: The boutique in 1960s counterculture. Velvet trousers, Regency brocades and frilly shirts I hear you ask? Yes, you can find them all in this heady, star-studded world of 1960s London where clothes from eight era defining shops are on display. This is definitely a good exhibition for a bit of bonding with your teen over half term. Fashion & Textile Museum until 13 Mar 22

Hokusai: The Great Picture Book of Everything has over 100 rare drawings by the Japanese artist Hokusai. Originally made for an encyclopedia that never made it to publication, the works were recently bought by the British Museum and this is the first time they have gone on show. Hokusai’s masterpiece ‘The Great Wave’ will also be on display and insight into his working practices with woodblocks. Japanophiles get yourselves there!
British Museum until 30Jan22.

Helen Frankenthaler: Radical Beauty is a retrospective of her woodcuts and when compared with the Hokusai, shows quite how flexible the medium of woodcut can be. Frankenthaler is best seen in the context of the US Abstract Expressionists, alongside Pollock, de Kooning, Still et al. Her woodblocks are really quite revolutionary as well as being extremely beautiful. And all in the gorgeous surroundings of Dulwich Picture Gallery, until 18April22.
Arty TV recommendation
If you haven’t already seen it, the latest series of Fake or Fortune is on BBC iPlayer. Is it or isn’t it a Henry Moore? Such good telly!

The last Sweet Peas, oil on canvas 30x24cm
I haven’t had much time in the studio recently but did find time this week to paint these. Can you spot what brand the jam jar was?
