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I finally did a day trip to Chichester by train (having done overnights or by car) in order to see the Edward Burra exhibition at the Pallant - http://www.pallant.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/current/main-galleries/edward-burra
I nothing about Edward Burra before a week or so back - if I asked I might have said it was Winnie the Pooh's real name - but I had seen a painting in the watercolours exhibition at t'Tate and I think I've seen the boat at Rye before. It is extraordinary - and frankly knocks the watercolours at the tate into the long grass. Such vibrant colours, such menacing surrealism. Among other subjects he painting bars in Paris and the streets of Harlem, but Harlem melts into his London and Dublin street scenes. There's also a thread of homoeroticism - the bottoms of the male characters seem to be out of Tom of Finland. (He's interested in sailors, according to one painting's label). It also turns out he was a science fiction fan - although HP Lovecraft is the only name they mention in the exhibition. The paintings are even more remarkable when you consider his increasing arthritis and his technique of painting from left to right, presumably rather than by colour. There are echoes of Grosz, among others. I must read the catalogue soon. Most fascinating is an envelope used as a shopping list and colour test - Players No 6, Anchovy Paste, Sardines, Kenco coffee, BRD...
Graham-Dixon just did a documentary - should be on the iPlayer.
Also on - Bloomsbury and Beyond - paintings owned by picture framer Mattei Radev, who inherited them from Eddy Sackville-West and Eardley Knollys. Some arresting stuff, most a little dull. Clearly a homosocial circle - EM Forster had an affair with one of them, if memory serves Radev. See: http://www.theradevcollection.org/history/ The show is touring.
Also on, some splendid German Expressionist prints - which chime with the Burra - and four photo by Simon Roberts - which do in a different way.
I then attempted to walk round Chichester's walls - the signage is a litle lacking, it has to be said, and I had to walk one bit twice as a result. I nearly missed part in the park, and the final stretch was locked, long before dusk.
I diverted into the Bull Inn for four halves - FILO Crofters, Ballard's On the Hop, WJ King's Autumn Mist and Irving's Invincible, of which the last was the best. I didn't try the sausages on offer. I prefer the Eastgate, but probably should boycott Fullers pubs.
Of the journey home... at Redhill the Tonbridge train was cancelled, although the information desk rather rudely told me it wasn't, as they brought another train into service (whilst still announcing the cancellation) from a different platform (which was announced as not for public use). Fortunately there was enough slack in the timings not to miss the connection at Tonbridge - where the waiting room had three seats. The train divided at Ashford - not that they told us until the last minute.
I appeared to be the only person not in fancy dress.
I nothing about Edward Burra before a week or so back - if I asked I might have said it was Winnie the Pooh's real name - but I had seen a painting in the watercolours exhibition at t'Tate and I think I've seen the boat at Rye before. It is extraordinary - and frankly knocks the watercolours at the tate into the long grass. Such vibrant colours, such menacing surrealism. Among other subjects he painting bars in Paris and the streets of Harlem, but Harlem melts into his London and Dublin street scenes. There's also a thread of homoeroticism - the bottoms of the male characters seem to be out of Tom of Finland. (He's interested in sailors, according to one painting's label). It also turns out he was a science fiction fan - although HP Lovecraft is the only name they mention in the exhibition. The paintings are even more remarkable when you consider his increasing arthritis and his technique of painting from left to right, presumably rather than by colour. There are echoes of Grosz, among others. I must read the catalogue soon. Most fascinating is an envelope used as a shopping list and colour test - Players No 6, Anchovy Paste, Sardines, Kenco coffee, BRD...
Graham-Dixon just did a documentary - should be on the iPlayer.
Also on - Bloomsbury and Beyond - paintings owned by picture framer Mattei Radev, who inherited them from Eddy Sackville-West and Eardley Knollys. Some arresting stuff, most a little dull. Clearly a homosocial circle - EM Forster had an affair with one of them, if memory serves Radev. See: http://www.theradevcollection.org/history/ The show is touring.
Also on, some splendid German Expressionist prints - which chime with the Burra - and four photo by Simon Roberts - which do in a different way.
I then attempted to walk round Chichester's walls - the signage is a litle lacking, it has to be said, and I had to walk one bit twice as a result. I nearly missed part in the park, and the final stretch was locked, long before dusk.
I diverted into the Bull Inn for four halves - FILO Crofters, Ballard's On the Hop, WJ King's Autumn Mist and Irving's Invincible, of which the last was the best. I didn't try the sausages on offer. I prefer the Eastgate, but probably should boycott Fullers pubs.
Of the journey home... at Redhill the Tonbridge train was cancelled, although the information desk rather rudely told me it wasn't, as they brought another train into service (whilst still announcing the cancellation) from a different platform (which was announced as not for public use). Fortunately there was enough slack in the timings not to miss the connection at Tonbridge - where the waiting room had three seats. The train divided at Ashford - not that they told us until the last minute.
I appeared to be the only person not in fancy dress.
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