Today, readers, I'm feeling very proud. My local art gallery has been given a fabulous makeover turning an area usually associated with Only Fools and Horses, Lorraine Chase and Status Quo into a proper London destination. Hip hip hooray! Built in 1891, the South London Gallery was designed as a 'gallery for the people' and that's still the case today. There are loads of art projects involving local families, artist's workshops and even a small community garden.
The beautiful Fox Garden (above) is home to a fine selection of foxgloves and we all know that the foxglove is the most stylish plant around. I'll be adding a few to the balcony area as soon as I can drag Mr TNMA down to the flower market. At the end of the garden, the Clore Studio is part of the new extension - as is the house next door, which has been elegantly restored adding extra gallery space and a pretty cushy flat for the artist in residence.
There's also a new café with a 24 carat gold leaf wall painting. I'd quite like something similar for That's Not My Age mansions. Totally bling-tastic. And the café's not bad either. We all know that friendly service and excellent food = a winning formula.
The combination of old and new architecture, and the urban setting is reflected in some of the artwork:
The latest exhibition, Nothing is Forever features 44-year-old artist, Fiona Banner's Black Hawk Down film script, hand-written in Indian ink on the wall. If I didn't have a blog, my walls would look just like this:
But my favourite piece has to be Yinka Shonibare's work on the side of a neighbouring tower block and visible from the gallery. The 48-year-old artist works in textiles using patterns associated with African dress - I'd like to think of this print as Peckham Paisley. Shonibare is the man responsible for Nelson's ship in a bottle (on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square) - he's even given HMS Victory batik sails.
All of this and free ice cream too (only for the opening weekend though, so get yourself down there on 26-27 June)
Nothing is Forever: 25 June - 5 September 2010
South London Gallery, 65 Peckham Road, London SE5 8UH
Looks fabulous and must pay a visit - your comment about writing on the walls made me laugh! I recently visited Oxford where there are some amazing museums - all newly refurbished and full of the most extraordinary curiosities.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful gallery. Thank you for introducing it to us. A note on the foxglove front - they only flower very other year so buy 2. One that is blooming this year and one that isnt that way you will have flowers every year. Xxxxx
ReplyDeleteHiya - I love foxgloves, got loads in m'garden as they self-seed prolifically. Too lazy to weed them out, to be honest ;-)
ReplyDeleteGreat gallery - LOVE the gold wall. *makes mental note to start stocking up on gold leaf*
Ali x
The cafe with all the gold leaf looks lovely - very enticing. And love the Peckham Paisley! x
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing - how wonderful to have the Gallery close too... Foxgloves are lovely - what a fab. garden.. enjoy the free icecream this weekend! x
ReplyDeletePeckham Paisley - love it! The Gallery looks and sounds fab!
ReplyDeleteI am printing this out as I write..I would love to visit your gallery. Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteJeanne:)
Tragically, I appear to have missed the free ice-cream, but the gallery seems delightful nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteLooks fab. Love that gold leaf on the cafe wall. Will try to make it there the next time I'm in Londontown. xx
ReplyDeletehttp://www.weshopthereforeweare.co.uk/
Brilliant! Thank you for sharing this; I never get to see things like this here.
ReplyDeleteooh, I LOVE the sarf londin gallery. It was my local when I still lived in London and I went some years back to a Gilbert and George Naked Shit exhibition and still have the signed poster hanging in my loo. Funnily enough the Americans don't really get it and come out looking embarrassed..
ReplyDeleteI may have to pay it a visit (the gallery, not my toilet) when I come over next week. Though being in Camberwell/Peckham might actually make me weep with nostalgia for temps perdu..xo
PS. my WV is PONGOT - can you believe it?!
That cafe looks ripe for a visit with the young culture vulture Aurora methinks! Perhaps we can lure tnma into guiding her round the cakes..
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