Latest news with #SummerExhibition
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘I was struck by the grammar of it, the angular nature': Elizabeth Day's best phone picture
Elizabeth Day felt as if she hadn't seen the sun for decades. It was a gloomy December morning and the podcaster and author was headed towards a London recording studio. On the way, she passed a row of houses that were being renovated. The windows on one particular house had just been replaced and covered with a translucent blue sheet and haphazard orange tape; the scene caught her eye, so she paused to capture it with her iPhone 15 Pro. 'I'm known among my loved ones as someone who takes photos of random things, but I just found this so arresting,' Day says. 'I was struck by the grammar of it, the angular nature. The tape reminded me of art's golden ratio, the geometry like a Mondrian crossed with a Rothko. I was exhausted that morning and it completely brightened my mood.' Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Some months later, Day entered the image into the Royal Academy of Arts' annual Summer Exhibition, and was delighted to be selected. 'I love the fact that anyone can enter,' Day says. 'It proves that anyone can be an artist, and that art is for everyone.' She's now in touch with an interested buyer. 'The RA will keep 35%, but I'll donate the remainder to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund.' Day passed by the house again recently to find the renovation complete. The window looked like any other, but, she says, 'The transient nature makes it more special, I think. I just hope people will have a conversation with the image. Maybe it makes you reflect on your own life, or the life of the person on the other side of the window. Who were they? Who will they be?'
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘I was struck by the grammar of it, the angular nature': Elizabeth Day's best phone picture
Elizabeth Day felt as if she hadn't seen the sun for decades. It was a gloomy December morning and the podcaster and author was headed towards a London recording studio. On the way, she passed a row of houses that were being renovated. The windows on one particular house had just been replaced and covered with a translucent blue sheet and haphazard orange tape; the scene caught her eye, so she paused to capture it with her iPhone 15 Pro. 'I'm known among my loved ones as someone who takes photos of random things, but I just found this so arresting,' Day says. 'I was struck by the grammar of it, the angular nature. The tape reminded me of art's golden ratio, the geometry like a Mondrian crossed with a Rothko. I was exhausted that morning and it completely brightened my mood.' Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Some months later, Day entered the image into the Royal Academy of Arts' annual Summer Exhibition, and was delighted to be selected. 'I love the fact that anyone can enter,' Day says. 'It proves that anyone can be an artist, and that art is for everyone.' She's now in touch with an interested buyer. 'The RA will keep 35%, but I'll donate the remainder to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund.' Day passed by the house again recently to find the renovation complete. The window looked like any other, but, she says, 'The transient nature makes it more special, I think. I just hope people will have a conversation with the image. Maybe it makes you reflect on your own life, or the life of the person on the other side of the window. Who were they? Who will they be?'
Telegraph
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
An expert guide to summer in London
Having it all is most definitely a good thing but it can also be a somewhat overwhelming – where to start? London has so much to offer, for all tastes, budgets and cultural persuasions. There is proper (grisly) history, statement buildings old and new, and world-class museums housed in jaw-dropping architecture. There are wonderful parks dotted, peacefully, throughout the city, markets galore, a thriving culinary scene spanning street food, fine dining and global cuisine that rivals any city in the world. It's also a centre for fashion, art and music. And running through it all is the river Thames – still the life blood of the city, flanked with culture at every turn. London is also very much a collection of distinct neighbourhoods, each with their own flavour and characteristics so we'd advise you to play pick and mix with all it has to offer. Then come back. For further London inspiration, see our guides to the capital's best hotels, restaurants, nightlife, shopping and things to do. For family focused places to stay, check out our guide to the best family-friendly hotels in London. What's new in London this season See: One of the city's most popular art shows A key event in London's summer social calendar is the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition. This annual event, running from June 17 to August 17, celebrates art and creativity. There are more than 1,200 art pieces on display, ranging from print to sculptures; many of which are from up-and-coming artists. Go: Behind the scenes at the V&A Storehouse Take a cultural excursion to Stratford to the newly opened V&A Storehouse – an archive of more than half a million works in a giant architectural space – which is hot on the heels of Sadler's Wells East as part of E20's cultural explosion. Afterwards, treat yourself to a fancy dinner at Kokin at The Stratford Hotel, the new wood-fired Japanese restaurant from acclaimed chef Daisuke Shimoyama. How to spend your weekend Day one: morning Let's start at the very beginning. The Tower of London takes you back to the London of William the Conqueror – it was around 1078 when he began work on a great stone palace with walls 15 feet thick. You can learn about the history, in a very entertaining way, from the Yeoman Warders (more commonly known as Beefeaters) who run tours, as well as still living within the walls of the castle. Yes, you will hear about torture, death and punishment but you can also view the British Crown Jewels and eat ice cream. Once inside the fortress walls, it's not what you would necessarily expect – a gentile mini-village in the heart of the City that's perfect for a wander – with its own pub, village green, church and doctor. We recommend getting to the Tower for opening time and staying for a few hours, taking you to lunch. Note that if you get there ahead of the 9am opening time you may be ushered in early.
Spectator
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Spectator
Why do my outfits make people so angry?
I have always cycled everywhere in London, not because I want to save the planet but because I want to get to my destination on time. I ride a big heavy Dutch woman's bike: practical, less nickable and I can wear pretty much anything while riding it. On this occasion I was wearing frilly pink nursery-print dungarees, pink patent bootees, a sweet little jacket with puffy pale-blue bows down the front, a pink cloche hat and a pink-and-blue shiny PVC backpack. I was just locking my bike to the railings on Charing Cross Road when an angry man approached. 'Are you a paedophile?' he roared. 'Why are you dressed like that?' This is not the first time one of my outfits has elicited this kind of reaction and my initial proposed response is: 'Having watched the news, paedophiles tend to look more like you than me.' But this time I thought better of it and just replied: 'I don't think paedophiles tend to advertise.' He stormed off. Still on two wheels, I motorcycled over to Hay-on-Wye for the festival to do a presentation called 'The Joy of Singing' with my vocal coach Juliet Russell. I have worked with her for six years and, as someone who had never sung before, I have found our lessons to be emotional and revelatory. To sing well one has to make oneself very vulnerable. It took a year before I could sing in front of my wife. Juliet is very encouraging but also has to deliver tough feedback. Another of her pupils once praised her to me: 'She serves the best shit sandwich in London.' The beginning of June heralds the opening of the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, an event which has been a fixture of the London season for more than 250 years. The preview party is always a glorious spectacle. The first time I attended I felt as if I were on an acid trip, overwhelmed by golden rooms swirling with colourful art and fashion. I always save my most paparazzi-friendly outfits for the occasion. This year I wore a cartoonish orange-and-yellow number with a giant blue nappy, purple wig, orange tights and my highest cerise flatforms. The event was very well attended but I thought a plague of chromophobia (fear of colour) had swept in. The artworks were as bonkers and bright as always, but a lot of the crowd looked as if they had just popped in from work – a sea of black, navy and grey. Dressing up for a party is like pimping your front garden: you don't just do it for yourself, you dress up so everybody feels they are at a fun event, not a conference sponsored by LinkedIn. Disappointment in someone's dull attire can be a creative force. In 2005 I was on the number 38 bus dressed as a housewife in M&S when I bumped into a friend. Natalie Gibson, always a vision in popping colour, teaches fashion print at Central Saint Martins art school. She looked me up and down and said, 'I think my students could do better than that.' Over coffee we conceived the Make a Dress for Grayson Perry Project. So every year Natalie and I and the staff at CSM coax the students to design and make me an outfit featuring print. Over 20 years I have had more than 500 made for me and have probably bought about half of them. This year I decided would be the last. So the day of the final, final crit arrived. It is a joyous occasion. I model all the outfits and award trophies. Some of the students were not born when we started the course, and Natalie has taught there since 1964. The arts endure. I was sad to hear of the death of Alan Yentob. My experience of him was always as a champion of the arts and the talent working behind as well as in front of the camera. He was someone I was always pleased to encounter for a funny chat at some arts do. He had an endearing/infuriating habit of incessant name-dropping and loved hanging out with what I call 'cerebrities'. I once arrived early at some big arts event and immediately encountered Alan. We chatted and then he wandered off only to return ten minutes later. 'Couldn't you find anyone more famous to hang out with?' I asked. 'No,' he said.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Art exhibition celebrating creativity set to open in Teddington this week
The Richmond Art Society is set to launch its highly anticipated Summer Exhibition, showcasing an exciting collection of works by Richmond Art Prize winners. The exhibition opens with a special evening on Thursday, June 26, from 6pm to 8pm at the Landmark Arts Centre, Ferry Road, Teddington TW11 9NN. Entry is free and all are welcome. The exhibition continues over the weekend, with viewing hours from 10am to 5pm on Friday, June 27, and Saturday, June 28, and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, June 29. Visitors can enjoy a diverse range of artwork, including paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, ceramics, photography and digital art. A bar will be open during the Thursday opening evening, while the on-site café will be available throughout the event. The show celebrates creativity and community spirit, offering art lovers a chance to explore and purchase original works. Full details are available at
