Baryshnikov's "Dancing Away" Opens Tomorrow

Mikhail Baryshnikov

Photo: Courtesy of British Vogue

Mikhail Baryshnikov aka Carrie Bradshaw's Russian Lover, opens his first photographic exhibition in the UK tomorrow entitled "Dancing Away," which will run until January 31st at Continiart, 105 New Bond Street W1. In his exhibtion he explores two decades worth of material in the medium of photography.

Baryshnikov is a trained ballet dancer and so the subject matter comes as no surprise. It is his vision from both inside and outside the dance world that makes his work so interesting. His photographs emphasize motion of the moment. He writes in his press release:

"I take thousands of images, and it takes me a long, long time to select. My eye catches it and my heart stops. This is exactly what I want."

He's already garnered the attention and praise of publications like British Vogue and The Financial Times. For more information check out his press release Here.

10 Things I'm Thankful For

An Ex-Pat Thanksgiving

Photo Taken/ Food Eaten: By Amanda Chain

This is always the worst day of the year to spend out of the States. The FOMO disease can destroy you, but in the spirit of the day, I thought I’d share with you all 10 things I’m Thankful for in my home away from home:

1.    Boris Johnson:

This man is like Santa Clause. He bought everyone in London shiny new bicycles, and has been the feature on a number of documentaries. I recently found out he could legally become President of the United States and the last Brit in that scenario was Churchill. Any man that recites the Iliad whenever they’re feeling confused has my vote.

2.    Beyoncé

With 7-11 that just came out, Queen B proves that she can make people do just about anything. At first I thought what is this, and then when I was clapping my hands like a crocodile and twisting my left leg I couldn’t help but think B you know I care.

3.    Goodenough College

Despite what the contraction suggests, this place is Better than enough. I live with the most insanely awesome group of people that will be changing the world not some day, they’ve already

4.    My Faux Hunter Wellies

For the first couple weeks in London, I was worried these babies weren’t going to get much use, but they’re the most regular feature of my wardrobe. If it weren’t for those and the spare plastic bags I carry I’d live in constant sogginess from both the sky and the Thames.

5.    ULBC

They are the only reason I’ve had to adjust to no further than Zone 3. I’ve missed racing and being on a team, and joining UL I feel like I hit the jackpot. Although I have to remind myself I’m young and I’m not the only one on the planet that used to watch TRL, these guys are the best at Never Have I Ever and are so worth taking the Night Bus for on Saturdays.

6.    Cheese

I’ve been gorging myself recently in Borough Market and Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden, and if anyone has a death wish, get between me and my cheese. Thank you England for your mad cows and goats! I’m essentially training to win a cheese-rolling contest so I can get my own wheel.

7.    Lindsay Lohan

Just when I thought I’d have little entertainment, Lindsay goes and moves to London with me to do her show on the West End Speed the Plow. Although it’s no Parent Trap, you’ve given me an excuse to use a Mean Girls reference everyday and scowl at anyone who doesn’t know what I’m talking about.

8.    Tom Pugh’s Tea Parties

Every Sunday afternoon without fail Tom Pugh makes the best scones clotted cream and provides anyone and everyone in the College with as much tea and scones as they could possibly handle. The Brown’s Hotel and the Park Hyatt could learn a thing or two from you.

9.    Daily Mail

I don’t read the Daily Mail for news. I read the Daily Mail for reasons why kids watch cartoons. They like pictures with words that have not so subliminal messages. Thanks DM for my tube ride entertainment!

10.  Citymapper

If it weren’t for citymapper, I would not get anywhere ever. Although sometimes you have failed me interms of approximating distance, it’s safe to say I’m game to try the catapult option if it will get me anywhere I want in a minute, although rain safe will do just fine for now.

Amsterdam Art Weekend

Get your Eurostar ticket or book your flight to Amsterdam. This coming weekend is the Amsterdam Art Weekend. All participating galleries are creating exhibitions just for the show, and you're unlikely to find anything like it again. Most of the artists are residents or alum of the Rijksakademie or De Ateliers (two of the most prestigious artist in residence programs in the city). These artists have international reputations and their work tends to be incredibly specialized.

There will be a number of exhibitions, performances, and gallery specials. This event will give viewers the opportunity to meet the artists so that no matter what you walk away feeling you've got your finger on the pulse of Contemporary Art and Design. There are a number of interactive and film projects, although if you're like me and prefer photography and painting then the artists to see are Marlene Dumas and Vivian Maier.

"Amy - Blue" (2011)

© Marlene Dumas

photo: Peter Cox 

Image provided by: The Stedelijk Museum

Dumas' exhibtion "The Image as a Burden" is currently running at the Stedelijk Museum and will be running until January 4th. So if you miss the weekend, you'll still have a chance to see her work. Her highlighted piece is the "Nuclear Family" (2013) but I'm quite partial to this one entitled "Amy-Blue" (2011). I was and still am a massive Amy Winehouse fan, and her death was both tragic and premature. This painting captures Amy's struggle with success, drug dependency, and a volatile relationship. I love the way Marlene focuses on the emotional condition of the figure and tries to bring that through to the viewer.

"Vivian Maier"

New York, 10 September 1955

© Vivian Maier

Maloof Collection

Courtesy Howard Greenberg Gallery New York, 1955

Foam Fotografiemuseum, Amsterdam

Vivian Maier's exhibition "Vivian Maier- Street photographer" at the Foam offers that metropolis decadence experience I crave. Maier passed in 2009 and her work spans her life through living in New York and Chicago. The professional nanny, documented her life through photography and left about 150,000 negatives by the time of her death. It is interesting that none of her work was discovered until the end of her life, she certainly would have been considered just as talented as her contemporaries. She also made a number of recordings and motion pictures in addition to photographs. This exhibition focuses on her work from 1950-1980 and includes a number of pieces. I love her self-portrait. I've had to bite my tongue and not say "Selfie". She encompasses the view that a self portrait should display how you view yourself, not how you wish to be seen. The focus is on identity not display. As I think art should be.

Shakespeare's Rose Theatre

“I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.” 
― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

The Rose Theatre Foundations

Southwark, London

Photo: Courtesy of the Rose Playhouse

The history of the Rose Theatre is something that could easily be mistaken for a plot in one of Shakespeare's plays. It follows a tale of love, loss, and renewal. It changed archaeological excavation in Britain and ushered in a notion of in-situ preservation that was at the time not part of the British Heritage canon. It is the efforts by people campaiging to "Save the Rose" that helped change the scope of preservation for what constitutes English Heritage today.

The would be destruction garnered intervention from a number of famous actors like Lord Olivier, Dame Judy Dench, and Sir Ian McKellen as well as the general public and for good reason. Although all that survives is the foundation, the site in conjunction with the Dulwich papers offer greater detail about the Elizabethan stage than any contemporary playhouse. And what's more is the distinct difference that although covered in protective sand, we've learned more about how sustainable means to preserve organic materials from this site more than any other as this has been in practice for over 25 years.

In a routine exploratory excavation, the Rose was rediscovered in-situ in 1989. The site was scheduled for clearance and re-development into an office block. For those of you that have been to see a play at the Globe, you might be disheartened to learn that is not where the globe actually stood. The interpretation, although certainly impeccably close to what the Globe probably looked like in the 1650s before a fire destroyed it, it is missing something in its ambiance that the Rose has. It is a classic case of aesthetic versus authentic. 

Does the Rose feel more authentic? This is where Shakespeare and Marlowe actually performed their plays, carefully marked in red lighting. Regardless of the fact you are surrounded by cement, and there is a pool of water around it as the Thames is tidal, and rises twice a day. Maybe this is more real than the Globe or other similar playhouses? Both offer different versions of authentic. And you'll have to judge for yourself which you prefer, but the differentiation between the two is an interesting discussion to have.

Click Here for details about What's On at The Rose Playhouse.

Borough Market: The Melting Pot

Borough Market has been an active market for over 1000 years. It became a staple in the 12th century when it saw the building of the Bishop of Winchester's Palace only a few meters away. Borough Market was the source of fresh fruit and vegetables for the people of London living and working on the other side of the Thames. It wasn't until the twentieth century when the market lost its identity to the growth of supermarkets and convenience stores.

Normally, I'm quite sceptical of gentrification of neighborhoods; they have a tendency to lose their character, but in this case the Borough market needed to and found a new identity. Riding the wave of interest in organic foods the market expanded this niche market and gained popularity in the 90s. Now it is a vibrant spectacle of produce and ready made meals. You can find specialty items as well as daily produce at reasonable prices. The mushroom stall above sold variety packs for only a few pounds.

I have a general rule of avoiding intensely public places around London on Saturday afternoon and Borough Market is no exception. And worst of all, went at lunch time. Not my smartest move, but I was in the area anyway. I did it today and found myself moving at a snail's pace. However, I found I was "forced" to stop and try the food at every stall. Sorry I'm not sorry. Instead of a set lunch I highly suggest this method of consumption. I left quite satisfied without having to spend anything.

However, I would be lying if I said I didn't buy anything. I went to the place above called The Urban Cheese Maker. The people here are super friendly and the cheeses were above par. The are located around Tottenham Court, and recently won the Bronze medal for their "Alexandra." The cheeses are of a mild variety, which for me is ideal, but if you're after the Münsters then this might not be your stall. They also have a great Stilton without the blue vein. Blue cheese without the blue is easier on the palate.

If you haven't smelled a truffle then get yourself to Tartufaia quick and try it. It took all of me to remove myself from this stall. Certainly the samples here were the highlight of my visit. You can get Truffle oils, pates, and all sorts of wild mushroom products. I was specifically shopping for a dinner party and could not bring myself to just buy truffles for the sake of it, but it was tempting.

One aspect among many that I admire about Borough Market is that it has become a melting pot of diverse products and foods. You can get just about any delicacy from around the world, and all of it fresh and quite a few are from sustainable organic farms. You get the feeling that you aren't supporting Big Business, but rather the people of London. It is one of the best markets in the city for experiencing the cosmopolitan nature of London that it prides itself on.  Although it is by no means the best structural representation of Victorian buildings, and has expanded from its original purposes in the Middle Ages, this Market has become a top attraction in London and for good reason.

The Sherlock Holmes "Museum"

221 Baker Street: The Sherlock Holmes Museum

Photo: By Amanda Chain

This museum may have just won my heart. The Museum is a recent institution officially opening in March of 1990, bares all the appeal of a museum, but at the same time does not follow the sort of "authentic" nature you might expect in one. Beginning with its address, 221b sits between 237 and 245 Baker Street, and the museum petitioned to have the "official" address from the city of Westminster. Also, above it you'll see the familiar blue plaque from English Heritage that commemorates residences of famous Londoners; however, this is not  a real plaque, as they don't officially recognize residences of fictional characters.

Sherlock and Dr. Watson's Sitting Room

Photo: By Amanda Chain

But in all it's fakeness, this museum was one of the most interesting and authentic museums I've been to in London. For starters, the rooms were made to the scale and style as depicted in the novels. The paraphernalia that adorn the house are all era appropriate. You're encouraged to touch the objects and sit in the chairs and immerse yourself into the world of Arthur Conan Doyle's imagination. It represents a lodging house of that period and is a Grade Listed II building in its own right for its architectural and historical interest.

Sherlock's Bedroom

Photo: By Amanda Chain

It doesn't really matter that the address isn't real, and its most famous inhabitant never actually existed. What's important is that you come away with a tangible feeling of entering this alternate reality where he can and does exist. In someways, it is the connection to the tangible that makes this work so well, and there is no issue of conservation because what you touch can be replaced. The idea is conserved.

Letter Written to Sherlock Holmes

Photo: By Amanda Chain

A number of figures are positioned to create the illusion of various events in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Even Moriarty makes an appearance, as does a Hound of Baskervilles. My favorite attraction to the museum by far is the treat that is reserved for the end. There has been quite the legal dispute over who owns letters written to Sherlock Holmes, and since the dissolution of the opposing party, the museum retains all letters now addressed to Sherlock Holmes 221B Baker Street. It makes you wonder does it even matter that he's fiction? It begs the question: to be a museum, does everything have to be "real"?

The Horniman Museum and Gardens

Horniman Museum and Gardens

London, United Kingdom

Photo: By Amanda Chain

Yesterday was an Archaeology day-trip to the Horniman Museum. For those of you that have never heard of it, it is well worth the trip out of central London. The museum was founded by Frederick John Horniman in 1901 to house his collection of over 30,000 objects. Although the collection was mostly anthropological, he was one of those cabinets of curiosity type who loved to collect anything from natural history to musical instruments. It is a national museum because upon his death he donated his collection and the museum to the public.

Invasion of the Portugese Travellers

Benin Bronze

Horniman Museum

Photo: By Amanda Chain

When you first arrive it's rather strange in that it has seen a number of phases and architecturally speaking, does not exactly embody a seamless transition into the modern-era. The museum is special in that it does the best job of explaining a collection that has not exactly had all its objects acquired in the most ethical ways, by offering as much of a voice in its interpretation to the people who consider the objects to be their heritage. Especially in relation to calls for repatriation, this museum gives a better context for intangible heritage and objects of contention.

"Revisiting Romania"

Horniman Museum

Photo: By Amanda Chain

There are a number of "highlight" objects including a collection of Benin Bronzes. What I found most interesting was the "Revisiting Romania" exhibition that is currently on show. This collection deals with the changing ideal of culture and the attempts by the state to re-brand its culture, by taking away the ethnic variations among its people "folk art" has come to have political as well as cultural implications.

In terms of incorporating voices, this museum highlights the museum need for dialogue with its community to truly represent their interests. It is this collaborative nature that is what museums need to strive for when dealing with a less than glowing history. The question is: how do museums move forward and recreate an identity that they themselves can be proud of, especially at a national level. This is the perfect place to take young children, and when I went there were a few class trips in progress.

View from the Pavillion

Horniman Museum

Photo: By Amanda Chain

Click Here for more details on the museum and what's happening there now!

Neal's Yard Dairy: The Holy Grail of Cheese

Here it comes: a confession. I have an inappropriate love of cheese, and living in England has only added fuel to the proverbial fire. It must stem from childhood conditioning in which I held tea parties above The Cheese Shop in my Northwest Philadelphia neighborhood. Either way quality over quantity has always been my take with cheese, but finally I can have both!

I first discovered Neal's Yard at the Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market a few years back, but as luck would have it they have a few storefronts in Central London. I found the Covent Garden store in my wanderings and just have that shout from the rooftops feeling so here you go: a post dedicated to cheese!

Neal's Yard Dairy

Covent Garden

17 Shorts Gardens

London WC2H 9AT

Photo: By Amanda Chain

Neal's Yard is the place to go for cheese lovers. Far from being one of those mainstream conglomerates, Neal's Yard works with local farmers to bring the highest quality cheeses that you'll never find at your local Sainsbury's. My personal favorite is the Kirkham's Lancashire. For those of you into traditional cheese-making, Graham Kirkham may be one of the last human beings on the British Isles to use traditional curd mixing methods. He uses milk only from his own herd and employs the traditional animal rennet that involves wrapping the newly formed cheeses in cloth before coating them in melted butter.

Another classic is the  Stichelton, and fear not you can buy these by the wheel, although this could set you back a few pennies (8kg is around £142). Neal's Yard produced this glorious concoction with cheese maker Joe Schneider. It is now in its eighth year of production and going strong. It has a slightly more acidic taste than you might get from a stilton, but this particular cheese has sweet side making it incredibly layered. You'll be coming back for more once you've tried it. I definitely recommend it for Blue Cheese enthusiasts as well as the Blue Cheese sceptics. You can't say you don't like Blue until you've tried the Stichelton.

To get your Neal's Yard Cheese there are locations in Central London in Covent Garden, Borough Market, and Bermondsey Shop. They'll also be at the Hampstead Christmas Festival, Dulwich Collge Christmas Fair, Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market, Oxford Christmas Market, and the Salisbury Christmas Market. Enjoy!

Mercedes Helnwein / Kim Kimbro / Vonn Sumner Show in Los Angeles

For anyone in Los Angeles, get yourself to the MKG Gallery. The Mercedes Helnwein / Kim Kimbro / Vonn Sumner show that has been running since October 11th closes in two days on November 15th.

I've only recently delved into the world of Contemporary Art, but what I've found is that it is a lot more accessible than you may realize. There's a lot of artists out there that are aiming their work to a wider audience, not the supposed Upper Echelons, although they tend to be the only ones who can afford their work.

I really like the KP Project / MKG Gallery especially because they focus on artists with an established style. You know their work when you see it and the majority of it doesn't require a degree in order to interpret the artist's intent.

Mercedes Helnwein

Middle South

black pencil and oil pastel on paper

50.8 x 39.4 cm
Photo: Courtesy of Artsy

This one by Mercedes Helnwein is my favorite in the show. She is definitely an artist to watch at the moment. I find her work has the blend of 1940s glamour with political relevancy in today's world. If you're looking for an artist on the rise and have a few grand lying around, she's definitely worth the investment. There is a timeless appeal in her work, and you'll find yourself finding the subtlety every time you look.

For more details on the show check out Artsy and Click Here

Must See Exhibit: "Rembrandt: The Late Works" at The National Gallery, London

Self Portrait, 1659

National Gallery of Art, Washington

Oil on canvas, 84.5 x 66 cm

Photo: By Amanda Chain

The National Gallery of Art, London once again has put on a stunning exhibition that centers on Rembrandt as the artist falling out of favor, the cliché of "artists are never appreciated in their own time"resonates, but in a far more poignant manner than expected. This exhibition completely changed the way I viewed Rembrandt. It's quite easy to say in hindsight someone is a master, but what about how they lived in their own time?

This exhibition illuminates the struggles Rembrandt faced, from the death of his child and lover, to bankruptcy, to inner conflict, and death. The years cover more or less that last third of his life, and center on his setbacks. One of the showcase pieces "Town Hall" which he completed in 1662 was rejected.

For those of you who are not familiar with the artist, Rembrandt was a sort of everyman's man. He constantly reminded those around him of his humble beginnings as the son of a miller. It has been suggested by scholars that his association with ordinary people was detrimental to his career as an artist, he relied on the upper echelon for their patronage, but his crowd was somewhat distasteful.

Whatever his company, the man was an artistic genius. He utilized light in a way that makes him a man before and of his time. The exhibition takes you through the work of a man becoming all too aware of his own mortality, and at the same time a possessor of incredible talent, imagination, and emotion.

My favorite section of the exhibition was "Inner Conflict." One of the purposes of art is to make you feel as you see, to become involved emotionally with the work. The paintings in this section do just that. Here we see a second painting of Lucretia (1664 on loan from the National Gallery of Art, Washington)the moment before she resigns to kill herself.  and it is the tears in her eyes, the moment where you are almost compelled to stop her as if the viewer is in the scene; this is what makes Rembrandt's work so compelling. The first painting of Lucretia we see the moment after Lucretia stabbed herself (1666 on loan from Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis). Perhaps it was that Rembrandt was nearing the end of his own life and became preoccupied with death, but the two tell two very different emotions. One of resignation and the other of inner conflict; and it is Rembrandt's mastery that illuminates to the viewer two sides of the same coin.

The exhibition is really a testament to the collaboration of a number of museums and experts. It is this sort of cooperation that makes these institutions so valuable. The works come from all over the globe. In addition to the two I've already mentioned from the United States, there is also the major collaboration with the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, not to mention the various scholars and experts that collaborated in retrieving pertinent archival information. The exhibition has offered the ability to see a new dimension of Rembrandt, one of a man in turmoil. And in this new light he becomes all the more compelling.

For more information on the National Gallery's Exhibition Rembrandt: The Late Works Click Here

Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red by Paul Cummins

Welcome to 100 Days of Culture!

Here I'll be writing posts of everything and anything that has to do with culture. I'm based in London at the moment, but that being said I'll keep you updated on things going on all over.

Since this is the centennial of WWI, I thought it would be poignant to start with the poppy appeal. For those of you in and around London, get yourselves to the Tower of London pronto! The "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red," exhibition by Paul Cummins is absolutely magnificent. It is an evolving display involving over 888,000 ceramic poppies to represent the fallen of WWI. Despite pleas for its continuation, the last poppy was placed today, and dismantling will begin tomorrow. It brings a real poignance to the fragility and transient nature of life during war.

Cascading Red Looking North

Photo: By Amanda Chain

Once upon a time not too long ago I taught history, and one of the more difficult aspects of covering the WWI was the ability to relate to the changing feeling of war throughout the period. You have bright-eyed youths looking for a chance to represent God and Country for a jolly good fight that will probably end in a few months time, to a never ending saga of death and destruction of lives and more importantly livelihoods. 

Seas of Red

Photo: By Amanda Chain

The service at Goodenough College involved the reading of the famous poem by Lt. Colonel John McCae. I'm reproducing it below because there is something in the beauty and fragility of the poppy that has become a poignant metaphor for those who fight and die in wars. He composed it on the battlefront on the Third of May 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!

Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields

Lt. Colonel John McCae

The Onlookers

Photo: By Amanda Chain

As we remember those who died a century ago it is also important to honor those that are currently serving overseas for the same ideals these men died for. Even after 100 years we are still coming to grips with the principle of respecting the humanity in others, a principle that thankfully we are still willing to fight for.