location, location, location!

Wandering through Soho yesterday, i found myself walking past St. Martins, just as some removal guys were shifting boxes. It was just so sad. In case you didn't know, this institution of an art school, which has nurtured an unrivaled roll call of creative talent (Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, John Galliano, Hussein Chalayan, Giles Deacon, Phoebe Philo, Katie Grand, Antonio Beradi, Lucian Freud, Mike Leigh, Gilbert and George...ok i'm out of writing breath now, but you get the picture), is relocating to Kings Cross, to a 'one house fits all students' kind of building. Talking to some current CSM students a few weeks ago made me realise how blue everyone is about it (well everyone i know anyway). I tried my best to find the positives...after all everything will be so shiny and new and well, warm. Did i mention shiny?? They don't want shiny... There is also the argument that Soho is not what it was in the hedonistic hey days of the 80's and that Kings Cross is up and coming. These guys wouldn't get something like this wrong...right?? Lets hope the move isn't too stressful and that the talent just keeps on rolling.

gorgeous graffitti

Walking down Southampton Row at lunch a flash of fluro made me do a double take. Through a little iron gate i spied an awesome example of graffiti.  I love the acid colours of the floral print.

Wake up and hear the music

Monday morning alarm calls always seem to hurt that little bit more. So imagine how gorgeous it must have been for East Londoner's yesterday morning,  when they were serenaded from sleep by seven musical hot air balloons, floating over the city. This unique project is a collaboration between the London Sky Orchestra, the London International Festival of Theatre, and the Mayor of London's office, marking yearly countdown to the Olympics. So listen out tomorrow morning for a wake up call you won't want to sleep through!

Images from REUTERS/Andrew Winning

it's the final countdown

So, only a year to go (this Wednesday) and already things have really kicked off. There has been loads going on around the city in the last few days, to help get us in a state of perpetual Olympic excitement (stop grumbling you cynics...we'll figure out the tube woes later), with a 'unique ceremony' taking place at Trafalgar Square this Weds for a few big reveals...ooohhhh! I am loving all the weird and wonderful events that are cropping up all over the place, with the musical hot air balloons (post coming up) and Films on Fridges catching my eye today. Yes, i said fridges. Films being projected onto fridges. The connection you ask? Well, the fridges are from East London and the films are sporting in nature. Just Brilliant! 

Anyway, I am off on a tangent here, so i'm reeling it in. What with all the 2012 shenanigans this weekend, i got to thinking about the last time the Olympics were in town and what that must have been like. It became known as the 'Austerity Games' due to post war rationing and the struggling economic climate - this was the first games since the 1936 Berlin Olympics after all. I imagine it helped bring even more pride and celebration back to the city. I started fishing for imagery and found some absolute corkers. I love poster art, so when i spotted this official poster i was in my element. There are loads of great artists on board to create some iconic images for next years games as well - Tracey Emin, Martin Creed, Chris Ofili, Michael Craig-Martin, Howard Hodgkin, Rachel Whiteread and Bridget Riley - so i imagine they will be pretty spectacular. 

Love these guys...the Australian water polo team. Which one is your favourite? i have two...

all images borrowed from Getty - thanks.

London in Texture - Bushy Bark

Bushy park - furry friends

obviously, this dude had a blatant disregard for the rules!

Bushy Park

The perfect spot for a picnic...?

Guts for Garters - Surreal Women

I've been aching to visit this gallery/ truly inspirational space/ gorgeously, wonderful shop for a while now, ever since I spied various musings out in the blogosphere. The brainchild of Rachel Chudley and Cassie Beadle, this eclectic space is filled to the brim with ingenious design and beautiful collectibles. You walk in and think 'where have you been all my life'.

The concept fuses art, fashion, furniture and design in conjunction with a current theme. Filled with old and new treasures from a variety of artists and designers. It’s like a living, breathing wonder emporium with beautiful design at every corner - in every form imaginable. And I can tell you, they have the best sourced vintage i have seen in a lo-o-ng time!

I popped in to see the second of the three 6-week 'Buying Exhibitions' - Surreal Women. Planned in line with the 75th anniversary of the movement, the concept explores the role of women within surrealism, looking to Claude Cahun as their muse. This current exhibit will end on Thursday, so hot foot it there quickly, if you haven't already. 

Not enough notice I hear you cry! Well, fear not fashion maidens, there is more to come. A third exhibition in September promises to tantalise once again. Check out their brilliant site for a little slither of info to stoke the intrigue...Oh and just to get you all excited, they are planning on a 3-month buying exhibition at the end of the year. You are guaranteed to walk away with some real gems, what they like to call 'collectables of the future'. I like. A lot.

 

The ‘Cob Gallery’, 205 Royal College Street, Camden, NW1 0SG. Just a 5 min walk from Camden Town tube...get going!