Getting ready for 'Life on Foot'

The current Design Museum

Sadly the Collection Lab exhibition at the Design Museum will be closing at the end of the month, it will though I understand help to inform the 'public space' in Kensington when the Design Museum moves there.

The volunteer tours that I've been a part of for the last 6 months or so will migrate to other exhibitions the first will be the current Life on Foot with its twin themes of walking and the  design led Spanish footwear company Camper.


On Saturday I was given the opportunity to start my personal preparations for a Volunteer led  tour of this exhibition.

To me at this stage I see the exhibition as holding  two themes, one the ethos, history and culture of the Camper brand (Camper incidentally translates from the  Majorcan term for 'rustic' ) and the other covers more about the way we traverse our environment.

So the  camper brand

A strong logo helps

Camper is a very different proposition from Nike and other in your face trainer companies - it is rooted in it's Majorcan home where the design function remains although manufacture unsurprisingly perhaps is now performed in the Far East.

Tools of the footwear assembler

The central element of the show designers' toolkit remains the last which acts as the foot inspired 'mould' that the show should wrap - but alongside this are a  host of other specialist  accoutrements.






As we know we live in  a world where brand is the zeitgeist, particularly for the fashionista and Camper have used a knowing anti consumerist message to their advantage alongside some sexy designs and skilful high end  retail experiences.

A message from Camper

Desirable and branded

 

 

The Walking

So we (Homo-sapiens) are noted for being erect and the way we travel on two legs has been fundamental to our success and evolution -

Our first exploration on another planet (the moon) was summarised in terms of footprints.

A giant leap

The city is investigated in this exhibition within an exhibition and there are displays  that allow interaction on the topic of our life on foot and the idea of the Flaneur is recorded, a French term for artist/traveller  with no exact translation.


Other items reflect the way that  increasingly we carry 'tech' with us that reports back on our health and potential encouragement by the state  for us to walk more.

An interactive screen shows cities footfalls

There is (for me) a further area around the Flaneur  I may try to touch on which is the Art movement which was spearheaded by  Richard Long  when he was a student at St. Martins  around 1967 (you can see a critique of this form here)

For Arts Sake and Make it Ealing

Another splendid weekend weather- wise  and after a briefing session (more later) at the Design Museum I checked out what was going on in Ealing

Frances Doherty - Ceramics

A couple of flowery artists are featured in For Arts Sake and a fun celebration on Ealing Green for Make-it-Ealing'

Ceramics by Francis Doherty are quite lovely and the detail and colour are splendid - interesting that Frances moved into ceramics after having run a restaurant.


The other artist (and printmaker)  who is being celebrated under 'Works under Paper' banner is Vicky Oldfield.

And this by Vicky Oldfield uses a hybrid technique.

Make it Ealing

Sporty fun was the featured activity just across the road from For Arts Sake- as the Make It Ealing gang promoted the cause

A young BMX enthusiast concentrates

BMX-ers warm up (or muck around) 'King of the ramps'

Well done Victor!

Ahead of his 70th Birthday next week Victor Mishiku the tireless campaigner for preserving (where possible) the buildings of our heritage has spearheaded another  sensational success in ensuring the long term future of Ealing Stables in Haven Green.


Heritage -A present to Ealing from Victor ahead of his 70th

Victor has been involved in many campaigns and I had the good fortune to meet with him at the start of the year and see what  enthusiasm and hard work he brings to his campaigns - it's great that this one's been a success and the  character of Haven Green  which means a lot to many of the residents of Ealing lives on.


You can see the story in full here.


I hope Victor who formerly worked in the silk business is able to enjoy his birthday and many more and that others join him in his battles I'd like to see him get some serious recognition (OBE perhaps).

Poco- Loco Closed?

I see that Poco Loco has had trouble regarding hygiene matters before (in 2014)  but I really used to enjoy an  Egg and Chips lunch there - looks like it has now closed - don't know if its for good?
(Also not sure if the Acton branch has gone the same way)

Closed- Where will I get my Egg and Chips?

Battling transport challenges to make CityLit Photo Walk 4

A series of the same

Despite the London Underground services being suspended week 4 of the Citylit photo' course went ahead calling on some ingenuity in travel arrangements.

Cycling was one way people got around during the strike.

Sadly several of the group were not able to get to Holborn easily and in fact my use of Car, Bus and Train was not too bad although it would have been better if the college had been more flexible in rescheduling the walk.


The chance to take pictures in the Theatre district was one I decided to go with and I found it challenging and often I was not pleased with the results - it was though a great chance to look around and area I know quite well and have various memories of.

A journey home

I ended up getting back via Kew Bridge Station - to put a positive spin on this. I feel now that I'm better able to negotiate public transport vagaries and closures.





Here are some pictures including one that shows what has happened to an old haunt, O'Neils that is now a McDonalds - that was a surprise.

Here are some of the theatres.



The luxury of the Savoy

Cambridge Theatre

And a theatre in Cambridge Circus

A record run for The Mousetrap

 

A plaque commemorates

Some buildings I knew

Centre-When at BT we looked at this for offices

Now McDonalds was O'Neil's

A couple of shots that show how theatre looks at night..




The Aldwych early evening

A later shot as night descends