Who Was Henry Wellcome?

Earlier in the week I got around to visiting the Welcome Collection in London's Euston Road - adverts for 'Can Graphic Design Save Your Life? had intrigued me.


Previously I'd thought that Welcome was some 'grey' part of 'Big Pharma' but in fact the story of Henry Welcome is more interesting and the Philanthropy he demonstrated something to celebrate.

Samaritans Campaign 

And in fact Graphic Design can Save your Life (perhaps) - nice to see Samaritans recent campaign  included - the jury is probably still out on the Smoking adverts versus health warnings (or is it?) but the subject was well covered - with Silk Cut adverts deconstructed with the help of Semiotics (and quotes from David Lodge).

It was good to see too the AIDS and Samaritans' campaigns  on show.

Earthly Delights 

William Price- He was a bit of  an Eccentric

I also took the opportunity to look at the Art displays and was much taken with traditional work in the Wellcome history  I liked the Painting of William Price of Llantrisant (by  A C Hemming) - Price was a pioneer in promoting cremation.

Also good to see  'the Garden  of Earthly Delights' an  Oil painting after Hieronymus Bosch.

But biggest buzz was to discover Eat 22 by Ellie Harrison - this shows commitment and book and video both great

Reminded me of my 365 project but wow

Here it is

Those Doors (44)

So I've noticed I'm not alone with this fascination/connection with doors - spotted a New Home card last week that used doors (only 16 here though).

An idea for a new home card

And there's a campaign running about Government scheme to help new home buyers.





 Being generous (me that is not the government)  this has about  175 doors and lacking the 'number'  discipline that I'm so heartily set on!

And there's even other 365 projects that use the theme - like this one

£58 92 - here comes sixty quid!

Doors moving on 

Self  Proclaimed this again from W12

A rather traditional identification, but Gardens?

Oh yes gardens but Beautiful-  perhaps it's more of a summer thing?

Diwali (Religion after Red?)

Inside an English  Christian Church 

Having had a year of my Red Project - I've been thinking of a new topic and at the head of the queue for the 365 treatment is 'Faith and Belief'', before I plunge in I'm casting an eye around at religions and working out an approach.

Of course I'd like to cover the big religions and their festivals but also it'd be good to look at some of the lesser known branches and consider how they relate to people and their needs.


In West London we have many  places of worship that are now used by faiths that they were not built for.

Diwali has just finished and I see that this is a festival for Hindus and it's about the victory of light over darkness and in modern times has become something of an excuse for consumer heavy behaviour (having said that the end of the festival is about giving and charity too).

Although  mainly a Hindu occasion it's also significant for others who celebrate it like Sikhs, Buddhists and followers of Jainism 

Lights at a local temple highlight the recent Diwali Festival 

Gargoyles - And The (Red) Leap is made

A gargoyle (it will let water out)

And the opposite number

I (and probably most of us) like a bit of  trivial knowledge.



 At  a National Gallery (London) talk last month I learnt that Gargoyles (from the French Gargouille  meaning Throat/Gullet )  should be a  water passing addition, typically on a Gothic style construction - here are a couple deployed ornamental-ly in someone's front garden.

And here are a couple of Dogs.

And The Leap is Made

366 images and 365 of them taken by me (this was the first) - it's at an end now.

This is the image that brings the project to its conclusion and it's hopefully with a smile that we finish (before the next 'idea' gets underway) - I will try and get more interest for what I've done as it's been good (for me) and reckon others too could enjoy  - if you want to have a go get in touch or have a look at Noah Scalin's book.

And I don't think it'll be quiet but a bit less red

And here's the link to a 20 minute video of the whole lot - get yourself a cup of tea and a bit of cake and enjoy ..