Peaceful protester in Hyde Park after the anti-cuts march through London on Saturday. This is in contrast to the many photographs of the few demonstrators doing a bit of repair work on some buildings in the West End about the same time.
Is it a bird, is it a man…
I headed to the National Theatre this evening for a spot of free entertainment courtesy of Red Bull. Free running has always intrigued me and tonight’s show, although a little more stage managed than I might like was still exciting to watch although difficult to capture in pixels.
St Pat Hat
Although it is not St Patrick’s Day yet, it’s Sunday and a good excuse for a party in Trafalgar Square. I spotted this leprechaun joining in the festivities.
Maslenitsa Dansa
This athletic Russian dancer was taking part in the Maslenitsa festivities in Trafalgar Square today, Sunday 6th March. Along with some, I attended the festival to wish the winter goodbye. For others it was a last chance bliny before the Great Lent. Either way it was a fun celebration and a welcome addition to Trafalgar Square’s calendar of cultural events.
Angles on a Bridge
On a Thames walk during an almost spring-like Thursday afternoon, I captured some of the detail on Barnes Bridge. It is a railway bridge and it can be crossed on foot as well, one of only three bridges in London for trains and pedestrians only. The crocus were in full bloom, but the photo of the week goes to the bridge for its simple form but striking appearance.
My Funny Valentine
Don’t do roses (just shoot them)
Don’t do chocolates (just eat them)
Don’t do St Valentine’s Day cards
…….just build bridges
Church of Clown
I’ve been to church twice recently and while both events were very different in location and style, they were similar in their blend of prayers and performance. In December I attended a Christmas Carol Service by the Friends of Columbia for Social Aid featuring a performance by Venezuelan pianist Clara Rodríguez and today I went to the Joseph Grimaldi annual memorial service featuring some clowning by Mattie, Sonny and Rainbow, Susie Oddball, Salvo, Franco et al. The former service took place in St Martins in the Fields with music by composer Ariel Ramirez. The latter took place in the tiny Church of the Holy Trinity in Dalston with kids sitting in the front pews laughing at the clowns’ antics during their short performance interludes. The congregational clowns appeared in Sunday hats that perhaps wouldn’t look out of place at Ascot. We then retired to the church hall for some fine clowning and generous posing by the clowns for the many photographers. Visit the clown gallery to see more pictures of Sonny and Rainbow, Susie Oddball, Mattie and others. The amazing 92 years young Garibaldi, the oldest member of Clowns International, features on the clown page of this website and Franco is the clown featured in this post.
Can’t See the Piano for the Trees
St Giles High Street and the new Renzo Piano construction “with winter gardens on every floor and over 17,000 sq ft of roof terraces. More than just an office building it’s a workplace (sic). Connecting people to the outdoors” … and so the promotional copy goes. Maybe it’s time the urbanscape started connecting the outdoors to the people. We could just skip the building bit.
Walking In Ice
Not to be confused with the wonderful Yoko Ono number Walking On Thin Ice, the title of this photo of the week refers to my favourite entry at the 3rd annual London Ice Sculpting Festival at Canary Wharf. I like the “wall of ice” effect of this entry by Hungary. Maybe ice walls could become the new “living walls” replacing those popular architectural features where plants are stuck on a wall to die.
Frosted Leaves
On Sunday morning I arrived at the Dulwich Picture Gallery a short while before it opened. Although it was a beautiful sunny day, the frost lingered on the shaded lawn in the grounds of the gallery. We went there to see the portrait of Sir John Soane, the gallery’s architect, by Sir Thomas Lawrence which is on show as part of the Masterpiece a Month. Sunday was the gallery’s 200th anniversary.