Join us on Saturday 30th March, 11.15am (until around 12.45pm)

at The Beecroft Gallery, Southend-on-Sea

to discuss the Life and Times of Alexandra Exter (1882-1949).

Continuing our focus on artists working across Europe through the early decades of the 20th century, we will follow Alexandra Exter’s life and inspirations from Kiev to Paris, Moscow to Venice.

Left: Rhythmes des Couleurs [1921; c/o Christies]; Right: Au Cafe [circa 1928; c/o Christies]

These art appreciation discussions are open to everyone who might be interested; entry is £10 on the door and includes coffee at the Jazz Centre afterwards.

Looking forward to seeing you!

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NB.

Exhibition: “In the Eye of the Storm – Modernism in Ukraine, 1900-1930s” will be at The Royal Academy, Piccadilly from 29 June – 13 October 2024;

website: https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/eye-of-the-storm

And there’s a related catalogue:

Join us on Friday 15th March, 11.30am (for about an hour)

at The Beaumont (Barchester Care), 15 Cannon Hill, Old Southgate N14 7DJ

to explore the Art of Evelyn Dunbar (1906-1960).

Known especially for her work as a War Artist, Evelyn Dunbar’s career included murals and illustration. that are often quirky and gently humorous.

The Queue at the Fish Shop [1944; Imperial War Museum c/o artuk.org]

And, for a brilliant novel based on women artists working through World War II, there is none better than Alicia Foster’s “War Paint” which, albeit fictionally, especially illuminates Evelyn Dunbar’s art.

All welcome!

Please note a £3 charge on the door covers coffee & biscuits. All thanks to Barchester Care!

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Join us on Saturday 24th February, 11.15am (until around 12.45pm)

at The Beecroft Gallery, Southend-on-Sea

to discuss the artists Robert and Sonia Delaunay, the concept of Orphism (also known as Simultanism) which relates painting to music, and revel in the brilliance of their colourful art.

detail from Sonia Delaunay’s “La Bal Bullier” [1913; Pompidou; my photograph]

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These art appreciation discussions are open to everyone who might be interested; entry is £10 on the door and includes coffee at the Jazz Centre afterwards.

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Join us on Friday 16th February, 11.30am (for about an hour)

at The Beaumont (Barchester Care), 15 Cannon Hill, Old Southgate N14 7DJ

to discuss Henri Matisse (1869-1954)’s “La Danse” [1910; Hermitage, St Petersburg] and how it took him to Russia for three weeks in 1911 as the guest of collector Sergei Schchukin.

It’s one of Matisse’s most radical paintings; the Hermitage website noting how:

“The frenzy of the pagan bacchanalia is embodied in the powerful, stunning accord of red, blue and green, uniting Man, Heaven and Earth”.

So how did it end up in Russia? We’ll find out today as we discuss “Matisse in Moscow”.

Fabulous books include:

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These gentle art appreciation discussions at The Beaumont are open to residents and local community alike. Please note that there will be a £3 charge on the door to cover costs &c.

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Join the ABC Research Group at The Beecroft Gallery, Southend

on Saturday 27th January, 11.15am – 12.30pm

to discuss the life and art of Marc Chagall.

Focusing especially on his career before exile in 1922, we’ll look at Chagall’s vision and inspiration, in Vitebsk, Paris and the first revolutionary years of Soviet Russia.

As always we’ll seek as many resources for further independent study as possible. The Tate website as well as the National Museum of Marc Chagall in Nice website are certainly brilliant starting points. And perhaps the best in-depth biography of the artist is by Jackie Wullschlager “Chagall: Love and Exile” (published by Penguin in 2008 it seems it’s only now available from libraries).

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No need to book. £10 on the door. These meetings are informative & collaborative discussions open to everyone wishing to share their love for visual art. Coffee at The Jazz Centre downstairs afterwards!

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Join us on Friday 19th January, 11.30am for about an hour

at The Beaumont (Barchester Healthcare), 15 Cannon Hill, Old Southgate N14 7DJ

to discuss Marc Chagall’s

“Paris through the Window” [1913; see Guggenheim]

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“Art & Coffee at The Beaumont” is a gentle art appreciation meeting supported by Barchester Healthcare and open to both residents and local community.

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For further research, it is worth looking at the Tate website [here] and there really is no better biography of the artist than Jackie Wullschlager’s “Chagall: Love and Exile”. Published by Penguin in 2008, it seems to be unavailable at bookshops sadly, but should be in your local library.

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As a little diversion, for anyone living in or visiting Kent there are the glorious stained glass windows created by Chagall and glassmaker Charles Marq for All Saints Church in Tudely; see Wikipedia for Ian Alexander’s photographs/close-ups including this stunning Angel:

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Join us on Saturday 16th December, 11.15am for about an hour & a half, at The Beecroft Gallery’s lecture theatre to gently explore Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers paintings at the Yellow House in Arles – and the impact they would have on Russian avant-garde artist Natalia Goncharova.

Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” [1888; National Gallery London];

Natalia Goncharova “Sunflowers” [1908; State Russian Museum, St Petersburg]

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All welcome!

£10 admission on the door includes coffee at the Jazz Centre (lower ground floor).

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For residents and local community alike, please join me on

Friday 15th December, 11.30am (for an hour)

at Barchester Southgate Beaumont Care Community, 15 Cannon Hill, Old Southgate, London N14 7DJ

to explore and discuss

“Snowscapes of the Russian Avant Garde”

“Gathering Brushwood in Winter” by Natalia Goncharova [1911; Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow)

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All welcome!

This event is free and supported by Barchester Healthcare. Coffee & biscuits throughout!

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Join us on Saturday 25th November, 11.15am for about an hour & a half, at The Beecroft Gallery’s lecture theatre when we’ll explore the art of sisters Doris and Anna Zinkeisen, with especial regard to:

“Promenade Scene ‘Old Southend'” by Anna Zinkeisen [1930s; artuk.org; Beecroft].

We’ll discuss how the painting fits in with the artist’s work more broadly, how her vision compares with other 1930s pictures of Southend and wonder what could have brought Anna – perhaps with her sister – to sunny Southend in its inter-war heyday.

All welcome!

£10 admission on the door includes coffee at the Jazz Centre (lower ground floor).

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As ever these meetings are very much about sharing ideas & resources for interest & further research…

• There is a brilliant essay by Alicia Foster on artuk.org [here], noting in her introduction:

Doris Zinkeisen (1897–1991) and Anna Zinkeisen (1901–1976) are unusual in the history of art. The sisters both had careers as fine and decorative artists and worked together on the same commissions at times. Their work encompassed the extremes of twentieth-century experience: from the glamour and pleasure of high society and theatreland, to the horrors of the Second World War and the Holocaust.

• Doris Zinkeisen’s poster design work is also highlighted in a BBC News essay: “Poster Girls exhibition showcases forgotten design heroines” [here].

• And, for anyone looking for a relevant book “The Art of Doris and Anna Zinkeisen” (2021; Unicorn Publishing Group – sadly not apparently available via the Library) is a fascinating overview of the sisters’ lives and paintings, and includes a chapter focusing on Doris Zinkeisen’s “The Misses Jane and Anne Grahame Johnstone and Miss Julia Heseltine” painted in the 1950s and now in the Ipswich Museums collection.

I’ll update this further as we go. Please also let me know of anything you find that could be included!

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For residents and local community alike, please join me on

Friday 24th November, 11.30am (for an hour)

at Barchester Southgate Beaumont Care Community, 15 Cannon Hill, Old Southgate, London N14 7DJ

to explore and discuss

“The Autobiography of an Embryo”

by Eileen Agar [c.1934; Tate].

All welcome!

This event is free and supported by Barchester Healthcare. Coffee & biscuits throughout!

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