Having a camera on my smartphone is a terrible temptation to take numerous, miscellaneous images – a temptation I surrender to all the time. Here are some images that didn’t fit any particular theme but which I felt were worth recording – I hope you agree.
There are crews filming at the Barbican on a regular basis and last weekend was no exception. What strikes me, however, are the sheer number of people (and vehicles) involved and what a vast sum of money must be needed to produce a professional result.
Here the tracks are laid but no one has yet shouted ACTION! …
What looks like a small, cosy apartment is being constructed in the Barbican ground floor lobby – I have no idea why …
In Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, an artwork by Adam Faramawy entitled Gradient Fade (2015) …
‘I’ve got my beady eye on you’ …
Rather good, I think …
Highwalk reflection …
Is this the most dangerous door in London? It’s on Long Lane and every time I see it I really, really want to push it, even if it ‘may cause injury’. Would that be why they have ‘Medical oxygen stored inside’ …
Amazing what can be found on roofs these days …
The Lord Mayor’s ‘Roller’ at the Guildhall …
Made me laugh …
Moonshots …
Abandoned duck eggs on our balcony …
You can watch a super film of ducklings hatching at the Barbican and ‘diving’ off a balcony in this short Bill Oddie report.
McLaren F1 racing car at the RAC Club …
Odd seeing it parked on a carpet.
Shoreditch Bard …
Crazy artwork overload …
Colours and sky meeting …
For some reason I like this because of the brake lights reflection contrasting with the blue sky …
Silk Street flower bed January to May …
The City gardeners are so good!
Barbie Green and a green wall …
I’ve become a bit obsessed with the profile of St Giles at sunset …
And finally, the D-Day 80th Anniversary flypast …
The Avro Lancaster …
C17 Globemaster …
Voyager KC and Atlas A400M …
P8 Poseidon and two Typhoons …
Rivet Joint and two Typhoons …
Nine Red Arrow Hawk T1 and four Typhoons …
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A quiet mosaic revolution has been taking place in London and a new book is planned to celebrate its success. I would be incredibly grateful if you could consider giving some support to its publication, of which more later.
In the meantime, here is some background information on the achievements of the wonderful Hackney Mosaic Project.
My interest started back in 2022 when I visited Shepherdess Walk in Hoxton and headed down steps to what must be one of the most spooky and best-concealed alleys in London …
With a promise of something really special …
Emerging through the alley into the park you’re met with these stunning artworks. The mosaics were designed by Tessa Hunkin and completed over two years by a huge team of local volunteers (over 150 in total!) …
Unveiled in 2012 to coincide with the London Olympics, the scenes are a celebration of life in Hackney’s parks.
Taking the lyrical name of Shepherdess Walk as a starting point, the first mosaic portrays the shepherdesses that once drove their sheep through here when Hoxton was all fields …
A double wall panel illustrates park life throughout the seasons of the year in the East End …
What could be more Summery than buying a Mr Whippy ice cream, having a picnic or a swim in the lido wearing your smart goggles …
Tessa and some of the Shepherdess Walk team …
Why am I calling this a revolution? Well, it used to be the case that, when I heard the word ‘mosaic’, I just thought of the Romans and the floors of so-called high status villas in places like Pompeii.
Not any more.
Here is the Hounds Of Hackney Downs mosaic. Dog owners – just imagine the thrill of having your friend and companion immortalised for all to see …
Panels give credit to the volunteers who created the work …
The playground shelter on Hackney Downs …
Tessa’s team were commisioned by the Zoological Society of London to make two mosaic panels for either side of the main entrance to London Zoo. They show Humboldt penguins and Squirrel monkeys, both popular attractions. What a great job to get!
Another London Zoo project was for the lions’ enclosure …
Regent’s Park commissioned a circular mosaic under an octagonal shelter in the newly refurbished playground. The theme was play and the brief to include the wildlife that lives in the park (they are particularly proud of their colony of hedgehogs). As well as the playful mammals the Jersey Tiger Moth is represented in its full lifecycle on the leaves around the border …
A fox balances a ball on his nose …
Mural on Somerford Grove Estate …
Two of the seven panels designed for Tower Court, Stamford Hill …
Lift lobby numbers …
On the Packington Estate, Islington …
You can find more about the projects along with a helpful map here. Click this link for some of the Project’s Greatest Hits.
What I love about the Project is that it aims to help people with addiction and mental health problems and at the same time to improve neglected corners of the city. They engage volunteers, recruited both from the Hackney Recovery Services and the local community, in making large mosaics in Hackney Parks and other locations. They also teach and encourage them to create their own artworks.
‘The Project does not just make colourful pictures out of broken fragments – it also helps to piece back broken lives, and build a new community by bringing people together around a shared vision’.
You can watch and listen to Tessa and some of her volunteers here. ‘For people who have worries in their lives, if you are concentrating on a mosaic it’s difficult to think about anything else – it’s like taking a holiday from your head’.
‘In a bold reinvention of the classical tradition, designer Tessa has assembled a passionate and diverse team of makers, creating dozens of breathtaking mosaics that have become cherished landmarks, celebrating community and elevating the streets of East London’.
My friend The Gentle Author wants to publish a book that takes the story of Hackney Mosaic Project to the widest audience and inspire a flowering of community mosaics across the land …
The book will include high quality photographs of all the major mosaics, an interview with Tessa Hunkin outlining the nature of the project, commentary on the background to each mosaic by Wendy Forrest, illustrations of the working process by which the mosaics are created and the names of everyone involved. It will honour the work of the hundreds of local people who have come together over the past decade to contribute their time and creativity to this magnificent collective endeavour.
To do this some money needs to be raised! Do please consider making a donation – however small.
I know, I know, other people’s holiday pics are boring. Many apologies, but the really cold weather since we returned put me off wandering the streets looking for stories.
Anyway, I still hope you find the following interesting.
Funchal, the capital, is a nice city to walk around. One thing that is very much a feature, both here and all over Portugal, is the attractive paving …
Called “Calçada Portuguesa” (Portuguese pavement), it consists of small flat stones of basalt and limestone displayed like a mosaic.
And not a discarded Lime Bike or rental scooter in sight!
The 16th century gothic style Funchal Cathedral is quite understated from the outside …
But stunning within …
We also visited the Church of Our Lady of the Mount, rebuilt in 1818 after an earthquake destroyed its predecessor …
The Last Supper …
That must be Judas lurking in the corner, clutching the bag with his 30 pieces of silver.
I didn’t realise that Charles I of Austria (who died in exile in Madeira) had been beatified by the Pope and was therefore firmly on the road to full sainthood.
His coffin is on display in the church …
When his tomb was opened in 1972 his body was discovered remarkably well-preserved—despite the fact that a window in the coffin had broken, allowing in moisture and damp, tropical air. It was opened again in 2003 and a rib removed as a relic with pieces distributed to shrines around the world.
Looking down over the city …
There was an art gallery in the botanical gardens near the church. Here are some images from our visit …
The view from the cable car heading back to the city centre …
Funchal has expanded greatly since our last visit 24 years ago.
Art for sale on the street …
Interesting architecture …
Pretty tiles outside the old Ritz Hotel …
Some would say that this was a work of art …
Knick-Knack selection …
Cruise ships are not pretty, but this one put on a bit of a light show …
We didn’t see many seagulls – maybe because of this chap on patrol every day with his tame falcon …
We really enjoyed the food!
A perfect poached egg (well, it is for me, maybe a bit runny for some) …
The way to serve honey at breakfast time …
In the evening, local shrimp in garlic butter with a top class Portuguese rosé (a generous glass for 4 Euros) …
Crêpes Suzette, a perfect finish …
Plus a brandy and a coffee, of course (dry January is a distant memory) …
Sadly, we didn’t have time to take in this intriguingly named show …
The journey home was a bit fraught. The plane taking off two and a half hours late followed by our taxi driver forgetting where he had parked in the multi-storey at Gatwick! Made it home safely in the end, though.
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