“A tribute to Frank and Ella”

Thursday night we attended Cadogan Hall’s “A tribute to Frank and Ella”. It took a while for M to come around to Big Band American music, and when he did I was relieved. We had a Frank S. impersonator sing at our wedding and we often play a collection of Louis A. and Ella F.’s duets in the background. The music programme at Cadogan Hall had some of our favorites: “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, “Stompin’ At The Savoy”, “Come Fly With Me” and “Don’t Be That Way”.

PLAY at Prakke Gallery

Tonight the WfWI Ldn JLC hosted our final fundraising event for ‘09 at Prakke Gallery in Mayfair.

Oxford University

This afternoon we took a tour of Oxford University’s campus. It was interesting to learn that C.S.L. and J.R.R.T. both studied at Oxford at the same time; they were even friends. Oxford Uni has the oldest Gothic-style tower in England. Much of the architecture is medeival in style, and the color of the stone reminiscient of Bath. The final verdict? M and I both agreed that Cambridge University has a prettier campus than Oxford University.

Blenheim Palace

This morning we visited Blenheim Palace, a World Heritage Site, outside of Oxford. Blenheim Palace is Winston C.’s birth place. On a tour, we saw his mother’s birthing room and listened to recordings of him addressing his country. I overheard one elderly woman comment to her friend, “They don’t make statesmen like Churchill anymore, do they?!” After touring the palace, we walked along the lake and visited the gardens. The palace grounds are beautiful; we enjoyed strolling through the sweeping vistas amidst ancient trees and through piles of colorful fall leaves.

Saad Q. at Aicon Gallery Ldn

Last night I attended the opening of “Wound”, a group show at Aicon Gallery. There I met Saad Q., the youngest artist to have his work exhibited at the gallery. At the tender age of 24, he’s mastered conceptual art but, like all precocious artists, he is still grappling with issues characteristic of youth including earning his parents’ approval for his choice of vocation.

“Maharaja” at the V&A

This afternoon we saw “Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts” in what feels like a long-distance marathon viewing Indian art. The art season is in full swing; the Frieze Art Fair concluded today, and many shows in the most well-respected museums and galleries in central London featured art from the subcontinent. At “Maharaja” I was reminded that I prefer contemporary, Modernist art versus historical art; if it was my choice, I’d rather look at art about ideas and concepts versus art meant to tell history. That said, I found an engaging conceptual weave in the exhibit by focusing on the way love was depicted and evolved over 200+ years in royal paintings and photography.

Zainab at Lucio’s

Last night the WfWI London Leadership Circle hosted a inner at Lucio’s in South Kensington in honor of Zainab, our CEO. It’s been a great year – the charity was the recipient of a large donation from the Clinton Global Initiative and was recently showcased on “The Oprah Winfrey Show”. I had the opportunity to sit next to ZS at the event – we discussed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, potential to build out in Kashmir and the work the JLC has done this last year.

Subodh G. at Hauser & Wirth

This afternoon we visited Hauser & Wirth’s two London galleries, both of which are exhibiting works by Subodh G. The artist is known as “the Damien Hirst of Delhi”, “the Jeff Koons of India” and “the Indian Marcel Duchamp”, but none of his work is, respectively, morbid, an outright commoditization of art, or a spoof on the classical. I find it horrific that the most celebrated living artist in India is described in reference to western artists when his work is shown in the States and Europe.

I loved the artist’s appropriation of everyday objects in creating his sculptures. Likewise, I found his homage to the labourer thought-provoking. SG’s attention to detail and his socio-political commentary on India’s lower and middle classes position him as not only an artist but also a philosopher.

Anish K. at the RAA

Yesterday we visited the Royal Academy of Art to view the Anish K. exhibit. Everyday we inevitably walk by the courtyard sculpture which is always swarming with tourists; the exhibit has been heavily promoted on taxis, buses, magazines, newspapers and tube platforms. We weren’t disappointed. M loved the “science behind the art” and I, the textures. Every piece tempted me to touch it. It’s very rare that we agree with the critics, but in this case it’s unanimous that the show is an exceptional one.

“Emusoi” by Kasia P.

A few days ago I met Kasia P., author “Dogodogo”, at her book launch for her newest book “Emusoi”. Her books contain true stories of Tanzanian children who struggle for access to clean water and education. These books are meant as readers for African as well as First-World children in order to teach literacy and raise awareness. It was a characteristically wet, rainy and cold English evening. Kasia put us all in check when she opened the event by saying, “I was going to be very English and apologize for the rainy weather today, but I can’t do that because Tanzania hasn’t had rain for three years.” Her words and her works remind us that all too often we take simple things like rain and access to education for granted.