Fri, Sat, Sun

I:  Weekends are often spent going on long, fun outings, and, almost always on Fridays, we spend an evening out at a museum or do another cool cultural thing.  The first weekend in February was no exception.  Mom and I walked to the Tate Britain to meet Dad for "Late Tate" (music and art).  There we looked mostly at Constable and Turner paintings:  Dad and I admired Turner's early and late stuff and saw an exhibition on his use of line and color; Mom spent her time sketching.  The Turner exhibition showed what the eye saw and how that can change.  For example, they had a black box with a bright light inside; after looking at it, if you closed your eyes, you could see the image of the light appear to you again (vaguely).  There was also a (loud!) music installation, which was really annoying!  I like the Tate, since it has lots of different kinds of art.

 John Constable, Flatford Mill (`Scene on a Navigable River'), 1816-17, Tate Britain

On Saturday evening, we walked to Stephanie and Doug's house for a house-warming party.  On the way we saw a type of stork or heron flying above us, which was really magical.  And on Sunday, after   some small errands, we went to the "Little Draw" at the Wallace Collection.  Little Draw is a monthly activity where kids (and even adults) meet in a specific gallery and try to draw something with help from a drawing instructor.  This time it was held in the "Great Gallery," which is long hall and grand gallery that includes the museum's most famous paintings:  Frans Hals, The Laughing Cavalier, Titian, Perseus and Andromeda (Mom's favorite), and the painting I drew of Titus, who was Rembrandt's son.

Rembrandt, Titus, the artist's son, 1657, Wallace Collection

II:  The following Friday, we went to the V&A.  There was a concert in the Norfolk House Music Room (in the British Galleries), so we went there and, in the fairly crowded room, watched a viola player and a pianist.  Then Dad and I went to the porcelain galleries, where we looked at old English ceramics.  Then we looked at the Dutch ceramics to try to find a "puzzle jug," which is a jug with all sorts of holes in it; the trick is to drink from it without spilling all over yourself!  Finally we went to look at some ceramic bowls among the European stuff, and  I spotted 75 snuff jars from all over Asia and Europe:  all different colors, textures, shapes and sizes, and all with interesting designs.

Snuff bottles, China, 18th century, half coral bead set in metal [stopper] and carved nephrite jade [snuff bottle]

On Saturday, we went to Tony's, and then we took a fun walk in the market--it was quite an adventure!  We walked through Portobello Market and got pig-crackling samples from a man who has a stall with a big, dead, roasted pig!  We also popped into Garcia, one of the Spanish delis, which had some great jamón serrano and cheese tasters.  Next, on to Golborne Road, where we got mussels from our favorite fish monger (Golborne Fisheries).  We also wandered into a gallery/shop, which had the owner's exotic collection of stuff:  a stuffed peacock, dead butterflies, animal (and human?) skulls, and two small yellow birds (live!) outside.  And then, on our way back home, we passed by a popular stall that sold sandwiches with lamb and chicken kabobs.  There Dad noticed our award-winning crepe maker--I'll explain.  In Portobello, whilst we stroll along, we usually check in at the many crepe stalls to marvel at the crepe makers.  We even started a crepe "Olympics," where we judge the stalls by their spreading, folding, flipping, and other crepe-making techniques.  Our award-winning stall also has an award winning crepe-maker (a man), whom we got to meet as we walked along Golborne Road.  His name is Jemal, and he is very nice (he invited us for a 'gratis' crepe).

Jemal, our Portobello Market "Olympian" crepe maker (so famous, we found a picture of him on the web!)

That Sunday, I went for a run with Dad, as usual, and for breakfast we had pancakes.  Valentine's Day was the following Monday, so I went out with Mom to buy Dad some licorice tea.  It turned out that V. Day was super, and I got lovely cards and cookies from Mom and Dad.

III:  One more weekend:  The next Friday night, Mom and I walked to the National Gallery.  Once we got there (and after our usual pre-art snack!), Dad and I went to look at the Old Masters.  First we looked at paintings from the medieval times, when they were crazy about Jesus!  Then we headed to the Van Eyck room, which has the famous "Arnolfini Portrait"; but Dad and I also ogled over "A Man in a Red Turban," also by Van Eyck, who painted the turban with very detailed folds and knots.  I also loved a painting on pear wood of St. Jerome (with lots of animals) by Albrecht Durer.  The National Gallery is one of the many places in London with endless, entertaining art!

Jan van Eyck, Portrait of a Man (Self Portrait?), 1433

Albrecht Dürer, Saint Jerome, ca. 1496