colourful

We were off to the private view opening of the new KAWS exhibition at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park today - hiking boots and warm clothes for that Yorkshire wind and mud. Come along with us on our trek to the wonderful Longside Gallery . . . and maybe take a peek at the exhibition programme first.

Ofcourse on the way we pass the Ten Seated Figures that I love, by Magdalena Abakanowicz

 and Sohpie Ryder's wonderful hare

but by now we are at the Lakeside and at our first KAWS - and I'm going to leave you to enjoy them as we did, as we walk up through the park and into the Longside Gallery

and Brian Donnelly (KAWS) himself surrounded by fans

So that was it - a wonderful colourful day!

And don't forget the wonderful Bill Viola videos are still up and running until 10 April (my blog on our visit to that opening event).

Get along there while you can, two amazing exhibitions.  KAWS finishes 12 June.

sneak preview

Just been to our first event as Yorkshire Sculpture Park members - a private view of the incredible new Bill Viola exhibition for members only prior to the big opening day tomorrow.

Such a treat and such a coup for Yorkshire to get an exhibition of his work on this scale.

Obviously I didn't take any pictures inside - but these were the videos in the Underground gallery- all of which were amazing - spiritual and moving. 

Loved seeing the narrative for 'The One Who' from his Slowly Turning Narrative written out on one of the gallery walls.  
Found this amazing clip of it being read here:
Bill Viola: Slowly Turning Narrative 1992

Then at 2pm it was outside for speeches from Peter Murray, Director of YSP and Sandy Nairne, with Bill Viola and his wife Kira Perov standing by.

 Then refreshments on the lawns

Next we headed to the Chapel to see the other two videos - also incredible

and to cap it all, as we emerged into the light - it was a beautiful balmy Yorkshire October day

and all was well with the world.

And the Bill Viola is on until 10 April 2016 - try to get along there - it's so powerful.

triangles

It's a bit of an 'in' joke, but it had to be this piece of music to chronicle last weekend.  Set it playing to set the scene for Sunday

But before that, Saturday saw us in Tudor Square for the Jeremy Corbyn roadshow hustings - great fun, palpable excitement and a brilliant unscripted speech.

And on Sunday the rain didn't deter us from a wander into the rhubarb/sculpture triangle, starting with the Hepworth

'Angel of Mercy', 1934 by Eileen Agar

and some of the wonderful Anthony Caro sculptures on display

Arena Piece 'Kiss' 1995, by Anthony Caro

'Terminus' 2013, Anthony Caro 

'taking a break' 2015, by GAH (ha ha)

and then onwards to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and a whizz around the highlights.
Loving Barbara Hepworth's Family of Man

and Al Weiwei's Iron Tree

and then it was back for a Viennese style dinner - with a bit of a team effort at crafting the Spätzle

ready for our showing of The Third Man!!  Hence the amazing theme tune at the start! Play it again Harry and Holly!!

A brilliant weekend and now the house is very quiet and back to the diet!

everything

and what a wonderful wedding it was - Yorkshire style - switch on 'their' song and follow Laura and Mike down the aisle on that glorious day in May.

First Dad has to give away his beautiful daughter . . .

but soon enough the deed is done

and the brilliant match day programmes are handed out

the wedding car loads up

and we all take to the by-lanes of Yorkshire in our vintage entourage

wending our way cheerfully to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park where the mother of the bride is there to greet us

and it's hard to resist a chorus of 'Sisters here' - I just love that clip

Yummy canapes -  with a Yorkshire twist

and SO tasty

and that tuneful quartet setting the scene

while cameras clicked and the sun shone

fragrant lilac trees framing the scene

and my favourite ever scent - glorious sweet peas

and the amazing cake - reminiscent of Far from the Madding Crowd (and super delicious too - especially the orange choc layer!!)

and our tables awaited

beautifully laid out with more glorious scents

and amazing flowers (to say nothing of the hand wound hessian!)

then the bride and groom entered to cheers and the feasting began

speeches were made

night fell, lanterns shone

and finally their song rang out for that first dance (go back to the top and play it again . . . .)

hats were cast aside for dancing - just loved spotting the veil on the line too!

photo booth fun

and as we left it was all things Hendo - what a brilliant touch

and just before I sign off - memories of the early morning 'case of the missing 'i'' Ha Ha

and only in Grenoside . . . . . this final note on returning home . . . from the one and only Pete's Chippy, where a good chunk of the wedding party partook of their night-before-the-wedding-supper!!

and so ended the amazing, happy wedding weekend of Laura and Mike

Full of laughter and love

X X X X X X X X X X X X