Sunday 13 March 2016

Creative writing

As a prelude to Damien Barr's Literay Salon , we spent last weekend in south east London . It just so happened that it was Mothers Day and we were house guests of my daughter, her boyfriend and my eldest son. Mother's Day weekend included a choral concert ( see last blog), walks around Peckham Rye and Camberwell ; delicious tapas ; and being treated to the master bedroom rather than the sitting room floor! 


                                     
                    This mural on Choumert Road, is just one of the Southwark's visual gems .

And on Monday , sunny Brockwell park served up more delights to reinforce the coming of Spring with  a lovely walled garden , gorgeous budding Magnolia and bright horizon views of the city .

                                   
                            
                                       


As well as enjoying London street and park life , our mission was to catch the Lee Miller exhibition at the Imperial War Museum . The timing was especially appropriate for the week of International Women's Day. My Christmas present " Lee Miller : A woman's war "  the book of the exhibition , had worked its magic and I was keen to see the exhibition . It did not disappoint and is on until 24th April. These photographs shine a light on the role of women through the Second World War , as well as giving testimony to the brilliance of Lee Miller (1907-77)  , an embedded war photographer and reporter. That her son only learnt of her war work after her death is shocking. 

                                    

                                    
                                        Night and Day , London ,1937 Roland Penrose 

The exhibition informed us that " Lee Miller met Roland Penrose , a leading British Surrealust artist,collector and curator ,while visiting Paris in 1937. Although both were already married ,they immediately became lovers. Their passionate,turbulent but highly creative relationship was informed by Surrealism and endured for the rest of Miller's life. .....Night and Day.... depicts Miller's personality as well as her physical features" . 

   The Imperial War Museum 

    Paul Nash ( 1889-1946 )    Battle of Germany 1944 

Outside the museum, as well as lovely gardens , we encountered an unmistakable piece of the Berlin Wall , with an example of punchy writing , acquired by the IWM in 1991. 


                                    

Our Monday evening was to bring us more creative culture in the form of Damien Barr's Literary Salon , newly moved to the Savoy . And in preparation for this we enjoyed the sun setting over Southbank from the window in the American Bar. 

                                    

What a fantastic line up we enjoyed , all different , all tempting us with their readings and interviews . Susan Calman , a comedian with a love of cats , a legal background and a struggle with depression, is one of the funniest voices on Radio 4 , and tantalised us with her memoir. 
Garth Greenwell's debut novel "What belongs to you" was beautifully read , and this poet won us over,tempting us to read his  book whose narrator explores his sexuality whilst teaching in Bulgaria.  

I had especially wanted to hear and see Joan Bakewell , who at 82 ,is as vibrant and vocal as ever. She did not disappoint and I enjoyed her reading from "Stop the Clocks", just as I did when it was "book of the week" on the radio .  Finally, Maggie O'Farrell discussed her new novel , "This must be the place" which will be published in May , and explores a marriage in "freefall" . I have never read Maggie before , but will start now.  

The Savoy has longstanding literary connections we learnt, and new ones were being forged in the Lancaster Ballroom on Monday at this sellout salon. 

       
            Damien Barr and Joan Bakewell 

As well as completing a 6 week Creative writing course this week with the excellent Araminta Hall, on Saturday I attended the first Beach Hut Academy Writer's conference. 

                               
                  A sunny hazy seafront walk to the Conference , "Write by the Beach" 

With a packed agenda and a wonderful line up of published authors, literary agents and publishers this was a stimulating and informative day.  It had been brilliantly organised , and feedback has been universally positive.  And it all took place at the beautiful Angel House , a stunning Regency Town House venue on Brighton seafront . I learned a huge amount , met up with others interested in reading and writing , and was intimidated by the challenges of becoming a published writer . 

                                  
                                      Angel House 1 Brunswick Terrace, Hove BN3 1HN 

Inevitably , this has been a heavy book buying week too ! So there's even more reading to do , and more writing too.  






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