sarah biffin & lunch
MONDAY 19TH OF DECEMBER
12pm - 12:45pm: Lunch at the Lansdowne Club
1pm: Exhibition at Philip Mould & Company Gallery
The exhibition, established upon ground breaking primary research, is the first of its kind to present Sarah Biffin’s artistic achievements, represent her history and celebrate her remarkable life.
Sarah Biffin was born in 1784 without arms and legs. Teaching herself to write and draw from a young age, she rose to fame as an artist and established a professional career as a portrait painter . From 1816 she set herself up as an independent artist and later took commissions from nobility and royalty.
Her artwork proudly signed “without hands” are a testament to her talent and accomplishment.
Following the story of her life, Without Hands will include around 25 works that showcase Biffin’s artistic achievements. The exhibition will include a series of self-portraits, commissioned portraits(such asPortrait miniature of Thomas Lamb and Portrait miniature of Anna Eliza Rausch), highly skilled still-lifes (including the delicate and detailed 1812 Study of Feathers), posters from Dukes’ travelling show declaring her 'The Greatest Wonder in the World', samples of her writing, small watercolours bought by the curious public (Forget Me Not, 1847) and several letters written by Biffin and signed “written by Sarah Biffin without hands"
Philip Mould & Company gallery & the Lansdowne Club
Philip Mould & Company have been specialising in British art and Old Master paintings for 35 years. The Gallery is located in Pall Mall and showcases 500 years of British art and portrait miniature from the Tudor period through to the late 20th century.
Lansdowne House was designed by Robert Adam in the 1760s and belonged to the Petty-Fitzmaurice family until 1929. It was partially demolished to allow the construction of the Fitzmaurice place. In 1935 the Lansdowne Club opened its door. It is a private club.
Booking information:
Lunch: limited places
Please register your presence by sending your name, email and phone number to +447522394579. Attendees pay for their own lunch.
Exhibition: FREE entrance
Venues:
Lansdowne Club, 9 Fitzmaurice Place, Mayfair, London W1J 5JD
Philip Mould & Company Gallery, 18-19 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5LU
MULLED WINE & CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Tuesday 13TH OF december
8pm - 10:30pm in Richmond
"Tis the season to be jolly"
Join us for a festive evening of minced pies, mulled wine, readings and Christmas carols to celebrate the holiday season. We are extremely lucky to have the carols led by renown pianist and soprano, Elena Kokka, who will also perform a few solos for us!
The evening is kindly hosted by one of Committee members at her beautiful home in Richmond.
elena kokka
Born in Athens, Greece, Elena moved to London to study piano and singing at the Royal College of Music. Recognised by Musical Opinion as “ a manifold talent, exceptionally gifted, a splendid pianist and possessor of a finely-modulated soprano voice, her wide-ranging musicianship and her first- class artistry”, Elena has appeared both as a pianist and singer in some of England’s most prominent venues, including Cadogan Hall, the South Bank Centre, and St. Martin-in the Fields amongst others.
Highlights from her appearances include her debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra singing excerpts from Cherubini’s Medea, Cleopatra from Handel’s Giulio Cesare at the Inaugural Concert with the London Chamber Players and representing Greece at an International Operatic Gala held in Lisbon in March 2016.
Booking information:
Tickets: £20 Limited tickets available. Please book using the link below:
https://pay.collctiv.com/13th-december-mulled-wine-and-christmas-carols-77118
Venue: A private home in Richmond
objects of desire
SATURDAY 12TH OF NOVEMBER
12pm - 1pm Guided tour at the Design Museum
1pm - 2.30pm Lunch (Optional)
The exhibition will cover nearly 100 years, and close to 350 objects will be on display. Some of the world’s most famous Surrealist paintings and sculptures – such as Dalí’s Lobster Telephone and Man Ray’s The Gift (Le Cadeau) – will go on show alongside dozens of contemporary pieces of art and design. Nearly a third of the objects on show are from the past 50 years. Most of the objects on show are on loan from the Vitra Design Museum in Germany, with other pieces coming on loan from private collections and leading institutions including Tate and the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts.
Kathryn Johnson, Curator of Objects of Desire: Surrealism and Design 1924 – Today at the Design Museum, said: “If you think Surrealism fizzled out in the 1960s, think again. This exhibition will show that it is still alive and well and that it never really went away. The early Surrealists were survivors of the First World War and the 1918 influenza pandemic, and their art was in part a reaction to those horrors. Today, in the context of dizzying technological change, war and another global pandemic, Surrealism’s spirit feels more alive than ever in contemporary design.”
the design museum
The Design Museum is the world’s leading museum devoted to contemporary architecture and design. Its work encompasses all elements of design, including fashion, product and graphic design. Since it opened its doors in 1989 the museum has displayed everything from an AK-47 to high heels designed by Christian Louboutin. It has staged over 100 exhibitions, welcomed over seven million visitors and showcased the work of some of the world’s most celebrated designers and architects including Paul Smith, Zaha Hadid, Jonathan Ive, Frank Gehry, Eileen Gray and Dieter Rams.
Booking information:
Tickets: £38
Limited tickets available. Please book using the link below:
https://pay.collctiv.com/5-november-2022-objects-of-desire-75615
Meeting point: 11:45am in the entrance of the Design Museum
224-238 Kensington High Street
London W8 6AG
concert and lunch
Monday 31st october
12.00pm - 2.00pm
12.00pm - 12.45pm Lunch in The Courtyard at the Lansdowne Club
1.00 - 2.00pm Concert at Saint James's Church Piccadilly
Why not indulge ourselves with a lunch in the cosy atmosphere of the Lansdowne Club before heading to the nearby Saint James's Church in Piccadilly for a musical performance by talented young musicians.
Jack Tyndale-Biscoe, piano, Leora Cohen, violin and Paul Wingfield, piano have prepared a wonderful programme:
Programme part 1
Jack Tyndale-Biscoe, piano
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)
Prelude & Fugue in A Major, Op.87, no.7
i. Prelude
ii. Fugue
Cesar Franck (1822-1890)
Prélude, Choral et Fugue, FWV 21
i. Prélude
ii. Choral
iii. Fugue
Programme part 2
Leora Cohen, violin, Paul Wingfield, piano
Amy Beach (1867-1944) ‘Romance’ for violin and piano, Op.23
Lili Boulanger (1893-1918) ‘D’un Matin de Printemps’ arr. for violin and piano
Vítězslava Kaprálová (1915-1940) ‘Elegie’ for violin and piano
Maria Theresia von Paradis (1759-1824) Sicilienne
LANSDOWNE CLUB & ST JAMES'S CHURCH PICCADILLY
Lansdowne House was designed by Robert Adam in the 1760s and belonged to the Petty-Fitzmaurice family until 1929. It was partially demolished to allow the construction of the Fitzmaurice place. In 1935 the Lansdowne Club opened its door. It is a private club.
St James's Church Piccadilly was built by Christopher Wren in the late 17e century, but was seriously damaged during the Blitz. It was restored after WWII and a garden of remembrance, "to commemorate the courage and fortitude of the people of London" was added to the parish.
Today the church is well-known by musicians and music lovers for its excellent and rich musical programme.
Booking information:
Lunch: limited places.
Please register your presence by sending your name, email and phone number to +447522394579. Attendees pay for their own lunch.
Concert: free concert - contribution welcome at the end of the performance.
Venues:
Lansdowne Club 9 Fitzmaurice Place, Mayfair, London W1J 5JD
Saint James's Church Piccadilly , 197 Piccadilly, St James, London W1J 9LL
Nearest tube station: Green Park
WINE TASTING : DISCOVERY OF ITALIAN WINE
tuesday 20th october
7pm - 9pm
Nysa Wine and Spirits
186 Fulham Road, SW10 9PN
Did you know that Italy is the largest producer of wine in the world? With 20 wine regions and more than 600 varieties of grapes, Italy offers our palate one of the most intriguing and rich of selections.
Bernard Ho and his team will take us on 6 wine flights, starting with a sparkling Italian wine followed by a mix from a selection of white and red wines. The evening will give us the opportunity to develop our knowledge of wines, in particular those of Italy.
The selection of wine includes:
Monte Rossa Salvadek Extra Brut Franciacorta 2015
Castello Di Neive, Arneis, Langhe Montebertoto DOC 2020
Antonelli, Trebbiano Spoletino Anteprima Tonda DOC 2018
La Palazzina Coste Della Sesia Rosso 2014
Chianti Colli Senesi Riserva , Coppiole , Bichi Borghesi 2017
Castello Romitorio, Brunello di Montalcino 2017
OUR expert: bernard ho
George Fu is a talented American pianist and composer with international recognition.
'After receiving a bachelors from Harvard University, George studied under Jonathan Biss and Meng-Chieh Liu at the Curtis Institute of Music, and then under Christopher Elton and Joanna MacGregor at the Royal Academy of Music, where he later served as the piano fellow. He has also worked intensively with Pierre-Laurent Aimard, specifically on the music of Messiaen and Debussy. George is a City Music Foundation Artist. '
George is regularly invited to perform either as a soloist or to accompany other musicians.
Booking information:
Tickets: £45 (limited places)
Please book before 13th October using the link below:
https://pay.collctiv.com/20-octobre-7pm-wine-tasting-11768
Photo credit, top image: Timur Saglambilek
CONCERT AT 22 MANSFIELD STREET
tuesday 4th october
7pm for 7.30pm
22 Mansfield Street, W1G 9NR London
This is a very special concert in an exceptional house.
For many years, Bob and Elisabeth Boas, well-known in the musical circles, have organised concerts in their wonderful and very large house in the centre of London. They are experts at spotting and supporting rising young musical talents, and many musicians who played at their home went on to have successful international careers.
Earlier this year, Bob and Elisabeth Boas sold their house and moved out. However, they agreed with the new owners that they should start hosting musical events again, and tonight is the first concert under this new arrangement. Come for an evening of fantastic music with talented young musicians, and to admire a beautiful private house right in the centre of London.
Performance by American pianist George Xiaoyuan Fu & friends playing:
Mozart - Piano Concerto K.414 (arrangement for piano and quartet)
F.Rzewski - North American Ballad No.3 'Down by the river'
Chopin - Ballade No.4 Op.52 'Three bird pieces'
Messiaen - The Golden Oriole
Ravel - Oiseaux tristes. from Miroirs
G. X.Fu - The Hen (after Rameau)
Rachmaninov - selections from Etudes-Tableaux Op.39 No.5, 8 and 9.
The performance will be followed by drinks and canapés.
OUR MUSICIAN: GEORGE XIAOYUAN FU
George Fu is a talented American pianist and composer with international recognition.
'After receiving a bachelors from Harvard University, George studied under Jonathan Biss and Meng-Chieh Liu at the Curtis Institute of Music, and then under Christopher Elton and Joanna MacGregor at the Royal Academy of Music, where he later served as the piano fellow. He has also worked intensively with Pierre-Laurent Aimard, specifically on the music of Messiaen and Debussy. George is a City Music Foundation Artist. '
George is regularly invited to perform either as a soloist or to accompany other musicians.
Booking information:
Tickets: £36
THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT.
Photo credit, bottom image: Patrick Allen
THE ART OF MOVEMENT, VAN CLEEF AND ARPELS
Saturday 1st october
11:00am - 11:45am: Guided tour at the Design Museum
11:45am - 1:30pm: Optional lunch tbd
For the first time, la Maison Van Cleef & Arpels will be presenting its exhibition “The Art of Movement, Van Cleef & Arpels” at the Design Museum in London.
Featuring almost a hundred creations from its patrimonial collection, numerous archive documents and lender masterpieces, the visitor’s journey is divided into four themes: Nature Alive, Dance, Elegance and Abstract Movements. Each section highlights a facet of movement explored by the Maison since its foundation in 1906.
design museum
Founded by Sir Terence Conran in 1989, the Design Museum was relocated in 2016 from Shad Thames to its current location in Kensington. Terence Conran asked the leading architecte John Pawson to transform this 1960s modernist building, previously home of the Commonwealth Institute, into a spectacular new venue for his museum, increasing the space for major exhibitions and creating the facilities for extending learning programmes.
The roof of the museum is particularly stricking inside and outside. The Design Museum is now the world’s leading museum devoted to contemporary architecture and design.
Booking information:
Tickets:
Please register your interest before 29th of September by texting your name, email and phone number to: +44 7522394579
Meeting point: 10:45am in the entrance of the Design Museum,
224-238 Kensington High Street
Tube station: High Street Kensington (10mn) Earl's Court/Kensington Olympia (15mn)
Bus: 9, 10, 27, 28, 49 & C1
ART TOUR: FRIEZE SCULPTURE
Saturday 17th September
10.30am - 12.00pm
10.30-11.30: Frieze Sculpture in Regent's Park
11.45-12: Magnus Frederik Clausen at the Claas Reiss gallery
Optional lunch at The Good Rice, Italian deli.
Frieze Sculpture is one of the highlights of Frieze Art Fair every year - a major public art exhibition curated by Yorkshire Sculpture Park director Clare Lilley, free and open to all. We will catch the exhibition right after it opens on 14th September, viewing the 19 sculptures by different contemporary artists. The 2022 display engages with number of themes current today, including the poetic-political, female and non-binary healing through nature, and the importance of the spiritual in art.
After visiting Regent's Park we will walk (10 minutes) to the Claas Reiss gallery, showing Copenhagen-based artist Magnus Frederik Clausen. Claas Reiss, having worked in financial services for many years, opened his exciting new gallery space just before the pandemic and has a great programme that includes young and upcoming artists from all over the world.
After the tour there is the option to have lunch at Italian deli The Good Rice, next door to the gallery.
Our guide: Sabine Casparie
Sabine Casparie has been leading art tours around London for the past ten years, and taught contemporary art engagement sessions in partnership with schools and organisations. With a degree from The Courtauld Institute of Art and a Masters from Christie's Education, Sabine has an extensive knowledge of the art world as well as art history and its themes and theories. She is passionate about art and making artworks accessible to all.
Booking information:
Tickets: £26 (lunch not included, limited places)
Please book before 15th September using the link below:
https://pay.collctiv.com/art-tour-frieze-sculpture-46592
Photo credit: Vanessa da Silva, Muamba Grove, 2019 - Frieze Sculpture 2021