Simply..must sees....

22/8/2015

..if you find yourself anywhere near Edinburgh before the end of the month!

I loved the two main exhibitions at The Scottish Gallery, and we went to look at the Venetian Old Masters in the National Gallery.

Charles Jencks Landform at the Gallery of Modern Art looked serene in the rain, although the weather was lovely except for this hour or so. (Good café in beautiful garden too.) The exhibition Heads - drawings, paintings and photographs - was so absorbing I didn't get further than the corridor they were displayed in. Wonderful. It included an Augustus John drawing that looked like a Raphael.

I've added a couple of links to yesterday's post.

I expect a lot of Edinburgh residents find the Festival disruptive, but we were with my 95 year old Edinburgh resident Uncle (I've mentioned him before. He is the one who when asked if he ever takes taxis said 'I will when I'm older'.) Uncle John attends concerts, opera, theatre and book festival talks. He is stimulating company, interested in politics, economics and philosophy as well as the arts. We try to keep up with him!

Do you have a favourite arts festival?

Or a favourite uncle?

4 Comments

ChompyChipmunk

21/8/2015 08:50:49 pm

The Edinburgh Festival is probably my favourite festival because of the sheer variety and overall quality.

I find that some festivals don't "age" well. I was at Paris Nuit Blanche at the beginning (it has contemporary art installations in the street all over Paris overnight for one night in the fall). It was really good and then a couple of years later -- not as compelling. The same was true of the Toronto International Film Festival, which was amazing back in the late 80s and early 90s and has become less interesting as it has become more popular with film stars and the international jet set.

The Festival I like least is the Frieze Art Fair in London, which is for contemporary art. I've been several times, and although there is some interesting work, the overall atmosphere is extremely snobby, and really looks down at anyone attending who is not prepared to write a cheque for at least 100,000 pounds.

Freda

22/8/2015 07:27:14 am

You are certainly an experienced festival goer CC!

julia

23/8/2015 02:11:09 am

i love the carnegie innternational...it is actually not a festival..but an exhibition, held every 5 years, at the carnegie mueum of art in pittsburgh, pennsylvania, of contemporary art from around the world..it is outrageous, stimulating and exhilerating...also disconcerting!...and really makes you think....and sometimes get mad, or laugh out loud....the all of it.

Freda

23/8/2015 06:56:26 pm

I hadn't heard of what sounds a great event. Art does make us mad sometimes doesn't it!

Simply..must sees....

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