We decided to go along to the beautiful Palazzo Bembo Exhibition space, just off the Grand Canal, to find out what all the fuss was about…

The Legend, Myth and Icon Exhibition opened on 20th December and runs through to the end of February. It brings together over one hundred and fifty works dedicated to the figure of Monroe. Palazzo Bembo, a 15^th century Venetian noble home overlooking he Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge, recently opened the new permanent exhibition space to mark the occasion of the 2011 Venice Biennale of Art.

Through this wide selection of works, ranging from photographs, paintings, prints, collages and sculptures, a group of well-known international contemporary artists and photographers portray the Hollywood star from the very beginning to the highlights of her career and until Bert Stern’s famous “Last Sitting” shot just a few days before her mysterious death in 1962. Works made after this date, like the famous series of silkscreens by Andy Warhol, reflect on Marilyn’s iconic status, investigating her beauty and, ultimately, paying homage to her charisma and sensuality.

I was really glad to have visited the exhibition, I felt that it was very well curated and Palazzo Bembo couldn’t have provided a more atmospheric space for displaying art works encompassing a truly timeless legend, myth and icon.

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The evening began with a talk by Dr Tracey Warr, editor of ‘The Artists Body’ and ‘Live Art Now’ and current Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Art Theory at Oxford Brookes University. Warr’s lecture provided a short critical history of durational performance. This was followed by a durational performance (of approximately 20 minutes) by internationally regarded artist Anya Liftig. The work ‘Produce/Procreate’ featured the artist gazing up at a cactus. Like a number of Liftig’s works, feminist associations could be drawn from this piece.

 We are very excited to  have OVADA as our new neighbour and look forward to their future exhibitions and events in their fabulous new venue!

This exhibition focusses on the influence of the artist, historian and poet, Sir Roland Penrose who founded the ICA in London.  He was largely responsible for establishing the English Surrealist movement, through coordinating  the International Surrealist Exhibition in 1936.

Tim Craven (curator), Desmond Morris, Tony Penrose

Desmond Morris & O3 Gallery Assistant Rona

A notable room, painted jungle green, displayes an array of paintings by Congo, Desmond Morris’s pet chimp from London Zoo.  These works are actually beautiful in their specific markings and colour and one can also watch a short video of Congo at work.

Congo at work

Painting by Congo

Although Desmond Morris is still producing a large amount of new work, it was interesting to see one of his very early works, which was included in the show.

Desmond Morris- A Girl Selling FLowers 1946

Sheila Legge, the phantom surrealist reappeared after her first appearance in Trafalgar square in 1936!

Sheila Legge, 1936Sheila Legge & Desmond Morris 2012

Here are some pictures from the event… Click to view slideshow.

We LOVE these gorgeous little fabric bead earrings by Annabelle Lou! The perfect present for any Aquarian birthday girls out there! £6.00 per pair – available at the O3 Gallery.

N.O.N.C.E

Friday 27^th Jan 2012, 8pm

North Wall Arts Centre, South Parade, Oxford, OX2 7NN

An underemployed artist lands the job of “poet-in-residence” at a high security prison.

Having toured Canada to much critical acclaim Steve Larkin unleashes “N.O.N.C.E.” on a UK audience for the first time.

This gripping show is an original piece of dramatic storytelling based on real life events that took place during the year he spent working as a ‘poet-in-residence’ at a high security ‘therapeutic’ prison. The subject matter is dark yet the load is lightened with “comedic flair”. A must see.

Steve Larkin is an internationally respected spoken word artist, a lecturer in performance poetry and storytelling, the founder of the UK’s largest poetry slam organisation, and a singer/song-writer. A passionate poetic firebrand described as a ‘spoken-word guru,’ and ambassador of ‘poetry for the hip-hop generation’, Steve is the only university lecturer in Oxford dedicated to performance poetry, leading the Performance Poetry and Storytelling module as part of the Oxford Brookes University’s Performing Arts Course.

“A darkly hypnotic, occasionally hilarious mini-masterpiece of slam storytelling.” -Vue Magazine

“a masterful rush of language that combines monologue, dramatic narrative and slam poetry” - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation July 2011

“sublime slam poetry with a gripping rap cadence…enthralling…run to this show!” - Uptown Magazine, July 2011 5 stars

Ticket are £10/£8 advanced and are available from North Wall box office 01865 319450 www.thenorthwall.org.

Catch Bill in the O3 Gallery on the evening of 1st March 2012 when he will be talking about the book and answering questions from the public.

Due to the political problem in Egypt, Cairo was devoid of tourists.  I visited The Egyptian Museum which was full of serious treasures including King Tut’s death mask and contained a special temperature controlled room full of mummies. We could not help but notice a burned out building in plain view outside the museum on Tahrir square.  In old Cairo, tranquil spots were tucked away off the noisy streets.  Visiting the pyramids was more impressive than one imagines and the history is truly overwhelming! Click to view slideshow.