10 x 10

A number of local artists and craftspeople work from the studios on the top floor of Valentines Mansion and an annual exhibition gives them a chance to showcase their incredible talent, with paintings, stained glass, sculpture and so much more. This year the artists are exhibiting within the boundaries of 10 x 10. This relates to the size of work produced by each artist uniting the group and their diverse practices.

Not only are the works small but this is also a very modest exhibition with seven artists represented by one work each. Given the space available in the Mansion (with a new room opening next week) and with work having, on occasion, been shown throughout the house, this exhibition seems to reveal a lack of ambition on the part of its curators.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nick Drake - From The Morning.

Windows on the world (190)

Ilford, 2012

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

George Harrison - All Things Must Pass.

London Pride Festival of Art and Design

Six decades of art and design in London are celebrated at the London Pride Festival of Art and Design. Visitors to The London Pride Festival have the pleasure of viewing some of the most amazing artwork and creations from the following exhibitors:

Design Museum - design icons and works celebrating 60 years of British design. This exhibition is located in a Marquee on the front lawn of the Valentines Mansion and includes items from The London Design Museum supplied by Sir Terence Conran. Also located in this marquee are exhibits from Valentines Mansion studio artists.
Saatchi Gallery - iconic Mini by Damien Hirst. The Saatchi Gallery has loaned the Iconic Mini from Damien Hirst. This is located on the circular lawn at the back of Valentines Mansion.
The Queen's Beasts by Tom Hiscocks are dramatic sculptures of up to two metres high and are re-imaginings of the original Queen's beast which were created for the coronation. They include the Griffin of Edward II, the Unicorn, the Bull and the Horse of Hanover. This exhibition is also on the circular lawn at the back of Valentines Mansion.
London Metropolitan University - future design. The London Metropolitan University is located in a marquee in the Walled Garden next to the Gardeners Cottage Cafe. Their exhibits will include 3D printing.
Royal College of Art - architectural models and displays. The Royal College of Art will be providing models from their world class leading school of Architecture. This exhibition is located with The Design Museum marquee.
Tate Gallery- works of art from modern British artists. Artwork from the following artists is on display at the Ground Floor, Valentines Mansion; Francis Bacon, Sarah Lucas, Lucian Freud, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Anthony Caro, Bridget Riley, Chris Ofili, Richard Long, Rachel Whiteread and Howard Hodgkin.
Central St Martins School of Art and Design - British talent old and new. Artwork from the following artists is on display in The Design Museum marquee; Jan Rose, Amy Pliszka, David Bennett, Jack Holt, Oleg Mitrofanov and Lydia Wong. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Noah And The Whale - Life Is Life.

Windows on the world (189)

Ilford, 2012

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Florence and the Machine - Dog Days Are Over.

Windows on the world (187)

Ilford, 2012

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jim White - My Brother's Keeper.

London Pride: 60 years of bright ideas

Redbridge will welcome HM Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh for a visit to Valentines Park and Mansion with a four day festival and exhibition celebrating art & design in London over the last six decades. 
Major galleries, museums, colleges and universities will exhibit works of art and iconic design during this unique event, including the Tate and Saatchi galleries.

Other attractions will include vintage fun fair rides, local bands, Classic British Cars, local artists, and much more.

A special Designer/Maker’s Craft Fair including 40 stalls will take place on Saturday and Sunday featuring the best from the famous Old Spitalfields Market, which is dedicated to showcasing the UK’s most talented designers and makers, including beautifully crafted and bespoke ceramics, textiles and fashion items. For more information visit www.designersmakers.com.

Children and families will love ‘Pink Milk and Giant Peaches’ - a Big Top book party. Combining set design and the best in children's book illustrations Pink Milk and Giant Peaches bring the ages of books alive. Children will enjoy climbing through the Hungry Caterpillar's apple, joining in the Mad Hatter's tea party and going on a bear hunt. Storytellers and authors will be reading from the best loved children's literature throughout the weekend.

The London Pride Festival of Art and Design - 60 years of bright ideas
Date: Thursday 29 March to Sunday 1 April
Time: Thursday 2pm-5pm, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 11am-5pm
Age: Suitable for all ages
Tickets: Free
Bookings: No need to book, just drop in
Six decades of art and design in London to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. This is one event that you certainly won’t ever forget, so don’t miss it, put a note in your diary, come along and be a part of history.

Exhibitors will include:

• The Tate Gallery – works of art from modern British artists
• The Design Museum – design icons and works celebrating 60 years of British design
• The Saatchi Gallery – iconic Mini
• Central St Martins School of Art and Design – British Design talent old and new
• Royal College of Art – architectural models & displays
• London Metropolitan University - future design

Other attractions during the event will include:

• Classic British Cars
• Refreshments
. Visit the new dry garden, the first major piece of planting in Valentines Mansion & Gardens since the Rose Garden in the 1870s.
• Activities for children including Milk & Giant Peaches – A Big Top Book Party.  
• Local bands (Saturday & Sunday only)
• Local artists
• Artworks by Redbridge Schools
• Open house at the Artists Studios, Valentines Mansion
(Saturday & Sunday only)
• Designer/Makers Craft Fair – Saturday & Sunday only, featuring about 40 stalls with the best from the famous Spitalfields Market. For more information visit www.designersmakers.com.
• Funfair on Melbourne Field with Vintage rides including traditional swingboats and carousel. (charges apply). Fair will be open 11am-8pm Thursday-Sunday.

Visit www.redbridge.gov.uk/jubilee  for the most up-to-date information.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen.

A Local Dialogue

From January to March 2011, Artist in Residence Sadia Ur-Rehman hosted six tea parties at Valentines Mansion as part of her project ‘A Local Dialogue’. Over 150 million cups of tea are drunk daily in Britain today, we are now a nation of tea drinkers with tea being our most drunk and favourite beverage. Ur-Rehman as a tea lover herself decided to host the tea parties for local residents, creating a communal space for local people to meet and discuss the local area.

‘’The idea for the tea parties came about from my own love of the beverage and how a good cuppa can be the setting for a really good conversation. I wanted to create a space where strangers could connect and engage over a conversation and I thought about an activity that all communities and cultures shared, and tea drinking seemed apt.”

Each tea party served a different type of tea from a different part of the world, guests were able to experience how tea is drunk in South Asia, North Africa, Persia, China and of course England. An authentic experience was provided with each tea party, Ur-Rehman also set a topic of conversation about the local area and history. During the tea parties, the artist collected and recorded stories, memories, experiences of the local area and Valentines Mansion.

The exhibition at Valentines Mansion which is open till Sunday 24th July is a culmination of the conversations that took place during the tea parties and the walk the artist facilitated in April. The artist has utilised a range of multimedia practices to present the conversations from an audio installation, silent film, photographs and an installation dedicated to tea. The project was initiated to empower local communities to play a part in the creation of art through local engagement; local residents whom attended the tea parties and walk played a vital role in this. The project so far has engaged 120 local residents as participants of the project, making art accessible to new audiences and increasing participation in the arts across Redbridge.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Bruce Cockburn - The Iris of the World.