OPENING
GOTHIC: ART FOR ENGLAND 1400-1547
9 October 2003 -18 January 2004
The Victoria and Albert Museum will open its major autumn exhibition,
Gothic: Art for England 1400-1547, on 9th October showing for the first
time the glory of late medieval art from the reign of Henry IV to the
reign of Henry VIII. The exhibition is the successor to the acclaimed
Age of Chivalry (1200-1400) at the Royal Academy in 1987/88.
The V&A
Gothic exhibition covers the period brought to life by Shakespeare's great
history plays such as Henry V and Richard III, a period that evokes Agincourt,
war with France, the Wars of the Roses and a time of English insularity.
The exhibition will show, by contrast, how against this backdrop, the
huge wealth and extensive patronage of monarchs, aristocrats, the Church
and merchants made the late medieval years one of the richest periods
for the arts in England. Fires, war, and the Reformation have destroyed
much of the art of the period making the surviving art and artefacts extremely
rare. The exhibition brings together a superb collection of surviving
treasures with more than 300 objects including tapestries, manuscripts,
sculptures, paintings, armour, jewellery, gold and silver chalices and
reliquaries, plate, altarpieces, tomb effigies and stained glass.
Highlights
include: the funerary helmet, shield and sword of Henry V; the crown of
Margaret of York (sister of Edward IV), which has been in Germany for
500 years; the gold Reliquary of the Order of St.-Esprit owned by the
wife of Henry IV and lent by the Louvre; a monumental stained-glass window
from St. Mary's, Fairford; an early edition of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
printed by William Caxton in 1483; the gold and enamel Dunstable Swan
Jewel; the silver salt and beautifully detailed silver-gilt crosier of
the fabulously wealthy Bishop Fox, Bishop of Winchester, one of only three
surviving late medieval silver crosiers.
CONTINUING
ZOOMORPHIC
Contemporary Space
18 September 2003 - 4 January 2004
Today's leading architects from Santiago Calatrava and Frank Gehry to
Will Alsop and Norman Foster are being inspired by animal forms to take
modern architecture in an exciting new direction. Not since the emergence
of Art Nouveau a century ago has there been such an eruption of new building
inspired by the natural world. It has been made possible by new building
materials, computer design software, brilliant structural engineers and
the suspension of the old rules of architectural good taste. Zoomorphic
pulls together the worldwide buildings and projects which are in the vanguard
of this new movement, and explores it by displaying architectural models
and photographs alongside skeletons and stuffed specimens. Projects featured
include Santiago Calatrava's Milwaukee Art Museum, which rises over its
city like a bird with wings outstretched; Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners'
Waterloo International Terminal, whose glazing panels are articulated
like the scales of creatures such as lizards or pangolins; and Foster
and Partners' Swiss Re London office tower, where not only the appearance
but the structure and even the ventilation system bear analogy with sea
sponges.
**HALF
TERM FOR KIDS**
Zoomorphic - The Playdoh Skyline
Saturday 25 October to Sunday 2 November, 11.00 - 16.00
Create your own zoomorphic additions to the urban skyline using Playdoh.
Moulded by hand, Playdoh forms are automatically 'lifelike'. By placing
your Playdoh buildings alongside images of other buildings, both conventional
and zoomorphic, children and frustrated architects of all ages will be
able to leave their animal mark on the city. Free
of charge. Location: In the Zoomorphic exhibition.
OSSIE CLARK
15 July -2 May 2004
The V&A celebrates the work of Ossie Clark, one of the most influential
British fashion designers of the '60s and '70s. This mini-retrospective,
featuring more than 60 garments, along with sketchbooks and photographs,
covers the period 1965-1974 when Clark's designs helped define the spirit
of fashionable London. From the maxi skirt to the 'nude' look and the
trouser suit, Clark's designs set new trends. In addition, his collaboration
with his wife, the textile and interior designer Celia Birtwell, resulted
in some of his best known and most popular creations.
Ossie Clark
was a key figure in the world of photographers, designers, rock stars
and other celebrities who took London by storm in the '60s and '70s. The
famous and the fashionable wore Ossie Clark's designs including Marianne
Faithfull, Jimi Hendrix and Patti Boyd. He created jumpsuits for Mick
Jagger, silk dresses for Bianca Jagger and dressed Eartha Kitt in snakeskin.
Fashion icons like Twiggy, Veruschka, Jean Shrimpton and Penelope Tree
modelled the clothes while David Bailey and Guy Bourdin took the photographs.
Celebrity outfits in the show include Twiggy's fur-lined snakeskin coat,
the dress Celia Birtwell posed in for David Hockney's famous double portrait
Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy and Talhlita Getty's red crêpe evening
dress.
NEW ACQUISITIONS IN THE PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY
PHOTOJOURNALISM 1930-1970: RECENT GIFTS TO THE V&A - 11 August
-2 November 2003
This exhibition, on show in the temporary display area of the V&A's
new photography gallery, celebrates two significant new acquisitions of
20th century photographs. Examples from a body of work by David Seymour
('Chim') will be shown together with photographs and related material
from the archive of the John Hillelson Agency, including work by Erich
Salomon, Gisèle Freund and Ernst Haas. Also on show are works from
the V&A's world renowned photography collection.
EVENTS
AT THE V&A
Black History Month 2003
28 September - 2 November 2003 and beyond
Free events and activities for all ages
Black History Month celebrates Britain's black heritage with activities
for families and people of all ages.
Celebrating
Africa Weekend
Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 October
Join us to celebrate and explore the culture and traditions of the African
Diaspora. Leading musicians and photographers will guide you through the
diversity of this continent with a grand finale from musician, Modeste
Hughes from Madagascar.
**HALF
TERM CARNIVAL FOR KIDS**
Carnival Costume and Banner Making
25 October -2 November, 11.00-13.00 & 14.00-17.00
Carnival is the theme for Autumn half term so come and join in by creating
a drawing or collage that says something about your individual identity,
and add it to the carnival costume or banners.
For information
on these and other Black History Month events - call 020 7942
2211
The
Big Draw -Be Remembered
18 & 19 October, 11.00 -13.00 & 14.00 -17.00
Pick up your drawing materials at the V&A and show how you would like
to be remembered as part of the national celebration of drawing. First
have a polaroid taken of your face, then mount it on paper and draw your
body with the clothes and objects which you think represent you. A picture
to keep for the future. Drawing materials all provided. Location: Chinese
Gallery. Drop in event and free of charge.
RIBA/V&A Critical Debate - Buildings, Meanings and People
-with Daniel Libeskind and Stephen Poliakoff 25 October 11.00 - 16.00
This critical debate, chaired by Patrick Wright, will include panel discussions,
individual presentations and one-to-one conversations. The speakers are:
Daniel Libeskind, Stephen Poliakoff, Linda Grant, Langlands & Bell,
Richard Sennett.
Full price: £36. Booking number: 020 7942 2209
Friday
Late - Gothic
31 October 18.30 - 22.00
To tie-in with the V&A's major autumn exhibition Gothic: Art for England
1400-1547 Friday Late View goes Gothic. Expect a chilling mix of film,
music, performance and story-telling. Bar and food til late.
Wednesday
Late View Lecture
A century of saving art - by the Director of the NACF
29 October 19.15 - 20.02
Since its inception, the National Art Collections Fund has helped save
over half a million works of art for British public collections, with
over 35,000 going to the V&A. The future NACF exhibition will feature
many artefacts from the V&A's collection. David Barrie, Director of
the Art Fund, will look back at the highlights of the last 100 years.
KIDS AT THE V&A
Activity Back-Packs
Every Saturday 10.30-17.00
Children can hoist a Back-Pack on their shoulders and embark upon an adventure
across the Museum. Back-Pack tours are full of exciting hands-on activities
related to the collections. There are eight Back-Packs to choose from:
Chinese Treasures, Metal Detector, The Explorer, The Antique Detective,
Magic Glasses, Fancy Furnishings, Murder Mystery and The Emperor's Party.
Activities can last 30-45 minutes. For children aged 5-12 years.
The
Activity Cart
Every Sunday 10.30 - 17.00
Explore the Museum's collections through drawing and making activities.
The Activity Cart is sited in a different gallery each weekend. Loaded
with a huge variety of activities ranging from making mosaics in the Sculpture
Gallery to designing a kimono in the Japanese Gallery. Activities are
suitable for children aged 3 to 12 years. All children must be accompanied
by an adult.
MUSEUM
OF CHILDHOOD AT BETHNAL GREEN,
A BRANCH OF THE V&A Family Learning Day
12 October
Educational games and activities for the family as part of Family Learning
Weekend. Free. The Big Draw
18 & 19 October
Arts activities in the galleries as part of this national celebration
of drawing. Free.
Teddy
Bear Story -100 years of the teddy bear
29 March -31 December
Teddy Bear Story -100 years of the Teddy Bear celebrates our ongoing affection
for the teddy bear. Taking place at the Museum of Childhood at Bethnal
Green, part of the V&A, it is the most comprehensive exhibition being
staged to commemorate the teddy bear centenary. Highlights include:
· Celebrity bears -including Rupert, Paddington, Winnie the Pooh,
Sooty and Aloysius from Brideshead Revisited.
· Some of the oldest surviving bears feature alongside newer creations
such as Philippe Starck's contemporary teddy bear.
Interactive and fun displays demonstrate the hallmarks of individual manufacturers,
and also highlight the roles played by teddy bears in television, books,
music, cartoons and charities. Children are encouraged to draw and follow
trails as they learn about the history of the teddy bear. Famous Bears
27 October Come and find out more about Winnie the Pooh, Rupert and Paddington.
Free.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
FREE ADMISSION FOR ALL.
The V&A is open daily 10am - 5.45pm and until 10pm on Wednesdays.
The nearest underground station is South Kensington (Piccadilly, District
and Circle lines).
For general information call 020 7942 2000.
Website: www.vam.ac.uk
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