Francis Cadell

Edinburgh artist Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell was quite a character. He had a great sense of humour, was confident, flamboyant and charming, and had a great many friends who adored him. He was homosexual, at a time when it was illegal, and lived life to the full, spending outwith his means and socialising with high society. When times were tough his paintings paid for a roof over his head.
He painted landscapes (most famously of Iona, where he spent a lot of time), portraits, still lifes and my favourites of his works, grand interior spaces. I find it hard to believe that his paintings of the interior rooms in his George Street studio (my favourite; below) and Edinburgh Newtown townhouses were painted in the early 1920s. Some of the interiors look contemporary even by today's standards. He was fascinated with reflective surfaces, carefully placed objects, and liked the composition of a room beyond a room through open doorways.

 Last Thursday my parents were invited to a private viewing of the exhibition at The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, with Alice Strang, the author of F.C.B. Cadell; an emalgamation of all the research undertaken for the exhibition. Sebastian and I tagged along. It was fascinating.
The exhibition is Cadell's first solo show since his death in 1937. I recommend you go along and have a look. It's on till March 18th 2012.
image via here

Me and Mrs Jones

Another gem I came across at the Homes & Interiors Scotland Exhibition last Friday was Glasgow based, Niki Jones. These kantha quilts are made from the most beautiful vintage saris. These photographs don't even do them justice...in the flesh the colours are vibrant and the cotton super soft and lightweight yet snug. The only reason I don't own one yet is because I'd have to decide which to go for and my Libra brain can't take the pressure...

 

...the cushions and rugs are pretty special too.

see the Autumn/Winter 2011 catalogue here

Crazy Retro Colourways

Awesome interior by India Mahdavi

Wegman's Weimaraners

I'm determined to make it along to the Edinburgh Arts Centre to see William Wegman's photographs.
I have until the 24th October. The exhibition illustrates the family tree of all the weimaraners he has owned, capturing a body of 25 years' work, featuring over 60 pieces.
Has anyone been yet? What did you think?

100 Years Down Under

It may be a relatively short time to those of us in the UK but it's still 'history'...
Australia was colonised on 26 January 1788. It became 'The Commonwealth of Australia' upon federation of the states in 1901.
The Mitchell Library in Sydney, opened its doors on 9 March, 1910. So, they are currently celebrating one hundred years of collecting, collections and service to the people of New South Wales and Australia with an exhibition of pieces from their archives.
Along with the exhibition, they created this beautiful typographic alphabet using the collections in their archive.

Working closely with the State Library, Design agency Frost* came up with a way to take fragments of visuals of our collections and compose them into letters of the alphabet. This creative process began with O, U and T, and so began our campaign to take the Library OUT into the community.

You can take a closer look at how they have made up the letters from their collections on the website

They also have over a million photographs from their archives online...which is where I've been all morning! I LOVE old photos...Here are a few of my favourites...
Taken by Sam Hood on 17th June 1935, in the middle of the recession, these carpenters have all applied for just one job and are waiting in Philip Street to hear the result.
A couple saying goodbye as ships take soldiers from Sydney harbour to fight in World war II, Sam Hood, 1940-1945
The super stylish actress Helen Twelvetrees with her son Jack Woody (interesting surnames!), Sydney, 1936, taken by Sam Hood
Nine girls who entered a Shirley Temple look-a-like contest set up by Fox Films and the Daily Telegraph on 2nd October 1934. The prize was £100. Taken by Sam Hood.
Mitchell Library Reading Room, 1911-1912, by unknown photographer
See more pictures here