Woolwich Arsenal

Woolwich Arsenal is an odd name for a place so how did that come about? Back in the 1600's an ammunition laboratory was established. Given a royal warrant in 1695 it quickly expanded to include a gun foundry. Convict labour was used to build an eight foot wall around its boundary. At its peak during WWI 80,000 people were employed in the manufacture of weapons. It finally closed in 1940.

The sculpture "Assembly" by Peter Burke is made up of sixteen men that are formed in four pieces. However each figure has one quarter missing so you can see inside.

Perhaps seeking the sanity of weapons manufacture?

Hymn by Hirst

Damien Hirst's "Hymn" outside the Tate Modern as part of the Hirst retrospective exhibition.

Controversial as always the critics have plenty to say about his wealth, some calling him the biggest conman of our times.
The toy manufacturer Humbrol sued Hirst over this sculpture. They claimed it is a scaled up version of a model they sell to teach anatomy to children.
An out of court settlement was agreed with Hirst paying an undisclosed sum to charity.

No Bull

Today I am sharing with you the delivery note I have just received from UPS:
"A correct street number is needed for delivery. UPS is attempting to obtain this information.
A postcard has been sent to the recipient requesting that they contact UPS."

I rang them, and yes the postcard has been sent to the correct address. The same one as on the parcel.

Solar Tree

This solar tree sculpture popped up during design week. Pretty and functional, 'solar tree' can function independently for up to three days. Alternatively it can feed power back into the grid.

It will remain in St John's Square in Clerkenwell until after the Games.

A Story in Stone

Above the entrance to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is this sculpture depicting king John handing the Magna Carter to the Barons at Runnymede.
The building was constructed in the early 1900's which surprised me as it appears similar to those around it at Westminster.

St Martin's Baby

Thousands visit Trafalgar Square every week, how many know about this baby overlooking the square? In the entrance to St Martin's in the Field (the church across the road from the square) lying on the top of a 4.5 tonne block of Portland stone is this sculpture of a baby. Connected to the earth by its umbilical cord. Commissioned for the millennium, sculptor Mike Chapman wanted to create something that would remind people just whose birthday the celebration was all about.

Spiderman Band

Do not try this at home!

Backache

Makes you feel like sitting down doesn't it.

Cathedral in Her Hands

That's St Paul's Cathedral she's holding. I had to hang over the edge of Vaxhaull Bridge to get this for you. A passerby not sure if I was planning to jump or not. Each side of the bridge has these amazing huge statues that are very difficult to see. The best view is by boat but even then you only get a view from the route the boat takes under the bridge. The upstream side the sculptures by F W Pomeroy are pottery, engineering, agriculture and the one pictured here; architecture. The downstream side sculptures by Alfred Drury are education, fine art, science and local government.

Monopoly - Liverpool St Station

Monopoly Board £200.

One of London's busiest stations seeing 123 million people a year pass through.

This entrance to the station has a sculpture as a memorial to the 10,000 Jewish children who were brought to the UK a few months prior to the second World War from Nazi Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Danzig. They were placed in foster homes, hostels and farms.

Tooth

Visiting the dentist today so teeth on my mind.
Giant tooth sculpture is by Gary Webb an English artist who lives and works in London. He works with industrial materials producing playful often humorous pieces. The piece is in a private collection in Italy.

Watt - Inventor

James Watt was seen by contemporaries as the founder of the Industrial Revolution. His improved engine meant that steam could be used everywhere, not just in coal mines, boosting output in breweries, potteries and textile mills.

When Watt died in 1819, his workshop at his home near Birmingham, was locked and its contents left undisturbed as an 'industrial shrine'. Then in 1924, the complete workshop including contents, was transported to the Science Museum. Now for the first time is on public display.

During his retirement Watt turned to sculpture, turning out a huge number of busts, many of himself. He will no doubt be delighted that his head will be portrayed on the new £50 note.

Another View

Well we're still in the park, with yet another sculpture by Anish Kapoor. Sheltering beneath the large red circle is an Egyptian goose looking across the lake.
I hope the outlook for the Egyptians beneath the large red sun is as bright as it is for the goose.

Spire in the Park

Another Anish Kapoor sculpture in Kensington Gardens. The spire reflects itself if you stand a few feet back from it.

Our Silences

Ten enormous sculptures form a circle in Victoria Tower Gardens. The work of Mexican sculpture Nuestros Silencios (Our Silences) is on display to mark the bicentenary of Mexico's independence. Each statue has a plate covering the mouth, symbolising freedom of speech and expression.
Already shown in major cities around the world the exhibition moves on to Paris after London.
Really worth a visit if you are in London. Parisians keep a watch out for it when it comes over to you.

Skywatch Friday - Superwoman

David Wynne's statue of the girl with the dolphin is generally photographed including all of tower bridge and the dolphin (of course).
My take on her is as a super woman flying through London skies, having just dived over tower bridge.
Look we don't get too many blue skies at this time of the year and it drives us wild with excitement.

Visit other skywatchers around the world.

Ice Music and Norwegian Lullabies

Freezing hands occurred bringing this image to you.
Norwegian artist Terje Isungset first carves and sculpts musical instruments from his native lakes, rivers and ancient glaciers. He then plays these fragile instruments and is accompanied by the voice of Lena Nymark singing traditional lullabies.

The sound is hauntingly beautiful.

Playing in a temporary igloo on the terrace of Somerset House this weekend. Although the few concerts are sold out, you can buy one of their CD's.

I was able to get a quick shot of a couple of the instruments (left) before they were whisked into the freezer for protection until the next concert. The small instrument above, I suspect a broken piece, was the prize for this lad who missed out on tickets to the show.

Lines and Shadows

Euston Square can look rather bleak and uninteresting. Not a place you would choose to wander around. Desperately hungry in search of a sandwich, I was suprised to find this rather stunning sculpture. The figure in the distance is a digital girl constantly walking.

Giant Jellybabies

Enough to give a whole classroom a tummy-ache

Budget Cuts Hit Hard

Major cuts to the arts budgets has seen humans lose their jobs in great numbers. The cheaper wages of gulls have seen them take over as security guards and curators