London-Taxis.net 0203 00 44 953» london arts

Taxi Marshals at Tate Modern Event for Tacita Dean

blog — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:51:00 +0000

Book one of our Licensed London Taxis Online or phone +44 (0)203 00 44 953

Last night, our Taxi Marshals helped 360 guests to get taxis after an event at the Tate Modern.

The event was the Unilever Series Dinner celebrating the Artist Tacita Dean’s installation in the Turbine Hall of the Tate Modern. Tacita Dean is the latest artist to create a commission for Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall as part of the Unilever Series.

The event was arranged by the corporate entertaining company Alison Price.

Tacita Dean is a British artist now based in Berlin, best known for her use of film. Dean’s films act as portraits or depictions rather than conventional cinematic storytelling, capturing fleeting natural light or subtle shifts in movement.

360 guests, leaving the Tate Modern between 9pm and midnight last night, requested the security and convenience of having Licensed London Black Taxis on-hand to get them safely home. Getting that many taxis to one place during a specified time period is a specialist service that our taxi marshals perform with utmost precision.

If you are running a big event, our Taxi Marshal Service can help get your participants to their destinations safely and efficiently. Our marshals, who are all licensed London taxi drivers, aid passengers to get a Licensed London Black Taxi to their destination and provide a safe waiting environment.

You can find more information about our service on our Taxi Marshal page.

———————————————————————————————–
To Book one of our Licensed London Taxis:

by phone – +44 (0)203 00 44 953
online – use our booking form
or send us a message with any questions you might have

———————————————————————————————–

www.london-taxis.net

+44 (0)203 00 44 953

Fibre Arts in London

blog — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 12:43:36 +0000

www.dream-weaver.co.uk

Book one of our Licensed London Taxis Online or phone +44 (0)7779 336 612

Being a newly addicted threadhead, I decided to do a little research on fibre arts in and around London. Here is what I’ve found so far:

Fabrications

Fabrications is the shop and studio of textile artist Barley Massey, located on Broadway Market in East London.

“If you’re interested in contemporary textile practise, eco design and sustainable thinking, looking for knitting and sewing supplies, craft classes and events or want to connect with a creative community, step this way!”

My favourites are her Shirt & Tie cushions and Rethink Rubbish craft kits.

City Lit

City Lit, with their main site on Keely Street in Covent Garden, offers textile and basketry courses. Here are just a few of their many fascinating workshops:

3-Dimensional Crochet. Develop three dimensional pieces for jewellery, toys or sculptural objects using advanced techniques like shaping, working in the round and freeforming.

Basketry: Line, Strip, Form. Design and make three dimensional forms with woven and braiding techniques.

Colour Onto Cloth. Explore methods of colouring cloth using dyes and pigments.

Drawing With Stitch. Explore the use of hand and machine stitch as drawing tools.

Royal School of Needlework

The RSN, at Hampton Court Palace, is the international centre for teaching, practicing and promoting hand embroidery across a wide range of techniques.

They offer hand embroidery courses for all levels; conservation and restoration of historic needlework or creation of new embroideries in their Studio; tours to see some of our needlework Collection and more.

The Victoria and Albert Museum

The V&A is devoted to the decorative arts. Their National Collection of Textiles covers a period of more than 2000 years. Most techniques are represented, including woven, printed and embroidered textiles, lace, tapestries and carpets.

You can develop your creative and practical textile skills in workshops or short courses. Here are a few that caught my eye:

Diaghilev Designs: Silk Scarves. Create a stylish hand-printed silk scarf inspired by the designs which Chanel, Picasso and Matisse produced for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes.

European Textiles: From Renaissance to Contemporary. Explore the sumptuous designs of Renaissance and Baroque silks and velvets, the artistry of Flemish tapestries and Elizabethan embroidery, and a variety of printed textiles such as toiles and chintz.

The World at Your Feet: A History of Carpets. Step into the secret world of carpets and explore how they have been traded as valuable commodities for centuries.

Lesley Craze Gallery

The Lesley Craze Gallery is an internationally recognised showcase for contemporary jewellery, metalwork and textiles. The gallery’s textile collections range from bold, large scale wall hangings to smaller scale products such as unique ties, bags and scarves.

Hidden Art London – Textiles

Hidden Art textile designers work in a variety of materials, producing innovative and classic designs. Many works are completely hand produced and can be commissioned.

From hand woven throws and stitched cushions to screen printed scarves and interior wallhangings, these textile designs spell comfort and warmth. Browse the full list of textile designers-makers based in London and beyond.

The Handweavers Studio

The Handweavers Studio in Seven Sisters Road (London N7, near Finsbury Park station) is heaven-on-earth for weavers, spinners, felters, dyers, embroiderers, and threadheads of all persuasions! They also have an extensive workshop programme and run regular weaving classes.

They carry yarns and fibres of all descriptions, equipment (looms, etc), and a large range of dyes (natural, acid and reactive)

The Button Queen

Of course, whatever you make with your fibres, you may need some unique buttons for it. The Button Queen is London’s only shop specialising in antique and modern buttons.

——————————————————-
To Book one of our Licensed London Taxis:

by phone – +44 (0)7779 336 612
online – use our booking form
or send us a message with any questions you might have

——————————————————-

www.london-taxis.net

+44 (0)7779 336 612

John Lennon Biopic to Premiere at London Film Festival

blog — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:01:21 +0000

Book a Taxi Online or phone Tel: +44 (0)7779 336 612

The world premiere of Sam Taylor-Woods “Nowhere Boy” will close out the Times BFI London Film Festival.

Organizers announced Monday that the John Lennon biopic “Nowhere Boy” will close out this year’s Times BFI London Film Festival.

The festival screening of Sam Taylor-Wood’s biopic on the early years of John Lennon’s life will serve as its world premiere, reportz the Hollywood Reporter.

The world premiere of Wes Anderson’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox” will open the Oct. 14-29 festival.

Aaron Johnson, who according to the Rolling Stone’s Rock & Roll Daily played a young Ed Norton in “The Illusionist,” plays young Lennon. Kristin Scott Thomas of “The English Patient” plays his aunt Mimi, who fought with the Beatle’s mother Julia, portrayed by Anne Marie-Duff, for custody. The film examines the impact this battle had over the budding musician and comes to a close when the Beatles leave Liverpool for Germany.

It will be released in the U.K. by Icon Film Distribution in December. The Weinstein Co. has U.S. rights for the film.

Tel: +44 (0)7779 336 612

www.londonblacktaxis.net

www.london-taxis.net

www.london-taxi-cabs.com

Arts chiefs on board as Cultural Olympiad for 2012 gets £16m

blog — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:41:21 +0000

Book a Taxi Online or phone +44 (0)7779 336 612

A who’s who of prominent figures from the arts world will be recruited to overhaul the Cultural Olympiad due to accompany the 2012 games in London, after a lottery boost of almost £16m for the project.

The attempt to link an ambitious programme of cultural events to the games was hailed by Lord Coe, the chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog), as an attempt to revive the spirit of the ancient Olympics. But it has faced criticism from some senior figures within the arts world for lacking focus and wasting money.

Tony Hall, chief executive of the Royal Opera House, was today confirmed as the chair of a new Cultural Olympiad board convened by Locog and the government in an attempt to revitalise the project. He said he had recruited a series of senior figures who would “want to get things done” and allow the Cultural Olympiad to, in effect, become a coalition of the biggest arts institutions in the UK.

The board will comprise Arts Council chief executive Alan Davey, Royal Shakespeare Company director Vicky Heywood, Barbican managing director Sir Nicholas Kenyon, BBC director general Mark Thompson, Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota, the mayor’s adviser on arts and culture Munira Mirza, and Jude Kelly, the Southbank Centre artistic director who has been overseeing the project to date.

Projects which have already been announced include an international Shakespeare festival, a UK-wide film project for young people and World River, a music festival to take place in London.Hall said the £16m in Lottery money would achieve that but that it was more important to forge a spirit of co-operation between all in the arts world and the Olympic organisers. Hall said he would review all the current plans in the autumn to ensure there was “clear leadership” and focus energies on the months of 2012 leading up to the games rather spreading events throughout the next three years.

“I have always believed that the Olympic and Paralympic games presents a fantastic opportunity for the arts in this country,” said Hall, who will report to the main Olympic board. “We have the ability to introduce a whole new generation to arts and culture and show the world what a creative and inspirational country this is.”

Locog, which said it always intend to pass on responsibility for the cultural olympiad to a dedicated board, will retain responsibility for the opening and closing ceremonies of the games.

+44 (0)7779 336 612

www.londonblacktaxis.net

www.london-taxis.net

www.london-taxi-cabs.com

East London: Quirky Fashion, Contemporary Art, & Unique Nosh

blog — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:04:11 +0000

Book a Taxi Online or phone +44 (0)7779 336 612

There are still some corners of London where quirky fashion, contemporary art, & cultural food thrives.

Go East to find areas that thrive with items crafted by young British designers. Brick Lane is one of those areas.

An old building that used to be the Truman Brewery stands out from the rest of the street and is packed with independent shops. The Truman Brewery has been an important creative and cultural hub.

One shop at the old brewery sells clothing made out recycled material. You can make a one-of-a-kind item from one of your old garments; just bring it to the shop and the designer will make it into a new item for you. Other shops sell vintage clothing. You can get an East London Quirky Shopping guide from visitlondon.com

Many shops in the area encourage young designers to display their collections by offering affordable rental rates, allowing talent scouts from major chains to find budding designers.

Besides Brick Lane and the Truman Brewery, East London has several neighborhoods boasting dozens of independent shops. Socially aware shoppers can buy a wedge card from www.wedgecard.co.uk for 10 pounds, of which 5 goes to a local charity. The card allows you to support local shops while obtaining special offers and discounts from over 150 businesses in the East End.

Apart from shopping, East London is also increasingly known for contemporary art, with many galleries, museums and shops. With more than 80 art galleries, there’s something for everyone’s taste in the East End. Don’t miss the famous WhiteCube and Whitechapel Art Gallery, but also look out for hidden gems scattered all around this area waiting to be discovered. Dozens of the area’s galleries host cultural events and contemporary art exhibitions.

And talk about food! If you’re after comfort food, Brick Lane is THE place for bagels and baltis. If you are craving a curry or just need a quick bite, head for the famous Brick Lane Beigel Bake, which is ALWAYS open–24 hours a day, 365 days a year. (You are sure to see one or two London Black Taxi drivers in there at any time of the day or night!)

At visitlondon.com, you can download a guide called DIY East that will show you where to find East London’s quirky fashion, comtemporary art, and posh (and not so posh) nosh.

+44 (0)7779 336 612

www.londonblacktaxis.net

www.london-taxis.net

www.london-taxi-cabs.com

Artist seeks stars for “living monument” in London

blog — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:13:40 +0000

LONDON (AFP) — British sculptor Antony Gormley invited members of the public to submit themselves as works of art for a new ‘living monument’ in London’s Trafalgar Square this summer.

Over 100 days, 2,400 people selected at random will spend an hour on top of the plinth in the north-west corner, doing whatever they want and with whatever props they want — with the sole condition that they are up there alone.

There will be someone on the plinth day and night between July 6 and October 14, and the exhibit will be filmed and broadcast live on the Internet and in the National Portrait Gallery, located on the north side of the square.

“The idea is very simple. Through putting a person onto the plinth, the body becomes a metaphor, a symbol,” said Gormley, whose most famous work is the Angel of the North, a steel sculpture five storeys high in northeast England. “This elevation of everyday life to the position formerly occupied by monumental art allows us to reflect on the diversity, vulnerability and particularity of the individual in contemporary society.

“It’s about people coming together to do something extraordinary and unpredictable. It could be tragic but it could also be funny.” The fourth plinth was built in 1841 and intended for an equestrian statue but was left empty for lack of funds. A public art scheme has seen it occupied by different works since 1999. One of the most famous sculptures was Marc Quinn’s marble depiction of British artist Alison Lapper, who was born without arms and shortened legs and who posed for him while heavily pregnant.

Participants in Gormley’s project, “One And Other”, will be chosen at random from the list of applicants, with the only criteria being that half are men and half women, and Britain’s regions are represented proportionally.