Sunday, January 08, 2012
Hunting for profit and culture.
We had a very enjoyable time at the Woking collectables and flea market.
There is always time for talking. There were conversations a plenty between us and various stall holders - including the man who wanted to teach me everything he knew about British paper weights and the way they are made. I must know something - I picked as favourite on his stall the one that probably cost most.....about £230. One thing I realised that I did know is the difference between very cheap ones and the hand made ones from a good studio.
We both bought things - my collection of things, now on the dining room table, didn't cost me very much. Bill bought a lovely large wooden airplane, which would enhance any gentleman's desk. He also bought a couple of old cameras and some model soldiers.
But we had planned that our day would not be just about buying things.
I decided that I would like to go to the Light Box, an interesting modern building, even though it did rather resemble a box. It is the home of the Woking art gallery and museum and has facilities for study.
This long hanging was suspended from the ceiling of the foyer and stairs. It was called Round of Applause.
I like pictures and had been looking forward to the art gallery.
The exhibition is of work by 2 Surrey brothers of the late 17th century.
Their work was skilful, but not demanding any emotional or intellectual input from the viewer. They painted churches and mansions mostly - very accurately and very symmetrically.
At least I found a picture that was of something a bit different.
This paper sculpture appealed much more, The paper is white with hand cut holes and hung in exciting ways.
The artist actually invited responses from the viewers. She had left a book for comments.
Bill invented a wordy phrase for her - coralised sea creature.
On reflection, the sea comes to my mind too - sea spray and foam being blown and tossed in the wind.
The museum section had sections devoted to Brookwood - the cemetary and the mental asylum.
One day we will visit the cemetary - its on my list of things to do.
There were exhibits about the asylum on display and other information and objects could be found in cupboards and doors, bearing words connected with mental health.
Open the cupboard door and find equipment for administering ECT treatment to the brain. Scary!
Once just posters for railway travel and now, quiet rightly, works of art.
Love this one.
This was in a section devoted to rail travel and Woking Station.
A fabric picture made by a Woking needlewoman,
Woking was birthplace or residence of a number of famous people.
HG Wells got good coverage from me last time we were there.
Paul Weller's guitar amongst a lot of recordings and ephemera.
Staus Quo also get a mention.
Woking has a strong football tradition - though in a lower league than Crawley these days.
Here is a match ball from 1908.
J Monk was a member of the team.
Looking from the gallery down to a sculpture.
When I look at the picture I can't help thinking of giggly school boys, standing up there and trying to look down the front of a woman's dress!
It is the way that materials have been used that make this "box" appear to be an architectural masterpiece.
By this time, it was rather late for breakfast - well, we had had enough before we left home.
We decided it was lunchtime.
So off we went to find the home of The Invisible Man (HG Wells novel). It is a Wetherspoons' pub and we opted for the Sunday roast deal.
I had the vegetarian option, just because I know that the mushroom, chick pea and pine nut roast is so very tasty.
The Invisible Man continues to read beside us as we dined.
And drank!
We arrived home, feeling completely exhausted.
Maybe it was the pint of Guinness!
Or maybe we were tired from a surfeit of activity.
There has been resting going on this afternoon.
Fortunately we will not be off to Dorking in the morning.
We have swapped days with Mick and so will be going on on Tuesday instead.
Time tomorrow to write up all my purchases.
There is always time for talking. There were conversations a plenty between us and various stall holders - including the man who wanted to teach me everything he knew about British paper weights and the way they are made. I must know something - I picked as favourite on his stall the one that probably cost most.....about £230. One thing I realised that I did know is the difference between very cheap ones and the hand made ones from a good studio.
We both bought things - my collection of things, now on the dining room table, didn't cost me very much. Bill bought a lovely large wooden airplane, which would enhance any gentleman's desk. He also bought a couple of old cameras and some model soldiers.
But we had planned that our day would not be just about buying things.
I decided that I would like to go to the Light Box, an interesting modern building, even though it did rather resemble a box. It is the home of the Woking art gallery and museum and has facilities for study.
This long hanging was suspended from the ceiling of the foyer and stairs. It was called Round of Applause.
The exhibition is of work by 2 Surrey brothers of the late 17th century.
Their work was skilful, but not demanding any emotional or intellectual input from the viewer. They painted churches and mansions mostly - very accurately and very symmetrically.
At least I found a picture that was of something a bit different.
This paper sculpture appealed much more, The paper is white with hand cut holes and hung in exciting ways.
The artist actually invited responses from the viewers. She had left a book for comments.
Bill invented a wordy phrase for her - coralised sea creature.
On reflection, the sea comes to my mind too - sea spray and foam being blown and tossed in the wind.
The museum section had sections devoted to Brookwood - the cemetary and the mental asylum.
One day we will visit the cemetary - its on my list of things to do.
There were exhibits about the asylum on display and other information and objects could be found in cupboards and doors, bearing words connected with mental health.
Once just posters for railway travel and now, quiet rightly, works of art.
Love this one.
This was in a section devoted to rail travel and Woking Station.
A fabric picture made by a Woking needlewoman,
Woking was birthplace or residence of a number of famous people.
HG Wells got good coverage from me last time we were there.
Paul Weller's guitar amongst a lot of recordings and ephemera.
Staus Quo also get a mention.
Woking has a strong football tradition - though in a lower league than Crawley these days.
Here is a match ball from 1908.
J Monk was a member of the team.
When I look at the picture I can't help thinking of giggly school boys, standing up there and trying to look down the front of a woman's dress!
It is the way that materials have been used that make this "box" appear to be an architectural masterpiece.
By this time, it was rather late for breakfast - well, we had had enough before we left home.
We decided it was lunchtime.
So off we went to find the home of The Invisible Man (HG Wells novel). It is a Wetherspoons' pub and we opted for the Sunday roast deal.
I had the vegetarian option, just because I know that the mushroom, chick pea and pine nut roast is so very tasty.
The Invisible Man continues to read beside us as we dined.
And drank!
We arrived home, feeling completely exhausted.
Maybe it was the pint of Guinness!
Or maybe we were tired from a surfeit of activity.
There has been resting going on this afternoon.
Fortunately we will not be off to Dorking in the morning.
We have swapped days with Mick and so will be going on on Tuesday instead.
Time tomorrow to write up all my purchases.
Labels: Woking
