'I never met a color I didn't like'
~ Dale Chihuly
After conducting some light research on TimeOut, we decided on the Halcyon Gallery on New Bond Street for today’s destination where the seductively colourful works of the innovative artist-glassblower-entrepreneur Chihuly is currently on display. I had no idea how enthralled I could be by blown glass until today. I’ve seen documentaries about Venetian glass blowers and know how much skill is required to make even a simple vase or a glass marble using this age-old technique.
The way Chihuly manipulates the glass to create what he does is awe-inspiring. From the bowls which form Chihuly’s earliest series of pieces to the impossibly intricate chandeliers constructed from hundreds of individual pieces of blown glass, Chihuly creates something truly mesmerising. His love of nature is unmistakable, and as I wander around the gallery it feels like a journey through a glass garden, with its vivid colours, gentle lighting and delicate, floral shapes. A flick through one of his books shows how seamlessly Chihuly is able to not only incorporate nature in his art, but also incorporate his art back into nature, creating outdoor 'fiori' installations for display in world-famous botanical gardens.
The eye candy of the exhibition at the Halcyon Gallery is on display in the mezzanine. The specially constructed Mille Fiori is a 24-foot long breathtaking – and I mean literally breathtaking – masterpiece, which evokes the feeling of being in some enchanted underwater world. (“It was so beautiful. It made my heart hurt.” – Mandi.) As well as the glass pieces, Chihuly’s sketches and paintings are also exhibited, which are as lustrous and richly-coloured as his glass works. There’s not much more I can say, other than to inform you that the exhibition closes on the 29th February 2012 – don’t miss out.
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| See more photos from the exhibition here |
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| The Coach and Horses, Bruton Street |
Mandi and I strolled towards Mayfair, passing the cutest pub ever. The Coach and Horses pub is a quaint mock-tudor style building at 5 Bruton Street. It used to be one of the oldest buildings in the area until damage meant it had to be torn down and rebuilt. Much of the interior, however, is still original, and - another tittle of trivia for you - Queen Elizabeth II was born only a few doors down at number 17. We walked on to Berkeley Square, where we saw a house which was tied with a giant ribbon to look like an impressive present, before wandering into a little side street with Mandi desperately on the lookout for a loo.
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| Carmen and Armando |
We stopped to ask a lady sitting outside a small café, called La Strada if she could direct us to the nearest public toilet, to which she replied, ‘Come in, come in, you can use the toilet here... if you buy a drink.’ Deal. This Spanish-born, Italian-speaking woman, who we later find out is called Carmen, is the most fun and loveable waitress I have ever met, and provided us with endless entertainment during our meal. Walking into this place feels more like receiving the warmest invitation into an open house: it is as though we are being welcomed into a family. (However, those who use the toilet and then refuse to buy a drink are seen off by Carmen with “next time you do it in your pants!”)
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| La Strada's Rambler |
Mandi and I both order ‘La Strada’s Rambler’, a huge all-day brunch which was served with the best Americano I’ve had for a long, long time. Even the buttered toast was ridiculously tasty! The menu also includes a selection of traditional, home-cooked Italian pasta dishes, curries, sandwiches, pastries, scones and cakes, all to eat in or take away. Anything you can think of is on offer, and if it’s not, I have a sense that they’ll make it for you.
And to think we almost settled for Starbucks – thank goodness Mandi needed the toilet! So next time you’re looking for somewhere to warm your hands and your heart, La Strada in Mayfair is just what you need.
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| La Strada, 4-5 Lansdowne Row, London, W1J 6DS (map) |
On the way home, a Chagall in the window of the Opera Gallery caught Mandi’s eye, and we went in to see what other pieces the gallery was selling. We made the slightly disturbing observations that I’m drawn to artwork with themes death and erotica, usually simultaneously, while Mandi prefers picturesque scenes of efflorescing love. We rediscovered my soft side in Berkeley Square, where we stopped to read the dedicatory plaques on the benches. These little expressions of love and friendship tell of lasting friendships, family ties, tranquil reflection and rekindled romances. Reading them created the perfect end to the perfect day out.
On the way home, a Chagall in the window of the Opera Gallery caught Mandi’s eye, and we went in to see what other pieces the gallery was selling. We made the slightly disturbing observations that I’m drawn to artwork with themes death and erotica, usually simultaneously, while Mandi prefers picturesque scenes of efflorescing love. We rediscovered my soft side in Berkeley Square, where we stopped to read the dedicatory plaques on the benches. These little expressions of love and friendship tell of lasting friendships, family ties, tranquil reflection and rekindled romances. Reading them created the perfect end to the perfect day out.
You should have put up that photo on your FB profile. That is a good photo for this article. Love the look of that breakfast. Should try and go there with dad one fine day when Chinese Course is not taking up my life.
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