Dr M birthday

Up in London on Saturday for Dr M's birthday. Did a spot of art stuff too ...

First, Rothko at the Tate Modern. Can't say I was a fan beforehand. Certainly can't say I'm a fan afterwards. His sort of über-abstractism (monotone canvases labelled as "untitled [1967]") does nothing for me. In his defense, I'd say that the one bit I did (mildly) enjoy was one room from the exhibit in which a number of canvases had been hung, partially in line with his own plan for them. That kind-of gave me a hint of an inkling of what some people might see in him (i.e. whole greater than the sum of its parts), but it was small consolation for me. Still, it was a hugely popular exhibition judging from patron numbers, and everyone else did seem to be drawing a lot more from it than me.

Next, after meeting up with Dr M and Sarah, we wandered over to the Courtauld Institute (one of Sarah's old haunts) and took part in an "art happening". Equipping ourselves with paper, pencils, chalk and charcoal, we did a bit of sketching for half an hour.

In a postmodern vein, here's my sketch of Dr M making a sketch of me ...
And here's my sketch of one of the dancers that the Institute laid on as subjects for visitor's to sketch ...
It's been years and years since I did any drawing at all, so the fact these weren't completely awful (to me anyway) came as something of a relief.

Next up was a trip to the National Portrait Gallery, not for art this time, but to use their rooftop bar. Here's the view south from the bar taking in Nelson's Column and Big Ben ...
Finally, we washed up in a pub near the LSE for drinks, company ...
... and food ...