‘FORGOTTEN’ ARTWORKS AUCTIONED BY LAMBETH….A SUMMER OF CURIOSITY AT THE CUMING….SUMMER AT THE HORNIMAN
Four original paintings dating back to the 1870s were discovered by the late Mayor of Lambeth, Cllr Mark Bennett, in Lambeth Town Hall in Brixton.
They were sold for a combined £19,900 when they were put up for auction on Tuesday with the money to be used for the restoration of Lambeth’s War Memorials and works of art in the town hall.
Mayor Bennett, who was a keen local historian, passed away suddenly in February, not long after making the discovery while researching the history of Lambeth for a book he was writing.
Cllr Bennett’s successor as Mayor Cllr Adedamola Aminu said: “Cllr Bennett was fascinated by local history and it was his inquisitive nature that brought these paintings to light.
“It is in his honour that we have raised funds through the sale of these paintings to invest in our borough’s important historical memorials and art work.”
The pictures, by Alfred Augustus Glendening, Alfred Williams, Adam Edwin Proctor and Edwin Ellis, had been stored in the council’s basement for many years before being discovered last year.
It is thought that they were first displayed in Lambeth’s old town hall building in Kennington and brought to Brixton as early as 1908.
They were sold for between £1,900 and £12,000 each at Bonhams in Knightsbridge on Tuesday afternoon.
A SUMMER OF CURIOSITY AT THE CUMING
This summer, the Cuming Museum welcomes residents to the Cabinet of Curiosity – a series of workshops that will tour Southwark’s libraries over the coming months.
The workshops, which begin this month and last up until Spring 2015, will bring activities and unique objects from the Cuming collection to events and libraries across the borough.
They will give young people and families the opportunity to develop new craft skills and find out about the role of the museum and the rich cultural history of Southwark. The programme is a part of the museum’s Looking to the Futureproject, funded by Arts Council England.
Residents will be able to preview these interesting and creative new family workshops at this year’s Bermondsey Carnival on 28 June and at Elephant and the Nun on 16 August, as well as at Dulwich library on 26 July, at Peckham on 2 August and finally Canada Water on 9 August – before the series gets into full swing on Saturday afternoons from September 2014.
Southwark council leader Cllr Peter John said: “Southwark’s events are such an important part of the things we offer in Southwark, for not only our young people and families, but also adults as well.
“The Cuming Museum has worked incredibly hard over the last year especially to ensure we can still bring such interesting workshops to our residents. “It is a great opportunity for everyone to learn more about where we live and work, and what wonders once stood on our doorstep.”
The Cuming Museum will also be bringing a series of monthly talks for adults to John Harvard Library from Tuesday 17 June in a free set of events called Third Tuesdays. These will explore Southwark’s collection and vast history, kicking off with a fascinating historical account of the world famous Surrey Zoological Gardens complete with lions, tigers and even elephants, which once stood in Pasley Park, Walworth.
Other highlights from the series also include – a look into Southwark’s archaeology over the last seven years and the museum’s work on conserving it’s collections since last year’s devastating fire.
For more details on Third Tuesdays and Cabinet of Curiosity please visithttp://www.southwark.gov.uk/cumingevents (Source: Southwark council press release)
SUMMER AT THE HORNIMAN
The Horniman Museum and Gardens’ Summer Season takes an Edwardian theme this year with an Edwardian Extravaganza of music, film, dance and activities for all the family, inspired by this age of optimism.
, Director of the Horniman Janet Vitmayer says: “Today we look back on Edwardian life as a period of gaiety, optimism and eternal summers that came to a brutal end with the devastation of World War 1.
“The Horniman was founded in 1901 in a spirit of optimism and our summer programme is inspired by the Edwardian era and our early history.”
A Horniman spokesperson said: “The Horniman’s Edwardian Extravaganza kicks off on Saturday July 12 and Sunday July 13 (12-5.30pm) with the Horniman’s Curious Tea Party, a vibrant weekend of Edwardian-inspired entertainment with a cross-over twist, inspired by founder Frederick Horniman’s passion for collecting objects from around the world.
“Produced in partnership with Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and supported using public funding from Arts Council England, the weekend explores music, dance and the Horniman’s collections through live music, pop-up performances, specially commissioned dance and participation and is part of the Big Dance 2014.
“Activities for families inspired by the pastimes, adventurers and nature lovers of the Edwardian age take place across the summer in a series of Big Wednesdays (30 July to 27 August, 11am-3pm) as well as shaping some of our regular family favourites of art and craft, storytelling, pond-dipping and mini-beast safaris (please go to www.horniman.ac.uk for details).
“Adults can look forward to an evening of Edwardian entertainment including a tea dance with live music, music hall acts, silent film screenings, a period photo booth, street performances, tours, food, drink and more at our Edwardian Late on Thursday August 7th(6.30-9.30pm).
“There are outdoor summer screenings as MASH Cinema and Electric Pedals present two nights of cinema in the gardens. “Short films by master of fantasy and dream worlds, Georges Méliès, can be seen on Thursday August 21 and August 28 (both 7.30pm) brings Jules Vernes’ fantastical 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1916), featuring an improvised live score by Orchestra Elastique.
“With stunning views over London, the Horniman’s Edwardian Bandstand hosts a series of free concerts this summer. “Those wanting to enjoy an evening of early 20th-century popular music – from ragtime to hot swing and jazz – can head to our Wednesday Jazz Picnic bandstand concerts (July 16, 23 and 30, 7-8.30pm) while August sees music from around the world at our daytime Sunday Bandstand Concerts (August 3, 10, 17 & 24, 3-5pm).
“The Horniman Music Festival on Sunday August 31 (12-6 pm) celebrates the end of our Summer Season with an afternoon of concerts and carnival performances in our Gardens, bringing together musicians and influences from across the world and reflecting founder Frederick Horniman’s aim to ‘bring the world to Forest Hill’.
“In addition to our Edwardian Extravaganza, July also sees the arrival of The Great Animal Orchestra at the Horniman. “Visitors can hear the fascinating sounds of animals, birds and insects from around the world and explore nature’s music at an installation in our music gallery designed by Bernie Krause, a leading expert in natural sound. “A day of live music and activities inspired by the natural world launches The Great Animal Orchestra at the Horniman on Sunday July 27 (11am-5.30pm).”
Opening times and admission. The Horniman Museum is open daily 10.30am-5.30pm, except 24 – 26 December, when it is closed. The Gardens open at 7.15am Monday to Saturday and 8.00am on Sunday and Bank Holidays, and close at sunset. Entry to the Museum and Gardens is free but charges apply for the Aquarium and some special exhibitions and events.
Access. The Museum and the Gardens are both wheelchair and pushchair friendly with accessible toilets. Limited on-site parking is available for disabled visitors – call 020 8699 1872.
Travel. The Horniman is situated on the South Circular Road (A205) in Forest Hill, London. It can be reached easily by train to Forest Hill from Highbury and Islington, Whitechapel and Canada Water (on the London Overground line), London Bridge (14 minutes), London Victoria, Clapham Junction and East Croydon, and by local buses (176, 185, 197, 356, P4).
www.horniman.ac.uk for full information on the Horniman’s Summer Season of events and activities.
Image shows: Under the Beeches by Alfred Augustus Glendening (1874-75) sold for £12,000
