The Datebook datebook_autumn2019_digital_ARTWORK | Page 8

Private View of the
Summer Exhibition
T
he Marie Curie Private
View of the Summer
Exhibition at the Royal
Academy of Arts took place
on 9th July and, as always,
was a very well supported
event. It was a fine, dry
evening and guests
wandered around the
outside Annenberg
Courtyard viewing the
amazing huge installations
from British-born artist
Thomas Houseago before
queuing to enter the
galleries for a champagne
and canape’ reception
catered by Rhubarb.
The auction raised over £100,000!
RA. Over 1500 works were on
display, most of them for the
first time.
There was a Main Auction
conducted by Charles Hanson,
always entertaining and a well
known personality from many
appearances on the BBC. The
Auction went well due to
support from a number of
artists including Professor Ken
Howard and his wife Bertolutti
Dora Howard who had
generously donated works to
be sold in this and the Silent
Auction, where bids could be
made using mobile phones or
the interactive bidding system.
Raffle tickets
were on sale
from Marie
Curie
volunteers
but no need for cash as QDC’s
were in action.
This was a truly special evening
and a wonderful way to view
the Summer Exhibition while
helping the charity provide free
nursing care to people with any
terminal illness as well as
emotional support for their
loved ones. Over £100,000
was raised on the evening.
LYNNE WARNER
The Courtyard with an amazing
installation.
The Exhibition had a very
different feel this year with lots
of animals taking centre stage.
In addition, it also featured
limited edition prints,
lithographs, watercolours and
etchings available to buy. Jock
McFadyen RA had taken his
role of co-ordinator very
seriously following last years
sell out event by Grayson Perry
An abundance of animals taking centre stage.
An Uplifting Experience
I
t’s a lovely Autumn day in
mid September and I am
in Berkeley Square for the
annual LAPADA Art and
Antiques Fair. LAPADA is the
UK’s largest Association of
Professional Dealers in
Antiques and Works of Art
with over 450 members
(more than 100 of whom
exhibited at the 2019 Fair.)
I was confronted by an
enormous structure, well built
Above and Right: One beautiful
thing after another.
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THE LONDON & UK DATEBOOK
and solid, over two storeys
which positively invited you to
step inside. On entering, there
were beautifully set out
“rooms” which encouraged the
buying of the objects on
display.
The charity partner for this
year’s event is the Sarabande
Foundation established in
2006 by Lee Alexander
McQueen, who left a large
proportion of his estate to
endow it. Its mission is to
support leading creatives and
visionaries across the Arts by
providing scholarships,
affordable studio space and a
wide variety of educational and
inspirational special events to
showcase the diverse work of
the artists. By 2020, the
Foundation will have awarded
just shy of £3 million in
scholarships which have
nurtured and encouraged over
70 artists and designers at the
top of their game and
supported tens of thousands
more through the pioneering
programme of events.
In its HQ, in de Beauvoir in
North London, there are 15
studios which are available at
hugely subsidised rents. There
were 50 events last year alone,
and Indeed, on the Monday
evening of the 2019 Fair there
was a celebratory dinner and
auction with over 200 people
attending. The auction included
some outstanding lots with
donations from Sir Antony
Gormley, Tottenham Hotspur
Football Club, Maggi Hambling
CBE and master engraver
Wallace Chan.
The Fair itself contained items
for all pockets. There were so
many different items including,
carpets, tapestries, fine art,
prints, furniture, jewellery,
gemstones, gold and silver
objects. In addition there was
glass, china, porcelain,
watches, clocks, luggage,
sculpture of all sizes, scientific
instruments and much more. I
even caught a glimpse of an
Antiques Roadshow expert.
I wandered around seeing one
beautiful thing after another,
not quite knowing where to
look next. All in all, it was a
thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
LIN KENNEDY