Monthly Archives: March 2018

Travel Bags

I’m sure there is a thesis to be written on what our travel bags say about us.  Travelling writers would provide good case studies. Patrick Leigh Fermor, about to set out on his trudge across Europe in 1933, stopped off … Continue reading

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Emmaus

Seven bags of clutter to Emmaus today, books and boots, ornaments and tapes and so on.  An amazing place, ‘working as a community, sharing a life where everyone is treated equally, and living in harmony with dignity by helping those … Continue reading

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Vandalism or Art?

Is this graffito vandalism or public art?  If vandalism, it’s done with great skill and design flare.  If public, art it’s not very public, out along a path frequented only by occasional walkers, riders and farm tractors.  Such an urban … Continue reading

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Bra Stories

What’s the story behind this bra tied neatly in the hedgerow along the path to Quy Fen.    A retro feminist protest?  A bragging misogynist’s trophy?  A numbed and forgetful snow bather? Photo: Quy Fen, March 2018.

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Craquelure

I came across a new word recently, ‘craquelure’.  It is the fine pattern of dense reticulated cracking formed on the surface of materials, especially paintings, either as part of the process of ageing or of their original production.  Where it’s … Continue reading

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U3AC Photo Forum 16 – Next Term’s Topics

Topics agreed for next term, in no particular order: Photojournalism – with Brian Harris Street Photography – members’ photographs Cityscapes and architecture – members’ photographs Points Of View 1 – outdoor session taking photographs in City centre Points of View … Continue reading

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Rana Begum, No. 764 Baskets

The opening exhibition at the new Kettle’s Yard includes No. 764 Baskets, 2017-18, by Rana Begum.  It‘s a site specific sculpture made up on a thousand bamboo baskets, hand woven in Bangladesh.  ‘The work draws upon the artist’s childhood memories … Continue reading

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Cafe Culture 6

‘Fantastic food in the centre of Cambridge’, is how the Michaelhouse Café promotes itself.  The web site explains: it ‘is one of Bill’s Cafés founded and operated by food writer and restaurateur Bill Sewell. Bill has been involved in Michaelhouse … Continue reading

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U3AC Photo Forum 15 – Creative and Abstract Photography

Sue Fifer explored this through the work of established photographers and members of the Forum, following the headings used by Jackie Higgins in her book, Why it Does Not Have to be in Focus (Thames and Hudson, 2017).  ‘Portraits/Smile’: e.g. … Continue reading

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Budgens

One of the advantages of living in this otherwise unremarkable bit of suburban Cambridge is being near good local services.  Having Budgens just five minute’s walk away has been so convenient.  Not always the best quality, but a comprehensive range, … Continue reading

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Blenheim Blue

Blue rope at Blenheim Palace.  Well, what other colour would a Duke use?  Perhaps a radical gardener slipped on the red dog collar. Photo: Blenheim Palace, March 2018

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Ma

‘Ma (間) is a Japanese word which can be roughly translated as “gap”, “space”, “pause” or “the space between two structural parts.” The spatial concept is experienced progressively through intervals of spatial designation. In Japanese, ma, the word for space, … Continue reading

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U3AC Photo Forum 14 – Morality and Controversy in Photography

Helen Cherry started of gently with the Cottingley Fairies and then took us on an emotional roller-coaster ride through the work of Robert Capa, Brian Walski, Mikhael Subotsky, Kevin Carter, Eddie Adams, Nick Ut, Alan Kurdi, Irina Ionesco, Diane Arbus, … Continue reading

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Guardian Angels

Nine guardian angels watch over the congregation of All Saints, Landbeach.  Eight, wings folded and baring painted shields, look down from the hammer beams.  The ninth sits below the chancel arch, legs jauntily crossed and arms outstretched, its spread wings … Continue reading

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Nothing Lasts

According to Leonard Koren, wabi-sabi can be defined as, ‘the most conspicuous and characteristic feature of traditional Japanese beauty and it occupies roughly the same position in the Japanese pantheon of aesthetic values as do the Greek ideals of beauty … Continue reading

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