Art in the Park: May 2019

A Regular Art in the Park sketcher and Barbican resident has kindly sent the following more detailed directions, for which many thanks. In her words:

"Below is a map showing the Beech Street Gardens indicating how to get there and 2 routes from the gardens into the Barbican Centre. The map is based on a photo of the user unfriendly map posted round the Barbican Centre, so I hope it is clear.

The best route in is via the steps from Barbican station leading up to the pedestrian bridge over Aldersgate Street. Anyone wanting to go to Moorgate Station on the Northern line is best advised to change at Moorgate on to a train to Barbican station as the route from Moorgate is tortuous..

I have shown a set of arrows leading along the level of the gardens, turning right under Frobisher Crescent, across the Sculpture Court which includes some unusual planting providing a vista for the redeveloped flats in Frobisher Court. Turning right before the conservatory (which unfortunately will be closed), there is an entrance to the 3rd floor of the Barbican Centre. Straight across from the entrance there are stairs and lifts to the ground floor of the Barbican Centre for the ground floor cafe and terrace. Alternatively, turning right towards the art gallery and then right again, there are toilets on the 3rd floor level. The gallery is currently showing an exhibition by Lee Krasner, but there is a charge.

The other set of arrows lead from the route from the pedestrian bridge to steps just before Defoe House. The steps split, the left hand side steps leading to the lower level Defoe Place, along the length of Defoe House to a set of steps leading down to the Barbican Centre Terrace and ground floor cafe. There are further toilets off the cafe."

Soho Square on a sunny day in May should have been an oasis of quiet, and it was very green and luscious, but unfortunately at both ends of the square there were very noisy roadworks going on. It was rather wearying. Nevertheless the quirky little cottage was very charming, King Charles was bright in the sun, and there were people to sketch (some smoking illicit substances which wafted around and added to the off-the-wall feeling brought on by the need to mentally screen out the road drilling racket). Eleven sketchers presented themselves, and most of us found the black and white wonky psuedo-tudor cottage in the middle irresistible, and this is clearly the favourite subject. We had a good vegetarian lunch at the famous Hari Krishna cafe in Soho Street.

Wednesday 1 May 2019

Next Sketch Date: Tuesday 14 May at Soho Square, W1D 3QE

We are going to try another famous Central London location, hopefully not full of noisy sporting enthusiasts.

Soho Square is another of London's historic venues, and contains a faux medieval building in the centre, used as a gardener's lock-up, and a genuine 1680s statue of Charles II, improbably clad in armour. Either of these are good subject matter, and there are also various towers and interesting rooflines around the Square.   There will also be people nice and still having their lunches.

We will meet at 11 o'clock at the gardener's hut in the middle.   If it rains we can sit (on our stools, please remember to bring these) under the overhang of the gardener's cottage and sketch from there.

Details, map, and images of the Square can be found here:

A quick internet skim has produced two nearby cafes: Govindas Pure Vegetarian Restaurant at 9-10 Soho Street, and Eat, at 16a Soho Square.   We can chose when we get there. We might find something else we like better, but these two are very close by.

Nearest tube station is Tottenham Court Road, just walk west down Oxford Street and Soho Street is the first turning on the left, it leads into the Square.

We look forward to seeing many of you. Sue's number for the day is: 07975 864142.

Art in the Park

Thursday 30 May 2019

Directions for June Outing to the Barbican Beech Gardens

Wednesday 22 May 2019

June Outing

Sunday 19 May 2019

Soho Square on 11 May

Wednesday 1 May 2019

Next Sketch Date: Tuesday 14 May at Soho Square, W1D 3QE