Doves and Dreams

A wonderful weekend in Liverpool. Friday evening DH and I drove for 5 hours to his parents for the weekend. Some what to see his Mum on her birthday but mostly to visit the Walker Gallery in Liverpool , picture below.

Why ? Because they had the Doves and Dreams exhibtions on showing the work of France MacDonald and J Herbert McNair. The other husband and wife from the Glasgow Group of Four normally seen as being Charles R. Mackintosh and Margeret MacDonald Mackintosh. Generally France and Herbert are the forgotten pair, as sometime Margaret can be too.

WOW ... After suffering a rail replacement bus ride though the Mersey tunnel and a huge loop round Liverpool which included us going past the Walker Gallery twice with me excitedly saying to James "Thats where we are going " ... we were finally dropped off a short walk from the entrance. Although the gallery allows cameras the special exhibition did not =( So I am limited on the images I can share with you all.

The exhibition was excellent. DH even agreed although after one walk round the two rooms he then moved on to the next room which held the Catherdral which was never built (as recommended - Thanks ) , I mean while circled at least twice and spent a good 2 or so hours in there. I'll take some pictures of my sketch book to share with you.

It was wonderful to be able to go so VERY VERY close to many of the pieces and really study them in detail. They had a copy of a book recently (2005) re-discovered in Buffalo NY state , which held poems by William Morris with Margaret and Frances had created book plates for. The original which was a small A5 book was displayed open at a page showing Frances work, while next to it they had a copy of all the pages which allowed you to look though the work =)

If you can get to Liverpool by 22nd April , it is well worth a visit.

DH treated me to the book which went with the exhibition, although they had run out if the paperback version. Which if your interested in the work of the Glasgow four I would recommend if your not able to attend in person. Although it is £40 for the hardback. The book has a few essays on the subject at the front and a full catagoue of all know work by Frances and Herbert at the back including a large number of full colours plates, some even full page. I am a little disappointed that all the images from the newly discovered book of poems are not printed, but I will be finding out if they are due out in another form.

We drive home yesterday evening and made good time. I was delighted to find the following book waiting for me. "1000 Artist Trading Cards" ... WOW . First it is only due out today and that was in the States. =)

It is great. If your into ATCs then this is a great book. Full of ideas and inspiration !

What a great weekend. Bonus is that DH and I have book Monday off work to allow us to catch up with everything we could not do while away - like the washing =( ... but does give me MORE time to read over the two new books I have =)