SE- ing things from a different perspective
I’ve spent most of my adult life in London with an E in my postcode. It’s never bothered me in the way I think it bothers some people. Even as London grows and expands, there’s still so much emphasis on levels of crime, education and relative poverty versus the rest of the city and less about cultural wealth and creativity that proliferate.
I put an S in front of the E in my postcode when I got married. I went against the usual family flow (further east) and moved south of the river. With the compass change, it’s interesting how the importance of landmarks and events subtly alter. My 4 year old identifies more closely with The Shard (it’s how she can make learning about shapes relevant) than with St Pauls as I do. Christmas has started to become book-ended by the Southbank Centre’s “Frost Fair” rather than the seemingly ever-expanding Winter Wonderland over the river.
I’ve still not properly explored. With small children I’m just starting to get to the local theatres such as The Albany. Local support and enthusiasm abounds. Try booking panto in Greenwich in October — I was too late last year! In my youth I’ve run up the hill to the Observatory but have never been in it. I only visited the Cutty Sark for the first time last month and wondered how I’d never managed to go before. Local blogger, Tincture of Museum, has opened my eyes to what I’m missing at the Horniman in Forest Hill. Visual art-wise, Havelock Open Studios is just a step away (go to their Open Studios this weekend) and similarly there are galleries a-plenty in Greenwich, Blackheath and Lee.
Much is being made of the importance of creativity as the world of work changes and the emphasis ebbs and flows from classrooms. I hope Feeling Art SE not only supports our community but also inspires some ideas of your own.
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