Dulwich Picture Gallery nestled in the beautiful leafy Dulwich village feels as though you've stepped out of London and into the countryside. The peaceful gardens are a living art in their own right. A picture of play with children skipping around, of tranquility where you can shade under the trees. The gardens are used for open air film, art lessons, Dulwich players amateur dramatics, Opera in the garden and even the occasional wedding too.
The Picture Gallery opens its arms and its heart and invites you to become involved. There are courses for adults and children, family drop-in workshops and perhaps my favourite thing; on the first and last Sunday of every month they give us 'artplay' a creative workshop for families. Each session runs from 2pm -3.30pm and the art activities are different each time. Here you can make 'everything and anything from bunting to block printing and all things in between', and you know we can't resist a makery!
I've got the date for the Puppet Making Family Workshop heavily underlined on my calendar. This is part of their Make Station programme taking place Friday 28th October with artist Sally Cutler. Perfectly timed for half term and coinciding with the what looks set to be a wonderful performance of Thumbelina by the banyan Theatre Company. I know we'll all enjoy the performance and revel in the making of our own puppets to take home!
Set the date in your calender too - we'll see you there, I'll be the one elbow deep in PVA glue and fabric!
Friday 28th October 11.20 am - 12.20 pm and 1.20pm - 3.30pm
If you can't make this one do keep an eye on other events and dates. None will disappoint.
The Gallery itself houses 'one of the world's most important collections of European old master paintings of the 1600s and 1700s.'
The paintings are housed in the first purpose built art gallery in the country. Designed by Sir John Soane in 1812 the collection you'll discover inside is one of the oldest in Great Britain.
There are free gallery tours each Saturday and Sunday and are well worth timing you visit for their 3pm start.
This year the Dulwich Picture Gallery celebrates its 200th year bringing us an impressive international loan exhibition with 'Masterpiece A Month: Presiding Genius'. Each Month a masterpiece will be loaned to the gallery and given pride of place in the galleries enfilade.
For the month of October John Constable, RA, The Leaping Horse will be on display.
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| John Constable, RA, The Leaping Horse |
If you've ever thought about having a go at creating your own masterpieces you can look into the courses available. There are courses for children to adults, covering all abilities and interests. The award winning Education Department will guide you through the programme and brings 'the understanding and enjoyment of fine art for everyone.'
Children's classes begin at age 7 so I've got a couple of years to wait until my eldest Sophia is able to give any a go. I'm hoping the years of our visits to the gallery will inspire her creative side and encourage her to let this side of her personality explore and enjoy and express her own ideas.
I mean painting with mud, drawing with leaves and sculpting from recycled plastic sounds like creative heaven and I can't begin to imagine how brilliant the designs children would come with creating their own costumes.
'Art for Young People' - We'll see you in the summer of '13!
This is how art galleries should be. Encouraging people to come savour, feel, try, hear, look and absorb themselves in art. To learn not to be afraid of it. To unleash their own creativity and discover something new.
Dulwich Picture Gallery makes art approachable, adventurous and fun.
A perfect place for all the family to enjoy again and again.
Perhaps we'll see you there!
This is part of the Art of Living series of posts that bring you all the things we are passionate about and the things we discover in our lives as mamas.
In our Wednesday Woo blog post series we present a selection of things from the Sisters Guild Boutique.
We also have a Monday Makery with ideas for things to make yourself.
And for a glimpse behind the scenes of Sisters Guild we have the A-Z of Sisters Guild here
www.sistersguild.co.uk
Fantastic review. You're very lucky having this near by, though it's definitely worth trekking across London, or even further afield, to get to. Looking forward to the puppet making blog.
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