Are you ready for Spring? I know I am. March marks the beginning of Spring and with longer days, especially after the clocks jump forward an hour on Sunday 26th. Let us hope for some warmer weather too!
It is also Women’s History Month and we celebrate International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day. So as spring blooms begin to appear across London there is lots to see and do. My focus this March has been to include a woman of substance relevant to each of my Super Sevens. I hope you enjoy my choices this month.
The image is a painting by the Belgian artist Jane Graverol 1905 – 1984 (Nu dans Les Rochers) which is up for auction at Sotheby’s. I simply adored it and only wish I could afford it!
The Wallace Collection : I like to call this a boutique museum. It is utterly gorgeous, and although small can keep you there for hours. They have two exhibitions coming up. Portrait of Dogs : From Gainsborough to Hockney opening on 29 March (ticketed) and a free display The Queen and her Corgis. Queen Elizabeth II loved her corgis and owned more than 30 in her lifetime.
Art in London this March:
London Original Print Fair 2023 at the Royal Academy 30 March – 2 April. Tickets here
Collect Art Fair 2023 at Somerset House 3-5 March. Contemporary craft and design by artists created over the last 5 years. Tickets here
Affordable Art Fair 2023 at Battersea 9-12 March. Contemporary art from over 100 National and International galleries under one roof. Tickets here
Women in London
The Rizzoli Salon pop-up : at The Library Bar in The Lanesborough. The Library Bar has been converted into a Rizzoli book store for the month of March. Book talks taking place include a Rizzoli cocktail. If you can’t get into the talks, don’t let that stop you popping in for a book snoop and a cocktail. Nina Campbell is the lady of the hour here on 21 March and Violet Naylor-Leyland on 28 March.
Sotheby’s | Mary McCartney Can We Have a Moment? Three decades of Photographs in Britain 9 March – 2 April. The photographer’s first major UK survey of her work including unseen images. Mary has a talk scheduled for the 15 March, which will go live two or three days later. I’ll link it in my IG stories.. so make sure you are following me!
International Women’s Day 8 March : There is a lot to applaud about what women achieve and have achieved. Katie who runs Look Up London has a fantastic selection of Women History Month Walks.
Fancy a day down on the river? Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race 2023 is on 26 March. If you want further reading I have 7 Fun Boat Race Facts for you. It is a great atmosphere and well worth seeing the crews as they row past at speed. The 77th women’s race begins at 4pm followed by the men at 5pm.
Shakespeare in the Abbey : 29-31 March : In 2017 Mark Rylance took Shakespeare into Westminster Abbey for a 90min immersive experience to celebrate the Bard’s birthday. I’m very excited to be going for the first time for this 3-day exclusive performance where the actors perform around you. Note: there is no seating for this.
Westminster Abbey is the location of The Coronation of Their Majesties on 6th May and Kirsta Bessley is the conservator getting the Coronation chair ready. Read about it in this link.
The Van de Veldes | Greenwich, Art and the Sea : Opens 2 March. This fascinating exhibition is free, but booking required. The exhibition is in The Queen’s House where the The Van de Veldes actually had their studios.
The Queen’s House built by Inigo Jones for Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I.
Kumihino at Japan House : The art of silk braiding by Domyo. A truly beautiful exhibition that explains this century old skill, showcased in a modern environment to show off the coloured cords and threads. Free. Open now until late May 2023.
Harvey Parker Trust | Love in Mind : Southbank Centre 30 April. Mark Rylance has launched this charity concert in memory of 20-year-old Harvey Parker. An incredibly impressive line-up has already been announced.
This new charity aims to make a positive difference and raise funds for young artists experiencing mental health crises and give them access to emotional and mental health support.
Cook for Ukraine 4 March : The success of last year’s bake sale for Ukraine is bigger this year. Head to Toklas on Saturday 4 March and buy your cakes from the best of London’s restaurants and patisseries. Bring your own tupperware & bags if you can. Set up by Clerkenwell Boy, Olia Hercules & Alissa Timoshkina.
Cut and Paste : Ground Floor at the Francis Crick Institute until 2 December 2023. This free exhibition is aimed at us all and discusses the conversation about DNA. Would you edit your DNA if you could? Which diseases should we cure.. who decides.. where do you draw the line. It’s a very interesting topic of conversation. It was Rosalind Franklin who discovered the properties of DNA at King’s College in 1951.