Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Open Day

Joanna Lumley and Sir Thomas Hughes-Hallett co-host CWH Open Day. Music by KlezMozarts

Renowned actress, gorgeous looking James Bond girl, Joanna Lumley and Sir Thomas Hughes-Hallett co-introduced the seventh Open Day at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in Fulham Road on 14 June 2014.   The theme of this year’s Open Day was “Keep You Well”.

Joanna Lumley at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

“Your pride by turning up here today shows that this is one of absolute heartbeats of this whole area,” – said Joanna Lumley about  the hospital and  proceeded to cut the massive white cake, celebrating twenty one years of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, with a lengthy kitchen knife.

Teddy Bear Clinic for children.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

Visited by two thousand people, this fabulous day was full of fun activities with stalls, cakes, keep fit classes, arts and music.   An elegant statue of Hugo the Labrador, displayed on the ground of floor, was designed by Joanna Lumley and named after her own black Labrador.

Fire brigade supported Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Open Day.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

Entertainment programme included African Cultural Development world music and dance group, KlezMozarts performance by Oleg Lapidus and Yuval Havkin, who boldly experiment with classical pieces, adding Klezmer sound to the original tunes, Akademi South Asian Dance and Dick Laurie’s Elastic Band.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital has been my “home away from home” over the past year due to cancer.  The Open Day was a great occasion for me to visit it for fun rather than for medical reasons.

News and photos by Eugenie Absalom

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Art of the World international art exhibition in London

“Art of World” exhibition video to “Damn You All”  by Frazer Kennedy at La Galleria Pall Mall

“Art of the World” international contemporary group exhibition took place at La Galleria Pall Mall in London between 16 and 22 March with the Opening Night on 17 March.  Musicians Frazer Kennedy (vocals/ guitar) and Rick Joseph (acoustic guitar) delivered fantastic entertainment on the night.  “Scotland has produced more than whisky and mythical monsters.  It has also produced Frazer Kennedy – one of the best singer-songwriters to come out of Scotland since Gerry Rafferty… ” – says Frazer’s profile on his website.  “From a childhood in the mountains and the sounds of the ceilidh, it’s little wonder Frazer’s music is inspired by the highlands and ruined castles echoing to ancient battles.”  Enjoy “Art of World” exhibition video above to the balladic  “Damn You All” by Frazer Kennedy.

 

Tracy and Russell Rose are looking at my photography  at La Galleria Pall Mall

The show celebrated the arrival of Spring.  Painters and photographers from Austria, Croatia, France, Italy, Lithuania, Serbia, Spain, Turkey and the United States showcased a variety of interpretations of the theme.  I was invited as a guest photographer and displayed three of my photographs at the exhibition.

Eugenie Absalom and Elizabeth Jones at “Art of the World” exhibition

The show was curated by Zina Bercovici.  Participating artists included: Anna Maria Artegiani, Leonid Bratislav Musicki, Marcio Decker, Hale Karacelik, Marko Krajcar, Sergej Ovcharuk, Eva M. Paar, Anne-Marie Paris-Leroy, Anne le Sergent, Anne Marie Torrisi, Ferdinando Valentini and Paul Ygartua.

Musician Frazer Kennedy is looking at my photography at La Galleria Pall Mall

News and photography by Eugenie Absalom

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Femme Fierce paints Leake Street Tunnel Pink

Femme Fierce Leake Street Takeover on 8 March 2014.  Photo by Eugenie Absalom

 

International Women’s Day 2014 saw over a hundred Femme Fierce all female graffiti/street artists paint the 300 meter long Leake Street Tunnel, also known as Banksy Tunnel,  in London’s Waterloo pink, in support of Breast Cancer Care charity.

Graffiti artist by her Butterfly artwork in Leake Street Tunnel.  Photo by Eugenie Absalom

“Femme Fierce Leake Street Takeover” by Street Art Agency in partnership with Cre8 Gallery, Paint my Panda and Girls on Top, set a new graffiti record in the name of charity on Sunday, 8 March.

“Girls Reload!” graffiti work by Zabou.  Photo by Eugenie Absalom

 

All female Femme Fierce street art extravaganza, featuring some of the very best UK and global female street artists, continues till 14 March.

News and photos by Eugenie Absalom

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London New Year Celebrations 2014

London New Year fireworks as seen from Storey’s Gate.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

 

London welcomed in 2014 with a spectacular multi-sensory fireworks display on the banks of the river Thames.  Special effects included fruit flavours and smells.  I recorded the fireworks from Storey’s Gate in Westminster.

London New Year fireworks 2014 video, Storey’s Gate

I was very lucky to be invited by a friend to the UK film premier of “The Artist” at the Royal Albert Hall on the New Year’s eve.  This sweet and charming black-and-white romantic comedy, set in the 1920 – 30s, pays homage to the silent era and moves the audience with its storyline and music.

Elizabeth Jones and Eugenie Absalom at The Artist live in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall

The most awarded French film in history, this silent movie by Michel Hazanavicius, was screened with London Symphony Orchestra and featured music by Ludovic Bource.

London Symphony Orchestra performs live at The Artist UK film premier.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

The Royal Albert Hall provided an exceptional setting for this celebrated film, that won five Oscars, seven BAFTAs, six Césars and three Golden Globes.

The Artist live in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

A unique black and white magic, an extraordinary choice of film sets at Hollywood actors residences, a brilliant act by Jean Dujardin as The Artist, George Valentin and Bérénice Béjo as Peppy Miller and the film’s music by French composer Ludovic Bource, reflecting the spirit of Hollywood, blended together in a star quality performance, full of joie de vivre.

London New Year fireworks 2014, Storey’s Gate.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

Happy New Year!

News and photos by Eugenie Absalom

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