Monday, June 21, 2010

Tate Modern tonight

Life drawing class tonight at the Tate Modern.

But first, we're off to Greenwich to visit the largest maritime museum in the wooorrrrrld!

Macbeth

The groundlings don't usually have to do this. The black fabric was there throughout the three hour play. Actors and musicians occasionally popped up from underneath.

The giant wheel structure was there just for this production also. Chains hanging from it held big caldrons of fire (good for witch scenes) that rotated around the stage, or sometimes a black, semi-transparent curtain. Pretty fancy stuff for the usually minimalist Shakespearean stage.

Trafalgar Square

The column in Trafalgar Square is a good example of what I think should replace the obelisk on the Santa Fe Plaza. It would make a nice landmark that's visible from anywhere in Santa Fe. A great tourist draw too.
This column's statue is of Lord Nelson, one of three British commoners to have a state funeral. The other two were Winston Churchill and Philip Sydney (Mary Sidney's brother).
Nelson was Admiral of the British Royal Navy in 1805 at the battle of Trafalgar, where 27 British ships defeated 33 French and Spanish ships. The French and Spanish lost 22 ships and the British lost none. Nelson, however, was killed in battle. The battle changed Napoleon's plans to invade England. Nelson remains England's biggest naval hero.
Trafalgar Square is at the entrance to the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery.