A lengthy list of events as we approach the summer The ...
14
View from the lane behind Castle Cottage, Near Sawrey Photo: J. Sullivan Dear Beatrix Potter Admirer, A lengthy list of events as we approach the summer and July 28 - and we are only dipping the tip of a finger into the offerings. Be sure not to miss the news from the Victoria and Albert Museum and, as with the last issue, please stay with us all the way down to "Tidbits" for this edition's smile over a pet - this time, a duck. The Beatrix Potter Society Interested in learning more about Beatrix Potter?
Transcript of A lengthy list of events as we approach the summer The ...
View from the lane behind Castle Cottage, Near Sawrey Photo: J. Sullivan
Dear Beatrix Potter Admirer,
A lengthy list of events as we approach the summer and July 28 - and we are only dipping the tip of a finger into the offerings. Be sure not to miss the news from the Victoria and Albert Museum and, as with the last issue, please stay with us all the way down to "Tidbits" for this edition's smile over a pet - this time, a duck.
The Beatrix Potter Society
Interested in learning more about Beatrix Potter?
Society News:
There have been so many bookings for this summer's Conference in the Lake District that it is now full - BUT, if you are still hoping to join this event, don't despair! There are always a few cancellations, so a waiting list is being kept. If interested, please contact Jenny Akester at [email protected].
News from the V&A:
A previously unknown (truly unknown!) illustration by Beatrix Potter has come to light and it is clear that it was intended for none other than The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots. Rather than give a very brief summing up in this space - and reveal the surprise identity of one of the characters - we would like to direct you to an excellent account in a V&A blog entry, written by Emma Laws. The blog gives a good background on the new Tale and the final paragraph deals with the new illustration - followed by a picture of the illustration. For a slightly shorter read, The Telegraph's article is good. This seems a perfect opportunity to mention upcoming Potter exhibits at the V&A, one of which will be a Society outing, so we combine V&A News, Society News and Coming Events for this: Wednesday, May 18, 1:00 p.m., V&A (London); Emma Laws will give a Lunchtime Lecture about the current display in Gallery 102, "The Tale of Beatrix Potter and Ernest Aris" (see J&N 138 and 140 for more about this exhibition). Libby Joy and Judy Taylor will be attending and
Consider joining the Society. Meet others who are passionate about Beatrix Potter, her life and works. You will also receive the quarterly Journal and Newsletter, full of interesting articles about Miss Potter and the Society's efforts and events. Find the Membership form for download, and more information about the Society here.
Save the Date:
2016: September 10, 2016: Autumn Meeting, Sloane Club, London
September 17, 2016: A luncheon to celebrate Beatrix Potter's 150th at the Irish Inn in Glen Echo, Maryland, USA
December 3, 2016: Festive Gathering, Sloane Club, London
would love to meet up with other Members for the lecture, view the new Kitty-in-Boots illustration, and have lunch or coffee together, either before or after. Please contact Libby on [email protected] if you can join in. Yes!, the above-mentioned watercolour will be on display at the V&A, briefly, from May 2 - 31 in Gallery 102. Following "The Tale of Beatrix Potter and Ernest Aris" in Gallery 102 will be "Beatrix Potter's London", July 28, 2016 to April 28, 2017.
Recently:
Photo: Glyn Gregory
The Armitt Museum reopened in March with new flooring, a fresh coat of paint, and reinstalled exhibits on the main floor ("Beatrix Potter: Image and Reality" is a permanent exhibit). You may remember the museum experienced some damage in the terrible floods that affected the area last winter. Glyn Gregory
2017:
June 9-11, 2017:
US Symposium, "Beatrix Potter in the Natural World - in New London on the Thames River", at the Linda Lear Center for Special Collections and Archives, at Connecticut College, New London, CT. Details to come....
Quick Links Email us at: [email protected]
Read the previous issue of "Pottering About" here.
Website
Visit the Society's web page: The Beatrix Potter Society
Stay Connected
has provided photos. The museum's website is worth a look for the examples of Beatrix's scientific illustrations.
Photo: Glyn Gregory
As we put this issue together, news is arriving that
it will be J.M.W. Turner, the painter, on the next £20.00 note, not Beatrix (or any of the other worthy women on the list of possibilities). Your Canadian editor will have to have a talk with Mark Carney about this.
Coming Up:
In the UK: June 25, 2:00 p.m., Birnam Arts Centre, Station Road, Dunkeld, a screening of a film of the Royal Ballet performing "The Tales of Beatrix Potter" (taped in 2007).
Pottering About Editors: Janet Sullivan
Carolyn Schaeffer
"The Tales of Beatrix Potter", Royal Ballet
July 16 - September 18: ITV reports that National Trust property, Mottisfont, will have an exhibit, "Beatrix Potter: Play and Childhood". Near Romsey, Hampshire, this is a rare opportunity to see some of Beatrix's works outside the Lake District. Also at Birnam Arts, Thursday July 28, 8 p.m., "An Evening with Beatrix and Charlie - Artists and Naturalists". Readings from Beatrix's Journal and Henry Coates' biography of Charlie McIntosh, plus some of his own writing. Musician Pete Clark will play some of Charlie's own compositions. For tickets, see the website. Tameside, Greater Manchester will celebrate it's links to the Potter family: July 10 - a Well Dressing at Gee Cross Hyde, near to Hyde Chapel where Beatrix Potter's parents were married in 1863. From July 28 - churches linked to the families of
Beatrix Potter will have exhibits detailing their connections. (Old Chapel Dukinfield, Stalybridge Unitarian Church, Hyde Chapel, Flowery Field Church and Cross St. Chapel Manchester will all be taking part.) July 28 - "The Friends of Gorse Hall" will be hosting a picnic and nature trail walk, with an exhibition at the Wharf Tavern near the main entrance of Gorse Hall (birthplace of Helen Potter). For further information on the sites, their connections, and the events, go to the Tameside Local History page and click on the link for the 150th anniversary plans. In the US: An update for events on Cape Cod, July 28 - 29: July 28, 2:00 p.m. Brewster Ladies' Library, Brewster, MA, "Beatrix Potter's 150th Birthday Party". Susan Branch will read from her book, A Fine Romance. Tea and cake to follow the reading. Reservations can be made through the library website, starting on May 2. New addition to the above: Kathy Cole will host a wine and cheese reception and picnic dinner at her residence (for BPS Members only) after the Brewster Library event. July 29, Also at her residence, Kathy will give an account of presentations from the Society's International Study Conference followed by a Lake District slide show. July 29, 12:00 noon, Afternoon Tea will be served at the Captain's House Inn, Chatham, MA. ($30 charge, prepaid, includes tax and gratuity.) If you are
interested in attending any of these events, please email Betsy Bray at [email protected] . A reminder for July 30, Sherman Library & Gardens, Corona del Mar, CA, an event in honor of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter. The theme is: "Another Twist: Embroidering on Beatrix Potter".
Lucy Barter will speak about the fashion and embroidery of the garments Beatrix Potter studied for The Tailor of Gloucester, and Judy Taylor will talk about Beatrix's inspiration for writing The Tailor of Gloucester. Dale Schafer's first editions and two original illustrations from The
Tailor of Gloucester will be on display. After tea, Readings will be held in the gardens. If you are interested in attending this event, please contact Dale Schafer by July 15, at [email protected] or (909) 861-9046 for registration information. In Australia: Wednesday, June 8, 10:20 a.m, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne (opposite Melbourne Central Station). Dr. Juliet O'Conor, Children's Research Librarian at the State Library of Victoria will host a group in the McArthur Gallery. She will have a selection of about 20 books by Beatrix Potter and some of her contemporaries for "show and tell". Meet in the foyer of the library at 10:20 a.m., ready for the presentation to commence at 10:30 a.m. Tea and scones to follow
Crewel work by Lucy Barter, inspired by The Tailor of
Gloucester
at The Tea Salon on Level 2 of The Emporium, across the road from the library. Bring a friend if you wish. RSVP (with number of attendees), by Friday, May 27, to Sue Reynolds at [email protected]. In Japan: August 9 - October 11, Tokyo, "The Peter Rabbit Exhibition: Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Beatrix Potter's Birth", a touring exhibit from the National Trust.
On Stage: Quantum Theatre (UK) will be touring their stage production, "Once Upon a Time, there were Four Little Rabbits", this summer. Links to tickets for each venue can be found on the Theatre's website. June 19, 2:30 p.m., Clacton on Sea, Essex. June 26, TBA, Jubilee Park, Canary Wharf, London. July 2, 6:00 p.m., University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham. July 10, 2:30 p.m., Frinton on Sea, Essex. July 16, 11 a.m., Rayleigh, Southend on Sea. July 22, 4:00 p.m., Mottisfont, Romsey, near Southampton. (If attending this one, be sure to arrive early and take in the "Beatrix Potter: Play and Childhood" exhibit at Mottisfont Abbey, mentioned above.) Many more showings later in July and August on the website.
Hookhitch Theatre's production of "My Friend Peter" will be at the Arts Theatre, Leicester Square, London, June 2 -23. Book tickets here.
Books:
Image: Waterstones website
Coming in July, the "fashion designer collection". Five titles will receive a (temporary) "makeover" as part of this summer's celebrations, with covers and endpapers by UK and Irish designers. Don't panic, it is only the covers - the insides remain the same. Eliza Williams is fairly neutral (though the comments added at time of sending this newsletter are not) in the Creative Review, but Harriet Brown of The Guardian writes, "Leave Peter Rabbit alone!". We will refrain from comment. Though not books in the same sense, two of Beatrix's sketchbooks have been recreated by bookbinder Helen Golding Miller. The copied sketchbooks will be in the Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead, bringing Beatrix's work alive to visitors in a unique way. The public will be able to handle the books, turning pages of views of local scenery important to Beatrix, and in the order they were created. (Article in the Westmorland Gazette.)
Ann Troxell, US head of the Society's "Reading Beatrix Potter" effort, sends comments about two
recent books for young readers:
Who Was Beatrix Potter? (Sarah Fabiny, author; Mike Lacey and Nancy Harrison, illustrators; July 2015). A thorough general biography for elementary age (8 - 12 years). The cover artwork is exaggerated, all textual drawings are in black and white and many appear to be
based on known photographs. Included is information about John Everett Millais, the Victoria and Albert Museum, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and the National Trust. Beatrix Potter's art is discussed, her study of animals and nature, and the importance she placed on drawing them with accuracy and realism. I will use this book for Readings, and recommend it, for the specified age group. In fact, I presented a copy to each of the four second grade classrooms when I did a Beatrix Potter Day with them in March.
Beatrix Potter and Her Paintbox (David McPhail, author and illustrator; October 2015). Suitable for early elementary ages (4 - 8 years), with soft, watercolor illustrations. The text focuses on Beatrix's love of painting from an early age, up to the publication of the little books, and the beloved pets who would later appear in her illustrations. I am less likely to use this book in presentations, but do display it and mention it as a possible book of interest for younger school age children when I am sharing items from my collection with a group. We would like to add one more: Beatrix Potter and the Unfortunate Tale of a Borrowed Guinea
Pig (Deborah Hopkinson, author; Charlotte Voake, illustrator; February 2016 - July 2016 in the UK). Also intended for the 4 -8 age group, the book takes the form of a picture letter, with delightful watercolor illustrations by Charlotte Voake, whose style is more akin to Quentin Blake than Beatrix Potter.
A quietly humorous look at the tragedies that befell a
number of the Potter pets, and the visiting guinea pig, the book is based on fact. An author's note at the end explains what was altered for the story and gives some background about Beatrix's life, her Journal and its code - and web addresses for the Society, the V&A, and the National Trust for more information. An interview with the author about the book can be read here.
Tidbits: For fun, this charmer, dressed as Beatrix with her pets as Jemima and Peter. "Nattie Nattie" is clearly a Member in the making. We think the duck steals the show.
By Nattie Nattie
Spotted by David Pepper, a wonderful old photo of Castle Cottage in 1946. To view it, go to Getty Images. Thanks, David! Another moment in history from David, who had a chance to stroll through the Potters' old
neighbourhood in London. No. 2 Bolton Gardens was bombed in the Blitz and Bousfield Primary School was built in the vacant space. David snapped a photo of
the plaque on the wall around the school's grounds:
If you are interested, Google street view will give a peek of the area and you can get a glimpse of what the rest of the street would have looked like to Beatrix. A short (under three minutes) video of the National Trust's first Children's Book Festival, held back in March and mentioned in J&N 139. Some splendid views of Wray Castle, the venue for the event.
For those in the UK, an Antiques Roadshow episode (available for viewing until mid-May). Watch from about 38:20. BBC videos won't play in North America, but it comes from a reliable source that Beatrix's will makes an appearance. If a YouTube version should appear in the future, we'll be sure to put the link in for all those not in Britain.
In Closing: Thank you for all the contributions - so many this
time that some have been kept in reserve for the next edition, though please don't let this dissuade you from sending more! Forward us your news of upcoming events, stories, photos and items of interest on all things Potter-related (in 100 to 150 words). The next issue of "Pottering About" is scheduled for mid-June. Please send submissions by June 5.
Copyright 2016, The Beatrix Potter Society
All rights reserved, UK Registered Charity No. 281198
The Beatrix Potter Society, C/O PO Box 202, South Harwich, MA 02661
SafeUnsubscribe™ [email protected]
Forward this email | Update Profile | About our service provider
Sent by [email protected] in collaboration with
Try it free today
