Leonard & Anjani Tonight at the Richard Goodall Gallery

[Red Poppy]

Not going to the Dublin concert, Lizzy.
None of this nonsensical comfort of the indoors.
A field in Mullingar in the rain is what it's all about.
That's the boy that'll separate the men from the sheep!

[lizzytysh]

Hi Red Poppy ~

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. You still have the chance to be a man indoors in London... Monday night... you should be able to make it if you leave now. She's worth the trip.


~ Lizzy

[Christine]

I still much prefer even flawed Cohen versions of Cohen material to other people's versions!

Seconded. Does that constitute a quorum?

Careful with those rhubarb leaves, Byron. Please don't get any on Alber.

Have a terrific time in Ireland, everyone. Here's Billy Connolly's "If It Was Nae for Your Wellies" for you:

If it wasn't for your wellies where would you be
You'd be in the hospital or infirmary
'Cause you would have a dose of the flu or even pleurisy
If you didn't have your feet in your wellies
Oh wellies they are wonderful, oh wellies they are swell
'Cause they keep out the water and they keep in the smell
And when you're sitting in a room you can always tell
When some bugger takes off his wellies

If it wasn't for your wellies where would you be
You'd be in the hospital or infirmary
'Cause you would have a dose of the flu or even pleurisy
If you didn't have your feet in your wellies

Oh and when you're out walking in the country with a bird
And you're strolling over fields just like a farmer's herd
And somebody shouts, "Keep off the grass" and you think how absurd
and SQUELCH you find why farmers all wear wellies

If it wasn't for your wellies where would you be
You'd be in the hospital or infirmary
'Cause you would have a dose of the flu or even pleurisy
If you didn't have your feet in your wellies

There's fishermen and firemen, there's farmers and all
Men out digging ditches and working in the snow
This country it would grind to a halt and not a thing would grow
If it wasn't for the workers in their wellies

If it wasn't for your wellies where would you be
You'd be in the hospital or infirmary
'Cause you would have a dose of the flu or even pleurisy
If you didn't have you're feet in your wellies

Oh Edward Heath and Wilson they haven't made a hit
They're ruining this country more than just a bit
If they keep on the way they're going we'll all be in the (shhhhh)
So you'd better get your feet in your wellies

If it wasn't for your wellies where would you be
You'd be in the hospital or infirmary
'Cause you would have a dose of the flu or even pleurisy
If you didn't have you're feet in your wellies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g455lLAlTX8

PS BM, I am addicted... but I couldn't find Bob & Bing (Road to Hong Kong) when they accidentally went up in the rocket instead of chimps, and were fed bananas and had their mouths wiped with automated machinery. Classic B&B scene.

[jarkko]

http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk ... ivate_gaze

Leonard Cohen: a private gaze

Wendy Jones loves Richard and Graham’s work with Leonard on the High Street.

Richard Goodall, who opened his beautiful new gallery on High Street recently, has already proved in Thomas Street for the last seven years, that he does what he does exceedingly well. He has an unerring eye for talent, and the persistence to bring it to a wall-near-you.

The wonder of the first exhibition on High Street is that it happened at all. But this is how it did.

Many years ago Goodall bought a book of poetry from the tortured song-writer, enigma and oft-times genius Leonard Cohen. This also featured a couple of his line drawings, Goodall was instantly smitten. He then met with Graham Nash of Nash Editions in California. Nash had been, of course, a leading member of Manchester band the Hollies, before becoming one of the founders of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Goodall and Nash decided to collaborate in delivering this exhibition, two and a half years later we can all see the success the venture.

Many of the works combine image and text. These include descriptions of the subject, thoughts and letters which are humorous, touching and immediate: it's Leonard, poet and painter, captured in a frame. They are a delight.

The gallery itself is worth a visit. A huge, elegant, glass walled space with polished concrete floor that will bring out the hidden rollerblader in you. This provides a light and airy space in which to enjoy art.

I have seen the show at least six times and have narrowed my choice of possible purchases down to an improbable fifteen. My first would be a coloured drawing with the caption One of the days when the hat doesn't help: a self portrait, just one of many that Cohen did every day for a year. Then, there’s Red Violin, at least three life drawings, and The End of the Day, which has already sold the first twenty five editions. If however like me, you are not able to make the big investment, there is a full colour catalogue some of which are signed and which will keep you happy for years. There is a comprehensive but well written forward by Robert Enright.

So far, so excellent, although memories of the launch still cause pain. What happened to exhibition etiquette? Call me sensitive to a fault if you like, but I was almost in an under-the-sofa-situation with embarrassment at the frenzy of adoration going on. I know everybody there was an ardent fan of Leonard Cohen and the man himself seemed to be coping with it well, but ...come-on-girls! There were moments when I feared he was in danger of being digested before our very eyes. Let's show our idols we love them by all means, but let's not eat them alive. It’s the work that they’ve done that will be remembered after all.

Leonard Cohen
Richard Goodall Gallery (103 High Street. Northern Quarter, City. 0161 834 3330 http://www.richardgoodallgallery.com)
Tue-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat noon-4pm

[osmachar]

[quote]So far, so excellent, although memories of the launch still cause pain. What happened to exhibition etiquette? Call me sensitive to a fault if you like, but I was almost in an under-the-sofa-situation with embarrassment at the frenzy of adoration going on. I know everybody there was an ardent fan of Leonard Cohen and the man himself seemed to be coping with it well, but ...come-on-girls! There were moments when I feared he was in danger of being digested before our very eyes. Let's show our idols we love them by all means, but let's not eat them alive. It’s the work that they’ve done that will be remembered after all.[quote]

Totally agree. Glad someone else noticed.

[Byron]

So far, so excellent, although memories of the launch still cause pain. What happened to exhibition etiquette? Call me sensitive to a fault if you like, but I was almost in an under-the-sofa-situation with embarrassment at the frenzy of adoration going on. I know everybody there was an ardent fan of Leonard Cohen and the man himself seemed to be coping with it well, but ...come-on-girls! There were moments when I feared he was in danger of being digested before our very eyes. Let's show our idols we love them by all means, but let's not eat them alive. It’s the work that they’ve done that will be remembered after all.

Totally agree. Glad someone else noticed.

I cannot comment on the first hour of the opening because we arrived via several wrong roads through Manchester. We saw nothing of what Wendy Jones describes. What I saw were sincere, mature admirers of Leonard; all of whom are appreciative of his various artistic creations, whether they be paintings, drawings, novels, poetry, prose, songs and public performances. Many of his admirers have followed his career for forty years and were simply delighted to meet him in person. I saw no evidence of a 'groupie type' of activity, to which Wendy Jones alludes. There was an overwhelming sense of admiration in the air. Anjani was constantly at his elbow to guide and protect Leonard from the throng as he moved around the room. He clearly appreciated the attention of those who were there and having left the room before we arrived, he was gracious enough to come out once more, with Anjani, to meet us. The two of them were still chatting happily to small groups of people at 7 o'clock when the gallery was closing. As I said, I have no idea of what the first hour of the opening was like, but can only repeat that we failed to see any evidence of what Wendy Jones describes in her piece.

[osmachar]

They might have all been "sincere admirers" but one can admire in a less 'in-your-face' way.

[Byron]

I repeat, I saw no evidence of what you say, but we were only there for the last hour and Leonard and Anjani, (and Julie Felix, thanks to john etherington for bringing her by the way) were happily engaging in conversations as they moved around the gallery.

I get the feeling that if Anjani thought that there was too much 'in your face' attention from people, she would have manoeuvred Leonard away from them, and perhaps that is what happened before we arrived. I can only speak as I find. The second hour of the exhibition was a delightful experience and conducted in a civilised and mature fashion.

[osmachar]

You should have been there earlier and you'd understand

[Byron]

And you should have been there later, and then you would understand

I believe we are comparing apples with oranges. And himself said there's nothing that rhymes with oranges

[Byron]

John Etherington, it's time I posted my thanks to you in this separate piece, for bringing Julie Felix along.
She was a stunning beauty in her younger days, and still has that 'certain something' even today. Her voice is as strong as ever, which we enjoyed a few months ago at Parkgate on the Wirral.

[lizzytysh]

To those of you who made the wise choice of buying a catalog at the Gallery's Opening, you can be glad you did.

After rather extended communication with the Gallery, my payday finally arrived and the signed catalogs that were $15 pounds at the Opening, were $25 pounds after it and as late as July 12; by July 24, they had risen to $35 pounds.

Now, with only several left [approximately three], they are $50 pounds. People are attending the Gallery from across England, as well as coming from Ireland, and have been purchasing the catalogs. Despite their current price, Elli [thankfully] honoured the [increased] $35 pounds price, which she told me about on the 24th, so I now have one coming in the mail at that price, along with the two posters. The adage "Strike while the iron is hot" comes to mind .

I'm really looking forward to seeing the differences in the Toronto and London catalogs; an email from Richard clarified some of them. I'm looking forward, too, to framing and using the three of my "acceptable decorations" .


~ Lizzy

Thank you for your correction, Osmachar .

[osmachar]

Think you mean £ Pounds (sorry for being pedantic...)

Can't believe that the catalogues are now 50 quid - a bit much though....

[lizzytysh]

As of my early morning phone call today, exchanging the financial information, yes... that sure enough is what they are . The law of supply and demand.

Thanks, again, for your correction on the monetary denomination, Osmachar.


~ Lizzy

[osmachar]

maybe just wishful thinking - 50 Euros is less than 50 Pounds....