The World of OZ

I went to see the musical Wicked at the Victoria Apollo theatre on Tuesday night, something that has been on my list of things to do for a very long time. A musical that has been highly acclaimed, won countless awards and will be celebrating its ten year anniversary in the US next year. The musical lived up, if not succeeded the pedestal I had in my head. I knew the loose story of the musical however I have been trying to avoid learning more as I wanted to be surprised. It was a great story integrated perfectly with the music. The costumes, choreography and voices were all amazing, I left Oz will a very large smile on my face.

The world of Oz is one we know from very young, however Wicked is the untold story of the Witches of OZ, , based on a book by Winnie Holzman. A story that is parallel with 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' following the adventures of Dorothy played by Judy Garland in the 1939 film. What was interesting about Wicked is that you you know some of the story as there are links to The Wizard of Oz, however you learn more about the back story. 

So there are books, films and musicals all based on the Emerald city and the World of Oz; what is next? Well more films it seems, it has been announced that Wicked will be released as a film in 2014, but you don't have to wait that long for your next instalment of Oz, as there is a whole new story we have to discover. 

You would think there was enough stories surrounding Oz, however people seem to want to tell more, this time about the journey the Wizard made to become in charge of Oz.  Next year the film 'Oz the Great and Powerful' comes out in cinemas, there will still be characters we know but with a new spin to a fantasy world of Oz.  I have included the trailer below, so enjoy your next journey to Oz! 

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, first edition 1900, by L.Frank Baum.

The Wizard of Oz, 1939 film cover.

The musical, Wicked; the untold story of the Witches of Oz.

Famous moment of the musical, the performance of 'Defying Gravity.' 

Discovering how the Wizard came to Oz, March 2013 release.

'Oz the Great and the Powerful' trailer.

Halloween special!!

Ok so I LOVE Halloween! I have done since I was little and my mum dressed me up as a witch in the same outfit every year! I love the dressing up, I love the horror factor and I used to love trick or treating. Last year I went to an amazing night in the middle of nowhere in York. It was a frightful night with people chasing us with chainsaws, multiple clowns and lots of mazes to run through in the dark. This year I am not doing anything as heart racing, but of course I am dressing up! This year I will be going as a Day of the Dead sugar skull Mexican! I have mentioned this celebration earlier in my blog but I have posted some photos to get you excited! These are my Halloween inspired images to get you in the mood for tomorrow!!

A different style of pumpkin, get painting!

Ray Villafane's giant pumpkin carving in New York Botanical gardens last year.

Halloween inspired tattoo

Day of the Dead sugar skull faces!

The Nine Eyes of Google Street View

12.30: Still in the Saatchi Gallery and down a floor to discover a google image exhibition by Jon Rafman. A series of screen captures from Google street view; this was an unexpectedly excellent exhibition. You would think that Google street images would be a series or boring roads, but the excellence of it is that is has captured moments in time that could easily have been a professional photographer, shots that people maybe couldn't take without stamping their opinion on the situation.

"With its supposedly neutral gaze, the Street View photography had a spontaneous quality unspoiled by the sensitivities of agendas of a human photographer...capturing fragments of reality stripped of all cultural intention." Jon Rafman

Below are a few snapshots of the images, there was a wide variety to see, I recommend going to have a look yourself.

A baby captured escaping from a Gucci store, obviously the mother was busy in the shop!

The chances of capturing a butterfly in the middle of a photograph, how often have you tried and you never get one this good!

A spontaneous moment of water spiralling.

An unsettling image to look at, at a scene of an accident.

I don't think she knew she was on camera, but a beautifully composed photograph.

The Little Black Jacket by Karl Lagerfeld

Ok so I have neglected this lately, but yesterday I had a good excuse! I was exhausted after running around London trying to fit in as many exhibitions as possible on my day off! So I have a treat in store for the next couple of posts as I explain my day! SO lets begin:
10am: Turn up at the Saatchi Gallery and it is closed for a private function, so my day is a tad delayed until..
12pm: Finally get into the gallery and race up the stairs with the many other visitors that were let in at the same time. We entered the space and either side were two rooms plastered with portraits taken by Karl Lagerfeld in the famous Little Black Chanel Jacket. This photography exhibition was great to see, to be able to see the famous jacket on so many different people and how it can be worn or styled so differently. There was so many photographs that I liked/loved, here are a few snapshots although you can't see the full detail in my rubbish pictures. The exhibition finishes soon, so if you want to have a look get there quick! Love Chanel and the many talents of Karl!

 

Just keep looking!!

So I am still a bit slow with the blogging and showing you all the amazing stuff I am laying my eyes on! You will have to wait a little longer, so while you wait I shall post some more of my drawings of eyes! Eyes I think are so important; everyone's are different in terms of how they look, how they show emotion and how good visually they are to let you see. However we all use our vision to see the world our way. So keep looking for that tiny detail that brings a smile to your face, or the massive sign you walk past everyday but never really see!

Tim Walker :Story Teller

So unless you aren't interested in fashion, photography or fairytales, then you will have heard about the exhibition that launched at Somerset House on Thursday, showcasing Tim Walker's dreamland work. I am dying to get to this exhibition, however boring things like working have got in the way, why isn't everything open 24hours a day!! So I am not going to talk about it until I have witnessed it with my own eyes! But here is a little sketch that is inspired by Tim Walker's work, with a post coming soon on the insight to his exhibition!

Keep your eyes open!!

A quick post tonight, just to remind you that you can find fascinating and beautiful things everywhere, especially in the places you least expect! So keep you eyes open because you never know what you will see next! Also keep watching this space, there is much much more to come!

The original wandering eyes, drawn by moi!