Some things that made me smile in... April 2024
Including landscape love, an interview with a difference and "giggle sticks"
If you’re a regular here, welcome back! If you’re new, this is my round up of some of the things that have made me smile over the past month. Please feel free to share in the comments anything that’s brought you joy too, whether big or small! Are you currently a free subscriber but would like to upgrade? You can do that here.
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How did we get to the end of April? It seems like barely the blink of an eye since we were facing the arrival of 2024. Now the season of spring marches on here in London irrespective of the weather. This has been evidenced in my walks around my neighbourhood where over the past month I’ve witnessed the snowdrops, daffodils and cherry blossom give way to bluebells, wisteria and laburnum.
On a related note, I loved learning on Substack Notes the other day via
and that bluebells are also known as “giggle sticks”:Nature seems to have played a notable role when it comes to some of the things that have made me smile this April.
Soulscapes at Dulwich Picture Gallery
It was a grey and subsequently very rainy (no surprises there) Tuesday morning when I took myself off to Dulwich Picture Gallery to visit the Soulscapes exhibition after hearing good things about it.
I’ve seen a few landscape exhibitions before, but none like this.
Described as a contemporary retelling of landscape by artists from the African Diaspora, Soulscapes features more than 30 artworks exploring our relationship and connection with the land and world around us. Curated by Lisa Anderson, Managing Director of the Black Cultural Archives, the works featured range from photography, painting, collage, textile and film.
One of the images sparked a forgotten memory of being in the Jamaican countryside as a teenager. I found the whole exhibition thought provoking particularly with regards to belonging in relation to the land.
Another of the pieces I felt particularly drawn to was a new commission by Michaela Yearwood-Dan (pictured above). When you look closely you can see notes written on the work by the artist. One at my eye level read,
“Earth and heaven both are still waiting – though time is draining from the clock.”
I love, love, love being able to visit museums when they’re quiet, to have the space to take in all the artworks and of course to potter around the shop afterwards.
If you do go to see Soulscapes, once there you can also visit all the displays at the gallery including ORACLES, currently in Gallery 12 until 14 July.
Artists YARA + DAVINA have created a bespoke set of oracle cards inspired by the Dulwich Picture Gallery’s collection of historic paintings in collaboration with local community groups in Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. As explained, in the display description,
“Oracle cards are tools for contemplation and are not designed to predict one’s future, instead they encourage us to listen to our intuition.”
I popped into ORACLES for a few minutes of reflection and pulled the following card. Going on your intuition, what’s your interpretation of this?:
If you happen to visit on a Sunday, YARA + DAVINA will be there giving free readings.
Soulscapes is at Dulwich Picture Gallery until 2 June 2024. Tickets £17.50 with donation. Concessions available. Details here.
Gathering
Following on from Soulscapes, I was kindly gifted a copy of Gathering, Women of Colour on Nature last month by Lehni at our podcast gathering. Lehni was the fourth person who had recommended Soulscapes within the space of a few days, so this cemented my decision to visit.
Gathering is a beautiful book to dip in and out of. I deliberately haven’t read all the essays yet as I want to savour this book for as long a possible. In a world where we can binge so much it’s lovely to take time over things to appreciate them even more.
My favourite essay so far has been I Walk, the Sea Rises by Taylor Edmonds. The second paragraph mentions getting a pint at a village pub while on a hike along the coast of Cornwall:
“The kind where you have to bow your head to get through the door frame. Where there’s always wood on a fire and men at the bar who don’t need to order because the bartender already knows what they want. The kind of pub that makes me want to step out of my body and run. But my partner is of these places. A white, Gloucestershire country boy, who’s worked in pubs his whole life, he knows their language. I watch him belong.”
That theme of belonging again, in relation to the land and the world around us.
Gathering, edited by Durre Shahwar and Nasia Sarwar-Skuse and published by 404 Ink is available online here.
Or if you’re visiting the Soulscapes exhibition you can purchase a copy of Gathering in-person in the Dulwich Picture Gallery shop or via their website.
The Assembly
Based on a French TV format titled, Les Rencontres Du Papotin (with previous guests including Emmanuel Macron and Camille Cottin), The Assembly features an interview with award-winning actor and director of stage and screen, Michael Sheen. So far, so typical talk show, you might think. However, unlike with the standard promo press junket or celeb sofa-lined late night chat, in this interview NO subject is off limits and the interviewers are 35 autistic, neurodivergent and learning disabled people.
Compared to most celebrity interviews this one was totally unfiltered. This trailer will give you a bit of an idea:
It was great that Michael Sheen was so open to being asked anything, but ultimately the show wasn’t really about him. What made The Assembly so compelling was the brilliant, insightful and talented cast of interviewers.
I found The Assembly moving, funny and warm. This 30 minute special was made and broadcast to celebrate Autism Acceptance Week and I really hope there will be much more like this all year round.
The Assembly is available to watch on BBC iPlayer here.
Spring Yin
I really enjoyed teaching Yin Yoga with a Spring theme for Mindwalk Yoga this month. It was wonderful to see members of the Mindwalk Yoga community again and to see new faces too!
If you missed it, I’ll be teaching a livestream Restorative Yoga class with Mindwalk Yoga on 23rd July 8-9pm BST.
If you’re not a *Mindwalk Yoga member, you can attend by purchasing a drop-in ticket here.
(*Mindwalk Yoga members can join as part of their existing membership.)
Viv’s Coffee - a lovely new spot in south London
Last May I wrote here about Viv’s fab coffee spot at Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey.
Well, this month Viv opened the doors of her very own bricks and mortar coffee shop in Loughborough Junction! (Maltby Street lovers, fear not - you can still find Viv’s Coffee there on weekends as usual too.)
If you’re ever in the Loughborough Junction/Brixton area and are a fan of great coffee (and tasty baked goods) I highly recommend paying Viv’s Coffee a visit. I popped down there on the shop’s opening day to enjoy a latte and a cheeky bit of pistachio cake with a chapter of Gathering.
Huge congratulations, Viv!
Find Viv’s Coffee right next to Loughborough Junction Station at 198 Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 9QH
Last but not least…
This month’s kitchen dance track:
Texas Hold ‘Em may be all over the airwaves, but recently I’ve had Blackbird from Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter album on repeat (I’m not planning on getting a Stetson anytime soon though).
On this track Beyonce has collaborated with four Black female county artists, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts.
Did you know what inspired Paul McCartney to write Blackbird in the 1960s? If not, find out more here.
Over to you - I’d love to know:
What’s made you smile or brought you joy this month?
Are you a fan of oracle cards? If so, how or when do you use them?
Did you see The Assembly too? What did you think?
To nap or not to nap? Share your views and join the discussion here.
Oh Paula I LOVED reading this (but it did make me miss South London a lot!!). We've also had Blackbird on repeat in our house recently... the whole of Cowboy Carter in fact. My partner has actually been listening to The Beatles this week off the back of being obsessed with Cowboy Carter too, ha! I'm off to watch The Assembly and look up Gathering now...
Loved reading about the inspiration for Paul McCartney's 'Blackbird'. I remember watching Rizzle Kicks do a version at some awards show years ago.