Given the rumours re Xi Jinping, the praised Brushstrokes in Time is a must read !
Taking a genuine interest in China has never been more important to the future of the world in the twenty first century. It’s a mistake to stereotype the country and a mistake to ignore it. Rumours of a coup are just that -RUMOURS. Mao went swimming in the Yangtze and waited and waited. He watched as some debated the issues that were damaging the country and then he returned started the Cultural Revolution and purged his critics including Deng Xiaoping. This could be a repeat of that or maybe not because there is huge frustration in China over Covid restrictions and there are stresses on the economy.
Brushstrokes in Time is an enjoyable read –a page turner but it is set against REAL events so at the end you will be surprised how much you know about China. It’s a fictional memoir of Chinese artist Little Winter, who tries to re-establish the bond with her American daughter, telling the story of her emotional and rebellious past. While growing up in China, Little Winter discovers talent and rebellion, joining ‘The Stars’ art movement for freedom of speech in an era where self-expression and love were a dangerous act. Filmmaker Andy Cohen found 40 minutes of contemporary film about the Stars. (1979) Watch the trailer on this link. https://www.beijingspringfilm.com/
Praise for Brushstrokes in Time
Former chief foreign correspondent of the Guardian, China expert, John Gittings, read it determined to find fault but says that he failed and that “Vetta is always accurate with a grasp of vivid detail.”
The internationally respected poet, Dr Jenny Lewis says, “For me, it has to be among my top ten historical novels, certainly of this century. Utterly mesmerising and unforgettable.”
Dr. Maria Jaschok who lived in China between 1980-1996 says, “Moving but never mawkish, informed yet entirely accessible.’
Lady Moyra Bannister: “Utterly brilliant.”
Among the 72 mostly 5 star reviews on Amazon all of which testify to a GOOD READ Ray Foulk the author of Stealing Dylan from Woodstock,
“I haven’t done much work today because I could not put this page-turner down. As I reached the end just one thought dominated: everyone should read this book. No one I’ve ever come across has managed to tell the story of modern Chinese politics, arts and society in so accessible, imaginative and compelling a fashion.”
Dr Joy Zhang University of Kent China Studies made three short video interviews with Sylvia on why she was so passionate about letting the world know about the courageous Stars Artists, who included Ai Weiwei
https://www.facebook.com/TheMeridianSociety/videos/1141067562675489/
https://www.facebook.com/TheMeridianSociety/videos/1141567299292182/
https://www.facebook.com/TheMeridianSociety/videos/1147685558680356/
Sylvia introduces Beijing Spring in this magazine article.
My friend Weimin He’s highly recommended online workshops
Weimin says
‘I spent an hour and a half in the print room to study Raphael’s original drawing. I tried to draw the same size as the original and I presume Raphael might have spent no more than 1.5 hours to complete the two portraits and the two pair of hands. It was not an easy task to draw this great work in such limited time and this was my second attempt. I’ll do an online workshop to analyse the techniques of Raphael’s masterpiece. Next week I will work on Michelangelo’s drawings, on 3rd March will draw Rubens. There should be a few places available. If you or your friends are interested please click the links below.
“Principles of Drawing” by Weimin He
17 Feb/ 24 Feb/3rd Mar
https://www.ashmolean.org/…/the-principles-of-drawing…
https://www.ashmolean.org/…/principles-of-drawing-24…
https://www.ashmolean.org/…/principles-of-drawing-3-march
I’m privileged because Weimin not only provided the cover illustration for Oxford Castaways and Poems in an Exhibition but also sketched me and numerous events I have been involved in . Here are some of them:
Above Some of my family at the launch of Sculpting the Elephant
Below Compering the launch of Ray Foulks’s Stealing Dylan from Woodstock
The Shakespeare in Oxford Project I organised with Victor Glynn and Polly Biswas Gladwin
The wonderful Peggy Seeger at the Fifties Fandango Gala Night I organised for KOA
Weimin’s calligraphy and Peggy’s!
Below This sketch of a Koro player was made at Dai Richards photography exhibition on behalf of Asylum Welcome . Fabulous ….
The Food of Love. Cooking up a Life …coming soon
Gosh .. Claret Press has started to promote my memoir!
Do you like the cover?
Writing the lives of the 118 Oxford castaways and the fictional memoir of artist Little Winter in Brushstrokes in Time made me start work on my own. I want to tell the untold story of white women like me who married men of colour – when that was hard. That’s why Claret Press wanted to publish it. At a time of partisan hostility on public platforms leading to a lack of trust, I hope my perspective can add a spoonful of kindness along with the recipes from family and friends at the end of chapters. They are a sensual expression of Britain at its best when it relishes diversity .
Thank you Weimin He for your delightful caricature of me which is on the cover.
#food#class#gender#race
Make the Headington Shark a heritage site !
You have one day left to support the proposal to make the Headington Shark a heritage site. The Shark is mostly associated with the owner of the house Bill Heine seen in this pic. Bill was my friend but the artist JOHN BUCKLEY who made it should be better known.
John is a much under celebrated artist and modest too. When I interviewed him, he forgot to tell me that because of his work as a war artist working for the Land Mines Advisory Group, he went to Stockholm with the charity to collect their Nobel Peace Prize! It wasn’t on his website or the MAG website! I attach John’s story. His work has been on the cutting edge raising awareness of human rights abuses not often talked about.
Read his story here .John Buckley
Oxford City Council spent 6 years trying to get them to take the shark down. During the long boring enquiry John sketched. He has found them! He will show them for the first time at the Oxford Indie Book Fair on April 2.
John recently made this bronze model of the shark house.
In my forthcoming memoir Food of Love .. I mention the Headington shark as a symbol that in life, we need to expect the unexpected.
When I saw John’s sculpture Embrace, it led me to write a poem about it. (below) Embrace was intended for the Berlin Wall but when that came down the idea was abandoned. I suggested a wall much closer in Belfast .
Embrace
Joined at the hip; you have tasted the apple.
whatever tension, whatever the pain
Be bound -wrapped around -inseparable.
Trapped in tender embrace you struggle.
you ask why and how together you came
Joined at the hip; you have tasted the apple.
From different communities you blame
the other, you fight, you cry, you soften,
you are bound – wrapped around -inseparable.
One from the church; the other the chapel.
A fateful kiss and God willing amen
joined at the hip; you have tasted the apple.
With distrust and hate you must still wrestle
but as you battle your bindings stiffen.
You are bound – wrapped around – inseparable.
Stand upon the wall and be a symbol.
Bask in sun, survive the rain and remain,
joined at the hip; you have tasted the apple.
Be bound- wrapped around-inseparable
Beijing Spring coming soon.
Just launched – The Nasio I love reading project to build the first library in an area as big as Oxfordshire.
Nancy Mundenyo Hunt , the joint author of Not so Black and White which is inspired by her life, was on BBC regional news last night .
If you find this video uplifting you will like our novel. It’s inspired by Nancy’s life experiences growing up in Kenya and transforming lives through the Nasio Trust but also by her experiences of racism in the UK and of her work as a Diversity Trainer for the Thames Valley Police. We can change lives IF WE WANT TO. Nancy has changed thousands of young people’s lives for the better.
On Monday she came to lunch and we launched
The Nasio- I Love Reading Project
Our aim: To build a library in Kakemega County in west Kenya. Kakemega is the size of Oxfordshire but has not a single library anywhere.
We have the land in the Mumias township primary school and the headmistress and the teachers are praying that we succeed. They know that when children read for pleasure they learn fast, have a skill for life and knowledge of the world is at their fingertips. We will install computers and a reference section that can be used by the whole community.
Our patron is the children’s book illustrator, African born, Korky Paul who will support our fundraising.
Our corporate sponsors Claret Press and Essential Audiobooks will fund the early years running costs of the library ie. the electricity and the librarian’s wages.
A v. small fee from adult library users and computer users and other users of the building will sustain it beyond that.
What do we need to do?
To build , on this site , a 40 ft by 25 ft library plus a veranda and small office (that can be used like an advice bureau) we need to raise £10,000.
Will You Help Us?
Attached to the outside walls under the veranda either side of the entrance will be colourful display boards. Under the heading I Love Reading, your name as a donor or the name of a child or grandchild can be inscribed for a gift of £50. If you can’t give that much yourself, you can hold a Nasio Library Coffee Morning or Tea Party for a few friends to raise £50 towards the project and have your name or group name on the board. Recommend us to your book group, library friends group, church or youth group and have the organisation name inscribed for £50.
We need just 200 names to give a community access to knowledge. Interested in being one of them?
To buy copies of Oxford Castaways 2
Go to
http://www.oxfordfolio.co.uk
and click on the cover image.