Your mention of Soviet culture coincided with a conversation last night when I recalled an extraordinary event at my London comprehensive school. It would have been 1968 or 1969 when as a school treat they hired the local cinema and took the entire secondary school to a special matinee showing of the subtitled Russian Hamlet starring the incomparable Innokenti Smoktunovsky. I remember the experience vividly, though nothing about the film apart from him, and the fact that my best friend and I loved the feel of saying his name. The music by Shostakovich passed me by but the excitement of the extraordinary outing stayed and remains with me.
Sorry, that’s a bit random but I thought you’d be the only person I have contact with who’d be familiar with the film!
I don't know the film you mention but you've reminded me that my Scottish Higher History class (1976) were shown Sergei Eisenstein's 1925 film "Battleship Potemkin" and Mark Donskoy's 1938 film "The Childhood of Maxim Gorky" in the school lecture theatre (a very large state secondary in the north of Scotland). I remember the image of maggots swarming over the meat given to the sailors in the former, and the haunting sound of the Russian male voice choir in the latter. And my friends and I loved saying "Nizhny Novgorod".
Yes, I wonder. We were asked about our reactions afterwards, tho not sure how articulate we were! We had absolutely superb teaching in the subjects I did to A level equivalent - English, French and History. I think it was a bit of a golden age, as teachers had more freedom to teach rather than having to adhere rigidly to the current Scottish Curriculum for Excellence (a real misnomer).
Jane, this is glorious! The colours and pattern must have been a wonderful antidote to thinking about the greys of 1930s Russia, even with the addition of SP’s tea set.
Wonderful quilt, sometimes the simplest repeating pattern is the most powerful. You've inspired me to put together the backing for a quilt top that's been hanging around for months...a task for a very windy miserable day!
Love the quilt (and your abiding Beatle fandom) but so wish you could add a picture of the back (before you hide it) so I can see how you sewed the crosses and flowers together. I'm not a quilter, but I sew, and this is hard for me to imagine how it's done! Do you stitch crosses together first and then...? Please divulge.
Speaking of linen, I went to a very interesting talk yesterday about the flax dowries of Austria and the stories of the women who owned the flax. Google ‘Berta’s Flax’ to read more.
Interesting that it was the women who owned the flax. In the herring fishing communities of the north east of Scotland it was the women who owned the boats.
Love it! Makes me think of the Delaunays’ paintings. Thank you Jane.
(To me “untrue is true” is another way to say “gaslighting”. It’s unfortunately practiced in some politics these days. BTW, highly recommend the 1944 movie “Gaslight” with Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer! That’s where the term comes from.)
What a glorious explosion! Great color and movement. And a wonderful tonic to be absorbed in as the world rampages around us. I hope to get round to Proust one of these days . . . Marguerite
On an icy 20-degree morning, opening your email brought the promise of spring and summer and warmed my shawl wrapped body and soul! Nothing like a frigid day that makes one amnesiac and long for summer’s heat…. Gorgeous!
Jane, another inspirational quilt, how I love this juxtaposition of color. I so want one. My embroidery quilt is up first after the holidays. I’ve been collecting pieces of embroidered items. Thanks for sharing. Chris
Gorgeous quilt!
Your mention of Soviet culture coincided with a conversation last night when I recalled an extraordinary event at my London comprehensive school. It would have been 1968 or 1969 when as a school treat they hired the local cinema and took the entire secondary school to a special matinee showing of the subtitled Russian Hamlet starring the incomparable Innokenti Smoktunovsky. I remember the experience vividly, though nothing about the film apart from him, and the fact that my best friend and I loved the feel of saying his name. The music by Shostakovich passed me by but the excitement of the extraordinary outing stayed and remains with me.
Sorry, that’s a bit random but I thought you’d be the only person I have contact with who’d be familiar with the film!
I don't know the film you mention but you've reminded me that my Scottish Higher History class (1976) were shown Sergei Eisenstein's 1925 film "Battleship Potemkin" and Mark Donskoy's 1938 film "The Childhood of Maxim Gorky" in the school lecture theatre (a very large state secondary in the north of Scotland). I remember the image of maggots swarming over the meat given to the sailors in the former, and the haunting sound of the Russian male voice choir in the latter. And my friends and I loved saying "Nizhny Novgorod".
I wonder if our teachers were aware of the impact of these kind of events.
Yes, I wonder. We were asked about our reactions afterwards, tho not sure how articulate we were! We had absolutely superb teaching in the subjects I did to A level equivalent - English, French and History. I think it was a bit of a golden age, as teachers had more freedom to teach rather than having to adhere rigidly to the current Scottish Curriculum for Excellence (a real misnomer).
Stunning! Beautiful! Psychedelic! Envious!
Such a pretty quilt Jane. Love the combo of neon and bold prints. So enjoy your Sunday news.
Absolutely fabulous quilt, what a productive week!
Yay! Great quilt x
Jane, this is glorious! The colours and pattern must have been a wonderful antidote to thinking about the greys of 1930s Russia, even with the addition of SP’s tea set.
Wonderful quilt, sometimes the simplest repeating pattern is the most powerful. You've inspired me to put together the backing for a quilt top that's been hanging around for months...a task for a very windy miserable day!
Love the quilt (and your abiding Beatle fandom) but so wish you could add a picture of the back (before you hide it) so I can see how you sewed the crosses and flowers together. I'm not a quilter, but I sew, and this is hard for me to imagine how it's done! Do you stitch crosses together first and then...? Please divulge.
Amazing quilt - a feast for the eyes!
Speaking of linen, I went to a very interesting talk yesterday about the flax dowries of Austria and the stories of the women who owned the flax. Google ‘Berta’s Flax’ to read more.
Interesting that it was the women who owned the flax. In the herring fishing communities of the north east of Scotland it was the women who owned the boats.
Yummy quilt!
Fantastic patchwork!
Love it! Makes me think of the Delaunays’ paintings. Thank you Jane.
(To me “untrue is true” is another way to say “gaslighting”. It’s unfortunately practiced in some politics these days. BTW, highly recommend the 1944 movie “Gaslight” with Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer! That’s where the term comes from.)
What a glorious explosion! Great color and movement. And a wonderful tonic to be absorbed in as the world rampages around us. I hope to get round to Proust one of these days . . . Marguerite
Great flimsy - and socks! x
On an icy 20-degree morning, opening your email brought the promise of spring and summer and warmed my shawl wrapped body and soul! Nothing like a frigid day that makes one amnesiac and long for summer’s heat…. Gorgeous!
Jane, another inspirational quilt, how I love this juxtaposition of color. I so want one. My embroidery quilt is up first after the holidays. I’ve been collecting pieces of embroidered items. Thanks for sharing. Chris