Introducing our latest creative partner: Zabludowicz Collection

We are delighted to present our new partnership with Zabludowicz Collection , announcing their upcoming season of live events exploring the collision of contemporary art and opera. ⠀
⠀
HOT WITH EXCESS: A SEASON OF CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS’ OPERA⠀
12 MARCH – 27 MARCH, 2020

About

A programme of events featuring Sam Belinfante, Beatrice Gibson, Trulee Hall, Richard Kennedy, Benjamin Orlow, Marijke de Roover and Alexandre Singh.

This special season of live events explores the collision of contemporary art and opera. Performances, screenings and discussion reveal how artists working today are commandeering this cultural tradition to propose new hybrid ways of working that resist easy definition. 

Hot with Excess: A Season of Contemporary Artists’ Opera launches with a newly commissioned opera by LA-based artist Trulee Hall and includes a 24-hr film work with live augmentations by Benjamin Orlow, a new site specific staging by Sam Belinfante, a fully realised operatic performance of Marijke de Roover’s Live, Laugh, Limerence, as well as screenings from Alexandre Singh and Beatrice Gibson. It culminates in a restaging of Black Rage, the UK-debut of Berlin-based American artist Richard Kennedy. A discursive element organised in partnership with Centre for Audio Visual Experimentation (CAVE) at Leeds University will offer space to reflect and consider the contemporary context for this programme. With eclectic backgrounds in music, composition, film, and visual arts, by way of Hollywood and Broadway, the participating artists’ collaborative and eclectic approaches engage with the designation ‘opera’ in varied and forceful ways.

The embedding of emotionally intense stories in drama, music and the voice is fundamental to the established opera canon. Similarly, this season will explore how personal and political, intimate and global narratives are communicated through these entwined models. While often understood as bombastic and theatrical, it would be too easy to simply label opera as escapism, and this is equally true of these works. This programme invites us into multiple cathartic moments of unrequited love, fury at society’s racial and hetero norms, the messiness of female sexuality, and states of confusion and even boredom, in the face of what it means to be human. These works run counter to social expectations of what is acceptable, they share an excess – of time, aesthetics, bad taste, emotion, memory. They demand our attention and push us to think further than our existing parameters. 

Using the Zabludowicz Collection’s scale and architecture, the performances and screenings are free from the formality of the opera house. The programme asks: by reframing the component parts of voice and song, music, libretto, staging and costumes, how far can opera be dissolved and reconfigured? Far from the traditional and assumed inaccessible art form, this programme reconsiders opera’s narratives, structure, production and duration. Freed from its conventions, these artists embrace the idea of opera as the original ‘impure’ form; a parasitic mix of music, dance and theatre. The resulting works are multi-layered, collaborative, celebratory, intense and immersive. They tumble between definitions, while at the same time being many things at once. 

Arguably the paradoxical nature of opera – a relic that remains vital, a dead form that continues to thrive – makes it the ultimate art form for our conflicted and divisive world. Hot with Excess: A Season of Contemporary Artists’ Opera offers more than an escape; it offers an audacious platform to confront our fears and desires, and explore a new way of describing who we are and might be.

The programme is curated by Antonia Blocker, Curator: Performance & Engagement at Zabludowicz Collection.

PROGRAMME INFORMATION 

Thursday 12 March, 7pmPerformance: Trulee Hall, Tongues Duel the Corn Whores, an Opera
(£12/£10 conc. seated and £10/£8 conc. standing tickets)

Friday 13 - Saturday 14 March, 6pm – 6pm24hr Screening: Benjamin Orlow, Horses and Ants: An Opera in Eight Acts with live performances
(£8/£6 conc.)

Sunday 15 March, 3pmScreening: Alexandre Singh, The Humans 
(£5/£3 conc.)

Thursday 19 March, 7pmPerformance: Sam Belinfante, A convenient place for our rehearsal.
(£8/£6 conc.)

Saturday 21 March, 7pm
Performance: Marijke De Roover, Live, Laugh, Limerence
(£12/£10 conc.)

Sunday 22 March, 3pmScreening: Beatrice Gibson ’if the route’: the great learning of london [a taxi opera] with an introduction by the artist 
(£5/£3 conc.)

Thursday 26 March, 7pm
Talk: Panel discussion with Centre for Audio Visual Experimentation (CAVE)
(FREE)

Friday 27 March, 7pm
Performance: Richard Kennedy, Black Rage 
(£12/£10 conc.)

Hosting in our spaces: Freelance Sisters Club

Local photographer/filmmaker Lisa Gilby (Freshest Frames) has recently set up an in-person club for female creatives and freelancers – 'Freelance Sisters Club'.

Freelancing has so many perks but it can get lonely sometimes, especially if you work mostly from home. So their club hosts various social meet-ups, workshops and collaborative projects for creative women in London. It’s a great way for female freelancers to connect and support each other, and it’s not just online (like so many clubs are today!)

They recently hosted their first ‘Creative Skill Share Shoot’ in our Residents Lounge, perfect space for smaller and more intimate events. Each participant contributed her professional, creative skills and they collaborated on an exciting project.

Lisa (@freshestframes) was the photographer. Morena (@kodes_accessories) supplied her hand made jewellery for the models Julie (@juliegilbyactress) and Hollie (@hollie.dee12) to wear. Yancy (@yancysmakeup_) did the models hair and makeup. And Bruna (@kalopsiakoncept) documented behind the scenes snaps of the event. It was a great day and they created some amazing images together, that we are happy to share!

This month they have Monday co-working mornings in our Lobby, and a Christmas party on the 13th (because it’s not fair that freelancers don’t get a work Xmas party like everyone else!)

If you’re a female creative or freelancer, join their community – it’s FREE!

Come along to any of their meet-ups, you can find all info on their Instagram and Facebook pages @freelancesistersclub.

THANK YOU!

Exploring Love With Jordan Stephens Shot @ Green Rooms Hotel

Green Rooms Gallery featured in Notion Magazine

Openly exploring his relationship with love - the good, the bad and the ugly, we sit down with artist-actor-activist Jordan Stephens who is back and making an impact with his introspectively mature and open EP, P.I.G.

Words credits: Yasmine Dankwah

• Photography .credits__type Vic Lentaigne

• Styling .credits__type Effie Villagomez

• Hair .credits__type Lauraine Bailey

• Beauty .credits__type Mona Leanne

• Production .credits__type Studio Notion

• Location .credits__type Green Rooms

• Styling Assistant .credits__type Cristina Rumin

November 4, 2019

Sustainable Fashion Night Out - Talk @ Green Rooms

Come and meet founder of Pop London Shazia; she will talk about her story and background, introducing you to her sustainable collection and answer question about sustainability in fashion.

Shazia studied fashion in Florence and worked at luxury brands in London before starting her own business, now located at Blue House Yard, just opposite Green Rooms Hotel. A recognised expert in sustainable textiles and fashion, she has represented the UK on international sustainable design projects, has been sponsored twice by the Harris Tweed mills and

Guests can register for a free ticket on the Eventbrite ticket below:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sustainable-fashion-night-out-registration-80097376409?utm_term=eventurl_text

Get Creative at Green Rooms! PAINT'N'POETRY, a 4 days interactive workshop for our young audience!

Between 12 and 15 August, Green Rooms is happy to host a 4 days workshop organised by BLANK PAGE Arts.

Description:

Paint & Poetry is a 4 day interactive workshop, exploring creativity through the use of Street Art and Spoken Word.

Over the 4 days we will teach young people the basics in both Street Art and Spoken Word/Rap.The idea is too create a mixed media piece which will be shown on the final day in a sharing of their Street Art and Spoken Word piece.

Day 1 - Introduction and practice of street art and abstract painting techniques.

Day 2 - Introduction and practice of spoken word and creative writing techniques, continuing street art practice.

Day 3 - Putting both street art and spoken word techniques into practise, creating final product.

Day 4 - Finishing touches culminating in an exhibition of their street art and spoken word pieces.

(Children are encouranged to showcase both their art and poetic practices, but this isn't a mandatory requiment and they are welcome to chose either or).

tickets on sale at the link below!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/paint-poetry-tickets-66809624385?fbclid=IwAR3fpn6Sizcvt3rlpJZf6SUM50NnQJCNyI9XA_gBD2T4Mh1cb2Gjut3qN2Y

LONNIE AND FRIENDS - Comedy night Live @ Green Rooms!

Lonnie Bangford acclaimed performer, philanthropist and all round fabulous female comes to London direct from Edinburgh (via Barnsley and Tooting Broadway) and will stop at Green Rooms Hotel on the 29 of August for a night to remember!

Featuring songs, dances and special special guests, Lonnie will take you through her impressive back catalogue and career highlights: from being Bruce Willis’ stunt double through to the time she duetted with Elaine Paige on the Victoria Line (she sang to the tube carriage whilst Elaine performed overhead on the Palladium stage).

This is sure to be a night to remember, come join Lonnie and Friends and why not bring some of your friends too!

Special Guests To Be Announced…
(Once their agents have given the go ahead for such a small meaningless role next to the inimitable star that is Lonnie Bangford)

BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/null/lonnie-and-friends/2019-08-29/19:30/t-ykgeqd

Meet our current Artist in Residence: Hannah Thomas - Rebel Visions, an exploration of Mood and Medium

‘The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery’ – Francis Bacon.

Green Rooms Hotel is happy to show Artist Hannah Thomas' first London exhibition Rebel Visions, a project exploring atmosphere and mood, celebrating a form of controlled chaos in materials and technique, and liberation from self-imposed limitations.

Showing from 11th of May until July, Hannah’s work is intensely personal and expresses something elusive, impatient and amorphous, reflecting her taste for the dark and romantic.

ARTIST PROFILE

Hannah Thomas studied Art in University and went on to be a music photographer working in London for 10 years, regularly shooting for music publications, bands and working as part of film crews and tours.  She then moved away from that to pursue more personal work and break new ground artistically.

Hannah currently works out of her studio in Abergavenny, Wales , and is due to continue working there until September 2019.

Her work is due to be exhibited in this years Abergavenny Arts Festival in June.

https://www.hannahthomas.net/

FREE ENTRY

Ceramicist: Maria Cabrera at Green Rooms

There is a display in our restaurant currently of work by ceramicist Maria Cabrera. The lovely item by this local artist are for sale and would make lovely gifts. Come and have a look next time you’re popping in for lunch, or if you’re staying at Green Rooms - take a piece of the hotel away with you! Following Green Rooms’ collaboration with Denby, and following the introduction of some unique Japanese crockery into our current restaurant Oita Kitchen, Cabrera is the next chapter in the hotel’s interesting relationship with earthware.

Maria began working with ceramics in Columbia in 1988. In 1990, she won a scholarship to study glazing techniques, for six months, in Nagoya, Japan. When she returned to Colombia she ran a successful studio in Bogota developing her style. All her pieces are handmade - thrown or slab built, fired, and then decorated individually before being fired again, so each piece is unique.

Maria wishes to make things that are useful and beautiful and likes thinking about people enjoying the pieces she has made. She also teaches lessons and runs workshops from her studio.