Five of the best: The art of glass

Sep 1 2010 Harrow Observer

LEARN about French glass artist René Lalique and his Art Nouveau jewellery through a talk to be given by jeweller David Callaghan.

The Frenchman, who lived between 1860 and 1945, is the subject of a free lecture organised by Harrow National Trust Association.

Lalique's designs became acclaimed after he made jewels for Sarah Bernhardt and then exhibited at the great Paris exhibitions of 1894 and 1900 and, in turn, he attracted the attention of Calouste Gulbenkian, who bought more than 150 major items of jewellery from him, of which many are now exhibited in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.

From 1900 onwards he concentrated on work in glass and Lalique is still made today using his original designs and patterns.

what? Talk on the art of René Lalique

where? Harrow Arts Centre, Uxbridge Road, Hatch End

when? Tonight (Thursday) at 8pm

cost? Free

see: www.hanta.btik.com  for details of the talk programme

Beautifully formed

TEXTILE artist Caroline Smollan is showcasing a collection of miniature Torah mantles in an exhibition entitled Testimony and Memory. Smollan began her collection after visiting Lithuania in 2001, when she was commissioned to make a mural for the new Jewish museum in Vilnius.

On her travels she came across a miniature Torah mantle, which travellers use should they be unable to reach home by Sabbath, and she fell in love with the idea as an art form.

Her work includes stitched, embellished, dyed, silk and velvet examples, many of which have been exhibited at the Yeshiva University Museum, in New York.

Smollan will also be exhibiting her Japanese Shibori silk paintings with Judaic themes, and a private collection of ceramics, as seen at the 2nd World Ceramics Show in Tokyo, which represent fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls. **An art auction of her work will be held at the gallery at 3pm on Sunday, September 12 in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, with viewing from 10am.

what? Exhibition of miniature Torah mantles and ceramics

when? Until October 17, 2010

where? The Etz Chayim Gallery at Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, Oaklands Gate, Northwood, HA6 3AA

cost? Free

contact: 01923 822 592

see: www.npls.org.uk

Outrageous presence

A TRIBUTE to a classic new wave band reawakens the sounds of the 1970s and 80s.

The lead vocalist of Bootleg Blondie, the rather aptly named Debbie Harris (right), has the looks, voice and attitude of the original Atomic Girl, and is just as outrageous on stage.

The group will play a two-set, multi-costume show, complete with all the hits fans know and still love, including Heart of Glass, Denis, Presence Dear, Union City Blue, Hanging on the Telephone, Call Me, Maria, Dreaming and, of course, Atomic.

what? Bootleg Blondie

when? Friday, September 3, 9.30pm (doors open at 8.30pm)

where? Tropic@Ruislip, Ruislip Social Club, Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip, HA4 6JQ cost? £12 (£10 in advance)

contact: box office 01784 460 094

see: www.tropicatruislip.co.uk

Last performance of the summer season

CATCH the final appearance of the season by Harrow Concert Band (pictured above).

Comprising woodwind and brass sections, the 25-strong band will play between 2.30pm and 4.30pm as part of a family fun day at Harrow Recreation Ground.

The band was started in 1928 and changed its name in 1972.

Conductor Roger Hewitt said: "We do stuff from the West End shows, Frank

Sinatra and TV theme tunes and films, and some classical. We're playing for two hours with a short break in the middle, and it's absolutely free."

what? Harrow Concert Band

where? Harrow Recreation Ground, Roxborough Road, Harrow

when? Sunday, 2.30-4.30pm

cost? Free

see: www.harrowconcertband.org.uk

Award-winning Argentine crime drama hits the screen

OSCAR-winning Argentine thriller, The Secret in Their Eyes, comes to The Tricycle Cinema.

The 18-rated 2009 film, a little over two hours long, tells the story of Benjamin Esposito, a criminal court employee, who retires and decides to write a novel based on a personal case.

In 1974, a beautiful young woman is raped and murdered and Esposito had to track down the killer.

Flashing back to those times, no clues remain at the scene and Esposito has to rely on his own instincts during the investigation, which is told in flashback form.

In the modern day, the case still haunts him and becomes an obsession.

The Secret In Their Eyes, in Spanish with English subtitles, won the Academy Award for best foreign language film this year.

what? The Secret in Their Eyes

where? Tricycle Cinema, 269 Kilburn High Road, Kilburn

when? Today (Thursday) at 8.45pm

cost? Typically £9.50 a ticket but depends on exact screening

see: www.tricycle.co.uk

contact: 020 7328 1000