Dawn launch

I knew today was to be a big one and it is proving to be just that. The Dawn Blessing of Siân Torrington's installation on Courtenay Place took place in the chilly windswept hours of the early morn, but its gravity and importance belittled the rude early awakening.

I motored into town in trusty Bella and knew at that time I could find a parking space, even if it was a loading zone, which it turned out to be.

At Memphis later I see my home strip  (above) on page one, and inside the magazine was an article about Memphis Belle and its recent renovation - nice coincidence.

The flyer of the installation, entitled 'We dont have to be the building'

Johnny with AJ and the renovated Memphis.

Siân making her impassioned speech...

...and one of the Light Boxes showcasing her art and the cause for inclusive equality.

The group around Siân who sang the rousing Welsh anthem  Calon Lan  or 'Honest Heart'.

Aspiring young ballerinas in Wellington...

Then on to the Paramount to see the very instructive and controversial Hannah Arendt documentary, photo below...

Philosopher Arendt, lover of famed academic the controversial Martin Heidegger, and married to a non-Jew, was a fascinating Jewish character who during two World Wars inhabited a role few Jews sympathised with.  Gruesome but true footage of Nazi war atrocities add to its importance while not reducing it to a 'sensational' film.

and in a similar vein but a totally different subject, Laura Albert created an indefinable character called JT Leroy and talented director Jeff Feurzeig made this great movie about her great hoax in the NY literary world. Fascinating story but only in America!