Nº 26: Isabelle Bucklow
The writer drops in to rec dog shows, skate parks, and secret libraries in New Cross.
We’re back with writer Isabelle Bucklow. Read on to find out what she’s into, and if you’re new here, hit subscribe for secret recommendations once a week.
Isabelle is a London-based writer, researcher and editor. She co-edits motor, a print journal dedicated to dance, and has bylines in magazines such as Worms, Vestoj, and Little White Lies.
☞ THE WOMEN’S ART LIBRARY: An invaluable archive nestled in Goldsmiths University but open to all (by appointment). The library originally began as a slide library, with female artists donating 35mm slides documenting their artwork. A means of legacy building for female artists whose practice might not otherwise be preserved. Dr Althea Greenan has been in charge of this joint since 1989 and knows it like the back of her hand. What’s more, rather than be catalogued according to the Dewey Decimal System as is de rigour in archiving, the WAL follows an anarchic order that serves its material far more faithfully (the master's tools will never dismantle the master's house).
Nestled amidst slides you can also find artist statements, exhibition ephemera, catalogues, and press material in addition to audio and videotapes, photographs and digital media. Give Althea a ring, ask for a tour, and make sure she shows you her PhD thesis too.
Another rich and generous resource is Monoskop - a Wikipedia/spark notes hybrid specifically for the arts. Not only does it offer insightful summaries but an online compendium of pdfs, you can find obscure exhibition catalogues to cult theory. With heavy hitters like Deleuze et al you’ll likely be able to download their best bits in not just English but Japanese, Czech, Finnish, Turkish etc.
☞ CLOSE-UP CINEMA: I love going to Close-Up cinema for a coffee or a glass of wine or to actually go to the cinema - the ambience is such that a trip wouldn’t be wasted if you didn’t see a film. This cinema is in Shoreditch (yuck) but boasts a film rental library containing classics of early and experimental cinema, artist moving image and documentaries, an archive of digital media and printed matter, as well as a delectable film programme for their 40 seat cinema (they just had a wicked Cassevettes season). In the cafe/bar there are also plenty of books and dvds to peruse and this proves greatly beneficial should you be on a date and conversation just isn’t popping. I once had the pleasure of sitting adjacent to shelves M-P - I simply had to pluck Pasolini's 'Bodies and Places' from the shelf and boy did things really get going ;)
☞ IL BACIO EXPRESS: Italian restaurant on Stokey Church st. Would recommend; Pera (Gorgonzola, dolcelatte, pear, walnut and mozzarella pizza). Would not recommend; Wustel (Tomato, mozzarella, hot dogs, onions, egg)
☞ CRUFTS: Ok I’ve never been to Crufts but I can imagine it must be epic. I have however had the pleasure of attending, on several occasions, the lesser known Discover Dogs. Not a dog show per se, this smorgasbords of dog breeds for prospective owners to view and pet is a guaranteed good time. With hundreds of booths arranged alphabetically in a labyrinthine formation it is likely that no matter how diligently you try to travel from Dandy Dinmont terrier to Dalmatian you will inevitably diverge and get lost. One year my mother – having alerted security that her daughter had gone missing – found me buried, elated, beneath a frenzy of wriggling bracco italianos. I particularly appreciate that the Discover Dogs website has an obnoxiously large countdown until the next event (at the time of writing this is 121 days 12 hours 56 minutes and 16 seconds) as I think this really captures its Glastonbury-for-the-dog-world energy.
od☞ HACKNEY BUMPS: pre covid this skate spot by Chatsworth road was near ruin but some furloughed skaters decided to band together and along with some power tools polished up the 35yr old concrete. I have insider knowledge that the ground is now so smooth you can do a nollie heelflip and if that means something to you then get yourself to the bumps!
☞ DR BRONNER: One product I can’t recommend highly enough is Dr Bronner's Almond Oil Pure Castile Soap. Anyone I know who uses this magic concoction has skin so supple, soft and ageless that you just wouldn’t believe they walk the same god forsaken streets as us. Now I admit I still shower in microplastics and limescale but one day I’ll transition to Bronner's for every day of the week. Having sampled a couple of options in various showers that are not my own, my preference would be the almond one which smells like marzipan and heaven.
♪ LISTENING TO: Hanky Panky Nohow by John Cale
☠︎ HATES: Outgrown Nicknames – Many years ago I told my friends to give up on calling me ‘Izzy’ and accept me as an Isabelle. Some stubborn stragglers remain loyal to that antiquated persona and refuse to get with the now! As such I am forced to lead a double life.
Thanks Isabelle! Follow Isabelle here and here. Check out the motor dance journal conference ‘moving is understanding’ above.
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