CHRISTMAS IN LONDON / bloomsbury / covent garden / illusionists

+THE "BRITISH MUSEUM"+

>was our main focus in london & is where<

>we had our >reunion w/ dennis crompton<

+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+

+>> / BRITISH MUSEUM)+

>but there were other vital activities that we<

>enjoyed / >alchemy & magic always a key<

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

+THE ROSETTA STONE+

>is an impressive display in its glass case<

>and like the mona lisa in paris always w/<

+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+

+>>>> / CHAMPOLION)+

>a gathering of >galvanized enthusiasts w/<

> wild eyed looks paying champolion dues<

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

+DJED ENERGY DEVICE+

>and the >magical ancient egyptian ankh<

>are the >british museum posessions that<

+(GOOGLE :> EUGENE RAY+

+ / DJED ENERGY DEVICE)+

>interest me the most / british scholarship<

>superiority has >provided them #1 place< 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >vital historical note : although the british<
>museum >like the historical new orleans<
+(BRITISH >"INDEPENDENT+
+GROUP" (1952) w/ REYNER+
+BANHAM  >GREW< HERE)+
>collection is >past oriented< scholarship<
>soon reveals the >nutrient for the future<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+"THIS IS TOMORROW"+
>independent group exhibition of 1956<
>had an enormous influence on young<
+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+
+>> / REYNER BANHAM)+
>archigramers who like me >were still<
>students, but working in arch. offices<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >we have stayed at the thanet hotel in<
>bloomsbury since 1985 / >the british<
+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+
+>>>> / BLOOMSBURY)+
>museum is a block away and >famed<
>shaftsbury theatre >just a few further<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >the theatre like intellectual research is a great<
>strength in london & the interior of historical<
+(GOOGLE : EUGENE R AY+
+ / LONDON THEATRES)+
>theaters reek w' the radiant aura of oliviers &<
>richardsons / these crusty palaces fascinating<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >the fabulous historical >shaftsbury theatre<
>was showing "the illusionists" and we had<
+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+
+ / ILLUSIANIST "MAGIC)+
>an entranced evening studying the complex<
>"magic" of the houdini water torture escape<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >marianne loves the >covent garden< market<
>where we >purchased, last visit<  >the >very<
+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+
+>> / COVENT GARDEN)+
>navy >british blue coat< w/ >gold trimmings<
>she is wearing enroute to the "cork & bottle"<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >the shops at the british museum have a<
>vast quantity of >books, facsimiles and<
+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+
+>> / CHRISTMAS GIFTS)+
>scholarly models that any eager person<
>would be delighted to christmas receive<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >when marianne and i enjoyed tea w/ old<
>friend >dennis cromptom of archigram it<
+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+
+ / LEONARDO da VINCI)+
>was appropriate that one level below our<
>brit. muse. restaurant was leonardo's gift<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >without doubt the most mysterious and<
>esoteric exhibit in the british museum is<
+(SCIENTISTS AT 1ST HAVE<
+NEGATED (LIKE SHROUD,<
+THE TUNE MAY CHANGE)<
>this old crystal skull that >baffles run of<
>the mill scientists  (night crews avoid it)<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >marianne, with >conway uk dna coursing<
>in her veins shares my >ray border country<
+MARIANNE W/ SIR+
+TIM BERNERS LEE+
>genetic memory which  >galvanizes much<
>enthusasm for the inventor of the ww web<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >at the >national portrait gallery across from<
>"st. marten in the fields" >is the most< vital<
+(OUR HOMAGE TO THE+
+INTERNET INVENTER)+
>sculptural portrait< that i saw in london / >it<
>is www internet inventor sir tim berners-lee<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >"the tate" (above) & "st. martin in the fields"<
>(below) are heroes of british cultural strength<
+(DUALITY : DAVE = TATE+
+& CLARK = ST. MARTIN)+
>neville mariners music at st martins was a vital<
>part of my love for classic music as a teenager<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                     
 >trafalgar square is the >"living room"<
>of london and >fitting location of the<
+(GOOGLE : EUGENE RAY+
+>>/ TATE ART MUSEUM)+
>greatest historical london art museum<
>"the tate" (TOP)  bloomsbury thrives<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 >on our last night in london, the talented<
>pianist, katarzyna rys, ma, played many<
+(A FAVORED TRATORIA+
+W/ ROMANTIC SOUND)+
>romantic pieces for marianne and i with<
>andrew lloyd webber's genius a favorite<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

+GOODBY DEAR BLOOMSBURY+
+MAY THE  >WORLD'S ARTISTS+
>(google : eugene ray<
>/ bloomsbury group)<
+CONTINUE TO RECEIVE YOUR+
+VAST >INSPIRATION HISTORY+
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>i shall never forget >reyner & mary<
>bantam when i first saw them at the<
+(MY>FIRST EXHIBITIOIN+
+ / BIOTRONIC DESIGNS)+
>1975 aspen design conference with<
>their >serious interest in my design<
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

+"INDEPENDENT GROUP"+
+IGNITED  "ARCHIGRAM"+
>(this may explain my<
>bloomsbury>passion<
>over  >thirty< years)<
+VISIONARY CONCEPTS /+
+BLOOMSBURY SOURCE+
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
eugene ray, mfa, architect
professor emeritus, sdsu