Charleston in Sussex, England, home of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant
Charleston is not a dance. Actually, it is. But it is much more. Every day it refers to Charleston in Sussex, England, also known as “Bloomsbury in the country.” And this weekend, the Weekend of Bloomsbury in Antwerp, Charleston is the theme for the second Virginia Woolf and Bloomsbury Festival, which begins today and runs through Sunday.
Hosted by the Gordon Square Society, the festival includes prestigious events based at historic sites around Antwerp. They include:
a concert by Pierre Fontenelle & Max Charue
Virginia Nicholson on ‘My Childhood at Charleston’
Darren Clarke on ‘Is Craft Art?’
Gert Voorjans on ‘Sense of Place’
a Bloomsbury-themed banquet
and an exhibition of all the books hand-printed by Virginia and Leonard Woolf at the Hogarth Press.
Untucking it from below his seat and unwrapping it tenderly, he revealed his recently purchased copy of a Hogarth Press edition of To a Proud Phantom, a book of poetry by Ena Limebeer.
This 1923 edition, handset and printed by Virginia and Leonard Woolf, was his most recent purchase for his notable collection of Hogarth Press originals.
Ben’s collection of such treasures is now part of a world premiere exhibition, sponsored by the Gordon Square Society, called “Letter by Letter (From the Woolfs’ Hands): Handprinted Books by Virginia & Leonard Woolf.” The exhibit is the first to present several titles with their variant covers.
About the exhibit
For the first time in Belgium, this public exhibition brings together all 34 books hand-set, printed, bound and published in limited editions by Virginia and Leonard Woolf themselves under their Hogarth Press imprint.
These rarities in the literary and bibliophile world with their original covers and illustrations designed by Bloomsbury artists come from the collections of Ben, co-founder of the Gordon Square Society, as well as Pierre and Marie-Madeleine Coumans.
Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant, Dora Carrington and Roger Fry are just some of the artists who created the cover designs for the highly sought after volumes.
The exhibition is complemented by the first “Bloomsbury” book and all the books published by The Omega Workshops.
Who: Sponsored by the Gordon Square Society
What: “Letter by Letter (From the Woolfs’ Hands): Handprinted Books by Virginia & Leonard Woolf” Exhibit
When: Nov. 30 and Dec. 4,5,6,7,11,12, 18, and 19 Where: The Splendid Nottebohm Room of the Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library – H. Conscienceplein 4, 2000 Antwerp Tickets:Check to see if any dates are available.
There was nothing one could not say, nothing one could not do, at 46 Gordon Square – “Old Bloomsbury,” Virginia Woolf, 1921).
Founded this year in Antwerp, the Gordon Square Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and propagating the free thinking of the Bloomsbury Group and Virginia Woolf through lectures, exhibitions, concerts, performances, debates and more.
Founders include Isabel Miquel Arques, Yasmine Geukens, Marie-Paule De Vil, Ben Majchrowicz, and Eric Rinckhout.
Take a look at the group’s upcoming events, as well as membership opportunities. And for more information, visit https://www.gordonsquaresociety.net/.
Gordon Square Society Events
Sept. 28: A pre-festival ‘Fundraising Evening’ at a unique location in Antwerp with treats for body and mind, Bloomsbury cocktails and food, and music performances. Meet society members in person during its exclusive introductory evening in the beautiful setting of Casa Lozana. The society will provide treats for body and mind, with Bloomsbury cocktails and food, and a performance by internationally renowned mezzo-soprano Natascha Petrinsky. Petrinsky has performed opera roles at Europe’s greatest opera houses, such as La Monnaie in Brussels, La Fenice in Venice, La Scala in Milan and Covent Garden in London. Participation is €100. RSVP by email to info@gordonsquaresociety.net before 15 September.
Nov. 22, 23 and 24: The group’s first ‘Virginia Woolf & Bloomsbury Festival’ will take place, in several beautiful locations in Antwerp, with inspiring speakers, artistic performances and engaging debates.
46 Gordon Square, London, the early Victorian home that Virginia (Stephen) Woolf shared with her siblings, Vanessa, Thoby, and Adrian from 1905-1907.
Dec. 7: Post-festival, everyone is invited for a ‘High Tea Candlelight Reading with Virginia Woolf’, 7 December, with tea and cakes and readings from Virginia Woolf’s ‘A Room of One’s Own’.
Become a Member
Membership helps the group plan and hold events, where leading international speakers and performers are invited to speak and perform. There are three membership categories: Member, Young Member or Gordon Patron. Membership options begin at €20 per year, and each offers unique features.
You can find membership information at: www.gordonsquaresociety.net. Or send an email with the membership option of your choice to: info@gordonsquaresociety.net.
