springtime recognition for four special...

www.lichfieldsocietyofartists.co.uk Issue number 11 31 March 2018

NEWSLETTER Springtime recognition for four special members

It’s normally the art, rather than the artists, that takes centre-stage at our public exhibitions, but the official opening of our Spring Exhibition 2018 on Saturday 24 March provided a perfect opportunity to celebrate the special achievements of four members whose contributions to the the Society over many years have been major factors in its continuing success.

Fred’s organisation of the Society’s guest artist demonstrations and workshops, Sue’s wonderful calligraphic skills, Brian’s extended periods of office as past Chair and Membership Secretary and John’s deft management of our external exhibition judging panels have all been indispensable elements of our Society’s activities over the best part of two decades. To each of them, we all say a big ‘Thank you!’

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Left to right: Guest of Honour, Deputy Mayor David Leytham, presenting the annual Alfred Pochin Award to Fred Wright at the Spring Exhibition 2018 opening. Society Patron Michael Fabricant MP presenting honorary membership certificates to Sue Price, Brian Ebrey and John Wood at the same event.

Vice Chair Mark Thomas welcoming everyone at the official opening of the Spring Exhibition 2018. Our guest of honour, Deputy Mayor David Leytham, needed little by way of introduction, having been Chair of our Society during the noughties. David was accompanied by his wife, Jan, who was Society Treasurer for several years.

David was impressed by the undiminished excellence of our members’ art- and craftwork and by the warmth of the occasion. He also welcomed the opportunity to present an award to an unusually young and very talented exhibitor - Kirsty Lockley. Further exhibition coverage inside!

http://www.lichfieldsocietyofartists.co.uk



Spring Exhibition 2018

This year’s Spring Exhibition - the last one to be held at our traditional Lichfield Library venue, before the building is completely refurbished and repurposed - was an impressive demonstration of the breadth and quality of our members’ artwork. The exhibition catalogue listed no fewer than ninety-three oil, acrylic, pastel, watercolour, mixed media and digital paintings, together with some fine drawings and woodcut prints and two digitally manipulated photographic images. The items of craftwork on display included examples of stone sculpture and ceramics as well as objects created from materials ranging from porcelain, terracotta clay and embroidered textiles to wood, copper and Welsh Slate.

The official opening was very well-attended. Despite the imminent prospect of losing our customary Library venue, the palpable enthusiasm shown by our members, combined with the abundance of talent on display, demonstrated that our Society is determined and flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances and has the ambition to continue its proud tradition well into the future. In his opening remarks, Vice Chair Mark Thomas reminded everyone that the Society has displayed its artwork at several different exhibition venues in the many years that have elapsed since it was founded in 1945. We are therefore not only looking forward to new exhibition opportunities that will hopefully become available next year, when the refurbishment work at St Mary’s in the Market Square is completed, but also proactively identifying and seeking to take advantage of suitable alternative venues in the city and the wider Lichfield area in order to share our artwork in innovative ways with new audiences and in different settings.

The exhibition judges had the unenviable - indeed, almost impossible - task of picking ‘winners’, but the true success of our Spring Exhibition was based on the rich diversity of talent and extremely wide range of artistic mediums collectively exemplified by all of our members’ entries. ‘Well done!’ to the deserving award-recipients and to every contributing member who submitted a piece of their fantastic work!

Spring Exhibition 2018 Awards: Margaret Newman-Smith Award for Best Portrait - ‘Annabel’ by Beryl Evans; Eilidh Barnardo Award for Accomplishment in Drawing - ‘The last Legge’ by


The opening event was a well-attended and thoroughly enjoyable occasion.




Joan Rollason; Len Powell Memorial Award for the Best Work depicting or inspired by the City of Lichfield or its environs - ‘Bore Street, Lichfield’ by Jo Hilpert; Daphne Gick Award for a work expressing the subject ‘Movement’ - ‘Rippling Waters’ by Kara Strachan; John Sanders Award for Best Artistic Work in Show - ‘The Greek Backgammon Player’ by Roger DeHavilland; Award of Excellence for Watercolour - ‘Roses, Iris and Cyclamen’ by Jo Polmear; Award of Excellence for Oils - ‘Erstwhile Footbridge, Shenstone’ by Dennis Harper; Award of Excellence for Acrylics - ‘Winter Moon’ by Freda Harris; Award of Excellence for Sculpture - ‘Avian Heaven’ by David Barnes; Award of Excellence for Mixed Media - ‘A Summer’s Day’ by Andrea Fisher; Open Award of Excellence for a subject chosen by the judges - ‘Solent’ by David Hodges.

Commendations: Sculpture - ‘AB’ by Dennis Rollason; Mixed Media - ‘The Old Barn’ by Andrea Fisher; Textile - ‘Jacket 1’ by Susan Price; Acrylic and Oil - ‘A heart within a darkened soul’ by Kirsty Lockley; Watercolour - ‘Self Portrait’ by Mark Thomas; Watercolour & Pen - ‘Street Scene, Ludlow’ by Patricia Jones.

The Spring Exhibition has been captured in a series of photographs showing all of the paintings and items of craftwork on display and all of the award-winners present at the official opening. The photographs have been edited into a video clip that can be viewed on YouTube. The clip can be found by pasting the words ‘Lichfield Society of Artists: Spring Exhibition 2018’ into the search box on YouTube, or by clicking on the link advertised on our website’s homepage.


Many thanks to committee member, professional photographer David Gough for taking the photos of the award-recipients above and on the following page.




Annual General Meeting 2018

This year’s AGM adopted a new ‘slimline’ format which enabled the reports delivered by the Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary, the election of new officers and the completion of other important constitutional formalities to be carefully, but swiftly, carried out. This allowed sufficient time for everyone to enjoy a brilliant demonstration of pastel painting by guest artist Robin Mason which followed the extended tea/coffee break.

The excellent turnout of members as well as the very positive subsequent feedback confirmed that this is a format which members found attractive and which delivered what it promised. In order to ensure a similarly successful format can be replicated next year, the AGM 2018 minutes will be issued to all members very shortly for members’ inspection and comments, while their


Far left, bottom row: Among the civic dignitaries to attend the exhibition opening were the Chairman of Lichfield District Council, Councillor Mark Warfield, and his wife who have been regular visitors to our exhibitions on many past occasions.




recollection of the meeting is still fresh. Requests for changes should be made to the Secretary. This will allow the minutes to be formally approved very quickly at next year’s AGM. Future quarterly Newsletters and frequently issued Newsflash updates will keep members regularly updated throughout the year and also help to minimise the amount of information that needs to be reported, or repeated, in detail at the AGM 2019.

The committee would like to thank all members who attended the AGM for showing their important and much appreciated support for its work. The committee welcomed three new members into its ranks - Valmai Bowden, Sue Crudgington and Chris King. Whether Society members are on the committee, or not, the contributions everyone makes to our many events and activities are the bedrock of our success. This was emphasised on the evening by our Chair, Christine Taylor, who expressed her sincere thanks and those of the whole committee to everyone concerned!

Handbook 2018-2019 Most members will receive hardcopies of the Handbook 2018-2019 by post together with this Newsletter. Previously known as the ‘Yearbook’, we have changed the title of this handy booklet to reinforce the fact that the diary of events, contact details and other important contents in it refer to current and future, rather than to past, activities.

The information in the new Handbook is correct at the time of going to print, but, as we know from experience, scheduled events and activities can sometimes be scuppered by bad weather, overtaken by unforeseen circumstances, or supplemented by additional activities that are organised and can only be communicated at very short notice. It therefore pays to make sure we have your correct email address, wherever possible, so that you can receive the Society’s frequently issued Newsflash updates. It’s also helpful to make sure we have your up-to-date telephone/mobile numbers, in case we need to contact you urgently. Members with internet access who perhaps temporarily mislay their copy of the Handbook are advised to consult the Society’s website which is regularly updated and provides an accurate and comprehensive overview of the Society’s programme of activities. If you have any concerns, questions or queries to do with the Society, please send an email at any time to the following address and we’ll get back to you as quickly as possible: [email protected]


During the second half of the AGM 2018, we were treated to a short, but brilliant pastel demonstration by Robin Mason.


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Excursions - last call! Committee member Sue Brindley is kindly organising no fewer than three coach trips for us this year. All three of them have already been advertised and promise to be unmissable experiences. Sue is accepting bookings for the coach transport on a first come, first served, basis. Places are going fast. So, if you haven’t got around to reserving yourself a place, do so without delay to avoid disappointment. As on previous occasions, the opportunity to join us on these trips is also being offered to our friends at the Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists.

Sue’s contact details: Email: [email protected] / Mobile 07946 253451. Sue will advise you about payment method and provide further excursion details, as soon as you contact her to reserve your place.

Contemporary Art Fair, Cheltenham Race Course, Sunday 29 April The coach will leave The Bowling Green car park, Lichfield, at 8.45am and pick up participating members of Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists shortly thereafter, before proceeding directly to Cheltenham. The coach will depart homewards from Cheltenham at approximately 4.00pm. The total cost for participants, including transport and entrance, is £18.00.

This art fair offers a broad spectrum of art for all tastes and budgets and will feature emerging artists as well as Royal Academicians. The opportunity to view 46 galleries, 400 artists and 5,000 artworks in one place suggests there will be plenty on offer to appeal to all tastes. For detailed information, see the Art Fair website: https://www.freshartfair.net

International Watercolour Masters Exhibition, Weston Park, Sunday 20 May The coach will leave The Bowling Green car park, Lichfield, at 9.30am. The coach will depart homewards from Weston Park at approximately 3.00pm. The total cost for participants, including transport and entrance, is £10.00.

This is the first time that the prestigious IWS Exhibition, featuring artwork by several of the world’s leading exponents of watercolour painting, is taking place in the UK. The excursion will also enable members to enjoy the venue’s classical architecture and the stunning ‘Capability’ Brown parkland.

The David Hockney Gallery, Cartwright Hall, Bradford Museum The exact date and arrangements for this excursion, in the second half of the year, to see the best public collection in this country of artwork by the UK’s most famous and internationally respected living artist, David Hockney, will be confirmed in due course.

Bramshall Art Group: Annual Exhibition We’re delighted to make our members aware of the Bramshall Art Group’s Annual Exhibition taking place at Bramshall Village Hall (2 miles outside Uttoxeter) on Sat 30 June and Sun 1 July. Quite a few of Bramshall’s talented artists have been very welcome visitors to our Society’s recent guest artist demonstration evenings and we look forward to seeing them again, hopefully very soon. Bramshall's popular artwork exhibitions at Lichfield’s Guildroom in recent years have shown how successfully the Guildhall venue in the city-centre can be used. They have provided us with inspiration for our own exhibition taking place there later this year (Saturday 6 October).



https://www.freshartfair.net




‘Flower Power’ at Shenstone Community Library

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Entries are coming in thick and fast for this special public exhibition of members’ paintings with a floral focus taking place at Shenstone Community Library from Saturday 28 April until Friday 25 May. Please see the entry form at the bottom of this Newsletter for further details. The excellent lighting and hanging system at this new venue and the exhibition’s location in the Library’s coffee shop, with its tempting offer of delicious home-made cakes, make it a particularly attractive setting for our artwork. However, there’s only enough space for a maximum of 30 paintings. If you wish to submit a painting, please return the entry form without delay!

A convivial opening event, no doubt involving substantial consumption of the tempting light refreshments on offer, will take place on Saturday 28 April, 11.00am. Attendance is not restricted to the exhibitors or to members of our Society’s new ‘Flower Painting Group’. All Society members are very welcome to come along and enjoy the occasion! Free car parking is available at the rear of the building. See the Library’s excellent website for information on ‘How to find us’.

Curborough Festival of Artists 2018

The opportunity to represent our Society at this fantastic three-day event has already met with a terrific response. All five available demonstration tables have been taken up by our Chair, Christine Taylor, and by several other members keenly looking forward to sharing their skills in


Just two of the many paintings already entered by members for our first exhibition in Shenstone: ‘Gerbera’ - a watercolour by Imogen Kilfoyle (left) and ‘Whiter than White’ - a digital iPad painting by Jason Reakes (right).

Shenstone Community Library, Main Street, Shenstone, WS14 0NF.shenstonecommunitylibrary.org

The annual Curborough ‘Festival of Artists’ gets bigger and better every year. Admission is free. All are welcome to attend!

Curborough Hall Farm, Watery Lane, Lichfield, WS13 8ES.


http://shenstonecommunitylibrary.org


http://shenstonecommunitylibrary.org


several very different artistic mediums. However, there is still plenty of available exhibition space for members who would prefer only to exhibit their paintings at this wonderful weekend event. Once again, around fifty different artists and art organisations from Staffordshire and beyond will be taking part. The event is certain to attract many hundreds of visitors.

If you wish to submit an entry and are perhaps even thinking of exhibiting a painting that is currently on display at our Spring Exhibition, please complete and return the entry form at the bottom of this Newsletter as soon as possible.

It’s so easy!

More and more of our members are taking advantage of the opportunity to submit their exhibition entries online. It’s so much quicker and easier than filling out paper forms!

If you have internet access and wish to enter paintings for the Shenstone ‘Flower Power’ and Curborough ‘Festival of Artists’ events mentioned above, take a look at our Society’s website. By clicking on the links prominently advertised on the homepage, you can enter your exhibition details online in a matter of seconds and get an immediate receipt for your entries!

St Giles Hospice and The Westgate Practice Our semi-permanent artwork displays at St Giles Hospice in Whittington and The Westgate Practice in Lichfield are regularly refreshed at six-monthly intervals. Apart from occasionally selling some of our paintings at both venues, we know that our artwork displays are very much appreciated by the members of the medical staff at both locations, as well as by their patients and visitors. Our Society is proud of the contribution we are making to the lives and enjoyment of people in the local community.

The next changeover date for St Giles Hospice is Wednesday 9 May. The available wall-space allows us to exhibit around fifteen paintings. If you would like to display one or two of your paintings from that date for a six-month period, please contact Jason Reakes by telephone or email as soon as possible and submit the usual important exhibition information regarding the title of your painting, medium, size and purchase price (or NFS), using the following contact details (tel 01543 432895 / [email protected]).

The next change-over for artwork at The Westgate Practice is in June. The exact date will be communicated nearer the time. If you would already like to signal your interest, please contact our Vice Chair Mark Thomas who will be delighted to make a note of your intention to exhibit.






‘Arts for Life’: Wednesday 16 May, 5.00 - 8.00pm

Our Society’s support and occasional fundraising activities for St Giles Hospice are a tradition going back well over ten years. Last year, we went a step further by initiating, in collaboration with Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists, the semi-permanent displays of our artwork at the Whittington-based Hospice on the outskirts of Lichfield. This year, we have an opportunity to go one step further again by taking a prominent part in a special ‘Arts for Life’ event taking place on Wednesday 16 May, 5.00 - 8.00pm. All are welcome to attend this free event!

This fantastic initiative will involve several local art societies, both as active participants and as welcome visitors, including representatives from Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists, Tamworth Society of Artists and the Bramshall Art Group. Artwork produced by Whittington Junior School, John Taylor High School and, last but not least, by the Hospice’s own Day Care Patients is also scheduled to feature along with contributions from several other community organisations.

As the title of the event suggests, this will be an occasion that celebrates not only the visual arts, but the arts in general. Live music entertainment will therefore be a central feature, including virtuoso contributions from the brilliant violinist Darin Qualls.

Equally brilliant, in a different way, is Tamworth-based artist Robin Mason who is already very well-known to members of our own Society and to admirers of his artwork across the UK. Lichfield Society of Artists is delighted to have secured Robin’s voluntary services. Several of our own members will be joining Robin to demonstrate together with him their own artwork and painting skills. There are many other attractions that will make this event a very special occasion and one well worth visiting (see further details on next page).


St Giles Hospice, Fisherwick Road, Whittington, Lichfield, Staffs, WS14 9LH.

Left:Darin Qualls - brilliant with a bow!

Right:Robin Mason - brilliant with a brush!




‘Arts for Life’ continued . . .


The Lichfield Society of Artists’ involvement in this event is being coordinated by committee members Jan Flynn and Jason Reakes. If you would like to take an active part as a demonstrator, or would like to offer a painting for display at this event, please speak to one of us, or send us an email ([email protected]).

All members are very warmly invited to attend the event and visit the Hospice to enjoy the artistic contributions of the various artists and musicians involved. To help us to gauge how many members to expect, please let us know if you are intending to come.

Forest of Serenity One of the many attractions of the ‘Arts for Life’ event will be the opportunity for visitors to experience the Hospice’s amazing virtual reality app called ‘Forest of Serenity’ which is used as an alternative to drugs and medication as a means of providing pain relief. The narration for this guided meditation app using the latest digital technology was provided by Sir David Attenborough.

“It’s great to be part of the development of an app which will hopefully bring pain relief to so many people and demonstrates the use of virtual reality in a health setting.”

Sean Duffy, Director, Holosphere.

The informal nature of this ‘Arts for Life’ event means you are welcome to come when you like and to stay for as long as you like between 5.00pm and 8.00pm.






Blossoming Flower Painting Group The dates of the next scheduled meetings of the Society’s Flower Painting Group at Lichfield Community Fire Station are as follows:

Friday 6 April, Friday 4 May, Friday 1 June, Friday 6 July.

Each of these meetings starts at 1.30pm and runs until about 4.30pm. A small charge of £2.50 covers light refreshments. Ample onsite car parking space is available. To join in and to find out about the group’s intention to arrange further painting activities at other locations later in the year, please contact Valmai Bowden ([email protected] / 07818 244992).

Portraiture Workshop with Rob Wareing The many members who have already thoroughly enjoyed previous workshops hosted by guest professional artist Rob Wareing will be looking forward to another opportunity to improve their portraiture skills in pastels and oils. This all-day workshop will be taking place on Saturday 16 June (10.00am - 4.00pm) at Boley Park Community Hall, 7 Ryknild St, Lichfield WS14 9XU. To book your place (£25.00), please contact Fred Wright (01543 683486) without delay. Light refreshments will be provided, but participants should bring their own packed lunch.

Summer Party Exhibition: Wednesday 11 July This is a reminder that we will be holding an internal Summer Party Exhibition at Saxon Hill Academy on Wednesday 11 July, starting at 7.30pm.

Following a similar, but even better, format to our cancelled Christmas Party, this social event will include an internal artwork appreciation opportunity which guest professional artist Mary Griffin has kindly offered to lead. Each attending member is invited to bring along one painting, drawing, or piece of craftwork for everyone’s enjoyment. As there are no wall-mounted hanging opportunities at Saxon Hill, we will be using our recently-acquired very lightweight, but also extremely robust, display stands to support the exhibited artwork on tables arranged around the room.

The revised format will allow every piece of artwork to be enjoyed by everyone at leisure throughout the evening, rather than just being hurriedly glimpsed for only a minute or two - which has been the unavoidable and unfortunate drawback at previous such occasions. This will enable Mary to select a small handful of exhibits - including her own personal favourite, which will be awarded the traditional Dorothy Godfrey Cup - and offer her customary insightful






comments about the artwork as a whole towards the end of the evening, rather than being obliged to say something (usually highly complimentary) about every single exhibit at great speed and under considerable time pressure. The revised format will also allow all attending members to vote for their own favourite painting and introduce a welcome element of ‘audience participation’, as well as providing an opportunity to send some lucky member home with a small prize.

The definitely social, rather than competitive, nature of this summertime event requires us to enjoy some light refreshments and tasty titbits to keep everyone’s energy levels up during the evening. We therefore invite members to bring along a few scones, sponges cakes (preferably home-made, please!) or fresh strawberries and cream that can be shared with everyone. The committee will provide the pots of tea and fizzy drinks (low-sugar, obviously)!

Whittington Countryside and Craft Fair 2018 This is a brief reminder that our Society will be occupying two indoor marquee stands at this popular annual event on Saturday 1 September. The Fair traditionally attracts many hundreds of visitors from far and wide to enjoy everything from falconry displays, craftwork stalls, bungee jumping and pony riding to classic cars, jazz bands and flower arranging displays. This is a great opportunity to raise our Society’s public profile and have a great day out. Further information will be communicated nearer the time. In the meantime, make a note of the date in your diary!

Two attachments below:

• Entry form for ‘Flower Power’ exhibition at Shenstone Community Library

• Entry form for Curborough ‘Festival of Artists’ 2018






“Flower Power” Exhibition 2018 From Saturday 28th April to Friday 25th May At Shenstone Community Library Official Opening on Sat.28th April at 11am at the Library (Main Street, Shenstone, Lichfield, WS14 0NF) Members are invited to submit up to three 2D artworks with a maximum size of 30” x 24” (75cm x 60cm). All submissions should have a floral theme. Entry fee is £2 per item. IMPORTANT—PLEASE NOTE 1. All items should be labelled on the back with the title and artist’s name and address. 2. Paintings should have fixings and stringing ready to hang. 3. The society has public liability insurance for all 2D and 3D artwork but it does NOT have insurance

covering damage to or loss of individual works of art. Members are advised to arrange their own such insurance should they deem it necessary, otherwise art works are exhibited at the exhibitor’s own risk.

You can enter online using this link: https://form.jotformeu.com/80393475284363 OR—easier still— Click on the link to be found on our web site www.lichfieldsocietyofartists.co.uk

EVENT DEADLINE FORMS WITH FEES FRIDAY April 20th.

Please make cheques payable to LICHFIELD SOCIETY OF ARTISTS and send entry by post or email to: Jason Reakes, 48 Spring Lane, Whittington, Lichfield, WS14 9NA (Tel: 01543 432895) email: [email protected]

HANDING-IN TIME FRIDAY April 27th. 2pm to 3pm. Shenstone Community Library, Main Street, Shenstone WS14 0NF Or by separate arrangement with the organiser

COLLECTION OF WORK

FRIDAY May 25th. 3pm to 4pm. Note: We cannot guarantee the safety of uncollected works.

ENTRY FORM NAME (as you would like it on the exhibition label)

Please use Block Capitals ADDRESS Tel No

PAINTINGS AND FRAMED WORKS max 30” x 24” (75cm x 60cm) MAXIMUM OF THREE TITLE (No more than 5 words) Medium Price Fee

1. £2.00

2. £2.00

3. £2.00





Curborough Festival of Artists 2018: Entry Form

Saturday 5 May, Sunday 6 May and Monday 7 May (open to public each day from 11.00am - 4.00pm)

All participating exhibitors and demonstrators should return this form to Jason Reakes (48 Spring Lane, Whittington, Lichfield, Staffs, WS14 9NA / [email protected] / tel 01543 432895) by Wednesday 18 April latest. You can also submit your registration details very easily online using the following link: https://form.jotformeu.com/70834719403356 (this link is also prominently advertised and accessible on the homepage of our society’s website).

Festival demonstratorsFive large round tables have been allocated to the Lichfield Society of Artists for members to bring their easels and other materials and demonstrate their approach to painting for the enjoyment of interested Festival visitors. Engaging in informal conversations is a particularly rewarding experience for artists and visitors alike and a key attraction of the Festival. There is no charge for demonstrating. Members wishing to demonstrate are asked to commit to being available either on one, two, or on all three festival days.

Not available

One day Two days Three days

Please tick one of the boxes to the right to confirm how many days in total you would be prepared to commit to being available as a demonstrator. Tick ‘Not available’, if you wish only to exhibit, not demonstrate, your artwork.

Full name Address / email contact details Telephone

Festival exhibitorsNon-demonstrating members may exhibit up to two paintings, either for sale or NFS, at the Festival. No hanging fees or sales commission will be charged. Priority will be given to members who are also demonstrating and who are encouraged to display as many additional examples of their artwork as possible at, or next to, their allotted tables. All paintings must be framed, clearly labelled on the back with the picture’s title and artist’s name and address, have fixings and stringing and be ready to hang.

All paintings accepted for exhibition must be delivered to Curborough Hall Farm Countryside Centre on Friday 4 May, between 1.00pm and 2.30pm. Submitted paintings must remain on display for the duration of the three-day festival and be collected on the final day, Monday 7 May, between 4.00pm and 5.00pm. Paintings remain uncollected at the owner’s risk.

Sat 5 May Sun 6 May Mon 7 May

Please tick the relevant boxes on the right to confirm on which date, or dates, you would be available to demonstrate (ignore this, if you only wish to exhibit).

Short title of work (max 5 words) Medium Price / NFS

1st

2nd



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