BRIDPORT ART SOCIETY NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2015

Committee for 2015/16:

President: Clive Groves

Chairman: Clive Baynes

Vice-Chairman: Joan Dyson

Treasurer: Denise Revy

Secretary: Sonia Rose

Exhibition Organisers: Clive Baynes and Keith Groves

Publicity Officer: Elise Miles

Committee: Philippa Grier, Jan Lemon, Celia McKew, Allen Rose, John Stevens

and Ann Walker

AGM

Clive Groves our President opened the AGM with a warm welcome to a very well attended meeting of 50 plus members.

Chairman’s Report:

Ann thanked everyone for attending the meeting and reported that the membership remains stable at approximately 150. She explained that in order to spend some money from our “healthy reserve" the committee decided to try to do something for the Arts Centre that would also benefit the Society. In collaboration with the Art Centre two Dyson fans were purchased at the cost of £299 each - these may go someway to making the gallery cooler during our summer exhibition. Also as our Exhibition screens were in need of recovering, Clive and Keith our Exhibition Organisers, plus Jan Lemon and Val Corgan set to the task and we now we have some nice blue screens.

Ann also explained more about the project of The Stations of the Cross - when she was approached by the Rev Philip Ringer, to ask if we as a society would like to help make Easter 2016 in Bridport very special. In Cookham, the home of Sir Stanley Spencer, each Easter they have a pilgrimage with the fourteen Stations of the Cross at various points in the town, with a procession on Good Friday. About 15 artists from our Society have already volunteered to help paint the 14 pictures needed and the first Workshop has already taken place. The large canvasses and some of the paint are being sponsored by the Society.

Recently, Ann’s husband Peter died after a very long illness and following this she felt that it was time to stand down as Chairman after eight years at the helm. She thanked the committee for their support and help over the years and said that during her time as Chairman “we have dragged ourselves into the 21st Century with a super website and all accounts now completed on computer – imagine when I took over they were being hand written!.” She then nominated Clive Baynes as her successor. She also thanked Clive Groves who gives so much support and encouragement to the Society, with a little presentation of his favourite tipple! She finally thanked all members present for attending meetings, exhibitions and being part of the Society.

John Marlow Memorial Annual Competition: The theme this year was “Summer” and was judged by Michael Chappell

·  1st prize: £30 and the John Marlow award – Joy Coots

·  2nd prize: £20 – Phil Richardson

·  3rd prize: £15 - Charles Maher

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A relative of a deceased former member (Joyce Bradley) kindly donated some of Joyce’s art materials. A small auction was held by Paddy Raynor and Elise Miles which raised £43.50 for the Society.

Treasurer: Denise Revy our Treasurer distributed an account sheet of the audited finances to everyone present. We have had another successful year and the balance at 31/12/14 was £11,950.

New Members: Current membership is approximately 150. Welcome to the following members who

have joined since the last Newsletter: Mrs Veronica Sheppard, Carol Cruikshank, Mrs Olivia Nurrish, Debbie Tiltman, Sue Baldwin, Mavis Gurd, Ann Cater and Mrs Brigid O’Donoghue.

Exhibitions:

1.  West Bay, Salt House – Easter - 3 to 7 April

The Easter exhibition went off very well, with positive comments about both the re-covered screens and the layout of the room. The vast majority of exhibitors had read and complied with the changes to the rules which helped hand-in to go very smoothly. Members are thanked for their co-operation.
The new system of submitting fees with the entry form worked well and certainly contributed to the success of hand-in. The committee have agreed to make this a permanent arrangement.
The number of exhibitors and exhibits was down from last year as were the number of volunteers to steward. This year there were 50 exhibitors and 172 exhibits, compared with 58 exhibitors and 196 exhibits in 2014. There were just 28 volunteers to steward compared with 41 last year, which presented a challenge in arranging cover for all the sessions. This was achieved thanks to having a committee member present for the whole of each day. Members are once again urged to volunteer for stewarding when they submit their forms – we can’t run exhibitions without you! On a more positive note, the number of visitors was up – 1074, compared with 972 last year.

2 Bridport Art Centre, Allsop Gallery – Annual Exhibition – Open from Wednesday 29 July to Saturday 8 August (Sunday and Monday Closed)

Entry Forms to Denise Revy by: Tuesday 7 July

Hand in: Sunday 26 July 12.30 – 1.30 pm

Preview Tuesday 28 July 7.00 – 9.00 pm

Collection: Sunday 9 August 12.30 – 1.30 pm

Exhibition Rules and Entry Forms for this exhibition are enclosed with this mailing

3 West Bay, Salt House – Autumn Exhibition - Open from Saturday 24 October to Tuesday 27 October

Entry Forms to Denise Revy by: Tuesday 6 October

Hand in: Friday 23 October 12.00 – 1.00

Collection: Tuesday 27 October 5.30 – 6.30 pm.

Exhibition Rules and Entry Forms for this exhibition are enclosed with this mailing

Workshops

Workshops that have been organised for 2015 so far are:

Tuesday 14 April 2015 – Loosen up your watercolours with Max Hale

Saturday 16 May 2015 – Be bold with your painting – Annette Burkitt – Form enclosed

Tuesday 2 June 2015 – Pastels – Richard Turner – Form enclosed

A John Meaker workshop is in the pipeline

Facebook Page

Keith Groves has set up our own group page on Facebook, so for those that indulge in multi media look up “Bridport Art Society”.

Mounts

In the last newsletter we mentioned that we would be selling off the mounts leftover from the sale of tiles at last year’s exhibitions. There are still some left. The price is £3 for a single mount (3 for £7) and £5 for a double mount (3 for £12). Please contact Denise Revy (01308 456554) if you would like to buy some.

Date of Next Meeting at St John Ambulance Hall - Acrylics with Attitude on 23 April 2015 at 7.30 pm with Michael Chappell.

SR/11..4.15

Enclosures:

Entry Forms and Rules for Annual Exhibition (3)

Entry Forms and Rules for West Bay, Autumn Exhibition (3)

Workshop Form

Programme for 2015-6

Invitation to Preview

Membership Card (if paid)