Dear Member,

News straight from the Annual General Meeting which finished less than 24 hours ago as I write. It was pleasing to see a good attendance, 23 members actually looked like a lot more when confronted at the table, and it was the best turn out for many a year. The format was changed this year so that only business as detailed in our new  Constitution was discussed during the AGM itself, and an open discussion afterwards gave members a chance to raise points for future consideration by the Committee. The AGM business abbreviates as follows –

 

Officers elected were:-

President –                  Kay Morris

Chairperson –             Peter Coldham

Vice-chair. –                Jean Barratt

Secretary –                 Bev Barratt

Treasurer –                 John Hoyle

Programme Sec. –     Doris Southgate

Committee –               Peter

Bartholomew

                                    Ann Coldham

                                    Vic Gowers

                                    Jean Mintoft

 

Stewart Carmichael tendered his resignation from the Committee after many years of sterling service as Treasurer and a member. This was accepted with regret and he was sincerely thanked for his hard work. Jean Mintoft is a welcome replacement. Doreen Greenaway has also thought it time to retire and we are indebted to her assiduous attention to the onerous annual task of preparing a roster of Stewards for the Exhibition. Her efforts will be really missed.

The Chairman in his report made reference to the pending purchase of new display screens by Neuadd Dyfi. These are very expensive and the Society has made a donation of £500 towards their cost and also initiated a grant of £1000 from Aberdyfi Advertising and Improvements Committee. The Neuadd is also obtaining funding from The Arts Council for Wales but this will not be as much as they had initially hoped. We are indebted to Des George of Neuadd Dyfi for his untiring efforts on behalf of Aberdyfi. The screens should be ready for this summer’s Annual Exhibition and will greatly improve our display as well as providing more hanging space. It is now up to us to enter enough pictures to make this our best exhibition ever.

In referring to the Painting Days, Peter said that it was disappointing that although tutored days were reasonably attended, there were very few members bothering to turn out for those which were untutored. The Society needed an infusion of new blood and asked all members to try to recruit to our ranks.

 He thanked all Officers and Committee members for their hard work during the year in keeping the Society going.

Finally, reference was made to the Annual Luncheon which this year wiill at the Trefeddian Hotel in Aberdyfi on Tuesday 12^th April and  he hoped that there would be a good attendance. (Menu details and Booking Form are enclosed on a separate sheet).

 The Treasurer presented his balance sheet which showed a healthy balance of £2445.39 but quickly pointed out that this included £1500 (£1000 from Aberdyfi Improvements Society and £500 from our own Society) which were paid to Neuadd Dyfi towards the new screens shortly after the year end. Our real working balance was, therefore, £945.39.That we are in a reasonably healthy state was mainly due to the excellent exhibition in 2004 which produced a sum of £284.55 for the Society. Against this was a depressing situation regarding Painting days. These had produced an income of only £275 against an outlay of £605 (£265 rent and £340 for tutors). Whilst he realised that these days were part of the raison d’etre of the Society, he considered that we could not continue to subsidise them to such an extent for ever. He finished by thanking Stewart for his help and handing over the books in such an excellent condition.

 

The 2006 AGM will be held at Aberdyfi Yacht Club at 1030 on Tuesday 21 March 2006.

 A useful discussion followed the AGM. One of the major points was that it was felt that the Society needed to publicise itself. To this end the Committee is already working on developing a Website. It was also agreed that we should initiate press coverage to advertise forthcoming events and report appropriately after events. Posters will also be placed in libraries, TICs, etc.

It was stressed that members attending painting days at the Yacht Club should keep the main door closed at all times. There is a bell on its exterior which can be used to attract the attention of those upstairs if the person wishing to enter does not have the code to the lock.

OTHER NEWS

The Cambrian Art Society (based in Derwenlas) are arranging a Coach Trip to the Walker and Tate Galleries in Liverpool. Details and price have yet to be firmed up, depending on the numbers attending, but it will take place on Wednesday 18^th May with picking up points at Machynlleth at 0800 and Dolgellau at 0830. All are welcome, art lovers, partners, shoppers, etc., each to organise their own food. Please express an interest to Jane Hibbert as soon as possible. Jean and I will certainly be on board.

 

SUMMER PAINTING PROGRAMME.

 

All classes meet on Tuesdays, 10am to 2pm.Tutored classes £3, untutored £1.

April 5     Dyfi Yacht Club – Out and    About – Aberdyfi/Penhelig.

April19   Out and About – Bryncrug   

               Village

May 3     Out and About, Cefn Farm         (south of road from Dyfi Bridge to Pennal, up long track just over brow of the hill from Dyfi Bridge) by kind permission of Bruce McKay.

May 17   DYC – Introduction to Oils by Peter Bartholomew

June 7    Out and About – Llanegelynin Church (by arrangement with Curly and Dic France).

July 5     Llanfihangel y Pennant

Sept.6     DYC – Oil Pastels – tutor Lavinia Range.

Sept.20  DYC – untutored.

Oct.4      Start of winter programme. Details later.

 

Contact Doris Southgate if further information required.

 

ANNUAL EXHIBITION 2005.

This year’s Exhibition at Neuadd Dyfi will run from Sunday 24 July to Sunday 7 August. Pictures will be gathered and hung on Saturday 23 July. Entry forms and full details will be circulated to members in early June.

 

MEMBERSHIP 2005.

Don’t forget that only paid-up members can enter the Exhibition. At the time of writing 33 people have renewed their membership. A reminder, then to the remainder, please pay now, £10, not much to ask. Renewal forms were sent out earlier this month. I look forward to hearing from you.

 

WHY I LOVE MY LIFE CLASS.

A welcome contribution from Joan Best.

As a longtime member of two Art Societies I’ve had my share of demos, painting weekends in lovely places, workshops, Tuesday evenings, weather permitting, sketching at local beauty spots etc. In spite of all these, which I enjoy, my favourite remains The Life Class.

Over the years our class has been shifted about from pillar to post. “We need your space for a dance class” we were frostily told. For one week only we were banished to the sculpture room in the bowels of the college. It was chilly and tomb-like. Our tutor, always caring of our delicate constitutions, pulled strings and we were installed in a somewhat scruffy but still bearable room whose previous occupants, lucky things, had moved to more salubrious quarters. There is always the threat that there’s no money to spare for the Art Classes and we quake if any members have to leave for one reason or another. Still, we survive.

We have been very lucky with our models. We’ve had sylph-like and Junoesque, and that is just the men! Only kidding. We’ve had blondes, brunettes, redheads, shavenheads (that was a man). Actually, Steve was a superb, versatile model, and we were able to have three weeks of sessions with him, and a female model for the next three weeks. A bit of variety is essential. Alas, we have just been informed that Steve has gone to train to be a paramedic. Our loss, medicine’s gain.

We have had models so relaxed they’ve fallen asleep for a brief doze. One also had another job as a lady wrestler. It takes all sorts. One thing that annoys me – I’m a hard taskmistress – is if a model decides to talk when I’m just about to sketch her mouth. For me, I prefer silent models. They can say all they like in our breaks, namely coffee and lunch.

Lastly, I am never tired in the class, even when I stand at the easel for most of the 4 to 5 hour stint.

When I reach home it’s a different matter – a cup of tea and I zonk out like a light on the settee for a couple of hours.

 

EDITORIAL REMINISCENCES

Joan’s article reminds me of attending night classes in figure drawing at Bradford Art College many years ago. We were not so lucky as she as we always had the same model, a slim gentleman who, no matter what pose he struck, always displayed a large bunion and a missing finger space. A friend who also attended with me went off to London to work in a foundry which cast work for Henry Moore, hoping that this would lead him into some productive creative work in some aspect of art. I lost touch with him and have never discovered if he achieved his ambition.

Another train of thought leads me to a line in a film, either by Peter Sellers or Tony Hancock, in which he was an action painter. He covered his model in paint and rolled her over the canvas on the floor. His comment was that the painting was boring but cleaning the brush was interesting. I think it must have been Sellers for, on reflection the Hancock film in which he portrayed an artist featured him throwing paint onto the canvas and cycling around on it.

So, another newsletter draws to a close. I hope it contains some interesting information for you. Have an enjoyable summer.

 

Bev Barratt

Secretary

Gellygen Fach

Pantperthog

Machynlleth

SY20 9AY