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T.A.S. Newsletter
Autumn 2003 Volume 1 No. 1 Page 6
Visiting Exhibitions
If, like me, you take the opportunity to visit amateur art shows when you come across them, than you will know how diverse they can be. In Rye, some years ago, I felt as if I dare not speak or comment on the paintings, the atmosphere was so unfriendly even after paying 25p each to go in.
In Arundel, I felt the need to point out a blatant copy from a print of someone else’s work. The copyist happened to be there too making tea but refused to look me in the eye when the sitter-in called her over and confronted her. Walking in the Cotswolds, a party of us stumbled across a charming exhibition in Lower Slaughter. They welcomed us in—muddy boots and all, but we politely left those in the entrance. At Salcombe, Devon, a lively show of local talent was displayed to good effect on the first floor of an old harbour side building. The sitters-in were interesting to talk to and welcoming to both friends and strangers alike.
There is a very important exhibition held in Bristol each autumn. Here they hang the paintings in catalogue order with very few exceptions. Therefore you can get a two metre square oil next to a miniature watercolour. Very odd.At least that is what they did the year I visited. In Mildura, Australia a local artist had her studio in her own purpose-built shop where everything—other people’s work too—was hung for maximum effect. She was happy to talk to us and show us her work in progress.
Photo Editor
The saddest displays have been in hotels where the pictures have hung so long, the price tags have become tatty and faded. The most intriguing art work I have seen was in Fremont, California where Mongolian oil paintings were on show. Very beautiful they were too with unusual light effects and people with moon-like faces. Locally, Romsey Art Group’s shows are well worth a visit but Totton’s takes some beating. And that is what the visitors say—not me.
PAT WELLER Past Chairman
