Art Appreciation

3rd Tuesday — — 2.00pm — — visit to an exhibition
An introduction/explanatory presentation on the first Tuesday in preparation for the gallery visit, together with something on some wider aspect of art appreciation. A relaxed meeting format, where members of the group can suggest ideas and subjects.

Posted 9/3/10

There really should be a gallery visit for the Art Appreciation Group on Tuesday, March 16th but there isn't really anything on the horizon so I am proposing a summer visit - to Abbot Hall, Kendal (where else?) on Tuesday, August 10th (2.00pm) to see 'The Loneliness of Lowry'. 'Better known for his northern industrial landscapes the exhibition will examine a different side of L.S.Lowry, looking beneath these scenes at an artist who cites his inherent loneliness as one of the main influences on his work. He is quoted as saying “Had I not been lonely none of my works would have happened". The exhibition will feature some of Lowry’s most powerful yet lesser known works depicting his mysterious bleak landscapes, desolate seascapes and deserted buildings. Works will be drawn from both private and public collections and include oils and works on paper.' (See the Abbot Hall website as usual.) This follows the pattern of the last two years when we've had a summer visit instead of one in March, which seems to be a bit dead for exhibitions in our area.

Most will already know that last Tuesday's Art Appreciation meeting was the last one for me. After much agonising (and helpful conversations with individual members) I have decided that eight years is perhaps long enough and it is now time for me to call it a day as far as leading the group is concerned. As I've said, the main problem is one of time - especially preparation time - but also of commitment: every first and third Tuesday for six months in the year is a substantial 'booking'. I also have the feeling that I am running out of steam a little bit after all this time. All groups need to evolve and we have been using the same format for some time now. 'Time for a change' (D. Cameron).

I would like to say a big 'thank you' to everybody for their support and encouragement over the years. It's been especially heartening to have so many people coming back time after time and who clearly found pleasure and interest in what we've done. I have made many friends through the group and that has made ending things especially difficult. I've enjoyed it enormously and I do hope that a way can be found for the group to continue in one form or another, perhaps just as a group visiting exhibitions or something along those lines. I leave that with members as I've no intention of becoming a back-seat driver - though I would be happy to offer advice (from a safe distance) if required.

Posted 30/11/09

Our visit to the Andrzej Jackowski exhibition at Abbot Hall gave rise to a lively discussion in the gallery - fortunately we had the place to ourselves so no innocent bystander was injured. It's always the work that is less immediately likeable that generates most heat and this was no exception. Our next visit is to the Mercer Gallery in Harrogate to see the G F Watts exhibition, a 'Retrospective exhibition of one of Britain's greatest and most original artists, made possible by the closure of the Watts Gallery for restoration. Over 80 works explore all facets of Watts' work, including portraits, landscapes and engagement with social issues.'

In his own lifetime George Frederic Watts (1817-1904), was widely considered to be the greatest painter of the Victorian age, enjoying an unparalleled reputation. His ceaseless experimentation embodied the most pressing themes and ideas of the time. A complex figure, Watts was the finest and most penetrating portraitist of his age, a sculptor, landscape painter and symbolist which earned him the title ‘England’s Michelangelo.’ We will be able to make our own minds up on Tuesday, December 15th, meeting at the Mercer at 2.00 or so.

Posted 1/11/09

Our new season is now under way and our first Victoria Hall meeting and our initial gallery visit are already behind us. Our next visit will be to Abbot Hall, Kendall, on Tuesday, November 17th to see the exhibition 'Andrzej Jackowski - The Remembered Present.' Here is an artist new to many of us but who 'established himself as a painter almost as soon as he left the Royal College of Art in the late 1970s. Citing poetry as an abiding source of inspiration his work is often striking in its simplicity, engaging with both personal memory and the wider historical domain. The show will feature many new paintings and drawings and a new set of prints created especially for the exhibition.'

We will meet at the gallery around 2 o'clock as usual.

Posted 11/10/09

The first gallery visit of the year will be to Leeds on Tuesday, October 20th I intend to be on the 10.32 from Settle - group members are more than welcome to join me or may make their own way by other means. The main attraction is the exhibition at the Henry Moore Institute on the Headrow: 'Sculpture in Painting'.

This show, the first ever paintings exhibition at the Institute, is made up of work by artists including Titian, De Chirico and Nicholson and looks at the way sculpture and painting inter-relate. It contains a lot of interesting work and should certainly be worth a visit. We can also go next door to the City Art Gallery and browse the permanent collection.