June 2023, NEWSLETTER
Posted on Jun 09, 2023
June Newsletter 2023
I can’t take it in that it’s almost half way through this year, I’ve only just written the last newsletter!
As you know the main event of WSA’s summer is our day out at Patchings Art Festival, Saturday 15th July. This year the festival is only on for 3 days and, same as most things, the entrance fee has risen, (I read in the newspaper today this is termed ‘shrinkflation’). We do get the tickets for £11 as we take a group of + 10 and we book in advance.
Obviously, to book in advance for anything, we have to know the numbers wanting to go early enough to book suitable transport, and at this time of year coaches can be problematic to hire. As we had more than 34 of you putting your names down initially, a much larger coach had to be booked, a 53-seater. More seats but at a greater cost. All this has to be factored in to what we ask you to pay for the day.
It would help us greatly if the members who put their names down for such events check their diaries before doing so. We have had several members cancel due to double booking with other events or holidays. This doesn’t help WSA’s finances or the tempers of the organisers.
Now we have a larger coach to pay for we have spare places so, if you know of anyone who would like to go, please contact Barbel Withers ASAP.
Sorry for the rant but it’s not an easy day to organise normally and, with the cancellations we’ve had, tempers have been a bit fraught to say the least.
Moan over, hopefully it’s going to be a good day. There’ll be demonstrations to watch, art materials to try out and buy, as well as all other arty things. Don’t forget the main demonstrations have to be booked and paid for when you get to the festival field. This year, in St Cuthberts Mill marquee, the three artists demonstrating will be, David Bellamy, Billy Showell and Peter Cronin. The artists in the Art Profile marquee are Anne Blankson-Hemans, Peter Keegan and Richard Kitson. I think tickets for each one-hour demo will be £5. To celebrate Patchings’ 30th anniversary there will also be a Royal Societies marquee where ten selected artists from the Royal Societies will be exhibiting and demonstrating. Don’t miss, in the big marquee, WSA’s Steve Woodhams.
Workshops
Steve, and Jenny O’Leary, our last two demonstrators, impressed so many of you with their work and techniques used. Enough of you requested that workshops be arranged with each of them for us to take action. Don’t say we don’t listen to requests. Both workshops will be at Brownhills Community Centre.
Steve has a Cubist /Abstract workshop arranged for Saturday 12th August, 10am to 4pm
He will share many of the techniques he employs to enable you to create your own unique piece of abstract/cubist art.
The cost of the day will be £50
Places are already being filled so don’t be slow in booking your place for the day.
The second workshop with Jenny, arranged for us by Hilary Skidmore, will also be at Brownhills Community Centre.
The date for this is Thursday 7th September, 10am to 4pm., and the theme will be either Trees or Seed Pods.
There will be space for 20 participants. If all 20 places are taken the cost for the day will be £30.
More information, plus the opportunity to book and pay for a place, at our next demonstration evening, Thursday 8th June.
MEMBERS AND FRIENDS ARE INVITED TO TAKE PART.
Both of these events sound good but, can I hark back to my earlier moan,please only sign up for them if it’s going to be a definite booking.
Exhibitions
Steve, our vice chair and audio vis. man is very busy. Not only is he organising his workshop and appearing at Patchings he also has works in the WSA exhibition, ’Walsall Abounding’ at The Rose Patterson Gallery, Weston Park which is on till the end of this month, June. Well worth going to see and to, also, support your fellow members. It’s so good, two works were sold before we could finish hanging last week. Unbelievable!
There’s an Artists Day arranged there for WSA members on Sunday 11th June, 11am to 3pm. Come and draw/paint in the gallery or the courtyard for the day. Entrance to the grounds has to be paid for this time though. (Weston’s rules, not ours).
There’ll also be a Woodham solo exhibition, following mine (!) at Shenstone Library for the month of July.
This comes just before WSA’s exhibition at Himley Hall. Requests have gone out for members to submit works for this. Himley were so impressed by the standard and variety of work hung last year we had an immediate invitation to exhibit this year. All works submitted must be well framed and covered by glass not Perspex and have mirror plates fitted. This exhibition runs from Tuesday 1st August to Sunday 18th September2023, a busy time at Himley when footfall is very good. We had several sales last time.
So far, we have 12 members promising to submit up to 5 works each works, we could do with at least another ten of you to fill the corridor gallery. There’s no submission fee and if you sell, you get what you ask for the work. Email me if you’d like to exhibit. I need the titles of your works and the prices.
While I’m mentioning exhibitions, I need to clear up the difference between the hanging requirements as some galleries ask for mirror plates and others D-rings.
This is a mirror plate
They allow the work to be screwed to the wall.
This is a D-ring.
A string or wire can be attached to the back of the work for hanging or hooks can be looped through the Ds which either point upwards or inwards.
Both methods of fixings are placed, usually, 1/3 of the way down the frame.
Walsall Transport Museum.
We had quite an impressive number of works exhibited at their open day on May 21st. Thank you to the WSA members who turned out and painted for the day, it was very much appreciated by the volunteers at the museum. They were very apologetic, despite their advertising, about the reduced number of visitors but that’s always the element that can’t be predicted.
If you are not holidaying away during the summer months but would like somewhere interesting to visit why not try:
1.Powis Castle, a National Trust place in Welshpool.
For those of you with an interest in fabrics there’s a textile exhibition of Kaffe Fassett’s work on until September.
This is the information I’ve seen.
- Colour with Kaffe: a textile exhibition at Powis Castle
- Internationally renowned fine artist and textile designer, Kaffe Fassett, is bringing his colourful exhibition to Mid Wales in 2023.
- From cushions and quilts to furniture and carpet, the interiors of the 13thcentury castle will be adorned with wondrous textiles from 18 February to 3 September.
- As well as specially selected pieces in each State Room, a one-off display in the Gateway Room will show seven newly created quilts which take direct inspiration from Powis Castle’s collection and architecture.
What you need to know
- The exhibition will be open daily from Saturday 18 February to Sunday 3 September.
- See the exhibition in the castle from 12pm to 4pm. Last entry 3.30pm.
- There is no additional charge to see the exhibition, but normal admission prices apply.
There’s no need to pre-book.
- The British Ironwork Centre, Shropshire, SY11 4JH
This is where the giant Knife Angel sculpture was created back in 2018 by Alfie Bradley.
The centre has an Artisan Village where you can find buildings for crafting, woodworking, candle making and there’s even a Psychic shop.
There’s a sculpture park, golf buggy hire to get you around the grounds, walking trails and archery twice a week. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm.
Entrances cost: £7.50 Concessions £5.00 Children free.
There are various events planned throughout the summer so check what’s on at
britishironworkcentre.co.uk
It’s well worth a visit.
Knife Angel
The Knife Angel will be in Frog Lane Lichfield in July.
- Handmade in Oxford. OX33 1LA
This Arts Festival at Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire runs from the 16th – 18th June 2023. It brings together over 150 of the most exciting UK-based makers featuring a curated selection of fine arts and craft including jewellery, Fashion & Textiles, Ceramics & Glass, sculpture, and more. Handmade Oxford also offers a packed programme of craft workshops, demonstrations, and engaging talks, which will keep visitors occupied throughout the festival whilst enjoying the beautiful gardens, there will certainly be something for everyone. Live music by local musicians and local artisan food will add to the fun festival OPENING HOURS
Friday 16 June – Saturday 17 June 10am – 5pm Sunday 18 June 10am – 4pm
Parking free.
- RA Summer Exhibition 2023. London
June 13th to August 20th
Featuring fabulous works in every form imaginable by famous artists and members of the public, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. I’ve always found it an unforgettable day out.
That’s all for now, but don’t forget our ‘4 Painters Painting’ social evening. 10th August.
Have a good Summer.
Pam
Thought for this newsletter
Summer is a great time to visit art museums, which offer the refreshing rinse of swimming pools – only instead of cool water,
you immerse yourself in art.
