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U3A U3A U3A U3A ART APPRECIATION NETWORKART APPRECIATION NETWORKART APPRECIATION NETWORKART APPRECIATION NETWORK Subject Adviser: Olwen Hughes 59 Charlton Rise, Ludlow, SY8 1ND
e-mail: [email protected] tel: 01584 878418
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Our picture for Autumn - The Autumn Harvest by Hokusai Spring - March Summer - June Autumn - September Winter - December
Autumn 2013
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I have really enjoyed the lovely summer weather recently although the autumn seems to be racing towards us. I hope you have managed to get out and find and enjoy the art of interest to you. Some of our group have been to 2, Temple Place on the Victoria Embankment, now open to the public where works from regional collections in the UK can be seen. The current display shows how William Morris drew inspiration from mediaeval literature and is on show until January next year. Hogarth’s house, his ‘little box in the country’ in Chiswick has undergone a major restoration and is now like the C18th home it was, even displaying some of the artist’s more personal possessions. Entry is free – as it is at 2, Temple Place.
Now for a group meeting with a difference. Wendy from Hitchin Art group wrote to tell me of their venture with Janet of Music Appreciation arranging a joint meeting to link the two interests. The early summer weather was not promising and Wendy wondered how to fit everyone into her home. Everyone was asked to help by praying for warm weather or doing a rain dance! It worked and a heat-wave surfaced on the day. The Art members chose four pictures; Music lovers chose four melodies. Much research was undertaken with intriguing results: the White House picture was linked to a Soussa March; ‘The Shamans helping spirit’ had throat music; ‘Spitfire, Prelude & Fugue’ partnered Lichtenstein’s ‘Whaam’. A Mass to Creole rhythms and tunes partnered a Peruvian Crucifix and ‘Saturday night’ by Motley went with ‘Black Bottom Stomp’. The best of all was the Pop Art ‘Watch’ (as in wrist) and ‘Discipline’ exporing beats in a bar. A very enjoyable experience.
Wendy - It certainly sounds different and intriguing. Do
let us know if you repeat the exercise. It sounds great!
One of my favourite artists -
William Russell Flint showing a gentle girl. He was quite masterly in his drawings.
Newsletter no. 17
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Horse écorché
A term I had not heard before –nor had I seen a horse without any skin. One lives and learns!
From Issue 16: The picture not a guitar player was
‘The Dancer’ by A.Herbin. Did you guess correctly?
A U3A member from Morden recently attended a course in Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education and suggested
that other U3A members might be interested. Art Appreciation Courses, including meals & accommodation are held in
Madingly Hall outside Cambridge, others are studied on-line. Contact [email protected] for more details
And something different again……
The Regent’s Park Frieze Art Fair will be held between 17-20 October (entry price tba) and the Affordable Art Fair running from 24-27 October (entry fee £10)can be seen in Battersea
Park. Farther north, 15-17 November is the time for the Edinburgh
Art Fair, entry charge £6.
Another favourite painter – P Breughel, the Younger
depicting a village scene.
Following my request for local information, I am very
grateful for the information and gallery booklets sent to
ate. They are much appreciated, my thanks for them
and I hope I will hear receive more:
with my thanks in advance.
OlwenOlwenOlwenOlwen
2
Reports from Members
Jean Taylor took over thirty members from West Lakes to
the Chagall exhibition at Tate, Liverpool. They had studied
his work (with mixed reactions) and some found little to
appreciate in his childlike techniques altho’ some others
liked his style and colour. Recurring themes of a cow, a
clock with wings, a village and flying lovers were puzzling!
But the sheer joy of his young lovers, the symbolism and
reminders of his Jewish origins in his home village, carried
everyone along. There is exuberance overall but inevitably
also some sombre scenes. However, no matter how many
reproductions are seen, there is no comparison with the
real thing–size, colour, even brushstrokes convey emotion.
The only criticism was the absence of later work which for
many is Chagall’s crowning glory. Although the group had
a fair time travelling to see this exhibition, the enjoyment
made it worth while. Recommended!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Corinne Warren viewed the Michael Landy – Saints Alive
at the NG in London and found it refreshingly different. As
resident artist there, Michael depicts the Renaissance Art
seen in the gallery. Impressed by many references to
Saints, he created huge kinetic sculptures, collages and
drawings in the Sunley room. St Apollonia, patron saint of
dentistry, pulls out her own teeth; St Catherine rotates on
her enormous wheel and St. Jerome punishes himself with
a large rock to his chest. Francis, Thomas, Michael, Peter &
Lawrence show their attributes – it’s certainly different.
Life & Death, Pompeii & Herculaneum at the British
Museum really sets out what the title implies. A house
with a bedroom, atrium, living room, kitchen and garden,
each show an object relevant to its use and lovely marble
statues of men and women. Marble portraits and frescoes
show the residents’ activities; a tavern with an
affectionate couple, then a couple of men arguing and
being turned out, a hunt with dogs attacking deer and an
erotic statue of Pan embracing a goat! Food, garden
scenes, religious practices are all shown with glassware,
jewellery in gold and precious stones, furniture, flower
pots and fountain spouts show the sophisticated lifestyles.
There was a wealth of artistry in Pompeii & Herculaneum.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A scene by Corrodi to complement some of the paintings
seen on these visits.
John Busbridge went to Compton Verney to view 500
Years of Italian Art. On loan from Glasgow’s Kelvingrove
gallery were fifty paintings and a small sculpture. The time
bookends were a Sienese ‘St Lawrence’ and several
unremarkable C19th paintings but there were many very
enjoyable pictures. A Giovanni Bellini of ‘Madonna and
Child’, one of Botticelli’s better ‘Annunciation’s. The long
disputed Giorgione’s (or Titian’s) ‘Christ and the Woman
taken in adultery’ are perhaps the stars of the show.
Other works include two Paris Bordone groups in lovely
colour and skilfully composed, a pair of Salvator Rosa’s
‘Baptism of Christ’ and an excellent typical Venetian scene.
Lesser known artists such as Francesco del Cairo scored
with his ‘Death of Cleopatra’ and a recently restored
‘Adoration of the Magi’ by the anonymous Master of the
Glasgow Adoration, shows the work in progress on video.
The BBC’s Your Paintings maintains this artist was Spanish!
Caulfield, Hulme and Lowry at Tate Britain was
disappointing with lower exhibition galleries sparsely
populated when upstairs Lowry attracted masses of
viewers (at over £16 to view). Regarding the Lowry show,
it would have been better with half the oils on view,
chosen more selectively and better spaced. Dreary lines of
look-alike canvases could have been more telling. It is sad
that paintings from 1972 could have been of the 1920s as
it seems there had been no development. Five big ones
from the ’50s have a different impact: fewer, smaller
figures, emptier landscapes. Some ‘Ruined Landscapes’ in
room 4 offer more and there are appealing drawings with
a refreshing change of orientation – is this the Utrillo
influence? Showing pieces by Seurat and Van Gogh do
Lowry no favours and the most memorable painting on
show is a Manchester street-scape with a Whistler like
mystery by Lowry’s teacher, Adolphe Valette.
Lowry artistically significant? It is questionable.
Vermeer and Music at the National Gallery. Sadly, most of
the pictures are from the NG’s own collection and include
only five by Vermeer. Of these, the least familiar is the
sparse, small ‘Lady at the Virginals’ which contrasts with
the NG’s ‘Interior with a lady at the virginals’, twice the
size and width and lots to view. Other lovely paintings
include Terbruggen’s ‘Man with a lute’ and Terborcher’s
‘Lady playing the lute to two men’. Musical instruments on
display complement the pictures nicely but accompanying
short films were not very helpful – tenuous thoughts on
the symbolism of objects and poses is less than helpful.
Jean, Corinne and John – your reports are very
welcome and very much appreciated! I am always
most interested to read about group visits.
Many thanks.
3
Exhibitions
New Order: British Art Today
Saatchi Gallery until 29.09.13
Chagall - Modern Master
Tate, Liverpool until 6.10.13
In Fine Style: Tudor & Stuart Fashion
Queen’s Gallery until 6.10.13
Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life
Tate Britain until 20.10.13
Moore Rodin
Henry Moore Foundation until 27.10.13
Eduardo Paolozzi
Pallant House, Chichester until 13.10.13
Frank Holl
Watts Gallery until 3.11.13
Witches and Wicked Bodies
Nat. Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh until 3.11.13
Leonardo – The Mechanics of Man
Palace of Holyroodhouse until 10. 11.13
Mary, Queen of Scots
National Museum, Edinburgh until 17.11.13
Michael Landy: Saints alive
NG, London until 24.11.13
Jacob Epstein: Portrait Sculptor
National Portrait Gallery until 24.11.13
Channel Crossings: Impressionism
Manchester Art Gallery until 6.12.13
Outside In: British Folk Art from the Midlands
Compton Verney until 15.12.13
On the fringe…..
“Architecture of War” - Imperial War Museum until 4.5.14
“All in a time of austerity” (Lyons tea-shop lithos) until 22.09.13
so hurry if you wish to catch it! Towner Gallery, Eastbourne **
** One of the pictures on
view in Eastbourne with
lovely colour. These views
will certainly strike some
chords of memory!
Sir Robert Walpole had collected many superb paintings over 25 years
by his death in 1745. His ancestors sold them to Catherine the Great in
1779; now for a limited time, the pictures can be seen again in
Houghton Hall. If you see them, do tell us about it, please
Books
Mysterious Wisdom; life & art of Samuel Palmer; (Bloomsbury)
by Rachel Campbell-Johnstone.
The Best Art you’ve never seen; 101 Hidden Treasures from
around the world; (Rough Guides) by Julian Spalding
The Art Museum; (Phaidon) £125.00. I have this, it is available
– cheaper- from Amazon, (it’s very heavy and it’s superb).
Some happy seasonal views of Paris by Leon Cortès
Letters Sue Fox wrote to tell us that her Tonbridge group recently visited the
newly re-opened William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow – the 2013
Museum of the Year and it is well worth a visit. They have been to the
Canterbury Beaney, also re-fitted, with a current exhibition called
‘Home’, selected from the Arts Council of paintings. The Turner
Contemporary in Margate, the Jerwood at Hastings and the Towner**
in Eastbourne are all within easy reach. Another U3A group – GEMS –
short for Galleries, Exhibitions & Museums, makes monthly visits into
London to see current exhibitions. They have seen the Picasso show at
the Courtauld (sadly the Girl with a Dove is shortly leaving the country)
and sought out 2, Temple Place down on the Embankment for a viewing
of Cornish art, voted by the group as the best of the lot. One exhibition
on regional art is mounted at 2, Temple Place annually.
Try Google 2, Temple Place for information.
Sue – many thanks for your letter and kind comments. I hope you
will be able to find time to tell us about your next visit to 2,
Temple Place. I envy you visiting the Towner Gallery to see ‘All in
a time of austerity’ and I hope you will let us have your
comments. My thanks also for the leaflet on the Cornish show.
Penny Ingles e-mailed me to say her North Cotswold group had seen
the ‘500 Years of Italian Art’ at Compton Verney where they were made
very welcome with an exclusive guide for over half an hour to explain
the paintings. Penny also comments that she has had much welcome
help from the U3A Resource Centre. Susan is being extremely helpful
looking out DVDs and videos. It was also good to hear John Busbridge
leads sessions at their group meetings. Penny says he usually has
something to say on the period of art under discussion and is only too
pleased to go and entertain the members.
I was so pleased to have your letter, Penny; you and Sue seem to
have a tremendous time with a variety of topics in this lovely
interest of ours – Art History. I know John will also be a great
help and he does know quite a lot!!
One famous painter had work shown in only three
Impressionist exhibitions. Who?
4
Looking for something new?
Maureen Young wrote to tell me of the Farnborough group recent research. They decided to look at 20th century art and try to understand the ideas behind it. Starting with Cubism and then moving on to Post Modernism, it was felt that some artists’ art and ideas were somewhat obscure. Altho’ illuminating and interesting, challenges to comforting set ideas of the more classical art and the fixed ideas about Modernism are important to move on. One question whether art should reflect and challenge society’s ideas is interesting – what do other groups think?
Maureen – many thanks for sharing that
with us. I’ll keep you informed of the replies! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One very popular sequence of study for my groups was ‘Illustrators’ and there are many artists to consider. This
is a good example of the theme.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I read recently that Marcel Duchamp spent quite some time anonymously in Herne Bay to help him through a
difficult time. It seems there are quite a few of his works there and I wonder if anyone has seen them and would
like to tell us about them?
It is said that ‘Art Matters’ Can anyone tell us why?
I must say that I prefer the sculptured elephants below to the mediaeval view on the left. Did the artist ever see an elephant?
Stop Press - Mailing this Newsletter Quite a few on our mailing list asked if it is possible
to have the Newsletter sent by e-mail. I was expecting a rush of e-mail addresses – although
very few have been in touch. Please let me know as soon as you can if you wish to
take up this change of mailing. The office in Bromley is very willing to use the internet but I need to know who would like e-mail delivery so that my
two mailing lists are correct and up-to-date.
Appreciating art (based on John Farman)
Part 11 C 17th: All moves back to Rome
About this time, Guy Fawkes was tiring of our Parliament, Mannerism was losing its appeal but no-one was sure
which way to go. Intellectual arguments began in Rome (yawn). Was painting better than sculpture? (an egg better than a tree?) Was design more important than
colour? (sky more important than sea?) While this was going on, a brilliant young painter named Caravaggio in
Rome rejected Mannerism completely.
Caravaggio did his own thing and did it very well in the art world, although he was no angel. He had to flee Rome after killing a partner. He went to Naples and returned to painting. Two years later in Malta – would you believe it: he became a monk! He had hardly been there for five minutes when he upset the boss of the
monastery and found himself in a cell. Escaping the next year, he took refuge in Sicily. Later, back in Naples, he learned he was still wanted for murder. He got back on
the ship, caught the fever and died.
The artists were not all bad: Poussin in France and Rubens in the Netherlands both became most respected ‘academic’ masters. Poussin excelled at idealized Roman
landscapes and Rubens was unequalled depicting any material from gossamer to steel with uncanny ease and was superb in anything he portrayed – we’ll end this on a
high!
Our example by Rubens
to end on that high note.
Unsurpassed!
Hofman – the pioneer in dribbling and pouring paint.
Looking for ideas for your group studies? Call Susan Radford in the U3A Resource Centre- now open Monday
to Thursday. Her extensive list of artists, schools, sculpture and workshops would be hard to match and it is free to borrow material, just return postage is involved.
[email protected] or call 020 8315 0199
If you are seeking ideas for your planning, I can offer a Syllabus and worksheets. Designed for beginners or advanced members, it covers Western art from the
Byzantines to the present. Beginners start by researching schools of painting, later looking at specialities of
painters’ work, developments, influences, legacies, etc. Easily arranged for small or large groups and adaptable
for all levels of expertise. No cost is involved. [email protected] or call 01584 878418