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Art at the Castle – 4th July 2010

Hertford Town Council invited Hertford Art Society to take part in an Open Day at Hertford Castle on 4th July. Seven of the Society’s members displayed artworks in the Conservatory which provided a delightful, bright environment for an exhibition of paintings, prints, collage, ceramics and sculpture. Exhibitors were Maureen Batty, Kathy Burman, Paul Christie, Stella Hunt, Emmanuel Pitsiladis, Brian Young and Stephen Lowe, who gave two demonstrations of painting in acrylics.

On a beautiful summer afternoon visitors also enjoyed an open air concert by the Richard Hale School band and a Teddy Bear’s Picnic for younger visitors.

Saturday Life Workshops

Hertford Art Society runs 9 life workshops per year on the last Saturday of each month. These are essentially run for Members but we do welcome a few enthusiastic visitors at a slightly increased fee of £13.50 per session. The sessions last all day from 10.00am – 4.00pm with a 1hr break at lunchtime and are untutored.

Dates for the coming season:

2010 – 25th September, 30th October and 27th November
2011 – 29th January, 26th February, 26th March, 28th May, 25th June and 30th July
Enquiries to: workshops@hertfordartsociety.co.uk

Click here for more details.

Review of Open Exhibition – May 2010

“A stunning, beautiful, provocative and avant-garde collection” - “Individual and refreshing art” - “Inspiring” – “So glad I didn’t miss this”

These were a few of the comments from visitors to the 58th Open Exhibition which took place during the first two weeks of May 2010. This year the Selection Committee was David Kerr, Elspeth Kemp, James Willis and John Spielman - 278 paintings, 31 sculptures, 3D and ceramics were displayed in The Cowbridge Halls – selected from submissions of over 500 works. In addition, over 14 paintings were displayed around Hertford. We would like to thank Dewing Designs, Hertfordshire Graphics, Jane Marples Florist, Vogue Hairdressers and The Woodstore for inviting us to display works in their windows. Thanks also to our sponsors, Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers, for displaying paintings in Hertford and at their showrooms in Stanstead Mountfitchet.

2010 Annual Open Exhibition

Running for two weeks each year, the Annual Open Exhibition is a highlight of Hertford’s artistic life and attracts hundreds of visitors. This year’s display featured paintings, collage, digital images, prints, sculpture and fused glass and visitors praised the high quality and great variety of exhibits.

Visitors are invited to vote for their favourite exhibit – hundreds of votes were cast and this year’s winner of the Visitors Choice Prize was Deckchairs by Paul Swinge.

Click here for more details.

This year’s prizewinners

The John Goss Prize for Best in Show Sue Gay ‘She tells her love’	Lady Laming Award for Abstract Art Judith Moule ‘Red Reef’
The Bill Dale Award Maureen Batty ‘White flowers with fruit and a blue bottle’	The Edward Mason Award – Best Watercolour Margo Ward ‘Gourd House’
The Mayor’s Award – best 3D work Rodney Munday ‘St. George and the Dragon’	Visitors' Choice Paul Swinge ‘Deckchairs’

Summer Programme

There are only a few dates left on the Summer Programme and we welcome any local artists to join us at the various local venues for sketching or painting followed by a social get together at a nearby public house. There is no formality; just an opportunity to paint outdoors with a group of fellow artists.

Clink here for link to Summer Programme.

MEMBERS’ ART DISPLAY AT CONCERT OF ST JOHN’S PASSION

Earlier this year the Hertford Choral Society asked the Art Society if it would provide pictures to accompany their singing of J S Bach’s Saint John’s Passion at a concert in All Saints Church, Hertford. The Choral Society employ professional singers for the solo parts and a professional orchestra and invariably produce concerts of a very high standard. The use of a church as concert hall and, in this case, picture gallery, further enhances the audience’s enjoyment.

Just before Easter – March 27th - while the orchestra and choir settled in their place, the concert audience was treated to a fine set of scenes representing the Passion, each painting depicting a different episode of the story.

Click here for more details.

2009-2010 Critique Winners

From September each year Society Members and visitors enjoy a Programme of talks, critiques, demonstrations and workshops. The 2010-2011 Programme is in preparation and will be added to the website shortly. Sessions will begin on 14th September 2010

Critique winners of the 2009 – 2010 season as chosen by Members

Margaret Bennett Winner Apr 09 View of North London from Mount View Road	Maureen Batty Winner Sept 09 - Acrylic Flowers, oranges and a blue bottle
Peter Buck Winner Oct 09 - Watercolour Glass Collection	Stella Green Winner Nov 09 - Acrylic Penny
John Scrope Winner Jan 2010 - Acrylics Interior with Apple	Stephen Lowe Feb 10 winner - Acrylic The Red Umbrella
Stella Green Winner Mar 2010- Acrylic Pots & Tulips

Society's aim

The Society's aim is to encourage interest in the visual arts and to provide opportunities to practice, study and exhibit art in Hertford and the surrounding area.

It is well regarded for the high standard of artworks on display at the annual Open Exhibition. Submissions are received from across Hertfordshire as well as other parts of the country.

Members work in a range of media and styles from traditional painting in oils, pastel, watercolours and acrylics to printmaking, collage, multi-media and digital – computer based imagery. Three dimensional work in wood, clay, stone and metal is also well represented.

This diversity and an approach to art which values traditional skills alongside contemporary art forms combine to make Hertford Art Society a leading light in the local art world.