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.

Review of 58th Open Exhibition 1st – 15th 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 Prizewinners

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.

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.

John Jarratt

Jean Holford

Brenda Reid

Jane Yu Zhu

• John Jarratt: Peter denied again; and just then a cock crew
• Jean Holford: Pilate washed his hands
• Brenda Reid: The soldiers placed a plaited crown of thorns on his head, and robed him in a purple cloak.
• Jane Yu Zhu: Jesus carrying his own cross, went out to ‘Golgotha’, the Place of the Skull.

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.

Geoff Bennett

June Pickard

Jim Hailey

Veronica Doran

• Geoff Bennett: There they crucified him, and with him two others
• June Pickard: He bowed his head and gave up his spirit
• Jim Hailey: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus came and took the body away, wrapped in strips of linen cloth.
• Veronica Doran: There was an earthquake, the rocks split, and the graves opened.

The paintings emphasised the drama of the Easter story and members of the audience were able to study the pictures at the interval and at the end of the performance. Tributes to the works on display flowed around, the vicar asked that the pictures stay up for the full Easter period, and both societies were delighted to have the opportunity to support each other’s artistic endeavours.

Waters Mural – The Society paints big…

… 18 metres long by 3 metres high to be exact. This was the size of the task that Hertford Art Society accepted when invited by Hertford Town Council and Hertford Civic Society to paint over part of the old Waters Garage hoardings.

Marie Goldsmith, Brenda Reid,  Pauline Dulin, Margo Ward, Sue Sanders, Yve Macartney, Geoff Bennett – Gillian Harman (not pictured) also worked on the mural

A landscape of Hertford was suggested and a panorama of Kingsmead and the River Lea was designed. The mural highlights the wildlife and activities of the river and towpath thus illustrating the importance of a Hertford asset that few recognise.

Over two months from the end of August 2009 a group of members volunteered their time to complete the mural. Numerous passers-by stopped to commend the work. Some took photographs of the mural and members painting. Lorry drivers hooted their horns and gave the thumbs-up as they drove past. We received congratulatory emails from Councillors, the Civic Society and the Town Clerk and The Hertfordshire Mercury twice reported on progress with photos in the local newspaper. A Hertford Forum website covered the topic with several comments from viewers – both good and bad. We definitely put Hertford Art Society on the map.

The result is not quite a Banksi effort and the style is naive but it definitely improves the previously brown wooden boards and cheers up the town. We are grateful to the Town Council for funding this project and all involved thoroughly enjoyed painting BIG.