Hello everyone,

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It was lovely to mark the return to our lecture programme by holding a lunch for our new members. This was well attended and a very pleasant event. A good number of our members joined us for September’s lecture “A Passion for Tea” - Amanda Herries" which completed a very enjoyable afternoon.

 

Personally I delight in being able to visit our Galleries and Museums in the North West. In September I visited our beloved Lady Lever. Also took a day trip, thanks to the Friends of the Williamson, to Towneley Hall in Burnley. My first visit and I really enjoyed my time there. Townley Hall was home to the Townley family for over 600 years and I was pleased to hear that descendants of the family still gather once a year, at the Hall, for a service in the Chapel. Recent restoration meant that the Hall was really looking at its best … I loved the Great Hall with the unusual colourings.

 

Closer to home I spent time at the Atkinson in Southport. Primarily I went to see the exhibition “Taking Centre Stage: Female Artists in the Atkinson Collection"

I learnt that the Atkinson Art Gallery opened in 1878 without a permanent collection. The first gift of twenty oil paintings in 1879 were mostly by men but the patron gifting the works was female, Miss Emma Balls. This exhibition includes the first purchase of a work by a female artist for the Atkinson collection …. A still life that was purchased in 1883 for £8. “ Flowers of Eden” by K.B. Cussons.

The works on display include some by Vanessa Bell, Elizabeth Blackadder, Dame Laura Knight and Rachel Whiteread.

I was pleased to catch another of the exhibitions. “ Antiquita” Works by Zahad Taj-Eddin, a Syrian from Aleppo, now based in London. He is an artist and archaeologist creating clay and bronze sculptures. Fascinating artworks.

 

So … I hope to see you at our October lecture.

“1951 — The Festival of Britain, A Nation Celebrated. Art, Architecture and Design in Post War Britain.” Matthew Denney.

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And, please remember to buy your tickets, £56, for our Day of Special Interest. Monday November 2nd.

“The History of the Tree in Art from Giotto to Klimt.”  Clare Ford-Willie

 

Judith Wheat