Teme Valley Arts Society Newsletter

April 2025

Dear everyone,

UPDATE

The AGM took place after the last talk. All present officers were duly elected, with the exception of Ruth Turner who has stood down after serving on the committee for several years. We will miss her input very much and wish her well.

Two new members were elected- Lynette Maple, who will become the minutes secretary, and Katarina Nilsson, who will take on the membership secretary role. Holly Stewart, who was co-opted onto the committee last year, will continue as website manager and media co-ordinater.

We are still without anyone to organise outings! If you are interested in this role, and would like to find out more, please email Judith at temevalley@theartssociety.org.

LAST MONTH'S TALK

We so enjoyed the entertaining talk about illusion in the theatre from early Greek productions to the present day. Your feedback was very positive and Ian enjoyed his visit to Ludlow.

NEXT TALK

Light and Shade: The Persian Paradise Garden 

Speaker: Justin Reay

Wednesday 16th April 2025 at 2.15pm

Ludlow Assembly Rooms

We are looking forward to Justin describing the Persian concept of chahar-bārgh, an integral idea in Islamic philosophy and to the urban garden-scapes of the Muslim world. He will explain how it is now influencing garden design in England and the USA as we adapt to climate change.

Please bring any keen gardeners along as it is sure to be fascinating. We look forward to seeing you! 

There is more information on the website www.theartssocietytemevalley.org.uk.

Visitors are very welcome, paying £8 (cash) on the door.

COACH OUTING

Wednesday April 30th 2025

Ironbridge Valley of Invention: The Jackfield Tile Museum and The Coalport China Museum

Please note: the closing date to apply is Thursday 17th April.

The programme will be as follows: 

• 9.00am Join coach & leave Ludlow Park & Ride 

• 10.30 am Arrival at Jackfield Tile Museum 

• 10.45am – 12.15pm Guided tour of museum  

• 12.30pm Transfer in coach or walk to The Tile Press Cafe for sandwich lunch (included) 

• 2.00pm Transfer in coach to Coalport China Museum for guided tour and demonstrations 

• 4.30pm Join coach for return journey to Ludlow Park & Ride

• 5.30pm Arrive Ludlow Park & Ride

Cost: £45 for members & £50 for non-members.

We reserve the right to cancel this outing if circumstances dictate and you will be refunded. Unfortunately, due to upfront costs, in the event of you cancelling we cannot offer a refund.

Application Form (available here): To book a place please send completed form to Judith Payling, Holland House, Clunbury, SY7 0HG, or by email to temevalley@theartssociety.org with the subject “Ironbridge Application”, by Thursday 17th April 2025. 

Click here for more information, at the bottom of which is another link to the application form.

Visitors are very welcome, but please complete an application form and submit to Judith as directed.

Wishing you all the best, 

Judith Payling

Co-chair ASTV 

NEWS FROM WORCESTER ARTS SOCIETY

TAS Worcester asked us to let you know about a forthcoming trip organised by Becky Dale, TAS Worcester:

A Heritage Trip Through Norfolk 

Monday 02 - Friday 06 June 2025

This five day coach trip packs in a lot!

• The Oxburgh Estate (NT) 

• A guided walking tour of Norwich, Blickling Estate (NT) visit 

• Sandringham and free time in Norwich 

• Holkham Hall and Wroxham Broads boat trip 

• Ely Cathedral

They will be staying B&B at the four star Maids Head Hotel in Norwich, with evening meals on the first and last nights.

The cost per person will be from £779 for twin/double rooms.

A flyer and booking form are available for download from their website: The Arts Society Worcester.

Numbers need to be confirmed for the hotel by the end of next week, so, if interested, please contact Becky Dale and fill in the form as soon as possible.

Teme Valley Arts Society

February 2025

Dear Everyone,

My apologies for the delay in getting the newsletter to you. I have had a family bereavement and consequently been rather pre-occupied. The AGM which was to have taken place after the February talk has been postponed and will now take place after the March talk. Notice of this will be circulated on 26 February 2025.

Update

Last month’s talk ‘Recognise the Artist’ by Chantal Brotherton Ratcliffe was very well received with most of the audience rating it as excellent. She was a most engaging speaker and encouraged us to look at paintings with new insights.

Next talk: 19th February 2025,  John Singer Sargent: the private radical

Gavin Plumley will return to talk about this famous and sometimes very nearly scandalous Victorian painter and how is work was on the cusp of seismic change.

More information can be found by going to the "Lectures" section of this website, or by clicking on the following link:  https://theartssocietytemevalley.org.uk/Lectures/FutureLectures.aspx 

Visitors are very welcome pay £8 cash on the door.

Exploration day Wednesday 12th March 2025

The Art of Cornwall 1880-1975 (please note closing date 4th March)

There will be three linked talks presented by Sarah Burles and a fully catered delicious lunch. This exploration day enabling us to explore the subject in some detail and depth will take place at Cawley Hall, Eye, Leston, HR6 ODS. Application forms will be available at the February talk and can also be downloaded from the website where there is more information about the content of the day! https://theartssocietytemevalley.org.uk/Special/FutureSpecial.aspx Visitors are very welcome but please complete an application form and submit to Wendy as directed.

Wishing you all the best

Judith Payling

Co-chair ASTV

Due to extenuating circumstances, the Arts Society AGM has been postponed until after the March Lecture.

Thank you for your understanding.

Teme Valley Arts Society Newsletter

January  2025

Dear All,

Happy New Year!

Update

The last talk of 2024 lived up to its billing. Bertie Pearce gave us a very entertaining and interesting talk about Dickens and his famous Christmas Carol. There were magical tricks, amusing anecdotes, and insights into Victorian life.

The Christmas Tea Party and Quiz went very well indeed and Bill’s did us proud with a delicious tea. It was fun and everyone entered into the spirit of the occasion, being challenged, but not defeated, by the quiz! Maybe we’ll do something similar next year?

Next lecture: 15th January 2025, Recognise the artist?

Chantal Brotherton-Ratcliffe will be encouraging us to look at pictures and identify clues which help us to identify the artist.

There is more information on the website www.theartssocietytemevalley.org.uk. Visitors are very welcome and pay £8 cash on the door.

Exploration day Wednesday 12th March 2025

The Art of Cornwall 1880-1975

There will be three linked talks presented by Sarah Burles and a fully catered delicious lunch. This exploration day, enabling us to explore the subject in some detail and depth, will take place at Cawley Hall, Eye, Luston, HR6 ODS. Application forms will be available at the February and March talks, as well as on the website, where there is more information about the content of the day!  Visitors are very welcome, but please complete an application form and submit to Wendy as directed.

Programme 2024-2025

We are busy putting next year’s programme together at the moment. If you have any suggestions please contact Linda, Wendy, or I to influence our decisions!!

Other news

Caroline is stepping back from the Society for the next three months as she is undertaking a course of study which requires considerable commitment. We wish her well.

AGM

The AGM will take place after the talk on 19th February. I will be sending a separate communication about this next week but please be aware that unless we get some nominations for the committee, we will have to curtail our activities in the future. So please talk to me if you feel you could contribute to the committee’s work.

Other Societies 

Day of Special Interest, Cirencester

The Arts Society Corinium are holding another Day of Special Interest in February and asked us to let our members know. The speaker will be Sarah Dunant who gave their Society a fascinating and insightful talk about the Borgias in 2023 which the membership voted to be outstanding.  You may also have seen Sarah on the recent BBC Docu-drama called Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty, where she was one of the expert commentators as she is a specialist on the Renaissance period.  Sarah also broadcasts on Points of View on Radio 4.

Sarah will be giving two lectures followed by a discussion after lunch on the writing of historical fiction as she is also a very highly regarded writer.  There is absolutely no obligation to have read one of her books in advance.

 A link below has full details about this event, and Corinium extend an invitation to join them for another special informative, fun and enjoyable day.

 https://www.theartssocietycorinium.org/dsi/dsi-the-second-sex

Wishing you all the best

Judith

Co-chair ASTV

Teme Valley Arts Society Newsletter November 2024

 Teme Valley Arts Society Newsletter November 2024

 Dear All

The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is upon us with the glorious Autumn colours! The first two talks of the season have both been a tremendous success especially the last one, which I missed due to being stuck on a train in the floods! I hear it was ‘one of the best we have had.’

Our final talk of 2024 is on Wednesday, the 20th   November and  promises to be yet another treat! Bertie Pearce, who last talked to us on Zoom during the pandemic, is a superb raconteur and magician! He will be regaling us with a talk entitled ‘A Dickens of a Christmas: And God bless us everyone.’ Please invite friends as guests, they will be very welcome! It is not one to miss! If anyone wants to join us for lunch at Bill’s please let Linda Henry know.
NB Most members have now picked up their 2024-25 membership packs but there are still some to be collected. Please come and get them before the next talk.
Thanks to Clare Smout

Clare has stepped down from her role as Outings Organiser to pursue other interests. We should like to thank her very much for her contribution to the committee and for a highly successful outings programme last year. The two outings for the coming year which she has organised so ably will go ahead as planned and we look forward to them.

Advance notice of AGM

Our AGM will be held after the talk in February, and it is vital that we receive nominations for vacant committee posts. We really need an outings organiser so we can have at least one outing during the 25-26 programme and also some people to take on some aspects of other roles to enable us to run a full programme of talks and events which you as members tell us you value. Why don’t you and a friend join our committee, we should be so grateful? It isn’t a vast amount of work! The committee generally meets 4 times a year and other activities take place in small working groups. It is a very good way to meet new people and do something that is satisfying in our local community. Please talk to Judith or Caroline.

Other local information

Shakespeare studies at the Assembly Rooms with Clare Smout 2024-2025

·         Sat 2 November 2pm-5pm Introducing Elizabethan Tragedy + Titus Andronicus (repeat) 

·         Sat 16 November 2pm-5pm Shakespeare’s Early Language + Romeo and Juliet 

·         Sat 23 November 2pm-5pm Shakespeare’s Early Language + Romeo and Juliet (repeat) 

·         Sat 11 January 2pm-5pm Exploring Othello 

·         1st or 2nd of February(tbc) 2pm-5pm Exploring Othello (repeat) 

·         Sat 8 February 2pm-5pm Exploring Macbeth 

·         Sun 16 February 2pm-5pm Exploring Macbeth (repeat) 

·         Sat 8 March 10am-5pm Exploring King Lear 

·         29th or 30th March(tbc)10am-5pm Exploring King Lear (repeat) 

Any questions, please contact Clare Smout via shakespeare.courses@smout.org

News from The Artists' Gallery 

Ludlow Food Centre, Bromfield, Ludlow
United Kingdom

In November  Emma Thomas & Morna Rhys are guest artists. The Gallery is also honoured to have Louise  Darby’s final collection of pottery in the gallery at the moment.

 VAN GOGH: POETS AND LOVERS -a Seventh Arts  film

Presented at Aston on Clun Village Hall on Thursday 7th November 2024 at 7pm (doors open at 6.30pm)

The National Gallery is hosting the UK's biggest ever Van Gogh exhibition.  This film is a chance to re-examine and understand this iconic artist, one of the most beloved artists of all time.

Tickets are £10 on the door or by booking with Paul Sweetland on 01588 660139.

Pre-show bar and interval ices and tea/coffee as usual!

We look forward to seeing you all at the next talk.

Best wishes

Judith & Caroline

Co-chairs ASTV

The first talk will be by Jonathan Conlin, Professor of Modern History at Southampton University. The subject is The National Gallery at 200 Years: The Nation’s Mantelpiece. Marking its bicentenary this year, this lecture will celebrate many of  the dazzling  highlights from the NG's collection showing how  the vision of an "ideal" art collection has evolved over time, along with ideas of the kinds of people the Gallery was supposed to serve.  Given its status it seems surprising that the Gallery founded by parliament,  for the people, remains reliant on public funding but we shall learn more from Jonathan.

November Teme Valley Exploration Day

Wednesday 6th November 2024 

We have renamed our study days as exploration days we felt the previous name might convey the wrong idea. An Exploration Day is a chance to meet socially, enjoy a delicious lunch themed to the subject, and an opportunity to explore an arts subject in depth and detail through three linking  illustrated talks.

Our first event this season A day of talks by Nirvana Romell introducing– African Art: Curio or Craft? will take place at Eye Village Hall and visitors/non-members are welcome. There is plenty of parking and accessible facilities. Application forms will be available at the September and October lectures and on the website theartssocietytemevalley.org.uk

Other Local Days of Special Interest (another name for a Study Day!) 

The Arts Society Ross-on Wye is holding a Day of Special Interest “Italy and the Islamic World” on Friday 18th October at the Larruperz Centre in Ross-on-Wye, starting at 10:30am. Attendance is open to non-members.

More information is on their website where there is also a  booking form:  http://www.theartssociety-rossonwye.org/events.php?event=255

The Arts Society Corinium is holding a Day of Special Interest “Dutch Courage” on October 21st at Cirencester Baptist Church. This day is now open for bookings from non-members

More information is on their website where there is also a booking form:  https://www.theartssocietycorinium.org/dsi 

Other local events which may be of interest

Leonardo: The Works A Seventh Arts Production

Thursday September 5th Doors open at 6.30pm for 7.00pm

Aston on Clun Village Hall

A film presenting every single attributed painting, in Ultra HD quality never before seen on the big screen. This is a remarkable production filmed on location throughout the world offering a fresh and revealing insight into one of history’s most extraordinary individuals.

 Tickets:£10

Easy parking and pre-show and interval bar and refreshments including local ice cream. More information: astononclunhall.org or call Paul 01588 660139

Sidney Nolan Trust Presteigne

There are several workshops and events advertised on their website which you might find interesting, here is the link: info@sidneynolantrust.org

Exploring Shakespeare’s Tragedies

Participatory study sessions with Clare Smout

Saturday 26 October repeated on Saturday 2nd November

Join Clare for a look in detail at Titus Andronicus

Saturday 16th November repeated on  Saturday 23rd November

A chance to develop an in-depth understanding of Romeo & Juliet

Saturday 11 January 2025

Engage with Clare to explore Othello

All sessions take place in Studio 2 The Assembly Rooms starting at 2.00pm

Cost £24 per session

An exhibition by The Marches Scribes

We look forward to seeing you soon and to receiving your membership applications for next season.

With our best wishes

Judith & Caroline

Co-chairs ASTV

September 2024

Dear All

Midsummer already! Our last lecture and summer outing will take place in June and also this is the last newsletter of the season. We hope everyone enjoys the summer and their holidays.

Collection for Ukraine.

At the last lecture on The Culture of Ukraine we were joined by some people connected with the humanitarian relief effort in Ukraine and as result of a collection we sent £413.86 via Paul from South Shropshire to that country which was used for the purchase of medical supplies for the folk of Kharkiv(see below).

A message from Paul

“ Thank you for your donation. On this particular trip I delivered a 4x4 truck, medical supplies, generators etc to Kharkiv for use by the emergency medical services.

This trip was particularly tiring.  As a solo driver I covered the 2100 miles in 4 days..averaging around 500 miles per day with 10 -12 hours driving  each day.

Our last lecture of this year will take place on Wednesday 19th June when we will welcome Dominic Riley to talk about The Whole Art of the Book. This promises to be a fascinating exploration of the art of traditional book making. We have linked this to the summer outing to Hartlebury Castle on Wednesday 26th June where we will be able to see fine examples of the bookbinder’s skills during our tour of the Bishop of Worcester’s library. More information can be found on the website www.theartssocietytemevalley.org.uk    Please note the closing date for this outing is 19th June.

Next Year

Please could you complete membership application forms (on the website) for 2024/25 and send your subscriptions either by cheque or BACS to Jeff Walker as soon as possible. This would really help us so these can be processed over the summer break and your membership packs prepared for collection at the first lecture in September. Thank you.

ASTV Some new Season Dates for your diaries

Wednesday 18th September 2024

First Lecture of the 2024/25 Season

London’s National Gallery marks its bicentenary this year, to celebrate this we will be welcoming Jonathan Conlin who will explore the tectonic shifts in taste that created it. Founded by parliament, for the people, its holdings represent a dazzling national vision of an ‘ideal’ collection.

Wednesday 6th November 2024 

A day of talks by Nirvana Romell introducing– African Art: Curio or Craft?

We look forward to seeing you soon and to receiving your membership applications for next season.

With our best wishes

Judith and Caroline

Co-chairs ASTV

Other arts events

The Rodd Annual Community Day - free
Saturday 6 July 

THE ARTS SOCIETY TEME VALLEY NEWSLETTER   May 2024

Dear Members and Visitors

Well, what a lovely few days – it has made me dream of summer picnics, let us hope the warmth will be back soon. 

Wed 15th May

This month’s lecture is on the Culture of Ukraine with Rosamund Bartlett.  Ukraine has a history going back to ancient times and this lecture will give an excellent overview of its past to modern times. 

Collection for Ukraine:  How hard it is to realise what is being steadily destroyed in this war.  In connection to this, at our next lecture on the Culture of Ukraine we will be welcoming Erica Garner who co-ordinates the Ludlow Refugee Support Group  and Paul who  works from Church Stretton , he gave a fascinating, if harrowing, talk on the situation in some towns in the east of Ukraine.  Paul has regularly driven a lorry load of humanitarian aid to Ukraine over the last few years and supports various aid initiatives.   We have asked Paul to give us a brief idea of the current human situation before the start of Rosemary’s talk and we will have a collection bucket for Aid to Ukraine for those of you who may wish to donate.

In Leominster wonderful Textile Exhibition from  June to July

There will be a spectacular textile art display at Leominster Priory – creating the world with eight million stitches!

‘Threads through Creation’ is an astonishing textile art exhibition. It’s been touring cathedrals and great churches, and now reaches Leominster Priory 5th June to 18th July.

It’s one of the largest textile art projects by a single artist, ever. The show consists of twelve beautiful silk panels re-imagining the story of creation from the bible. They’re huge – nearly 3m high. It took artist Jacqui Parkinson three years - and eight million stitches!

Outing to Hartlebury Castle, tour of the Bishop’s Palace, Hurd library and garden.

26th June .  New places on offer!

Booking is going well on this,  and, due to the level of demand for this outing, we have been able to upgrade to a larger coach and release over a dozen extra places. We do hope you'll join us.  See our website www.theartssocietytemevalley.org. for further information and booking form.   It should be a lovely day out  .

Next Month will be our last lecture this year:  The Whole Art of the Book  with Dominic Riley.  It will tell of  the fascinating story of everything that makes a traditional hand bound book. If you have been on the Hartlebury Castle trip you will have had chance to see the magnificent books in the Hurd Library

Dear Members and Visitors

The blossom is out despite the weather and the gardens are brightening up. This April’s  lecture on the 17th  is Singing in Secret and will focus on the wonderful music of William Byrd from the 15th  and 16th century when singing in churches was forbidden.  The lecturer will be  Sandy Burnett who talked brilliantly to us about Baroque music

We are still in need of help so if you can contribute in some way please let Caroline or Judith know. Several members have recently been meeting and greeting people as they arrive for lectures and this makes for a more convivial and welcoming atmosphere, so please get involved if you can!

Other Notices

Wednesday 26th June 2024

Our visit by coach to Hartlebury Castle with a tour of the Bishop’s Palace, Hurd Library and garden is now available to book.  Clare will have the details on Wednesday. See our website www.theartssocietytemevalley.org. for further information and booking form.  We only have 19 seats available on the coach  but there can be a waiting list if we need to make further arrangements.

Wednesday 24 April 2024

A morning only mini outing by car to The Rodd, a Jacobean manor house & modern art gallery near Presteigne to (LD8 2LL).

Last chance to book for this. Clare Smout will be available at the next lecture  Rodd Court is 'an outstanding group of 17th century farm buildings that house a modern gallery and artists' workshops. The manor house was the final home of Australian artist Sidney Nolan & houses a collection of his own paintings, as well as a sequence of changing modern exhibitions Our visit will include a guided tour of the buildings & gallery, as well as hot drinks & home-made cakes. More information and application form on the website www.theartssocietytemevalley.org.

Local Exhibitions

Exhibition on Screen film at Ludlow Assembly Rooms 16th May  features the recent John Singer Sargent exhibition.

Caris Jackson in LAR until 11 May plus a workshop on 11 May.  See LAR website

John Piper and 20th Century Art at Barton Court

Showcasing  over 60 fabrics, limited edition prints and original works by John Piper and a range of twentieth century artists displayed in a lovely country house environment in beautiful Herefordshire.

Saturday 11th – Sunday 20th May   (Sundy 12th May -  Open House gardens and outbuildings)

Entry is free and all works are for sale

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/barton-court/t-xmxvlnq

The Loose Box Café will be open throughout the exhibition.

The Venue: Barton Court, Colwall, Herefordshire, WR13 6HN

https://www.bartoncourtonline.co.uk/ 

See  Latest News on home page  of  The Arts Society Teme Valley

Dear Members,

Spring is upon us and we are looking forward to two lovely outings in April and June, four more lively lectures and the summer.

At the AGM in February, the current committee were re-elected, so no changes there. However, we are still in need of help to run the society successfully, so if you feel you can contribute in some way please let Caroline or Judith know. Several members have recently been involved in meeting and greeting people as they arrive for lectures and this makes for a more convivial and welcoming atmosphere, so please get involved if you can!

The recent Masters of the North Day of Special Interest was highly acclaimed and there was lots of very positive feedback. Thank you, Wendy, for choosing such a fascinating area to explore in a little more depth than a single lecture allows us to.

The subject for the next lecture on 20th March is Post-War Haute Couture in Paris, so do join us to hear Connie Gray transport us to that wonderful age of fashion.

Wednesday 24 April 2024
A morning only mini-outing by car to The Rodd, a Jacobean manor house modern art gallery near Presteigne (LD8 2LL). Rodd Court is 'an outstanding group of 17th century farm buildings that house a modern gallery and artists' workshops. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens, orchards, and 250 acres of farmland & semi-ancient natural woodland.' It will look particularly splendid at this point in early spring! The manor house was the final home of Australian artist Sidney Nolan and houses a collection of his own paintings, as well as a sequence of changing modern exhibitions. The exhibition for April is 'Painting with Light', a technique recently popularised by David Hockney.

Our visit will include a guided tour of the buildings & galleries, as well as hot drinks and home-made cakes. More information and the application form can be found on the website at https://www.theartssocietytemevalley.org.uk/Visits/FutureVisits.aspx.

Advance Notice
Wednesday 26th June 2024
A visit by coach to Hartlebury Castle with a tour of the Bishop’s Palace, Hurd Library and gardens. Details can be found at https://www.theartssocietytemevalley.org.uk/Visits/FutureVisits.aspx.

Teme Valley Arts Society Newsletter – January 2024

 Happy New Year Everyone

v Next lecture

We are looking forward to our first talk of the year on Wednesday 17th January 2024 2.15pm. The talk is entitled Banksy - Genius or Fraud ?

Speaker: Pepe Martinez

Visitors are welcome & can pay £8 at the door.

v Study day – Friday 8th March 2024 at

Masters of the North: Iconic Art from Scandinavia & Russia

Presented by Brian Healey

Programme

10.00 am : Arrival & coffee/tea

10.30 am:  Lecture 1: Masters of the North

Dazzled by the impact of impressionism it is easy to overlook the stunning achievements of Nordic painters during the 19th century. From dazzling snowy landscapes to moody interiors this lecture showcases how together they shaped the national identities of Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland forged in part from a battle against the elements and social deprivation as much as political power and provincialism during the turbulent years of the 19th century.

11.45 am: Lecture 2:  Helsinki: Music, Myth & Art Nouveau

Newcomers to Helsinki are often surprised by  its stylish architecture that brings to life the mythical  characters from Finland's ancient past. Such myths also inspired some of her most famous artists & musicians, not least Sibelius. In this multi-media presentation we examine how these forces came together in Finland’s quest for nationhood, & helped  turn its capital into a jewel of art nouveau, but with a distinctly Finnish flavour.

12.45pm -14.00pm: A catered lunch

 14.00 am: Lecture 3:From Peasants to Czars: A Portrait of 19th century Russia

Jump aboard as we embark on a pictorial sleigh ride through time and the vast space that was  Russia before the revolution! Through the works of many dazzling Russian and indeed Ukrainian artists we will see not just how they showcased Russia's enigmatic beauty, but daringly criticised the ruling elite and  the rapidly changing social order.

v Advance notice

Wednesday 24 April 2024

A morning only mini outing by car to The Rodd, a Jacobean manor house & modern art gallery near Presteigne LD8 2LL

Rodd Court is 'an outstanding group of 17th century farm buildings that house a modern gallery and artists' workshops. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens & orchards, 250 acres of farmland, & semi-ancient natural woodland'. It will look particularly splendid at this point in early spring!

The manor house was the final home of Australian artist Sidney Nolan & houses a collection of his own paintings, as well as a sequence of changing modern exhibitions.  Our visit will include a guided tour of the buildings & gallery, as well as hot drinks & home-made cakes.

v 2024 AGM

The ASTV AGM will be held after the talk on 21st February 2024. We would welcome any nominations to the committee or offers of help. Please contact Judith or Caroline. We particularly need support to assist with welcoming people at the lectures & delivering publicity in August.

Best wishes

Judith & Caroline

ARTS SOCIETY TEME VALLEY November 2023 NEWSLETTER

Dear Member

As we begin preparations for Christmas, ASTV has two events taking place before the festive season starts, an intriguing talk and our winter study day. The collage is now finished. Shropshire’s High Sheriff unveiled it at a well-attended tea party at the Assembly Rooms when we entertained many of those who had contributed to the result. Residents from Hendra House were particularly pleased with their involvement and the magnets they received as a memento. Thank to those members who took part, your contributions were greatly appreciated. The Collage screen will be on display at various venues in Ludlow.

The outing to Walsall

This very successful trip, organised by Clare, to the Museum of Modern Art and the Leather Museum in Walsall was a real treat. The first venue held a wonderful collection of modern art – the stunning Garman Ryan Collection plus many other exhibits which delighted and fascinated those of us who went on this trip.

This month’s talk -The Car in Art & the Car as Art

On Wednesday 15th November, we are pleased to be welcoming back Julian Richards who will be talking about the influences of various art movements on the design of the car and how cars have been portrayed in art. We are promised a stimulating ride.

Study Day - Signs and Symbols in Medieval Art and Buildings -Friday December 1st 2023

Imogen Corrigan will introduce us to this interesting subject to help us develop our ability to interpret many of the wonderful examples of messages from the Middle Ages as we explore local and national sites with Imogen as our guide. Lunch, as always, is included in the fee and visitors are welcome. More information and the application form can be found on our website www.theartssocietytemevalley.org.uk.

A future event which may be of interest

Clare Smout, our Outings Organiser and Shakespeare scholar will be exploring Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing at Ludlow Assembly Rooms on January 20th, 2024.

A call for help and support

We do need at least two new committee members to step forward for election at the AGM. Please do consider doing this. We meet 4-5 times a year and will encourage anyone who joins the committee to contribute as much, or as little that they can. We also need a bit more support from members to help on targeted tasks on a time limited basis. (e.g., Those that took part in the collage enjoyed being part of the activities that made it happen.). Please talk to any member of the committee for more insight into the roles.

There is no talk in December, so we wish all ASTV members and friends a Happy Christmas.

We look forward to seeing you and your friends in January 2024

With our best wishes

Judith & Caroline

Co-chairs ASTV

ARTS SOCIETY TEME VALLEY OCTOBER 2023 NEWSLETTER

Dear Member

Many of you will have picked up your membership  packs at the first talk in September, those of you who still need to collect these will find them waiting for you in the auditorium next time. If you know of anyone who would like to join please encourage them to do so, remember if they attend as a visitor they will get their fee deducted from their full membership cost of £50  for2023-24. This is a good deal for the remaining 8 lectures which would cost them £64 otherwise!! We are also delighted to see visitors as their attendance helps considerably towards us remaining viable for the future and to enable the Arts Society Teme Valley  to continue to exist!!  

The month of October is now upon us with its mists and mellow fruitfulness, apple juicing is underway in our part of the Teme Valley, and we are looking forward to several exciting events this month.

Revealing Ludlow Then  & Now

First, on Monday 16th October at 4.00 pm-6.00 pm at The Assembly Rooms The High Sherriff, Mandy Thorn, will reveal the results of our summer volunteering project, the collage of Ludlow Then & Now,  large folding screen with four panels. There will be light refreshments after the unveiling and a chance to meet with some of the participants. . We will be giving all those who took part a small memento, and there will be a small exhibition of photos taken during the project for all to see.

 This wonderful piece of art has been created by Caris Jackson in partnership with a few of our members, residents and staff of Hagley Place and Hendra House, plus children and their parents who live in Ludlow. We have had support from The Arts Society and Rotary Cares, who both gave us  substantial grants, from Shropshire Libraries who helped a small group of us identify resources and information from their collections of local history and publications from the 1950’s, from St Laurences who let us run a collage workshop attended by children in their space to create contributions and from individual Ludlovians who shared their memories and experiences to add richness to the overall result. If any member would like to come to the unveiling event, please could they let Ruth Turner know as soon as possible ruth_turner@btinternet.com  Subsequent to the event and after our next talk on Caravaggio, when it will be displayed for members to see in the main auditorium at the Assembly Rooms,  the screen will go on tour to various venues which will be announced at the next lecture.

This Month’s Talk  - Caravaggio

Secondly, on Wednesday 18th October, our second lecture of the season by Keith Bonser will offer us an in-depth exploration of the life and work of Italy’s infamous and talented master of light and shade Caravaggio.

Our Autumn Outing

 Thirdly, there is a really interesting coach outing on Wednesday 25th  October to the New Art Gallery and The Leather Museum in Walsall. The New Art Gallery, Walsall, is a stunning modern building, specially designed to house the Garman Ryan Collection. This formerly private collection focuses on sculptures by Jacob Epstein and other works collected by his family and friends. It features both European and non-European artists, including Picasso, Braque, Gericault and Delacroix. Our visit includes talks on both the permanent collection and the current contemporary exhibitions (sculptures by Karla Black and oil paintings by Annette Pugh), plus a chance to explore the gallery in your own time. Walsall Leather Museum celebrates Walsall’s role as the leather-working capital of England. It focuses on the history of the leather industry and the lives of those who worked in the trade. Over 2,000 objects are on display and the guided visit includes talks and demonstrations by those skilled in the crafts. There are still places available for this visit, please find more information and the application form on our website www.theartssocietytemevalley.org.uk. Visitors are welcome so please invite friends to come with you, it is a chance not to be missed! Closing date 18th October

Advance information Study Day 1st December

To brighten up the beginning of winter, why not join us and Imogen Corrigan at our study day Signs and Symbols in Medieval Art and Buildings. You will remember what a fascinating talk she gave us about Misericords so this will be a day to develop our ability to interpret  many of the wonderful examples of messages from the Middle Ages as we visit local and national sites with Imogen as our guide. Lunch, as always, is included in the fee and visitors are welcome. More information and the application form can be found on our website www.theartssocietytemevalley.org.uk.

We look forward to seeing you and your friends

With our best wishes

Judith & Caroline

Co-chairs ASTV

The New Programme

The swallows are gathering ready to leave, the evenings are drawing in and the garden is full of beautiful autumnal colours. All this heralds the start of the new season of the Arts Society Teme Valley programme. Our first lecture on 20 September given by Richard Burnip is entitled PG Wodehouse in London and will lead us on into an exciting range of talks about a very wide variety of topics. In October, a coach outing to Walsall will take us to the New Art Gallery and the Walsall Leather Museum. There will be a study day in December which will delight us with an exploration of the Signs and Symbols in Medieval Art and Buildings given by Imogen Corrigan who enthralled us with her talk about Misericords last year. All the information you need can be found on our new website: theartssocietytemevalley.org.uk, a considerable improvement on our old one, thanks to an enormous amount of work by Caroline Jamison whom we thank very much. Do please explore and download your membership application form.

Arrangements at first lecture

This September, it will be really helpful to us and mean you avoid a queue, if you could complete your form and pay your membership fee, either by cheque or BACs before the 18th September for as you know it is always rather hectic at the first lecture of the year. If you do this, you will then be able to go straight upstairs and into the auditorium where you will find your membership envelope waiting for you. We should really appreciate it if you could do this, so you do not have to wait for Jeff’s attention!! If you have not paid and need to do so please arrive by 1.45 and ensure you see Jeff Walker who will process your membership application. If you are bringing a visitor, who will be very welcome, please come up the back stairs or in the lift where Caroline will be waiting to register them. Hopefully, we will then be able to start the talk on time and welcome Jeeves back home!

Ludlow Then & Now Collage update

The summer volunteering project, a collage of Ludlow Then & Now has been most successful. We held four events, collecting materials from old magazines and books in the library, a collage workshop in St Laurence’s which involved lots of young people and their parents, two other sessions, one at Hagley Place and one at Hendra House where we collected memories from the residents and  made more collage pieces. Several members of the Teme Valley AS contributed to these events to make them the success they all were. Thank you all. All this material has now been taken to Caris Jackson’s (our commissioned artist) studio in Ironbridge where she is creating an artistic collage on a screen representing Ludlow in the 1600’s, the 1950’s and now. It is all very exciting. Once finished the collage will be unveiled by the High Sheriff of Shropshire, Mandy Thorn, at an event on 16th October at the Assembly Rooms before it begins its progress to St Laurence’s, the Library, Hagley Place, Hendra House, and the Assembly Rooms. There will be some merchandise produced from this work which we hope members would like to buy, more about this will be revealed at the October lecture when it will be on show, in the next newsletter and on the website.

Other Local Events

People Holding Apples

A talk at Grange Court, Leominster on Friday 20th October at 2.00pm

An illustrated talk by Dave Marshall and Hugh Fowler-Wright. 'People holding Apples' showcases a collection of art in which people from different eras and walks of life around the world clasp the most humble of fruit. Hugh and Dave will interpret these and provide some of the back stories. This talk builds upon their successful collaborations for the online exhibition Apples & People www.applesandpeople.org.uk and links to related apple art exhibitions this year at Croft Castle and the Museum of Cider. The Friends of Herefordshire Museums and Arts invite you to join them and be part of this discussion about apples, perhaps adding your own views on what the images convey.

Advance booking essential - £12 per head including tea/coffee and cake afterwards

Events at Sidney Nolan Trust, The Rodd, Presteigne LD8 2LL

Plant Communitas
Until 30 September 
The Rodd’s latest exhibition Plant Communitas offers visitors the opportunity to explore artworks by twelve international artists united by their interests in human-plant relations.

Plant, Folklore & Witchcrafting
Dr Sigrid Holmwood & Dr Alice Tarbuck
Thursday 21 September, 6-7pm, Online, FREE
Holmwood is a researcher and artist looking at traditional knowledge held by women throughout Western Europe and the impacts of the Burning Times on this expertise. Tarbuck is an author and academic who researches and practices 'intersectional, accessible' witchcraft. The conversation will focus on two plants: madder and nettle, and what they symbolise to the two practitioners.

Drypoint printmaking - Seedheads and silhouettes
Saturday 23 September, 1.30-5pm, The Rodd, £40 per person
Join Welsh Marches artist Helen Arthur for a half day creating your own etched print. We will use a non-chemical method called drypoint. You will work using a sharp tool and transparent etching plate over a photograph or your own drawing. Our theme will be seasonal, taking inspiration from early autumn structures like seedheads, grasses and falling leaves.

Quipu Story Workshop with Ingrid Pumayalla
Saturday 30 September, 11am-1pm, The Rodd, £25 per person 
Ingrid Pumayalla is a Peruvian artist whose practice spans photography, moving image, installation and ritual performance. This workshop introduces the Quipu (quechua language tradition) based on a system of knots and the use of yarn and dyeing techniques to create an object of storytelling. Based on inter-exchange in an oral story tradition, the workshop asks participants to share personal memories in relation with nature and the landscape that surrounds them.

We are looking forward to seeing you all in September.

 ``Kind regards

Judith and Caroline

Co-Chairs ASTV

Hello everyone!

Here we are, nearly midsummer and  looking forward to holidays ,enjoying our gardens and hopefully some sunshine. We have just one more lecture, see below, before we take our break but this year, we will have a summer volunteering project to look forward to. The Arts Society Teme Valley have been awarded grants from the Patricia Faye Fund from The Arts Society and from Rotary Cares, Ludlow. We have a total of £2000 to take our project, a collage entitled ‘Ludlow Then & Now’, forward. A community artist Caris Jackson has been commissioned to work with us on this exciting project.  We are now busy planning three workshops with older people, families and Scouts, Guides, Brownies, and Cubs, all of whom will be involved in sharing their memories and experiences of living, playing, and working in Ludlow in the 1950’s and now. The collage will be created by Caris, and we hope to reveal it in the autumn. Judith will be seeking volunteers from the membership to support her to run the events, collect materials and a range of other roles. She will be circulating a volunteer roles list describing the help we need to make this project a fantastic success. If you feel you can help in some capacity, please contact her jmpayling@aol.com or by phone 01588 660262

May Lecture Review  

Beauty in truth: the past, present and future of botanical illustration 

Speaker- Timothy Walker

This excellent talk was well-illustrated and delivered at a fast pace.  Timothy talked about botanical drawing using Euphorbia as an exemplar with a huge range of different illustrations. We were taken through the history of botanical drawing with examples from many gifted illustrators and were able to understand the use and benefits of botanical drawings, which give an accurate record of the plant and show more of a plant’s aspects and characteristics than just  photographs . A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. Our members were impressed with his knowledge and  loved his humour.

June Lecture

Wednesday 21st June – Sadlers Wells- theatrical mothership

For more than three centuries Sadler's Wells has been a place of entertainment and a part of London's theatrical history with a reputation known across the world. Surviving many highs, lows and rebuildings, the theatre has hosted and nurtured an impressive array of performing companies over the years. The unique story of The Wells includes pony racing, naval warfare, Shakespeare with Sir John Gielgud as well as strong connections with the worlds of opera and dance and the roots of today's Royal Ballet companies.

This talk will be given by Nigel Bates a performer for more than forty years in and out of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, including seventeen years as Principal Percussionist with the Orchestra and eight years as the Music Administrator of The Royal Ballet.

The  Arts Society AGM 24th May 2023- Bristol

Caroline and I attended the Arts Society on behalf of AS Teme Valley. There were a variety of presentations outlining the current activities of the Arts Society and reflecting on the position of the of the charity post lockdown. It was generally acknowledged that local societies were experiencing reduced membership and difficulties recruiting committee members. However, the central organisation is in relatively sound financial shape particularly as it has just completed the sale of the office at Guildford Street and moved to more flexible working patterns for staff. There was much emphasis on the need to raise our profile both locally and nationally online and now is the time to let people know what the Arts Society has to offer. The future does need to focus on education about the arts, for younger people, and in the conservation of our heritage as well as our programmes of outstanding lectures and other events. We took away the following messages and ideas:

• We need to be clear about The Arts Society’s charitable mission in art education and conservation.
• We need to let people know that the Arts Society exists and raise our local profile with other organisations promoted heritage and the arts.
• We need to engage in local initiatives focused on involvement in arts education, preservation of our heritage and social cohesiveness through volunteering, more inclusive approaches, and more inventive ways to spark interest in the arts.
• We need to embrace digital platforms and explore how younger people can be encouraged to use a new offering Culture.Art, under development by The Arts Society
• We need to address making the arts more available to a greater range of people through digital resources and to empower people to live more consciously aware of the contribution of the arts to our personal well-being and national sense of community.
• We need to place considerable emphasis on improving our recruitment of new  members from the 55-65 age group whilst maintaining  our attention on our current demographic and their interests.
• We  can create value beyond our own society in our communities to attract the ‘restlessly curious’ to join us through volunteering projects and creating partnerships with other like-minded organisations.

Discover Vermeer- An Online Arts Society Study Programme

Everybody loves Vermeer.  The magical light, the air of perfection, the whispery moods, the intoxicating combinations of yellow and blue.  They attract all of us.  West Mercia Art Society (to which group Teme Valley belongs)  has combined with Wessex Art Society to plan two Discovery Mornings ON-LINE to look in detail at a whole range of his paintings from the earlier ones to later more well-known ones and his later religious works.  You can  appreciate ‘up close’  the essence of Vermeer’s art.

The speakers will answer the question- how well do we really know Vermeer?

Join these Discovery mornings on-line on Monday 25th and Wednesday 27th September.  There will be two speakers each morning giving an hour lecture each with a comfort break in between.  The cost is £15 per morning, £30 for both.  If you couldn’t get to Amsterdam to see the sell-out exhibition this is the next best thing.

The mornings are open to members and non-members alike. If you would like to watch this, you can go to the ticket tailor website which gives full details atwww.tickettailor.com/events/theartssocietywessexarea to buy tickets as an individual, or have a group watch with friends.  This is a great and rare opportunity at  just £15 per day or £30 for both mornings.

However, Caroline is trying to organise a group watch in Richards Castle village hall where  we have smallish room with a TV connected to the internet.  However, before organising it she would like to know who is interested.  If you are just drop her an email:carolinejamison46@gmail.comwith your name and she will set it up once  interest has been expressed. 

Other Local Events

Vermeer at The Assembly Rooms

The very popular film of the Vermeer The Greatest Exhibition which was a sell out a couple of weeks ago is having 2 repeat showings on Tuesday June 13th at 7.30 and Thursday June 15th at 200 pm https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/event/vermeer-pg-2/

Exhibition at The Rodd

Sometimes I Miss the Applause is a dual-channel moving image artwork by the Australian artist Dean Cross More Information can be found on their website info@sidneynolantrust.org

Church Stretton Arts Festival 29th July- 12th August 2023

A fantastic programme of arts events will take place over a period of 14 days ranging from exhibitions of arts & crafts, workshops, free concerts, drama, poetry, and music. For the full programme go to their website www.strettonfestival.org.uk

We are looking forward to our new programme starting on 20th September with a talk by Richard Burnip entitled P.G.Wodehouse in London- Welcome Home Jeeves. We have a varied programme planned for next season which will be available in our new leaflet, hopefully available at the next lecture.

Best regards

Judith & Caroline

Co- Chairs

This excellent lecture started with a painting of the winged lion of St Mark which is an emblem of St Mark ad has become an emblem of the city of Venice. The lion has front legs on land and back legs in the sea reflecting the maritime nature of Venice. The lecturer took us through the geography of Venice it is an island in a lagoon with three openings to the sea. The Grand canal curves its way through the city. Until the 19th century there was only one bridge over the Grand Canal –the Rialto . From a start at around 700AD Venice became a strong maritime and trading city. Ships were built in the Arsenal using timber from the Dolomites and the Croatian hills. These traded in the Mediterranean and beyond.

Venice adopted glass making from Syria. Glass was relatively cheap in Venice so buildings all had glass windows. This was not so in much of Europe.Canals were the main means to travel all over the city. Piazzas were developed over underground cisterns. Rain water went into the cisternsand supplied valuable fresh water to  the city. It was supplemented as necessary by barrels of water imported from land near the city. This meant that the land around was of real interest to Venetians.

In the 16th century rich Venetians built mansions on land designed by the talented architect Andreas Palladio. British gentlemen doing the grand tour saw these mansions and brought Palladian architecture to England.Vene  tians loved decoration and colour . There was much hollow wooden carving for indoor decoration. Weight was important given the sort of ground  underneath buildings .

Review by Markus Marque

Jo Walton gave an engrossing talk about a medieval city on the Adriatic coast; Venice, its founding and development into what is arguably the finest of European cities.  We cannot guess what was said by its first inhabitants but it is likely to have been different to that laconically expressed in a telegram to the New Yorker by the late Robert Benchley when he commented in the 1950s; Streets full of water. Please advise.  There was a resolve to build and build some of the finest edifices in Italy with the constraints of having to be selective in the materials used so as not to contribute to a problem of sinking into the lagoon and taking with it the whole city.  A beautiful city that reflected its important status as a leader in global trade.

 For those that have been, for those that intend to visit and for those that have studied architecture this was the text book come alive.  Ms Walton with the use of some mouth-watering slides deftly took us through the Venetian style, the contribution of Jacopo Sansovino and Andrea Palladio and, in finishing, how their work informed and influenced English architecture in the 17th and 18th centuries.

THE ARTS SOCIETY TEME VALLEY
 
                       MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
                           HELD AT THE LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS
 
                                      Wednesday 16th February 2022
 
1.    Chair’s Opening Remarks:
 
The Chairman welcomed all present.
 
2.     Apologies for Absence:
 
Hazel Garner-Jones, Ann Marriott, Geoff Neden.
 
A quorum was declared and the meeting continued.
 
3.    Presentation of the previous AGM Minutes dated 10.2.21 for approval
 
With one amendment of Ann Marriott added to Item 6 Election of Officers the Chairman asked for approval of the Minutes and by a show of hands these were accepted.
 
Proposed by:  Jeff Walker        Seconded by:  Judith Payling
 
4.    Matters Arising from the Minutes:
 
There were no matters arising.
 
5.    Chair’s Report:
 
The Chair’s End of Year Report had been posted on the website and circulated to all members via Mailchimp and post and copies were also available at the meeting.   She said she was standing down as Chair after a 4½  year period and thanked all members and the committee for their support during that time.
 
6.    Treasurer’s Report for the period ended 31st August 2021:
 
The report had been circulated to all members via the website, mailchimp and post prior to the meeting and copies of the accounts and report were available at the meeting.
 
The results for the period had been badly affected by the impact of Covid with membership down and a reduced subscription due to a restricted programme and the fact that no Study Days had been possible.   An increase in membership was vital and would be the subject of a number of future initiatives.
 
Robert Reed had examined the accounts.   As in previous years, this examination was thorough but not strictly an audit.   Mr Reed had signed the accounts with that proviso.
 
Proposal for acceptance of the accounts: 
Proposed by:   Avis Denny                              Seconded by:  Linda Henry
 
After a show of hands the Chairman declared the Accounts accepted which she then signed.
 
7.     Appointment of independent examiner for the 2021 – 2022 Accounts:
 
Mr. Reed was able to continue in this role and the Chairman thanked him but had to confirm his appointment for 2021 - 2022
 
Proposed by:   The Committee            Seconded by:  Ann Ripley
 
8.    Election of Officers:
 
The constitution provides that the committee should nominate four key officers:
 
Chair:  Vacancy
Treasurer:  Jeff Walker
Administrative Secretary:  Vacancy
Membership Secretary:  Jeff Walker
 
Jeff Walker is willing to stand again for office
 
Proposed by:  Victoria Wright              Seconded by:  Wendy McCracken
 
Accepted by a show of hands.
 
Caroline Jamison and Judith Payling  are willing to stand as Co-Chairs.
 
Proposed by:  Linda Henry                  Seconded by:  Jeff Walker
 
Accepted by a show of hands.
 
9.     Election of Committee Members:
 
Linda Henry, Programme Secretary
Geoff Neden, Website Manager
Ann Marriott, Publicity Manager
Avis Denny, Study Day Secretary
Ruth Turner
 
Proposed by:  Lesley Shew           Seconded by:  Jenny Walker
 
Accepted by a show of hands.
 
There are four new members willing to act as committee members, all of whom have been proposed and seconded:
 
Susan Ashman
Jacqueline Cole
Margaret Cartwright
Wendy McCracken
 
By a show of hands all were accepted.
 
10.  Any Other Business
 
There was no other business.
 
11.  Date of Next AGM
 
19th October 2022. 

The meeting closed at 4pm.