Chairman’s Newsletter
May 2022
As this is my first newsletter I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. This is the first time I have been voted in as a chairman of a society so I hope I can do justice to the roll on your behalf. I am looking forward to the events, challenges and meetings in the near future.
I’ll begin by thanking everyone in the team that’s standing down, President, Jack Stephenson, Chairman, Andrew Pitt, and our Membership Secretary, Wil Harvey. And a big welcome to the new team : Barry Hughes is our new Membership Secretary and Andrew Pitt is now our President. John Dawkins remains on the committee, responsible for publicity and Wil Harvey is the Vice President.
Plans for the Future.
Already half way through the year it is great to see that the Life Drawing, Portrait Group and Saturday Workshops are running again and well supported.
I’m also pleased to note that permission to hold ‘Art on the Railings’ again has now been granted, thanks to the perseverance and stamina of Wil Harvey. There are more details at the end of this Newsletter.
I hope to get the talk programme underway again in the autumn and we also have plans to hold a Summer School type long weekend – more details later. And to finish the year I’m thinking of arranging an end of season lunch – again more details to follow.
Thoughts
This is a new role for me and I look forward to meeting as many members as I can and hearing your thoughts and ideas with a view to including them in future schedules.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me by email or telephone:
Email: jamespowerartist@gmail.com
Telephone: 07785 761961 or 01379 586666
Happy painting and keep safe and well.
James Power (Chairman)
Art on the Railings 2022
9th/10th July; 13th/14th August; 10th/11th September 2022
Information and Guidance
Any member of the Southwold Art Circle or the East Suffolk Plein Air Painters can take part. Each exhibitor will be assigned at least one ‘Bay of Railings’, (a 7 foot stretch of railings at Gun Hill). More space/bays may be available on the day depending on the number of participants. Two members can share a bay if they wish.
Please report to the Steward’s Desk on arrival to be allocated a Bay Number. The Entry fee is £10 per person. All members can then exhibit on as many days as they wish, subject to space being available. There is no application form this year. Just turn up with your paintings on the days you wish to exhibit. We want to keep the bureaucracy to the absolute minimum.
All exhibitors are responsible for hanging their own paintings and manning their ‘patch’. Stewards will provide a card reader. Individual members can accept cash/cheque sales. 10% of the sales, after expenses, will be donated to an appropriate local charity.
Exhibitors can ‘set up’ from 9 a.m. on exhibition days, (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) Pictures can be loaded and unloaded on Gun Hill, but cars cannot be left parked on the grass at Gun Hill. We have been warned that parking on the Gun Hill Green could jeopardise future events.
Please speak to one of the stewards if you have mobility problems; we may be able to establish a sort of shuttle service after you have found a parking space in one of the roads or town car parks. An early start is recommended to ensure a convenient parking space after you have set up.
Make sure your paintings are clearly labelled with the title and price. Come with plenty of string to tie the paintings to the railings. Some members may prefer to come prepared with their paintings already fixed to a board, such as a pegboard or trellis, which can easily be tied to the railings. Last year many exhibitors found plastic garden ties an easy and convenient solution to fixing their backing boards to the railings. I’m sure there will be many other creative solutions on how to display framed paintings. There is no restriction on size as long as your work fits into one of the ‘bays’. It is important the railings are not damaged. There are toilets and refreshments nearby. However, it is recommended everyone brings a drink and fold up chair. A sheet of plastic to throw over your paintings might prove useful if there’s a shower.
If you are a member of the Southwold Art Circle please make sure you have paid your Membership Subscription for this year (£10). Contact Barry Hughes at membership.sec@southwoldartcircle.co.uk or send a cheque to:
Barry Hughes, SAC Membership, C/o 17, Mill Lane, Wrentham, Suffolk. NR34 4JQ
Cheques should be payable to Southwold Art Circle (please write in full - the bank will not accept abbreviations).
If you have any other queries please don’t hesitate to contact me:
Jim Power: Email: jamespowerartist@gmail.com
Or telephone: 07785 761961 / 01379 586666