MAY 2009 ARCHIVE

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PRESIDENTS PERSPECTIVE - MAY 2009

Have just returned from the Archie’s bus excursion. In one word: excellent. And that’s all down to Doreen Teasdale’s perfect organising skills, ably assisted by husband Ray, with Ros Hanson in charge of the return trip entertainment.

The expertly-piloted bus was crammed with KAS and U3A delegates (who embarked at Wollongong) and the odd person of male-persuasion could be spotted among the otherwise all-female cast.
This time around, Doreen had arranged for a guided tour of the Archies and this proved to be a fine way to appreciate the behind-the-scenes aspect of each of the 35 hung entries.
After a of couple hours perusing the Wynne and Sulman entries, as well as the $16m Cezanne acquisition (some observable ambivalence) it was a walk in the park to the Moran Prize entries and the Charles Darwin display at the State Library.

Raffles, Raffles

The 1st of the two 2009 raffles was drawn at the Coach House after Renee Lever’s Matisse product demo May 5. Pictured is Elaine Chew (our patron, with none other than myself) who is the winner of the 1st prize, a Bob Millis charcoal. 2nd prize (a Mavis Turner print) went to Kiama High School head art teacher Jenny Morris. And third prize (2 off-season nights in Kiama Ski Club’s Thredbo chalet) goes to past-president Jim Evans, who in a past life was Police Sergeant in the Thredbo area.
The second of the two 2009 raffles will kick off shortly, with a magnificent 1st prize being an acrylic from last year’s Annual Exhibition People’s Choice, the irrepressible Vivien Tanner.

Gift of an early Gary Laird to the Society

The Fisher family of Lane Cove has gifted a framed Gary Laird painting of Pigeon House Mountain to the Society. The painting, which is hanging in the Coach House, was owned by David Fisher’s grandfather, the late Norman Lindsay Raven who was a retired bank manager living in Burradoo. In
his retirement, Mr Raven took up restoring and framing of artworks and assembled a fair collection of art over his 90 years, which has been dispersed to his family members. Picture is of the donors David and Mariko Fisher with their children Grace (elder) and Ruby holding the Laird work at the Coach House.

Well done, Heather Netherclift

She’ll probably be miffed having attention drawn to her exploits, but Heather has stepped into the breach twice in the last few days. First, when it was realised we hadn’t nailed down a model for this month’s 2-day Susan Cesarini portraits workshop, Heather put up her hand for the job. Second, when children’s art teacher Ruth Guthrie had an emergency minutes prior to one of her classes, Heather switched instantly from an Exhibition Team meeting to head downstairs at the Coach House to look after the kids for a couple of hours.

Alan Patterson, KAS Life Member

When the Archies bus pulled into Kiama that evening of April 29, we were informed Life Member Alan Patterson of Gerringong had died suddenly during the day. He was 80. Alan’s career was in architecture, and one of his early jobs had him doing watercolour work on plans, and that was the start of a lifetime of art performance. One of his watercolours can be viewed in the Coach House. Fellow member Maggie Paterson (no relation, different spelling) has written an obituary which appears elsewhere in this Newsletter.

Faye King 4233 2220
fayekingwestnet.com.au
KAS NEWSLETTER MAY 2009

ONLY 6 MONTHS TO GO!

Planning is well under way for our:

31st ANNUAL KIAMA ART SOCIETY
EXHIBITION, 13TH - 22ND NOVEMBER

Sponsors have pledged their support….
Judges have been confirmed…
Vivien Tanner’s wonderful painting has been framed as first prize in the raffle……
The AnEx committee, under the leadership of Exhibition Convenors, Judy White and Renee Lever, have everything under control……

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO….START PAINTING!

Download the KAS Annual Exhibition 2009 Information and Conditions PDF.

Download the KAS Annual Exhibition 2009 ENTRY FORM PDF.

Alan Patterson 1928 – 29 April 2009

Alan Patterson, architect-artist-teacher, died suddenly at age 80 in Gerringong where he and wife Marjorie (a talented teacher of quilting and needlework) had lived in quaint Peppercorn Cottage for many years. Alan was a much-respected architect, renowned for designing many beautiful civic and domestic buildings, locally and overseas.

He was an active and longstanding member of Kiama Art Society, and a member of its Committee until forced to retire through ill-health. Alan has demonstrated his watercolour techniques to Society members, and donated paintings to the Society. He was winner of many awards.

Alan lived with his family for many years in Turramurra where he was a friend and neighbour of Grace Cossington Smith. Another friend and mentor was Lloyd Rees, who lectured to architecture students.

When, 18 years ago, a small group of would-be watercolourists started meeting in St George's Anglican Church hall in Gerringong, Alan regularly came along to assist and became a much loved teacher, always appreciative and encouraging. A memorial service was held in St George's Church, where he was a faithful member, and family and friends spoke of him warmly and with much humour.

Compiled by Maggie Paterson

Primary Schools Art Awards

Annual Exhibition organised by Ruth Hind for Kiama Art Society at Kiama Leagues Club opened by Mayor Cr Sandra McCarthy and judged by KAS member Maggie Paterson.

Kiama Primary School Art Awards

All seven 2009 winners with at rear Mayor Cr Sandra McCarthy (left) & Ruth Hind (exhibition convenor)

Click Here to view more photos of the Exhibition.

Hi all of you beautiful big kids out there,

When Doreen asked me to write something for our KAS newsletter I wondered what I could let you know that you might not already know about kid’s art classes. Yes of course we do basic techniques of clay, acrylics, printing, we tried calligraphy, and often we draw what we see with a still life or each other. We draw the trees and sometimes climb them, enjoy plein air drawing and get distracted with the sound of the waves and the little birds hopping by. Last term we made some wonderful puppets out of paper mache and craft materials that went into the library with our home made theatre for the duration of the school holidays and everyone loved seeing them. We certainly have very busy hands and if you have ever taught before, you’ll know how much preparation there is just for 1 hour’s teaching and sure keeps me busy each week.

And so I thought I’d share with you what you may not remember about drawing as a child. Children have something that I believe every artist needs and it’s that the children are still full of wonder and openness to try something new, to not worry about the finished result too much and to just have fun in the moment. They race in with all of their energy and I practically have to sticky tape some of their bottoms to the chairs to keep them still, but when they are still and they get caught up in their artwork, magic happens. They lose track of time, they don’t want to go home and they find that flow.

I believe that we can all learn from the children and certainly for me, it’s really refreshing and inspiring to see the naïve, openness and trust that they have for the process of art-making. A very wise lady said to me once that art should be like singing. We should do it just because it’s fun and let it just happen, in the moment for the sheer joy of it. And I totally agree.

So how about trying something new this week, remember to disengage that technical left brain and to allow the expansive and boundlessly creative right brain to flow. Allow yourself to be a kid again, it’s so much fun!

Roo Guthrie :)
Kiama Art Society Children’s Art Teacher