Warwick Art Gallery will be presenting a very special exhibition this month.
60 Years in the Making is a celebration of the legacy of the Warwick Artists Group that grew from an idea tabled in May 1962 by a group of Warwick artists attending a regular catch-up involving painting in the open air.
The exhibition is a testament to the longevity of the organisation, but it is also forward-thinking, presenting the latest work by twenty-one of the current members.
During their lunch break on that day in May sixty years ago, it was unanimously decided to formalise the group.
One of the members, Dr Judith Best outlined some of the future aims of the club, which included creating opportunities to partner with other clubs, exhibiting in local competitions, and providing learning opportunities through engaging visiting artists.
The name was decided and the membership subscription of ten shillings a year
adopted.
Over the next sixty years, the Group would grow in number, creating many opportunities and successes for its members.
60 Years in the Making showcases the work of members whose preferred media is no longer limited to painting.
Fibre art, printmaking, bookmaking, papercraft and glass art are all explored enthusiastically at their base studio on Willi Street.
Part of the celebratory exhibition is a pictorial snapshot of the sixty years of the Artists Group which includes anecdotal information and rarely exhibited works by past tutors and members that have been selected from the Warwick Artists Group’s own collection.
Group researcher Jill Birtwistle has thoroughly searched their archives sharing stories that plot the group’s journey as an integral part of the culture of our community.
“Throughout our sixty years, we have celebrated the good and weathered difficulties”, Jill said.
“We have had our triumphs and challenges, shared fun, friendships, and failures and through it all managed to pull together many decades of art making.
Our hope is that our current diverse outlook will continue and ensure the group has many more years to look forward to.”
Current members exhibiting are Jill Birtwistle, Judy Currie, Sue Ellwood, Juanita Faint, Sharon Farnell, Carol French, Jean Fysh, Mike Geisel, Fiona Hayes, Sue Keong, Eileen Mair, Chris Masters, Dell Maxwell, Sherylyn Roulston, Susan Shaw, Mo Skett, Keith Sommer, Pat Stevenson, Kaz Thorpe, Naomi Trotter and Kris Woodd.
60 Years in the Making will be on show at Warwick Art Gallery from 1 September to the 8 October.
Warwick Art Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm.
Pictures: Warwick Art Gallery
