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Review Article of the Month - January / February 2014
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Art is alive and well
Almost two years ago under the title,”A Work of Art” we took a look at the four art groups that exist in Rochford and Ashingdon. One of the things that keeping a running log of people and activities in the community does for you is make you particularly aware of changes that take place - life moves on, people come and go, businesses change and so on. Approaching the New Year I thought we would try a little developmental experiment and drop in on the four groups in the very first week of the year to see who is around. The health of such a group might be measured by the people who turn out on the first week after the festive season and especially in the light of some appalling weather! So what did we find?
Almost two years ago under the title,”A Work of Art” we took a look at the four art groups that exist in Rochford and Ashingdon. One of the things that keeping a running log of people and activities in the community does for you is make you particularly aware of changes that take place -
Tuesday morning and the rain is sheeting down. The Ashingdon Art and Social Group in Ashingdon Memorial Hall has braved the weather. Chairman Brian is off with a cold but new Club Secretary, Linda Morgan, gives a warm welcome. The group is thriving with about 35 members.
By the afternoon the sun has come out so not such a good test for the Haven Art Group in St. Marks Hall (left). Led by Edith Stott and Doug Green they normally have between fifteen and seventeen members in a smaller hall. On the day there are a few absences but most are there. Meanwhile on Wednesday afternoon the Rochford Hundred Art Group are mostly all there with just one or two absences (right), in the small Parish Rooms.
Wednesday evening saw us at the Roche Art Group in the hall to the rear of St. Teressa’s. The first photo (left) was 5 minutes after start time. The second one (right) was 15 minutes in. I asked, “Why no painting?” “We’re catching up after Christmas,” was the reply. “Hmmm, people matter more than painting,” I added. There is a point here to be explored.
Dare I talk honestly about these groups? I like all these groups, I like going round them, I like seeing what people are creating; I am envious. Some of them try to get me to paint but these days that’s not my art form - this is. And as you can see I’m just playing with it; I’m an amateur, but it’s fun. As I watch these groups most of these people are having fun, and many of them are real amateurs like me. Some are seriously good and they are the ones who make me go, “Oh, if only I could....” I’d like to draw or paint like some of them do, but they’ve been doing it for forty years, some of them. No wonder they are good. But you’ve got to start somewhere but, no Gill, this is where I’m at - but I just appreciate all of you.
But going into different groups produces different experiences. All the leaders are always welcoming and that is lovely. It’s nice to be welcomed, but the groups vary. In some groups (no names) there are serious painters and I use the word ‘serious’ in a different way from above. They are focused and I understand that. They go there to paint, not to chat to some interfering reporter. So I’m sorry if I distract you. Then there are the beginners who have such a gentle humility about what they are doing that I can’t help but say, “If I could do half as well as that I’d be really chuffed.” But then there is the Roche Art Group, and I apologise if it offends any of the other groups, but this ‘group’ welcomes me. This is a group of friends, and that’s why they weren’t painting for the first ten minutes the other night; it was just friends getting together, first and foremost. Then came the painting. What a good feeling there. The others are all nice but, I’m sorry folks, this group wins my award for friendliest group I’ve encountered anywhere in Rochford. If we could get every group around to be like this, what a place this would be! Now you may think I’m writing out of turn because your group (Art or anything else) IS like that. OK, write in and tell me and I’ll come along and do a fresh feature on you. (I have to say when I did a recent feature on the Fuchsia Society committee it felt the same).
But pondering on the art groups here has left me with some questions. I see some pretty good stuff as I’ve gone around but I’m not sure if any of those people exhibit in the annual Rochford Art Trail. Or the other way round, I’m not sure if any of the Art Trail exhibitors are part of any of these local groups. So that raises some questions in my mind and I wonder if anyone has any answers? Do most of the Art Trail exhibitors come from out of town? Are they more ‘professional artists’? (I have to say some of the people I encounter in the groups do as good work.) I know each of the art groups tend to have their own open day but should we be encouraging these art group people to have their own ‘week’ and make provision for them to do that? Isn’t it a bit like football? If you don’t encourage beginners you’ll never have professionals? So here’s another idea: do away with charging the ‘pros’ of the Art Trail but say ‘you only exhibit if you promise to come along to two evenings to encourage local artists, here in town’. You can work the details out.
In one group I said out loud, “I’ve come to see if art is alive and well at the beginning of the new year,” and one lady replied strongly, “You bet it is!” but I came away thinking, “Yes it is, and my view of Rochford through Rochford Life is that a number of other things are as well. So here’s my last question: “How can we bring all the activities of Rochford out into the open?” Answers on a postcard to the Rochford District Council, South Street, Rochford.
But going into different groups produces different experiences. All the leaders are always welcoming and that is lovely. It’s nice to be welcomed, but the groups vary. In some groups (no names) there are serious painters and I use the word ‘serious’ in a different way from above. They are focused and I understand that. They go there to paint, not to chat to some interfering reporter. So I’m sorry if I distract you. Then there are the beginners who have such a gentle humility about what they are doing that I can’t help but say, “If I could do half as well as that I’d be really chuffed.” But then there is the Roche Art Group, and I apologise if it offends any of the other groups, but this ‘group’ welcomes me. This is a group of friends, and that’s why they weren’t painting for the first ten minutes the other night; it was just friends getting together, first and foremost. Then came the painting. What a good feeling there. The others are all nice but, I’m sorry folks, this group wins my award for friendliest group I’ve encountered anywhere in Rochford. If we could get every group around to be like this, what a place this would be! Now you may think I’m writing out of turn because your group (Art or anything else) IS like that. OK, write in and tell me and I’ll come along and do a fresh feature on you. (I have to say when I did a recent feature on the Fuchsia Society committee it felt the same).
But pondering on the art groups here has left me with some questions. I see some pretty good stuff as I’ve gone around but I’m not sure if any of those people exhibit in the annual Rochford Art Trail. Or the other way round, I’m not sure if any of the Art Trail exhibitors are part of any of these local groups. So that raises some questions in my mind and I wonder if anyone has any answers? Do most of the Art Trail exhibitors come from out of town? Are they more ‘professional artists’? (I have to say some of the people I encounter in the groups do as good work.) I know each of the art groups tend to have their own open day but should we be encouraging these art group people to have their own ‘week’ and make provision for them to do that? Isn’t it a bit like football? If you don’t encourage beginners you’ll never have professionals? So here’s another idea: do away with charging the ‘pros’ of the Art Trail but say ‘you only exhibit if you promise to come along to two evenings to encourage local artists, here in town’. You can work the details out.
In one group I said out loud, “I’ve come to see if art is alive and well at the beginning of the new year,” and one lady replied strongly, “You bet it is!” but I came away thinking, “Yes it is, and my view of Rochford through Rochford Life is that a number of other things are as well. So here’s my last question: “How can we bring all the activities of Rochford out into the open?” Answers on a postcard to the Rochford District Council, South Street, Rochford.
