Cradley, Mathon and Storridge Art Group

2022 exhibition,  Exhibitions from 2003 to 2021

21st ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION OF THE CRADLEY, MATHON AND STORRIDGE ART GROUP

The Cradley, Mathon and Storridge Art Group (CMSAG) held its 21st Anniversary Exhibition at Mathon Village Hall on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd October 2023.

The Exhibition coincided with some bad flooding in the surrounding area, so it was a pleasant surprise to see so many visitors. Both local people, friends and and visitors to the area shared our Exhibition and we were pleased to welcome previous members who had stopped coming after lockdown.

There were just over sixty pictures from thirteen artists, some for sale, but quite a few that were too treasured to sell. There was also a good selection of cards and calendars. We exhibited a child’s picture, by 4 year old Finn Craig, Margaret Cross’s grandson, to show the joyful freedom with which young children paint.

There were about seventy visitors who braved the elements to enjoy a good show and home-made cakes. There were many complimentary comments on the standard and variety of our work and votes for the best picture were widespread. The two most popular were first, Carole MacIntyre’s Malham Cove (a calendar picture) and second, Sarah Williams’s Summer Fields.

We have had two tuition days this year, so far, a guided watercolour with Jonathan Taylor and an abstract multi-picture with Ivan Jones. The latter really took us out of our comfort zone and we spent the day swishing and splattering paint and ink over a gridded canvas. Sarah displayed her work as a whole and others mounted their pictures separately. Mary made one of hers into cards and these have sold better than she thought!

As the Chairman, I am concerned that lockdown and the closure of the Malvern Hills College has resulted in nearly four years of newly retired people missing out on the opportunity to take up tuition in painting. As an art group, we are very happy to help and support those people wanting to give painting and drawing a go but don’t know quite where to turn. We can give help and encouragement and can also direct them to the best route to learning, both online and with local tutors.

If you would like to join us, at any level of experience or ability, you will be made very welcome. Come along to a session at Storridge Village Hall on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month from 2 – 4 pm.

Margaret Cross