CMSAG2012

10th ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION OF THE CRADLEY, MATHON AND STORRIDGE ART GROUP

The Cradley, Mathon and Storridge Art Group (CMSAG) held its 10th Anniversary Exhibition at Cradley Village Hall on Saturday, 13th and Sunday, 14th October 2012. It was an historic occasion for us because it was here that our first exhibition was held and the Art Group became firmly established ten years ago.

On the Friday night there was our usual Preview Evening to which we had invited members of the Village Hall Committee, the Rector and his wife and other local dignitaries and friends. Wine and nibbles were served and it was a chance to chat and enjoy each other’s company. There was a lively buzz although we didn’t sell any pictures. Left our wallets behind was the cry! Nevertheless it was a happy and thoroughly enjoyable occasion.

The exhibition was open on both days from 10.30 am until 4.00 pm. Opening for a second day although still something of an experiment is becoming more accepted and we had a good turnout on the Sunday, especially after church was over. Over the 2 days we had some 200 plus visitors through the door including a party of former university graduates of the ‘60s who were having a reunion week at Parkers in Mathon. They had walked across the fields in the bright Sunday sunshine and stumbled on the Exhibition by chance.

The "poll" for "the picture you liked best" aroused much interest and excitement and that was just the artists! As at other exhibitions, it was not meant to be a vote for the "best picture" but rather the "favourite picture." Visitors were given a raffle ticket and were asked to write on the back the number of their favourite picture. At the end of the exhibition the tickets were sorted and a "winner" was found. It generated a lot of interest and the contest was closely fought. Many visitors found difficulty nominating just one favourite and had to be restrained from making multiple entries! This year Bill Scott’s watercolour painting of the Roman Road at Mathon got the most votes with Diana Poole’s Summer 2012 (a delightful comment on this year’s washout summer) was second. June Cutler came third with her picture of a dandelion seedhead. Well done!

The refreshments, tea, coffee and cakes and the now famous bacon butties prepared by Margaret Ainscough, were popular and made it a pleasant outing for all our visitors. We had 75 pictures, a little more than last year. They looked good on the display boards and the walls. Cradley Village Hall was a lovely setting for our work.

A repeated comment was that the standard of work was high. We certainly seem to have matured since those early days. This year we have had excellent day workshops on painting in watercolours from Mariana Robinson, Jonathon Taylor and Geoff Rowswell. The weather restricted painting expeditions into the country but we have had very good sessions at the Wednesday meetings. We remain a very friendly and supportive group. If you would like to join us, and you will be made very welcome if you do, come along to a meeting at Storridge Village Hall starting at 2 pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month.

WJC