ANNUAL REPORT 2006 ADRODDIAD BLYNYDDOL 2006 CONTEMPORARY ART SOCIETY FOR WALES CYMDEITHAS CELFYDDYD GYFOES CYMRU Ceri Auckland Davies Paintings in Egg-tempera Friday August 24th - Saturday September 15th 2007 SUMMER EXHIBITION OF GALLERY ARTISTS Friday July 6th - Saturday August 18th contemporary art society for wales cymdeithas celfyddyd gyfoes cymru Charity No: 247947 OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY AT 31st DECEMBER 2006 Patron The Right Honourable The Earl of Snowdon President Mrs D M D Evans Vice Presidents Mr Arthur Giardelli MBE Mr Ken Spurlock MBE †† Chairperson Mr Hugh Jones Vice Chairperson Professor Bryan Hibbard Treasurer Mr Peter Clee 1 Events Secretary Dr Christine Evans Membership Secretary Mr Bernard H Rees Yr Hen Sgubor, Flemingston CF62 4QJ Tel: 01446 751642 Email: [email protected] Secretary Jean A Williams 6 Le Sor Hill, Peterston-Super-Ely, Llanbedr-y-Fro, Vale of Glamorgan CF5 6LW Tel: 01446 760576 Assistant Secretary Nesta James Llwyncelyn, 14 Grove Road, Pontardawe SA8 4HH Tel: 01792 863884 Executive Committee Professor Tony Curtis, Dr Peter Davies, Dr Dan Evans, Mr William Gibbs, Dr Sandra Harding, Mr Stanley Jones, Ms Dilys Jackson, Dr Tudor Jones, Mrs Maureen Kelly Owen, Mrs Madge O’Keeffe, Dr Anne Price-Owen, Mrs Margaret Pyke, Mrs J M Rees-Mathews, Mr Alan Spiller, Dr Peter Wakelin Auditors KTS Owens Thomas Limited (Chartered Accountants) †† Mr David H Griffiths OBE and Sir Kyffin Williams, long-standing members and Vice Presidents of the Society, died during the year. Produced by Platform One, Monmouth 01600 714600 DENISE YAPP | CONTEMPORARY ART New Beginnings 25th May - 2nd September 2007 2 Sir Kyffin Williams, RA Sergeant Bathurst oil on canvas 36” x 28” Situated in the heart of the Wye Valley, Mill House is a gallery with a difference. Set in three and a half acres of picturesque grounds, complete with mill ponds, the large stone former mill owners property is also a family home. From May 25th and throughout the summer, the New Beginnings exhibition of over 35 artists, offers a unique opportunity to view contemporary works in situ in this superb location with its relaxed, informal environment. Denise Yapp, former gallery manager at the Albany in Cardiff, has forged strong relationships with some of the best contemporary artists in Britain and is proud to use her stunning home to showcase their work. Initially, the gallery will be housed in Mill House until the completion of the renovations to the grade II-listed paper mill, adjacent to the house. The renovation will provide two floors of exhibition space together with an artist-in-residence suite. For further details www.deniseyapp.com Mill House, Whitebrook, Monmouth NP25 4TX 01600 860950 www.deniseyapp.com Email: [email protected] ANNUAL REPORT 2006 In January the four-yearly exhibition took place of works purchased We had been looking forward to having Bert join us, but sadly he for CASW, in the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, followed died before the meeting took place. by the distribution to galleries throughout the country. This year, At the AGM, held after lunch, four new members were elected as an alternative to visiting Aberystwyth, some establishments used to the Executive Committee, Tony Curtis, Dan Evans, Sandra the new Society website to make their selection. Harding, and Dilys Jackson. Jean Williams and Nesta James were Three evening lectures took place in the Spring in the School appointed Secretary and Assistant Secretary to replace Debra and of Architecture, under the title “Wales-Art-Work”, given by Neil Comfrey. Professor Peter Walcot tendered his resignation as Tessa Jackson, founding artistic director of Artes Mundi, Morgen Lecture Secretary, and the post was combined with that of Social Hall, ceramicist, who will give an extended lecture in Lisvane Secretary which in future will be undertaken by Dr Chris Evans. in November 2007, and Richard Cox, Artist. A new series We recorded our thanks to Debra and Neil, to Peter and to the commenced in September called “Wales at Work, Play and War” members of Committee whose term of office had come to an with Peter Prendergast, Kevin Sinnott and Tony Curtis. Sadly, end. Peter Prendergast, has since died, and Wales has lost a great artist Arthur Giardelli M.B.E. and Sir Kyffin Williams were appointed who moved from South to North Wales, where he delighted in Vice-Presidents. Sir Kyffin has since died and Wales has lost a great recording the scenery which he admired and enjoyed around his personality who for so many years has played such an important part home. in our national life and activities. He was an active member of the To n y Curtis was the Guest Speaker at the Aberdare Hall dinner, Society, attending several of our events over the years, and gave an which again proved to be very popular. During the year there were entertaining account of his family and his life at a Saturday morning visits to New York and Berlin, and the latter was an opportunity event in Lisvane some years ago, with Bill Cleaver conducting the to compare the changes in the city which had taken place since proceedings. He presented the works he had bought during the the Society’s visit in the 1990s, soon after the year of Perestroika. year, when he was the Society’s buyer, at the AGM held in the This time we enjoyed the stimulation of early morning talks by Mostyn Gallery in Llandudno. Margaret Pyke on what was likely to be of interest during the day’s Stan Jones reported that the winner of the David Tinker Student excursions around the city. Groups also enjoyed a day at Stourhead, Award was Angharad Flûr Davies, a second year student at the and a weekend trip to London completed the educational activities University of Wales School of Art in Aberystwyth. She was presented for the year. with the award by Mrs Tracey Tinker, David’s widow. A work by It was a privilege for us to travel to Breconshire to the homes of Angharad entitled “Battery Square, Portmeirion” was subsequently William and John and Elizabeth Gibbs in Llangynydr to view their used on the cover of the Calendar 2007. The purchaser for 2006, impressive collections in their attractive settings, including those David Moore, concluded the meeting with a presentation of his 3 located in the grounds or by the river Usk. We are particularly acquisitions, and, courtesy of Mrs Joan Isaac, we then viewed the grateful to members who participate in such “Pictures in the purchased work and also a collection of Bert Isaac’s work in the Home” events and greatly appreciate the welcome they provide Hill Court Gallery. and their willingness to share their art with us. Our thanks to Jean Williams and Nesta James, the newly appointed The Lisvane lectures again proved to be very well attended, with Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Society for their successful talks in the Spring by Clare Willesden from the University of efforts in planning the first AGM for which they were responsible. Glasgow, Margaret Pyke on MOMA prior to the Society’s visit to On a sunny day, we all enjoyed the surroundings of The Hill, the New York, and, in the Autumn, Women Artists in Europe by Dilys lunch, the programme and the viewing afterwards at The Hill Jackson. Court Gallery. Donations were made to the National Eisteddfod which was held in It is with regret that I have to record the death at the end of the Swansea. and the money was used by the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery year of David Griffiths, brother of Peggy Rees-Mathews, who was to acquire work called “Ffarwel Rock”, in four separate images a long time member, and the Secretary of the Society during his by the winner of the Eisteddfod Gold Medal, Aled Rhys Hughes. time in South Wales. He was appointed Vice President when he left The Welsh Group received financial help towards a publication to Wales to take up an appointment with the Gas Board in East Anglia celebrate their 60th anniversary in 2008. A grant was made to Artes and was succeeded as Secretary by Bill Cleaver. Many of you will Mundi, for its second international competition, which is held in remember him when he came to Cardiff as guest speaker at our Cardiff every two years. annual dinner in Aberdare Hall. On 22nd July, the AGM was held at The Hill, Abergavenny, Work on the website has continued with the addition of a Welsh commencing with a projection of the DVD commissioned by translation. It has provided comprehensive information about the the Society of a conversation between David Moore and Arthur Society and its collection and can be consulted by those who Giardelli, about Arthur’s life and work in art and music since he wish to learn more about us. As mentioned earlier, it was used by came to Wales in the early 1940s, showing the art produced by Bim some galleries to choose their selection from the Exhibition in and Arthur, and their collection of the works of other artists. As a Aberystwyth, and has been used by members of the public who long-time member of the Society, Arthur has given many lectures wished to join the Society. on Saturday mornings in Lisvane, talking, with great enthusiasm The forthcoming AGM in Swansea marks the end of my term about the art that we would see during forthcoming visits planned in office. I have previously mentioned the wide range of skills by the Society. We were delighted that he was able to join us to of members of the Committee and of the Society, and I would view the DVD and to speak at the end of the presentation.