ROYAL ART SOCIETY OF

eN E W S L E T T E R December 2020 No. 467 25-27 Walker Street, North NSW 2060 eMail: [email protected] Website: www.royalart.com.au Tel: (02) 9955 5752 Fax: (02) 9925 0064

Australia Post Publication No: 241613/00090

From the desk of the President – John Perkins FRAS

This month has been relatively quiet, building up for 140th Anniversary Exhibition. The Art School Student Exhibition was a most successful event and even though we were restricted in numbers, a good crowd enjoyed the evening.

Thanks to Art School Director Greg Hansell and Secretary Christine for their efforts and hard work in making this a successful exhibition. Our congratulations go to all the students and in particular the prize winners. Thanks to all the tutors who have braved it through this most difficult year and to the high standard of work their students have produced.

I also extend my thanks to the sponsors, and especially our Gallery volunteers for their wonderful support during the year, just one more to go. We have received many excellent comments and a number of class enquiries for next year’s classes.

Congratulations to Melissa Read Devine who was nominated and elevated to Fellow. We now look forward to our 140th Anniversary Exhibition which l am sure will be well supported by both our exhibitors and visitors. Unfortunately, we are still restricted to attendance numbers for the opening celebrations but please take the opportunity to view this important event.

Stay safe and keep . ______

Vale – Margaret Bendit FRAS

Margaret Bendit was born in Sydney in 1930 and studied at the from 1946 to 1950, having won a Scholarship at the age of 15. She became closely associated with Tony Tuckson and Guy Boyd. She worked with Guy decorating Martin Boyd pottery. She later studied at the Royal Art Society with Frederick Bates.

Her were generally concerned with the positioning of figures in space in a contemporary style.

She was a member of the Australian Watercolour Institute and became an Exhibiting Member of the Royal Art Society in 1983, elevated to Associate in 1989 and Fellow in 1994. She was a strong supporter of the Society and served on the Council for a number of years.

She received numerous Awards including The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Modern Figurative Prize and the Hunter’s Hill Art Prize.

Margaret died on 31 October and we extend our sincere condolences to her family.

RAS Student Exhibition

Greg Hansell, Peter Warner receiving his Award and John Perkins

Cheryl Hardacre and partner – Cheryl won the Engine Room Prize for her painting.

Denis Clarke, Winner of the Alan Hansel Memorial Acquisitive Art School Prize, Tanya McAllan, Greg Hansell and John Perkins.

Greg Hansell with The Jenny Lemmone Hill Scholarship Winner, Sue Giacomelli and John Perkins

FROM THE RAS COLLECTION – Secretary Christine Feher

We are going to feature each month one or two paintings from our Collection which will include Fellows’ paintings and paintings donated by various benefactors.

ALAN D BAKER FRAS (1914-1987)

Alan became a member of the Society in 1960. He was a Fellow and Vice President and served on Council for many years.

Alan studied at the J. S. Watkins Art School and later became an instructor there until he served in New Guinea from 1943-1945. At the age of just 22 he entered the Archibald Prize and was selected. In fact he was a finalist 26 times from 1936-1972.

He had a great love of the Australian countryside and enjoyed travelling in his caravan with his family and dog visiting the Flinders Ranges, South , Central Australia, Queensland, the source of many of his paintings.

Alan built a house, studio, gallery and framing workshop on 6 acres at The Oaks which had been a eucalyptus forest belonging to the original Faulding estate. He cleared about 3 acres for the gardens, fruit trees and ponds. The garden was a rich source of flowers which he used in his paintings.

These two small works are part of the RAS Collection. They are both untitled and painted on one board – back to back.

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RAS Raffle – Tickets available at the RAS

Prices for raffle: 1 ticket $5, 3 tickets $10 and 7 tickets $20.

Raffle drawn Friday 4 December – 140 Years Celebration Exhibition of

the Royal Art Society

‘Summertime’ by Robert Hagen.

REMINDER: For members who have not paid their 2021 Subscription, it would be appreciated if this was paid before the due date of 31 December. Thank you.

ROYAL ART SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES 25-27 Walker Street North Sydney NSW 2060 Telephone: 9955-5752 Email: [email protected] www.royalart.com.au

2021 Annual Subscription (Including GST) is due by 31/12/2020

Please tick STATUS applicable.

FELLOWS ASSOCIATE EXHIBITING SOCIAL

$120 $120 $120 $50

RAS BADGE (tick if required) $25 by Cash or Direct Deposit only

NAME:______

ADDRESS: ______P/Code ______

TELEPHONE: ______EMAIL: ______

Please update email if this has changed over last 12 months.

NOTE: You can pay your membership fees by cheque, Master Card, Visa or by direct deposit to BSB 062-217. Account No 0000 0203.

Membership cards and receipts can be collected from the front desk or sent on receipt of a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Members’ News

Forthcoming Member’s Exhibition:

John Rice ARAS is having a solo exhibition entitled “Light and the Landscape” at Gallery ONE88, 188 Katoomba Street, Katoomba from 3 to 14 December, Thursday to Monday 10am-5pm. Opening 5 December and RSVP is Essential. Enquiries: [email protected]

RAS Aprons for Sale at $24. Enquiries to Christine at the Society.

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December Program of Events

Friday 4 Opening ‘140 Year Celebration Exhibition’ 5.30-8pm Sunday 13 John Perkins Landscape Workshop 9.30am-4pm Sunday 13 4th term finishes Thursday 17 Council Meeting 4pm Wednesday 23 RAS Gallery and Office Closed.

President: John Perkins FRAS Art School Director: Greg Hansell FRAS Secretary: Christine Feher Ph: 9955 5752 email: [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Sue Woodland Ph: 9874 3243 email: [email protected]

Deadline for the next Newsletter is 28 December 2020