Front Cover: Henry Moore Knife Edge-Two Piece. Presented to the Nation by the Contemporary Art Society and the artist, 1967. Chairman's Report June 27th 1968 Foundation Collection. Our most recent Patron I have pleasure in presenting my report which covers the Society's activities party at the Tate was held on May 16th to mark the close of the Barbara Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from June last year until today. Peter Meyer, whom we were very pleased to Hepworth Exhibition. Dame Barbara welcome back on the Committee as was the Guest of Honour, first at a Executive Committee Honorary Treasurer at last year's buffet supper in the restaurant, and later Whitney Straight CBE MC DFC Chairman Annual Meeting, will be dealing with at a party in the Gallery, where Anthony Lousada Vice-Chairman the Society's financial affairs in his hundreds of our members were able to Peter Meyer Honorary Treasurer speech which follows mine and deals meet Dame Barbara and have a last The Hon John Sainsbury Honorary Secretary with our financial year which ended on look at the wonderful exhibition. This G. L. Conran was such a successful evening that we Derek Hill December 31st 1967. As well as welcoming Peter Meyer are very much hoping to repeat one on Bryan Robertson OBE similar lines at the end of the Henry The Hon Michael Astor back to the Committee we were very The Lord Croft happy to elect Joanna Drew, whose Moore Exhibition in September. We are, Alan Bowness knowledge will I am sure be of great as always, most grateful to the Trustees James Melvin value. At the same time we were sorry and the Director of the Tate for allowing Dr Kenneth Marsh to lose both Bryan Robertson and us to give these parties. Norman Reid Derek Hill who were due to retire from Before the end of 1967 we arranged David Sylvester the Committee at the last Annual three highly successful short trips. Forty David Thompson General Meeting, but were invited to people weekended in Bath on July 8th Nancy Balfour complete their terms of office as and 9th; thirty one members spent a Joanna Drew buyers for 1967. This year the buyers week in Scotland in September and over Pauline Vcgelpoel MBE Organising Secretary are Norman Reid, and two members of fifty members spent the weekend of the Committee who have held office for November 25th in Dublin. In Bath Sylvia Wren Assistant an equal period of time, Michael Astor members saw the summer exhibition at and myself. We, therefore, agreed that as the Bath Academy of Art at Corsham it was Norman Reid's first opportunity Court, and the American Museum. They to act as buyer, Michael Astor and lunched in the Orangery at Dyrham and myself, both previous buyers, should were generously entertained to tea by share our part of the purse. Mr. and Mrs. William Scott at their During the second half of 1967 we held farmhouse where they were able to see two evening parties at the Tate Gallery, some of Mr. Scott's recent paintings. In one for the Picasso Exhibition in June Edinburgh and Glasgow the party saw and the other for the Peter Stuyvesant the National Gallery of Scotland and the Glasgow Art Gallery with their Pauline Vogelpoel led a party of magnificent collections. They were also members on an extensive tour of India given a special evening viewing of the which included visits to many famous Whistlers in the Hunterian Museum of points of archeological and artistic Glasgow University and also of the fine interest as well as art galleries, artist's prints and drawings collection belonging studios, and private collections in many to the Fine Arts Department. They were principal centres. The trip was also privileged to see the private collections conveniently timed to coincide with the of the Duke of Buccleuch, The Marquess first Triennial of International Art ever of Bute, The Earl Haig, and Mr. William to be held in India, in Delhi in Keswick's fine Henry Moores in their February. wonderful setting. In Edinburgh, as well Soon after she returned from India as being shown over the Edinburgh Pauline organised an evening viewing Tapestry Company, they saw the of the De Stijl Exhibition at the Edinburgh Open 100 Exhibition. Hampstead Art Centre and another Amongst architectural highlights there most enjoyable trip to the St. Ives area was Glasgow Art School and the fine for the weekend of April 6th and 7th. new seminary at Cardross. Dublin, was Over sixty members were most also a tremendously successful hospitably entertained by the Penwith weekend arranged primarily to give Art Society in St. Ives and welcomed members an opportunity of seeing the by artists in their studios here and along important exhibition of international art, the coast. Amongst artists visited were ROSC. They were further delighted, Dame Barbara Hepworth, Patrick Heron, however, by being invited to see Sir Willie Barnes Graham, Paul Feiler, Alfred and Lady Beit's magnificent Bryan Wynter, Denis Mitchell and collection of old masters at Russborough John Wells. It was very pleasant to and also to see Sir Basil and Lady meet many of the artists who were Goulding's collection of contemporary represented in exhibitions at both painting and sculpture at Enniskerry. the Penwith Gallery and the Newlyn Famous Irish plaster work was not Art Gallery. neglected and in interesting contrast members saw the fine new library at The most exciting event of the past few Trinity College. years has undoubtedly been our gift of a Henry Moore to the nation last At the end of January this year, November. "Knife Edge - Two Piece" was unveiled on the splendid site made At the time of this meeting our office is available to us in Abingdon Street being kept particularly busy dealing not Gardens near the House of Lords, by only with forthcoming events but with the Minister of Public Building and the complicated handling of "operation Works. It was unveiled by the Minister allocation". On March 11th we invited in the presence of Miss Jennie Lee, a the directors or representatives of very distinguished gathering, and a member galleries throughout Great great deal of rain. Neither this nor the Britain and the Commonwealth to see arrival, on a State Visit, of the Turkish our Recent Acquisitions Exhibition at Premier failed to ensure that the the Whitechapel Art Gallery. They were occasion was a memorable one, asked to send lists of preferences of followed as it was by an excellent work they would like to have for their luncheon in honour of Henry Moore at galleries from the exhibition. Over 134 the Savoy Hotel. Over three hundred works were shown and I am pleased to members attended this, and enjoyed report that after dealing with all the listening to both Sir Kenneth Clark and letters of request from nearly 100 Miss Jennie Lee pay tribute to Henry galleries these works will shortly be Moore. We consider that the acquisition leaving our office for their permanent of a major Henry Moore for London is homes. Before they were finally an achievement of which we can be allocated these works were loaned to truly proud. I would like to take this public bodies, universities, and other opportunity of thanking the members institutions. We were also able to form of the committee, and all the members a large travelling exhibition of recent of the Society who gave such generous acquisitions which was shown at the support to this ambitious project. A very Bournemouth Art Society and at the special word of thanks to Henry Moore Huddersfield Art Gallery. We will now without whose generosity this project endeavour to build up our collection as would not have been possible. Those of soon as possible in order not to you who were unable to attend the disappoint the many borrowers to whom unveiling or hear Sir Kenneth Clark's we present such a unique source of tribute to Henry Moore will be supply of pictures and at such modest able to see a photograph of the rates. unveiling and read the tribute in the annual report. The period covered by my report comes to an end with our two most recent events. On June 5th British Petroleum interesting events. kindly gave us the use of their cinema The last twelve-month period appears in Britannic House to show members to be one of the most active I can four art films. This was followed by the remember for many years. tour of the building and its art collection I must again make my annual plea for as and the use of the senior dining room many new members as possible, so for an excellent cocktail party. Both please give your continued support and David Thompson and David Sylvester help our Society to achieve results of kindly spoke to members about their which we can all be really proud. films which were amongst those shown. On June 15th a record number of over 200 people spent a marvellous summer day visiting John Piper's studio and house at Fawley and also Mr. Alistair McAlpine's collection nearby at Fawley House. In the afternoon Mr. Gerald Benney showed visitors his silver and gold ware and his studios and house at Beenham near Newbury. I would like to extend our most sincere thanks to all our hosts and hostesses throughout England and abroad for their generous goodwill towards the Society's interests. We are most indebted to them. I would also like to thank our members, without whom these visits would have little appeal.