The Art Workers’ Guild Proceedings and Notes – No. 33 – February 2019 HRH The Prince of Wales opening the new Courtyard in March, Image Bro. Nick Carter A MESSAGE FROM THE MASTER Brothers who live outside London and who struggle to her father a London County Council architect, a good make it to normal OGMs due to travel/costs etc. The artist and eventually the co-founder of Shankland Cox choice of destination UK and overall costs were kept Partnership; and her mother, who had studied with It seems hard to believe that this time a year ago I was intentionally affordable so that as large a group as pos- the political theorist Harold Laski at the LSE. She putting finishing touches to my year’s programme, sible could participate. grew up in north London in a leftwing, artistic milieu, as it has flown past so quickly. My aim was to have a We have had three Master’s Suppers at the Guild full of gaiety but also dedicated to good housing, in a programme that would be diverse – appealing to as over the year. I chose only to do three as I wanted to household where ‘high density’ was discussed at the many of the varied interests and talents of the Guild have the maximum number of meetings where Brothers dinner table. From Gospel Oak Primary School she as possible, with a bit of an Isle of Wight focus (as it is could have direct contact with the speaker. The suppers went to Camden School for Girls, which was intensely where I live and I planned to host the summer outing were held for the following speakers: Professor Robin competitive but stimulating. Holidays were spent in there) and with some humour. McInnes, Walter Keeler and Felicity Aylieff, and two of Bonchurch on the Isle of Wight in a cottage originally The initial trepidation of calling on speakers was these suppers were deliciously catered for by Brother bought by a scientifically-minded aunt and her partner. dispelled, as all bar one accepted happily, and all were Jane Dorner. Retrospectively, the Isle of Wight seemed important, familiar with who we are and what we do. This task I have been bowled over by the great generosity of as did her parents’ friendship with Peggy Angus, the became easier the more the programme filled out, and all the Brothers supporting me this year, but special fiery artist and pattern, textile and wallpaper designer. I have really enjoyed being Master and all that the role thanks are due to the Guild Secretary, Catherine (Angus’s remarkable cottage, Furlongs, in a fold of the involves – buoyed up by the extreme kindness, support, O’Keeffe, Leigh, and Elspeth Dennison, the Guild South Downs, was also formative: motto ‘The easy life is encouragement and general warmth shown to me by Steward, who tirelessly toil and ensure the highly harder than you think’). A youthful encounter with the all the Brothers, staff, Honorary Secretaries and Past efficient and smooth running of the Guild; to Past aptly named Donald Potter, the famed sculpture master Masters. I visualise the Guild as a wreath or chain of Masters Prue Cooper and Phil Abel; and to Honorary and pioneer pottery teacher at Bryanston School in Dorset, interlinked hands – passing skills from one member to Secretaries Mark Winstanley and Rebecca Jewell, who was an introduction to clay and throwing on a wheel. another and across the generations with Guild Brothers have helped me enormously in my year’s preparation; Before going to Sussex University, the Master took supporting and helping each other. Being the Master is and Brother Sue Lowday for all her unstinting support a job at the Aerated Bread Company and saw for the a link in this chain of sharing and communication. this year. My thanks to the Guild for this great honour first time how working-class folk lived and worked. Among many highlights of the year some things The Master and the Prince, Image Bro. Nick Carter of being Master, with hearty good wishes to Anne Employment in a small factory was a transformative stand out: meeting HRH Prince Charles on his visit to Thorne, Alan Powers and Tracey Sheppard, who pick the Guild to unveil our new wonderful Courtyard, and Brothers: Tanya Harrod (design historian), Simon up the mantle. his look of delight on entering the Hall to find Brothers Hurst (Hon. Architect), Sue Lowday (metal and busily working away demonstrating their crafts. I was leatherworker), Alan Powers (academic and artist) and Jane Cox moved by his deep and sincere engagement with Tracey Sheppard (glass engraver). the last being our everyone he met and talked to that day, resisting being newly appointed Master Elect Elect. hastened on by his aides, who were mindful of his other A large focus of my year was planning and organising 11 January 2018 · ORDINARY MEETING engagements. the late August outing to the Island, greatly supported I also really enjoyed the lecture by Lynne Truss on by Leigh Milsom Fowler, our Guild Administrator. I was Master’s Night her book Tennyson’s Gift, which satirises Julia Margaret so pleased that 35 Guild members were able to make MASTER JANE COX Cameron and Tennyson’s time on the Isle of Wight in it on this four-day visit, covering trips to Farringford the 1860s as part of the Freshwater Circle. Lynne kindly (Lord Tennyson’s home), the Needles, Dimbola Lodge The meeting opened with Bro. Alan Powers offering visited the Guild the week beforehand to run through (Julia Margaret Cameron’s home), Osborne House and thoughts on, and memories of, his long-standing friend, her images and, after giving her talk, she said that when Carisbrooke Castle. The trip’s main focus was on the the late Bro. Gavin Stamp. There was a minute’s silence. she wrote the book ‘never in her wild imaginings did she south-east of the Island, where I live and work, an Area After some brief announcements, the new Master, think she would one day present it in such illustrious of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We were lucky to have Jane Cox, took the floor with a fascinating talk, surroundings and to such an eminent and appreciative excellent sunny weather, with lots of swimming, and a From social anthropology to ceramic pyrotechnics, audience’. very warm welcome from many islanders, some of whom comparing the latter, with its thermal reactive qualities, Another highlight was Tim Hunkin, whose talk opened their homes and gardens to us, and others who to the lively debates and delightful friendships on automata was applauded before he even started helped enormously in planning the schedule. My wish characteristic of the Art Workers’ Guild (AWG). speaking, which felt a very generous way of Guild to throw a final feast at Algernon Swinburne’s family The Master has, over the years, attended to the inner Brothers to greet a fellow maker and was clearly house, East Dene, in our cherished village of Bonchurch, workings of the Guild, serving as a committee member unexpected. Tim went on to delight us with his hilarious was granted. We hosted 64 people, including 35 Brothers and as a Trustee. catalogue of highly inventive automata. Also, Andy and Past Masters, with very enjoyable food and music, But she began her talk with an account of her life. Friend, who gave an hour-long, wonderfully detailed meeting the locals involved in Island Arts & Crafts. She studied social and kinship systems at the University lecture on Ravilious & Co without notes; not to mention On this trip, it was apparent the important bonding of Sussex, but found a rigidity within academe that Jane Cox MA RCA, Haj - black & white platter (Detail), British the very special lectures by five of our talented fellow role the summer outing plays especially in integrating proved unattractive. She described her background: Library Collection, earthenware, 2016 2 The Art Workers’ Guild Proceedings And Notes – February 2019 3 experience, introducing her to a whole world of of ceramics – from jiggers and jolleys to a spray booth. in Birkenhead. As was pointed out, with many of his hierarchies, complex gender-led divisions of labour and She took us through different ceramic practices and murals Rosoman seems to have been spurred on by the even to the reality of race relations. illustrated her work as a collagist and screen printer. restrictions within the architectural settings that he was She saved up and travelled to France, where she She made a powerful case for the importance of drawing given. Slide after slide gave a welcome opportunity to found work at the Galerie Daniel Malingue in Paris, and, as a marvellous finale, showed a series of images see the wealth and diversity of his wall paintings, as the taking French lessons at the Alliance Française. of the Isle of Wight, highlighting its many charms. purpose of the building was always taken into account However, determined to test her French to its limits, Questions came thick and fast, with Bro. Caroline Boyd in his designs. she left the lush pastures of the art gallery for a job in a Harte commenting on a lovely bowl, and the Master The rich visual interest of this talk continued as boulangerie-pâtisserie in the Latin Quarter, mastering explaining further her interest in glaze technology. Bro. Harrod took us through Rosoman’s wider career, the names of some 30 to 40 different pastries. She then Henry Binns complimented the Master on a talk that his work with the Firemen Artists, then as an official worked at the Château de La Salle in Burgundy and showed lovely objects as well as addressing the complex war artist, his moody neo-romanticism in the late continued to return there to work during her university and all-important matter of making a living.