Devonshire August September 16
Devon's Countryside, Events, History and Wildlife
Devon's Countryside, Events, History and Wildlife
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
AUG & SEP <strong>16</strong><br />
Art Exhibitions<br />
TOPSHAM ART GROUP CELEBRATES<br />
50 YEARS SINCE ITS FOUNDATION<br />
In 1966, about a dozen Topsham artists decided to form an Art Group.<br />
Their first public exhibition took place the following year. Mr Alan<br />
Musson was the Chairman and can be seen in the attached cutting<br />
from the Express and Echo of <strong>August</strong> 1968. Within three years, membership<br />
had grown to 80 and reached its limit of 150 shortly after that.<br />
One of the original members was Mrs Christine Pratt, who is still a<br />
member and exhibits regularly.<br />
Cutting from the Express and Echo <strong>August</strong> 1968<br />
Since those early days the Group<br />
(known to its members as TAG)<br />
has exhibited regularly every<br />
summer and, like all Art Groups,<br />
has had its ups and downs, with<br />
concerns over membership,<br />
finances and the quality of its<br />
shows being reflected in the Committee<br />
Meeting Minutes over the<br />
years. But it has survived due to<br />
the commitment of its members<br />
and it is thriving today with a full<br />
membership and some successful<br />
shows which have been commended<br />
by our peers in other<br />
Art Groups and by professional<br />
artists who regularly come to<br />
visit the Summer Exhibitions.The<br />
Group recently held a two week<br />
show in the Royal Albert Memorial<br />
Exhibition in April last year.<br />
Due to healthy sales at all these<br />
shows, TAG has attracted a loyal<br />
client base who, along with local<br />
‘Satsumas’ by Christine Pratt, a founding member<br />
‘Trawlers’, linocut by Penny Wolujewicz,<br />
a current member<br />
Topsham traders give generous support to our events. If you have a<br />
love of the arts and would be interested in joining TAG, do pick up an<br />
application form at the Exhibition in <strong>August</strong>, or write to our Membership<br />
Secretary, Valaine Woodford, at 1 Glebe Cottage, Kenn, Exeter,<br />
EX6 7UL or bandvatglebe@btinternet.com<br />
Art Exhibitors wanted for<br />
autumn/winter<br />
Up to 50 pictures (depending on size)<br />
are needed for the exhibition space at<br />
the Axminster Arts Café.<br />
Initial cost: £15 for 4 weeks<br />
+ 10% commission on sales.<br />
Crafts also wanted on an ongoing<br />
sale-or-return basis.<br />
Contact jennyfells@btinternet.com<br />
64<br />
Countryside, History, Walks, the Arts, Events & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
Change language