HVA Newsletter Dec 2015-Jan 2016 - hvaf.org.uk Newsletter... · Herts Visual Arts Newsletter December 2015 – January 2016 HVA Newsletter – Dec 2015/Jan 2016 In this issue: •

Herts Visual Arts Newsletter December 2015 – January 2016

HVA Newsletter – Dec 2015/Jan 2016

In this issue:

• Intro

• Herts Open Studios 2016

• Exhibitions & Events

• News

• Creative Digest

Intro

Linda Warminger

Welcome to the December/New Year edition of the Herts Visual Arts Newsletter. With the mild weather attendance is up at the plethora of craft fairs, pop-up shops and exhibitions this Christmas... and still a week left to visit. Welcome to Georgie Stewart our new Herts Open Studios Project Manager, and Sian Fenwick our 2016 Watford Area Coordinator.

With the output of the recent strategy review imminent, Jo Atherton's column provides a timely reminder about the benefits and opportunities associated with volunteering. Do contact me if you would like an in-formal chat about any of the roles that need fulfilling.

We will resume our monthly publication from 1 February 2016. Do email your news to me to ensure in-clusions (text and press releases in word format, images and posters as .jpgs please).

I have a new email address effective immediately [email protected] and will have a new mobile num-ber (keep an eye on the website contacts page as it will be confirmed shortly).

Finally, wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

LINDA WARMINGER

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Herts Open Studios 2016

As you may remember, Linda Warminger confirmed, after six years’ successful management, that 2015 would be the last (seventh) Open Studios she would run, and we put in train a search to find someone totake over a revised version of the role. Without someone in that position, it is very difficult to commit to undertaking Open Studios.

I am very pleased to announce that Georgina (Georgie) Stewart has agreed to take on the role of Open Studios Project Manager. Georgie has a background in administration, client liaison and events and project management, with law firms, the Groucho Club and a concierge and lifestyle management company. Georgie will be contracted for 250 hours across the whole Open Studios project.

This means that we will be looking for volunteers to help with some aspects of the project locally, in smallchunks, or we may have to cut a few corners here and there.

But the really good news is that with Georgie in place we can now get on with planning Open Studios 2016, knowing it will go ahead. This has been my prime concern as Chair since Linda gave us very goodwarning of her intentions. But, as many of you will be aware, we have been getting an independent view of HVA generally and Open Studios in particular by researching the views of members. I would like to thank all those of you who took part in our on-line survey .

Carol Stokes, who undertook the work, is a very experienced consultant, with experience including re-searching user attitudes in service environments. She was originally referred to us by two of our mem-bers in relation to the Open Studios role, but when it was clear that she could not give this much time, kindly volunteered 10 days of her consultancy time. It is particularly good to get this sort of input from someone NOT directly involved, who can be completely objective.

Carol will be feeding back the results of her work to the Organising Group at our meeting on the evening of January 19th. We will be publicising the results as soon after that as we can, and will present key findings to the membership at the AGM , but, if any member would like to attend the Organising Group meeting, which will be held at Stanta Business Centre in St Albans, please contact me through [email protected] . We do not have a lot of room there but we can make a few places available on a firstcome basis. I look forward to finding out what the research can tell us.

MEL HILBROWN Chair, Herts Visual Arts

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'CAPTURING THE ESSENCE OF TIME' 4 Nov-31 Dec 2015

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'MAKING WITH A MESSAGE'

'DRAWN BLANK SERIES, BOB DYLAN

An exhibition of Bob Dylan’s “Drawn Blank Series” Published 2008-2014, plus iconic photos of the le-gend, will be on show Friday 4 - Saturday 19 December 2015 at Gallery 105, 105 Victoria Street, St. Al-bans AL1 3TJ Open: 10am-5pm

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CHRISTMAS PRINTMAKERS EXHIBITION

'CRAFT OR ART ?', 14 Nov 2015 - 14 Feb 2016

Bushey Museum invites you to a new exhibition, in which the work of five local artists and craftsmen and women en-courages us to re-examine the age-old debate: where does art begin and craft end? Do they overlap? Should they be considered of equal merit or is one su-perior to the other?

This selling exhibition which opened in November runs until Sunday 14 Febru-ary 2016. The Museum, in Rudolph Road, Bushey WD23 3HW is open Thursdays to Sundays 11am-4pm. Ad-mission is free. See full article and fur-ther images

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'SIGHTLINES - PUBLIC & PRIVATE (LIVES)'

This exhibition, at the Art & Design Gallery, University of Hertfordshire, showcases Julie Cook's work over 20 years as an 'embedded' photographer working in the exotic dancing industry in London and Las Vegas. The exhibition opened in November and runs to 16 January 2016.

Image: Julie Cook, New Frontier, Gilley's Bar, 3120 S. Las Vegas Boulevard, 4. 2003

Opening times

Monday - Friday: 09:30 - 17:30Saturday (exhibition days only): 09:30 - 15:30

(CLOSED: THURSDAY 24 DEC - MONDAY 4 JAN inclusive) Lindop Building, UH College Lane Campus, Hatfield AL10 9AB

PRESENT ARTS, 5 Nov - 23 Dec 2015

The Gallery at Parndon Mill presents a series of exhibitions of affordable fine art and crafts by skilled anddistinguished artists during the Christmas period. The Gallery at Parndon Mill, Off Elizabeth Way, HAR-LOW CM20 2HP. 01279 426042 / [email protected] / www.parndonmill.co.uk

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LINDA GIFFORD'S CHRISTMAS OPEN STUDIO

DEEP & CRISP & EVEN

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PRINTMAKERS EXHIBITION at HERTFORD THEATRE

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WINTER SHOW - THE ART NEST 7 Nov - 24 Dec 2015

The Art Nest, 4-5 West Alley, Hitchin, SG5 1EG www.theartnest.com

Open Tues - Sat and also SUNDAYS IN DECEMBER 10.30am - 3.30pm.

CHRISTMAS AT THE BARN

www.sarahcollinsbarn.com The Barn is open at Easter and in the run-up to Christmas. Open on Thursday 8th October until Sunday 20th December inclusive on Thursdays, Fri-days, Saturdays and Sundays, from 10am to 5pm, each day.

The Barn is located 1 mile outside the village of Wheath-ampstead in rural Hertfordshire, 10 minutes drive from Harpenden and St Albans, with plenty of off-road parking.

The Barn, Home Farm, Delaport, Lamer Lane (B651), Wheathampstead AL4 8RQ

Products this year include exciting new gifts, ceramics, greetings cards, decorations, bags, bracelets, Sarah's own artworks, plus those of other local artists and producers ... including paintings by Justine Lois Thorpe.

Justine Lois Thorpe

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WELWYN GARDEN CITY PHOTOGRAPHIC CLUB EXHIBITION

RELATIVE VALUES

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'TIME & TIDE', 19 Jan - 26 Feb 2016

Setting sail…a toy soldier fleet head for Artistsmeet!

There’s something in the water at Artistsmeet as we begin a creative 2016, showcasing an exciting new exhibition with a big pop of colour. The gallery will feature the work of Jo Atherton, an artist who creates fascinating and playful tapestries using debris and materials found from scouring the coastlines of the UK. Open Mon–Fri 10am – 4pm, Free entryWatersmeet, High Street, Rickmansworth WD3 1EH

CHRISTMAS POP-UP GALLERY IN WHETSTONE

The Barnet Collection of Ceramics and Art has a “Pop Up” gallery at 1290 High Road Whetstone, London N20 until 24 December, open 11-5 daily (closed on Thursday 17th). HVA members Janet Tranter and June Faulkner have work on display and for sale.

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HARRY BATCHELOR AT WATFORD MUSEUM

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News

Ceramics by Marshall Colman, now being stocked at Heal's, and see work by Heather Burwell and Nat-alie Mills at Oxo Tower Wharf.

MARSHALL COLMAN at HEAL'S

Marshall Colman's hand-made ceramics are on sale at Heal's in London. They make beautiful and original presents, but you also have a rare opportunity to see how he adapts the traditional method of maiolica decora-tion to his contemporary designs.

Come and meet him in the Christmas Market on Sat-urday 19 Dec 2015 for this fascinating display of the pot-ter's art.

HEAL'S196 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7PJSaturday, 19th December, noon to 4pmwww.marshallcolman.com

THE ART MAZE at THE BARGEHOUSE OXO WHARF

Work by over 120 artists, including HVA Members Heather Burwell and Natalie Mills, an beautiful views of The Thames.

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Creative Digest

Jo Atherton

Christmas is a typical period of reflection, as we consider our achievements of the past twelve months and look towards the new year, perhaps with ambitions of trying something new. This month's article asks whether you might consider volunteering with Herts Visual Arts. It could be just the challenge you are looking for in 2016.

Herts Visual Arts is run by an enthusiastic voluntary Organising Group who are always on the look out formore people to help with the running of our arts organisation.

The benefits of you dedicating your time to Herts Visual Arts are obvious, but volunteering can also bringmany benefits to the individual too. It can be a wonderful way of meeting new friends who share a com-mon interest. We are all artists, and to find another person who is also on the same creative path can of-fer wonderful support and the chance to share ideas.

The life of an artist can at times be solitary and feelings of isolation are common across the creative community. By volunteering with others who are familiar with the struggles of an artistic life can be a great way of connecting with people who understand. Working together on developing our countywide arts organisation is a fantastic way of meeting people, overcoming shyness and directly helping the com-munity.

There is much to be said for working together in a team towards a common goal. No matter how small your input, be it talking to members of the public about the work of HVA at an event, or assisting with the promotion of Open Studios, volunteering is ultimately helping others and your efforts will go a long way to support the creative community in Hertfordshire, whilst raising your own profile.

It's never too late to learn a new skill and if you are looking to work in the creative industries, volunteer-ing on a project may be just the experience that will set you ahead of the competition. Perhaps you are interested in blogging to share your ideas with a wider audience, or maybe you are a fantastic proof reader looking for some experience. Volunteering can provide demonstrable interest in the arts, whilst expanding your skills set. Helping to promote the work of HVA could really enhance your CV.

Finally, there is much to be said for the value of meeting with other artists. It is a great way of networking as a means to find out about local opportunities, be it potential locations to exhibit, calls for entry or even the recommended art fairs to apply to in our region. Herts Visual Arts really benefits from the time our vo-lunteers generously give, but there is much to be said for the advantages it brings to the individual too.

We currently have vacancies in the organisation, so why not take a look and see whether there are any activities you would like to get involved in. Make 2016 the year you try something new.

By JO ATHERTON

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Documents

HVA Newsletter Dec 2015-Jan 2016 - hvaf.org.uk Newsletter... · Herts Visual Arts Newsletter December 2015 – January 2016 HVA Newsletter – Dec 2015/Jan 2016 In this issue: •