Toowoomba Art Society Ltd

PRESIDENT’S REPORT This year’s 45 x 45 was smaller than last year’s but an elegant display with a pleasing number of people working “outside their comfort zone”. It was well complemented by the Sandra Sengstock-Miller tribute exhibition.

As Lee reported in the last newsletter our bus trip to QAGOMA for Making Modernism and Sugar Spin was most enjoyable (despite the disappointing turnout for such marvellous exhibitions). More support next time would be appreciated.

As usual the AGM on April 22 was very poorly attended. We welcomed Ute Braatz to the Board and Sue Englart’s enthusiasm in continuing as our Patron. Kurt Timmins has taken over from Peggy as Treasurer and Di Baker will be taking on more secretarial duties. The downside was the inexplicable non-appearance of our Financial Review (audit), a major reason for an AGM.10 days on we still haven’t heard from our auditor. We were obliged to adjourn the AGM till 9am, Sat. May 27, and can only hope he will produce the goods before then.

Breaking the Rules by the 7-strong Zenith Artists group is a huge collection of images based on “focused doodling”. Individually there are many charming, beautifully resolved images, but the sheer number of pieces is daunting. I don’t envy Lee and Charlie having to hang the exhibition, trying to avoid a bazaar-like result. Bruce Rodger’s A Rural Montage is a professional selection of landscapes with a few still lifes included. The accuracy of vision is enhanced by the tactility of objects in works like Baking Day.

Dr Jennifer Sanzaro-Nishimura’s printmakers’ weekend workshop appeared to be a great success with enthusiastic students learning the Japanese Mokulito (wood lithography) technique.

LED tube lighting has now been installed in Studio 2.

This year’s Junior Art Expo gets underway with the selection and judging on Sat. 6. The exhibition runs at TRAG from Tues. May 15 till Sun. June18. Do visit it.

I’m concerned about increasing damage to the Marmoleum floorcovering. If moving the whiteboard, the wheel must be unlocked to prevent scarring the floor, and any spillage of paints, inks or other mediums must be wiped up immediately. Please make sure you lay a drop-sheet or at least paper on the floor if you are working at an easel or printing press with paints or messy materials and ensure there’s a barrier between printing press and floor. Also we continue to experience serious blockages in the sink plugs and oil paint stuck to the sink. Oil painters must clean brushes in the turps bucket, and paints and printing inks must be wrapped in paper and disposed of in the waste bin, never the recycling one. I ask all class monitors to familiarise group members with the house rules and make sure they are being followed. The mess our cleaner is being faced with is unacceptable.

Allan Bruce (02.05.17)

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

2nd to 28th May 2017 Culliford Gallery

‘Breaking the Rules’ an exhibition of works by the Zenith Artists

Margaret Connellan, Linda Hall, Teresa Kennedy, Teresa Murray, Jenny Utley,

Peggy Vanderplas and Alma Woods

IN THE CORRIDOR

“A Rural Montage” an exhibition of works by

Bruce Rodger

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL If you have not yet renewed your

membership for 2017 (due 28th Feb) you must do so by 31st May to remain a member of TAS. Non-members are

required to pay $5 each time they use TAS facilities and may not exhibit work at TAS. To participate in the annual exhibition in

September, you must have paid your dues before 1st June.

PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL REPORT, 01.03.16 – 28.02.17 Despite being a person short on the Board and despite the difficulty of attracting members to serve on sub-committees the year progressed reasonably smoothly, with a major frustration being the apathy of those who are content to dabble, chat and drink coffee but not to actively engage with our other Art Society activities. I’d like to see more members “take ownership” of TAS.

Classes We continued to expand our offerings, including those we run in partnership with U3A. Our morning Art in Bark, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday groups continued apace, as did the four TAS/U3A afternoon classes: Nuts & Bolts of Visual Art (sadly cut short by the sudden death of Judy Ross), Botanical Arts, Intro to Oil Painting Techniques with Catherine Ketton, and Portraiture. Creative Artists’ Books ran successfully, as did Mike Grice’s evening Life Drawing sessions. The biggest growth area was in the size and productivity of the Printmaking group which expanded to a minimum of 2 monthly Saturday classes, occasional Sundays for weekend workshops and Friday morning work groups. In terms of commitment and organisation it has operated very effectively, as has the program of children’s classes. Mark Phillips has extended his offerings to 8 classes per week, and the adventurous nature of his teaching was seen in their end-of-year exhibition. And Charlie Boyle launched Friday morning Discussion and Help sessions, open to all.

Exhibitions Lee Perinet again organised a particularly rich array of in-house exhibitions, including the inaugural “45 x 45” unselected members’ exhibition, an unqualified success, as was the September Members’ Exhibition selected by John Archibald and Le Anne Vincent. Our other flagship exhibition, the Junior Art Expo, was shown over a month at TRAG in June and July and was viewed by an astonishing 4,706 people (some of whom may also have been attracted by The Phantom exhibition)! The standard of work by youngsters from preschool to grade 12 was, as always, outstanding. We also hosted the annual Open House photographic exhibition.

Other Activities In March we held a bus trip to QAGOMA to see “APT8”. Other attractions included “Medieval Power” at Qld.Museum. Fortunately 7 non-members joined the 13 TAS members. I find it sad that year after year so many of our 200+ members who profess an interest in art don’t visit major contemporary exhibitions. There was more support for a July trip to Warwick for the Alice Springs Beanie Festival and contemporary textiles, and Stanthorpe for its biennial Arts Festival. The proximity to wineries may have been an inducement.

Culliford House After 7 years of heavy use the fluoro tubes in studio 1 were systematically reaching their use-by dates and it was decided to replace them with the steadier glow of LED tubes, something we’ll repeat in studio 2. A house and garden maintenance team including Nev Brown, Lyn Watts and Peggy Vanderplas managed to increase the capacity of our rear carpark, timely as no-one foresaw TRC taking over more than a third of the Godsall St. carpark for storing path-making materials for the Botanic Gardens.

Financial Matters Thankfully the 2015 -16 audit was completed on time. Peggy continued as Treasurer, but with the assistance of Erica Allen of Express Business Solutions, providing a direct conduit to our book-keepers, Don & Lindy Huskisson, who keep us fully up-to-date on a monthly basis. This successful arrangement has eased the pressure of the job. Learning that ASIC had updated its audit requirements for small companies with low turnovers, we realised there was no need for a full audit, just an annual financial review by a chartered accountant rather than our accredited company auditor, McConachie Stedman. Robert Schonfeld was recommended and duly engaged. Unfortunately Hugh Robinson retired from RetireInvest. His generous assistance with our shares portfolio over the years has been greatly appreciated. Due to the healthy state of our finances it was agreed that we would not increase our membership or users’ fees in the 2016-17 year. However by year’s end it was obvious that we should introduce a $25 admin fee and 10% sales commission for corridor exhibitions. The only drama was a dispute over the sale of a portion of our land on South St. for annexation to an adjoining property. Several months after the agreement about the cost, the purchaser unilaterally altered the plans and through a solicitor requested 33% more land for the original price. We had no option but to cancel the deal and have heard no more from the would-be purchasers.

Board of Directors At the 2016 AGM Alex Stalling, Nev Brown and Rhyl Dearden stood down, the last of these after decades of service. We were joined by Di Baker (ex-TRAG) and Kurt Timmins (ex-USQ) who between them have considerable managerial, secretarial and financial experience. Peggy has reluctantly but successfully continued as Treasurer, Diana as publicity officer (despite a heavy schedule of successful exhibitions), Janice as unflappable minutes-taker, Charlie as exhibition hangman, me as chairman, Junior Art Expo organiser and go-between with ASIC, ACNC, lawyers and advisors, and Lee as everything else (all matters pertaining to the gallery and newsletter, social photography, design and production of posters, forms and printed materials and our Facebook profile, as well as organising maintenance, etc.) There’s always plenty to do and we’re all volunteers. As is John Neale who has acted as our Business Secretary since relocating to NSW. His wise counsel is always appreciated.

Additional Assistance My thanks to Sue Englart, our Patron for several years, for her generous support; to Neville and Lyn and those who have assisted with maintenance of house and grounds; to Ann Stevens who took over from Peggy as TAS librarian; to the various teachers and group leaders for making our job easier; to all our exhibitors for having the courage to put themselves on the wall; to those who provided sponsorship for the Junior Art Expo: The Chronicle and TRAG for $4350 of in-kind support, and Cherylyn Stewart (Artshop), Sue McMaster (Murray’s), Evan Hollis, Dornbusch Partners, Rhyl & Hugh Dearden, Sue Englart, ADFAS and Gilly Carroll for $875 in prize money. Sue also contributed the Patron’s Choice award for the Sept. Members’ Exhibition. Bruce Hinchliffe was The Chronicle Editor in 1988 whom I approached re updating the almost 40-year-old Chronicle Junior Art Competition as a selected, more educationally valid exhibition. With his support TAS took on its organisation. It was good to have him perform both openings of the 2016 Expo. And thanks to Lin Boyle for her years of work as housekeeper/cleaner.

In Memoriam During the year we lost Dean Clark, past Treasurer and President of TAS, a builder who led the renovation of the 80 year old first Culliford House from 1986-88, the inimitable Ilona Eberle and the ever-enthusiastic, multi-skilled mentor, Judy Ross. Sadly, at New Year Lyn Watts’ husband, Peter, died suddenly.

If Donald Trump doesn’t blow up the world first I foresee another good year for Toowoomba Art Society and wish the team of Directors well.

Allan Bruce

PHOTO GALLERY: A big thank you to all who braved crisp evening temperatures to attend the opening of the Zenith Artists & Bruce Rodger exhibitions on Friday, 5th May.

The artists greatly appreciated your support!

Zenith Artists tutor Jenny Utley

Catherine Ketton 0431 190 839 cketton.ketton@gmail.com

An Introduction to the traditional methods of OIL PAINTING

July 29th & 30th 2017 at Toowoomba Art Society, 1 Godsall St, Toowoomba

Cost $295 (includes all materials)

The two-day workshop aims to provide an introduction to the traditional methods of oil painting for the beginning artist. The workshop is also suitable for experienced water media or mixed media artists who would like to try oil painting for the first time. Students will learn to transfer an image on to canvas, use raw umber to mark basic shapes and tones, and apply colour in thin layers towards the finished painting. Each student will be able to work at his or her own pace.

All materials (including high quality artist paint) are provided and are included in the cost of the workshop. Just bring lunch, an apron and a notepad.

I have been using traditional oil painting techniques for more than twelve years, and am currently a member of Russell Street Artists Association located near the Chocolate Cottage in Highfields.

@METgalleries

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS

Welcome Gerard Addison & Susan Goodall. We hope you enjoy your experience at TAS and that you make full use of our many

facilities and friendly atmosphere. Keep up to date with our Newsletters, web page (toowoombaartsociety.com.au)

Facebook page (TAS – Toowoomba Art Society) as well as the noticeboard & printed materials in the corridor.

Just a reminder to clean up any spills on floors or walls & to not put any paint or painting mediums

down the sink.

TAS ARTISTS SHOW OFF! Congratulations to our many members who were awarded places in various sections at recent shows at Bell, Oakey,

Jandowae and Goombungee-Haden; Maree Cameron who was awarded numerous 1st, 2nd & 3rd places in all the above shows, Sophie Sorella, Jenny Hartley & Lynette Lewis for 1st places at

Bell. Well done all of you! So many talented artists at TAS!