PAST VISITS AND TRIPS

Day Trips

Day Visit to Dulwich Picture Gallery

With The Arts Society Sherborne

BERTHE MORISOT: Shaping Impressionism

Day Visit by Coach: TUESDAY 27 JUNE 2023

VISIT REPORT 

In preparation for the visit to the Berthe Morisot exhibition ‘Shaping Impressionism’ Jenny Newman organised an afternoon for all participants to hear two supporting presentations: Julian Halsby spoke about Berthe’s life and her relationships with other impressionists and Jenny’s talk was specifically related to the exhibition. We were all set up and ready for our visit.

Forty -nine art lovers, A.S and U3A members, left early on a coach for London on the morning of 27th June. On arrival we split into two groups – one to visit the Morisot Exhibition before lunch and then have a guided visit to the Dulwich Gallery permanent collection later and vice-versa.

The guide’s tour of the Permanent Collection was excellent, she told us that during the closure over the pandemic the gallery had been redecorated and reorganised. I believe she talked mainly about the Linham bequest which included works by Gainsborough, Rubens Poussin and Canaletto. I spotted an Anthony van Dyk painting (1633) related to Sherborne. It was ‘Venetia, Lady Digby on her Deathbed’, apparently her husband Sir Kenelm Digby, who had married her in secret as his family did not approve, was so devastated when she suddenly died eight years later that he called van Dyck to paint the beauty of her corpse which he did on the second day after her passing.

 

The Morisot Exhibition was extremely well curated and consisted of early and later paintings and chalk and pastel sketches which were often displayed alongside the work of artists who had influenced or inspired her. There were many touching feminine subjects displayed. I was fascinated by Berthe Morisot’s relationship to Edouard Manet who became her brother-in-law after her marriage to Eugene Manet.

It was an uneventful journey home and we all had plenty to think about. Many thanks to all who contributed to making this a stimulating and enjoyable visit with The Sherborne Arts Society.

Jane Findley

 

 

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Roche Court Sculpture Park

Day trip on Wednesday 22 June 2022

Members visited the New Art Centre at Roche Court on a glorious summer’s day in June when everything was still green. We were able to explore the park and gardens in the company of an excellent guide.

We were greeted by Lady Bessborough who had founded the New Art Centre in London’s Sloane St in 1958. Her vision of encouraging young artists had continued and expanded at Roche Court which now welcomes visitors to exhibitions of contemporary art in a wonderful outdoor setting as well as four contemporary galleries.

There were small porcelain installations by Edmund de Waal, large scale sculptures by Anthony Caro, Peter Randall-Page, Anthony Gormley, and Michael Craig-Martin, land art by Richard Long, and amongst these a huge variety of works by lesser known artists. Some were challenging, some disturbing, some amusing, all demanded our attention.

Start of the tour.

Antony Gormley, ‘Before’, 2002 Cast Iron, 194 x 46 x 64 cm

 

 

 

 

Antony Gormley, ‘Break’, 2002 Cast Iron, 193 x 87 x 32 cm

Antony Gormley, ‘Quantum Cloud XIV’, 2000, 4.76 square section stainless steel bar

 

Barry Flanagan, ‘Large Left-Handed Drummer’, 2008, Bronze, 400 x 200 x 244 cm

 

Allen Jones, ‘High Wire’, 2006, Painted Aluminium, 264 x 152 cm

 

Christopher le Brun, ‘Union (Horse with two Discs)’ 2001, Bronze, 232 x 466 x156 cm

Allen Jones, ‘Backward Bend’, 2020, Corten and Stainless Steel, Dull Mirror Polish, 280 x 530 x 300 cm

Peter Newman, ‘Skystation’, 2019, Fibreglass, Ultramarine Gelcoat, 75 x 420 x 420 cm

 

Antony Caro, ‘Double Tent’, 1987-1993, Stainless Steel, 238.5 x 815.5 x 198 cm

 

Peter Randall-Page, ‘Fructus’, 2009, Kilkenny Limestone, 250 x 160 x 160 cm

 

Richard Long, ‘Tame Buzzard Line’, 2001, Flint, 35.15 m x 71 cm

Kenneth Martin, ‘Construction’, 1972, Painted Iron and Steel, 600 x 122 x 122 cm

 

Barbara Hepworth, ‘Bronze Form (Patmos)’, 1962-63 Bronze 70.5 x 95 x 24 cm

 

Barbara Hepworth, ‘Three Forms’, 1970, Bronze

Christopher le Brun, ‘The Sense of Sight’, 1999-2000, Bronze, 190x 18 x 7.5 cm

Laura Ford, ‘Twiglet’, 1991, Bronze, 130 x 60 x 57 cm

Laura Ford, ‘Silent Howler II’, 2016, Bronze, 50 x 60 x 70 cm

 

Bill Woodrow, ‘Celloswarm’, Bronze, Stone and Gold Leaf, 211 x 95 x 96 cm

Bill Woodrow, ‘Celloswarm’, Bronze, Stone and Gold Leaf, detail

Michael Craig-Martin, ‘Untitled’, 2007, Etched Glass Panel, 204 x 230 x 1.4 cm

LONGFORD castle

Day trip on Friday 22 April 2022

Longford Castle

 Our 2 hour guided tour of the house was split into 2 groups of 20 and was followed by a short visit to the formal gardens. The 16th century castle contains many great art works including portraits by Reynolds and Gainsborough and some historic furniture. The Earl of Radnor’s family have been partnered with the National Gallery for many years.

The visit was followed by an excellent buffet lunch in the nearby Radnor Arms.

After lunch the coach dropped us near to the Cathedral Close in Salisbury where there were opportunities to visit the Salisbury Museum, the cathedral or the National Trust Mompesson House

Several members opted for the shops!.

Highclere castle

Day trip on Tuesday 13 July 2021

Our visit to the Castle was unguided although there were room guides.  The ticket also included access to the Egyptian Exhibition; the fifth Earl of Carnarvon excavated Tutankhamen’s tomb with Howard Carter in 1922.  The gardens are extensive and visiting was included with our entrance ticket.

“VIRTUAL” Visit

The BANQUETING HOUSE, Whitehall

Organised jointly with The Arts Society Dorset County

For more information please click on the image above
We joined Historic Palaces Guide Lecturer, Siobhan Clarke, for a tour of the last remaining part of the medieval Palace of Westminster.
SOME COMMENTS RECEIVED
“What a super lecture, so glad we could join in …. thank you for organising it!”
“Well timed, interesting, wonderful illustrations and thoughtfully presented – really excellent and professional!  A real treat.”  

“I really enjoyed it- the subject & the lecturer & the history & the pictures & the ceiling!! -all excellent!”

“I spent an hour enthralled by Siobhan Clarke’s lecture and excellent presentation this afternoon. Easily the highlight of this current lockdown! Thank you.” r
“Thankyou for arranging such an interesting and enjoyable lecture given by such an enthusiastic person”.
My wife and I watched this lecture yesterday with great pleasure. The content was very interesting and the lecturer, Siobhan Clarke, was exceptionally good – and I speak as a former university lecturer. Nick Lalor
“Well timed, interesting, wonderful illustrations and thoughtfully presented – really excellent and professional!  A real treat.”
“Thank you, it was excellent.”
 “As usual the Sherborne Arts Society has come up trumps with a first class lecture and lecturer. I thoroughly enjoyed it ,well done.”
“Thank you so much for including me in today’s visit to the Banqueting House.  The speaker was delightful and certainly took us through a very important period of our history. The Zoom lectures really have made such a difference to so many of us.”
Just wanted to say how excellent the talk was.   She did a wonderful job, gave an extremely informative talk and was much enjoyed.   Many thanks for setting it all up.”

Residential visits

Between 2014 and 2018 groups from The Arts Society visited Amsterdam, The Hague, Munich, Berlin, Copenhagen and Madrid in Europe, and also Oxford & Cambridge, and the Staffordshire Potteries in the UK. In all of them we visited world renowned art galleries big and small, explored ancient city centres and marvelled at magnificent buildings and superb craftwork. We also patronised some distinctive eateries.

Jerusalem 2019

In June 2019 we made our first visit outside Europe and spent 10 days in Jerusalem – a fascinating city with a complicated history and an uneasy present. With the help of two excellent guides, one Jewish, one Palestinian we toured ancient and modern Jerusalem and made trips to the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee, Masada, Bethlehem and Acre.

Dome of the rock and mount of Olives

Western Wall

Armenian Cathedral

Spices in the Souk

TASS Group and the Chagall windows, Hadassah Hospital Synagogue

Hall of Remembrance, Yad Vashem

Jerusalem Old City Rooftops

Tomb of Christ, Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Tiles on the Dome of the Rock

Rockefeller Museum

Cable Car Ascending Masada

Sea Wall at Acre

Carpet in Acre Mosque

Church of the Holy Nativity, Bethlehem

Newly Restored Mosiacs in Holy Nativity Church

Banksy Mural, Bethlehem

TASS Members on the Sea of Galilee

The Sea of Galilee

Craft Pottery Shop in Jaffa

TASS Group at the Israel Museum

RESIDENTIAL Visit to Glasgow

With The Arts Society Sherborne

7 to 12 November 2022

Glasgow has a remarkable range of art galleries and world class museums and is synonymous with the Arts and Crafts movement. During our 6 day tour, based at the iconic Grand Central hotel in the heart of the city, we visit major art galleries including the Hunterian, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and museum and the Burrell Collection. We also enjoy a trip through the Ayrshire countryside to Dumfries House and Estate, renowned for its impressive collection of 18th century furniture.

Proposed programme

Monday 7 November 2022

Travel to Glasgow

Fly from Bristol to Glasgow and transfer to Voco Grand Central Hotel.

Tuesday 8 November 2022

am: Burrell Collection

pm: Free

The newly reopened Burrell Collection comprises a collection of 9000 objects from all around the world bequeathed to the city of Glasgow in 1944 by Sir William Burrell. Highlights include a significant collection of Chinese Art, one of the finest collections of tapestries in the world, Roman Sculpture and paintings by 19th century French artists.

The afternoon is free and offers an opportunity to visit to the House for an Art Lover, built according to drawings Mackintosh drafted for a design competition in 1900. The stunning interiors are packed with fine art. Or visit the Willow Tea Rooms, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. 

Wednesday 9 November 2022

am: Hill House

pm: Hunterian Museum and Mackintosh House

Hill House was created by Mackintosh and his wife Margaret and has stunning interiors. The house is currently undergoing external renovation and clad in a unique steel ’box’, allowing visitors to enjoy the sumptuous interiors and use the walkways around and over the roof of the house.

After lunch we visit the Hunterian Museum – this leading University museum is the largest single holding of the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and James McNeill Whistler. The Mackintosh House is also included, which has the reassembled interiors from his Glasgow home. 

Thursday 10 November 2022

Kelvingrove Museum

The Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery , an architectural gem, opened in 1901 and is a firm favourite with locals and visitors alike. The 22 galleries exhibit collections from art to animals and ancient Egypt to Charles Rennie Mackintosh. There is an impressive collection of French 19th century paintings including works by Monet, Gauguin and Renoir. Further highlights are Rembrandt’s ‘Man in Armour’, ‘Christ and the Adulteress’ by Titian and Salvador Dali’s ‘Christ of St John of the Cross’. The Scottish art collection includes paintings by the Scottish Colourists and the Glasgow Boys. 

Friday 11 November 2022

Dumfries House

Dumfries House was built in the 1750’s by John and Robert Adam for William Dalrymple, 5th Earl of Dumfries and remained in the family until 2007, when the 7th marquess sold it the nation. It was saved by a consortium headed by Prince Charles who purchased it for 45 million pounds after years of uncertainty and to avoid the risk of the furniture being auctioned off to private bidders. Its purchase came with a 2000 acre estate, a 500-tree Arboretum and the magnificent five-acre Queen Elizabeth Walled Garden. We have a tour of the house, including the magnificent collection of 18th century tapestries, picture gallery and elegant rooms. There is an outstanding collection of 18th century furniture including some of Thomas Chipperfield’s finest works. Lunch and refreshments are available at The Coach house stables at the heart of the Dumfries estate. 

Saturday 12 November 2022

Riverside Museum

Return flight to Bristol

The Riverside Museum was designed by internationally renowned architect, Dame Zaha Hadid. It opened in 2011 after a four-year build, with over 3,000 objects from the city’s world-famous collections displayed inside. Located at the junction of the Rivers Kelvin and Clyde, it houses the city’s fabulous transport and technology collections, which have been gathered over the centuries and which reflect the important part Glasgow has played in the world through its contributions to heavy industries like shipbuilding, train manufacturing and engineering. The museum has an incredible array of objects from skateboards and vintage cars to prams and powerful locomotives and it is even possible to walk down an old cobbled Glasgow street with shops dating from 1895 to the 1980s. The Tall Ship, Glenlee, the UK’s only floating Clyde-built sailing ship is berthed outside the museum and also free to enter as part of the visit.

We continue to the airport for our homeward flight to Bristol.

Accommodation

 

Voco Grand Central Hotel (4 Star)

 

Located at Glasgow Central Station, within walking distance of Princes square and Argyll Square, the award-winning Voco Grand Central, Glasgow is an iconic hotel set within Glasgow’s shopping district. The historic building dates back to 1883 and has original features including the grand staircase and the magnificent Champagne Central Bar with its domed ceiling and marble floor. The elegant Tempus Restaurant & Bar serves both traditional and local specialities, made from seasonal local produce as well as a varied cocktail menu. Deli Central offers fresh, light snacks in a relaxed environment. Bedrooms all feature a flat-screen TV, a laptop safe, bedside USB connections, bespoke art and an iron. A full Scottish breakfast is served each morning and a set 3 course dinner is included in the tour price.

Cornwall 2019

In typical October weather a small group spent 4 days in West Cornwall, breaking the journey down at the Devon Guild of Craftsmen Centre in Bovey Tracy and stopping at the Eden Project on the return. We explored the Tate St Ives, its collections and surroundings, toured Barbara Hepworth’s house and sculpture collection and enjoyed the Leach Pottery where Bernard Leach worked and influenced generations of modern studio potters. We also visited Penzance where we dodged the seagulls and viewed the unique Cornish collections at Penlee House.

Sea from Tate Gallery Entrance

St Ives Town from the Tate

St Ives Beach from the Tate

Fishermens's Cottages, St Ives

TASS Group in Barbara Hepworth's House

Sculpture in Barbara Hepworth's Garden

Cheeky Seagull

Chamber of Climbing Kiln, The Leach Pottery

The Eden Project, St Austell