The section of the site is by and for the Friends of the Royal West of England Academy.

Lectures and Workshops 2008

The lectures are now timed to start on Saturdays at 10.30 for 11.00

The Lectures start at 11.00 am. The lectures, which are open to the public, are held in the Fedden Gallery at the RWA. Doors will open at 10.30 am. Prices are: £5.00 for Friends and £6.00 for others. At present there is no booking system so it is first come first served. RWA Benefactors can book in advance through the RWA office.

24th July, 5-6pm Thursday
Lecture by Mell Gooding on the work of Mary Fedden at Lecture Theatre, 3WN 2.1, University of Bath

This special lecture marks the recent kind donation by Mary Fedden of her new work The Feather to the University of Bath Art Collection.

The talk will include an introduction by Prof. Glynis Breakwell, Vice-Chancellor and a film message from Mary Fedden.

Mary Fedden OBE is among Britain’s finest and best loved artists. Her paintings are often about familiar, domestic subjects. After studying set design at the Slade School of Art from 1932, she held her first exhibition of paintings in 1947 after serving in the Land Army and the Woman’s Voluntary Service during the war. Best known for compositions employing still life in the foreground with a view beyond, she enjoys contrasting disparate, even quirky objects. Her style is distinctive, combining flattened forms and spaces with rounded shapes, bold colours and patterns. Now in her nineties, Bristol born Mary Fedden remains a prolific and popular painter with a long association with the Royal West of England Arts Academy. A member of the Royal Academy of Arts since 1992, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath in 1996.

Mel Gooding is Mary Fedden’s leading biographer and author of an acclaimed book focusing on her artistic career. It traces the development of Fedden’s work from neo-Romantic beginnings in the 1940s, through her discovery of the principal element of her own mature style in the early 1970s, to her later work.

The Feather along with other pieces from the artist can be viewed in the newly established Mary Fedden Room at 16 Lansdown Crescent which is open to the public free of charge between 2-4pm on Thursday 24 July.

Admission to the lecture is free and all are welcome, but reservations are required.
Contact the ICIA box office on 01225 386777 or email : ICIAinfo@bath.ac.uk

Directions : www.bath.ac.uk/getting-here

Painting Days with Friends
These proved very popular last year and there is still the opportunity for Friends to join us.
For further details, description and booking form please ring Roma on 0117 924 1930.

Roma Widger has arranged for us to visit the following interesting and exciting sites:

30th July : Acton Court, original Tudor house recently restored. Admission £5
27th August : Lansdown Crescent, Bath, Georgian architecture and fine views.
10th September : Clevedon, Victorian pier and bandstand, seafront views etc.
29th October : Tintern Abbey and the Wye Valley - very paintable in the autumn.

November 15th Saturday
‘Irish Artists from the 18th century to the present day’
Lecture by Jacqueline Healy

December 6th Saturday
‘Camden Town and All That’
English Art 1880 -1940.
Lecture by David Addison BA, MA, M Litt, Mus Dip





Contribute to the Magazine!
We welcome contributions to the RWA Friends Magazine from Friends, Academicians and others - dates for forthcoming magazines are:

Autumn issue - copy date: 20th August
Publication 9th October.

Advertise in the RWA Friends Magazine an effective way to reach an art loving readership
contact Geraldine Box on 01275 843314 or e-mail : geraldine.box@btinternet.com

For further information please contact:
Roland Harmer (Editor)
Tel 0117 924 5638
email: rolandharmer@blueyonder.co.uk

Exhibitions 4 X 4 Exhibitions
Friends Room – these exhibitions (4 pictures by 4 artists) will continue in the Friends Room throughout the year except for the duration of the Friends Exhibition. Contact Di Western on 01454 776916

Friends Exhibition 2008
Entry forms by: Saturday 13th September
Submission Day: Saturday 20th September 10 - 4pm
Sunday October 26th - Saturday December 6th
Collection day: Saturday 13th December

RWA 156th Exhibition
Sunday October 26th - Sunday December 14th
Submission dates: 18th, 19th and 20th September.

Join the Friends As a charity The Friends provide valuable support to the Royal West of England Academy (RWA). The Academy was founded in 1844 to encourage the visual arts and to help artists and since that time has become a major regional institution.

The Academy is greatly helped by donations and legacies. In its early history these included Mrs Ellen Sharples and the Academy Subscribers, now called the Friends of the RWA.

The influence of the Academy has extended to a wide area of Britain and abroad. The magnificent top lit galleries have housed many exhibitions including work by Rodin, Cézanne - and more recently - Elizabeth Frink, Richard Long, Sonia Lawson, Mary Fedden, Julian Trevellyan, Sir Terry Frost and Ralph Steadman.

The Autumn Exhibitions and the triannial Open Painting, Open Sculpture and Open Print exhibitions provide an excellent and democratic platform for artists of merit to exhibit their work.

Displays of work from the RWA Collection provide an insight into British art over the last 100 years. The RWA also hosts ‘One Man Shows’ and touring exhibitions such as ‘People’s Portraits’ and many others.

Membership of the Friends gives an opportunity to meet people with similar interests, to join in various social events and to have free entry to exhibitions. The Friends Magazine and mailings will keep you in touch with forthcoming exhibitions, lectures and excursions and other events.

By joining the Friends you will be helping to secure the future of the RWA and support the visual arts in the South West.

Free entry to Exhibitions
The RWA has a vibrant programme of exhibitions throughout the year, including the annual Autumn Exhibition, which attracts artists of national and international renown.

Private View Invitations
Friends receive invitations to all Royal West of England Academy private views.

Magazine
Published three times a year, the ‘Friends Magazine’ provides thoughtful and informative articles. The Magazine will also keep you in touch with the Friends and RWA exhibitions and activities.

Lecture Programme
The Monday lectures with a buffet lunch and occasional evening lectures attract large audiences and interesting speakers. Members can join the annual painting workshops.

Field Studies and Day Visits
The Friends have a varied programme of cultural and painting holidays as well as day visits.

Social Events
Friends are invited to various social events which are arranged at the RWA.

Friends’ Exhibitions
Friends have the opportunity to submit work to Friends’ Exhibitions.

Preferential Rates
Friends enjoy discounts on submission of work to the open annual Autumn Exhibition and on artists’ materials at Bristol Fine Art.

Help the RWA
By joining the Friends you would help the RWA to serve the region and the artistic community.

An ideal gift!

Tel 0117 924 5638
email: rolandharmer@blueyonder.co.uk

Click here for printable application form.

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