Saturday, August 17 is the last day of the Tuesday Painters of Rye Exhibition at the St Mary’s Centre, Lion Street which closes at 5pm.The footfall was been wonderful this year with many interested parties coming and spending time absorbing the tranquil atmosphere and meeting some of the artists.
If you want an opportunity to purchase beautiful original paintings, prints, unframed originals, greetings cards or a chance to win a highly desirable print by nationally-acclaimed local artist Richard Adams, then do come and see this exhibition. A warm welcome awaits you and there are artists on-hand to discuss how they work and with what medium and to encourage budding painters to join.
Entry is free and the amazing raffle is just £1 per ticket. Isabel Ryan, dressed in her very arty, colourful suit has been handing out leaflets advertising the exhibition and offering 10% off food and beverages at the Kino, which is always happy to support Rye’s creative events.
Felicity Pike, chair of the art club, explained: “The idea of a raffle is something new for Tuesday Painters of Rye. The amazing offer of the prize – a signed and beautifully-framed print, Of a Tuesday (an original created with Tuesday Painters in mind) by our widely-celebrated vice president, Richard Adams – was too good to miss!
“The event was opened by the mayor of Rye, Andy Stuart, himself an artist. Deputy town crier, Arabella Ansar, announced the event to the public last Saturday morning, August 10: many thanks to both for their support for this event. Huge thanks also go to Hasting’s artist Mike Funnell for expertly curating the exhibition.
“Tuesday Painters was founded as a club in 1961 and has grown to meet members’ varied needs and preferences. These include workshops, presentations, plein air painting (weather permitting), and the opportunity to meet once a month at a pre-arranged venue to paint / create and socialise. A display board can be seen at the exhibition showing how the club has developed from the small group of friends in Rye who wanted to meet and paint on a Tuesday to the extended membership we have now.
“ArtWrite, our local printing and art supplier in Rye, annually awards a prize to the exhibited piece which has that ‘wow factor’ factor. This year the winner was Linda Graham for her Stormy Sea lino print. Well done, and well deserved, Linda.
“Visitors to the exhibition are invited to vote for their favourite painting. The winning artist will be awarded a framed certificate.
“Tuesday Painters exhibiting members do not have to be professional artists (though some are) – they just have to love what they do, and this is very evident from the high standard and huge variety of styles and mediums represented from forty-seven of our members in the one-hundred and eighty paintings on display.
“Although the Exhibition has been open for a week already, and many paintings have been sold, these are continually replaced with new work, so visitors will continue to be offered a wide choice of work.”
The exhibition is a major project to organise and the co-ordinator this year was Elizabeth Kimber, supported by other committee members Janet Haken, Felicity Pike, and Kathy Russell, along with a forty-strong team of helpers from the membership to support with setting up and stewarding.
You can find out more about this thriving art group here.
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Linda Graham , Sally L Rogers , Cheryl Fraser-Sampson .