A cheeky member of our Tuesday Painters committee took a spur-of-the-moment opportunity to approach local exhibiting artist Richard Adams during the Rye Society of Artists’ August exhibition this summer, inviting him to consider becoming vice-president of the Tuesday Painters Club of Rye, a role that had been filled from 2003-2020 by the late Priscilla Ryan and was therefore awaiting an incumbent. Fortunately, to the massive benefit of the club, Richard graciously accepted the proposal to stand for election.
At the club’s annual general meeting in November, in order to “seal the deal”, members were asked to vote on this proposal, a formality it is obliged to observe. Predictably, the aye vote was unanimous (read: huge cheers, applause, and roar of approval). Richard Adam’s subsequent acceptance to take on this role is much to the delight of our 100-strong membership all of whom are thrilled at the news.
As Richard observed at the time, the Tuesday Painters club and the Rye Society of Artists complement each other; each recommending and directing visitors to the venue of the other for their annual exhibitions, both of which run in August.
This same sentiment was expressed in a quote from a record of the club’s history, written by Rosie Frost:
“The club was founded in 1961 by Captain Martin Evans CBE DSO RN. with his sister, Bea. After the first exhibition, held in 1962, he wrote to the participants stating: ‘I am writing to you as an exhibitor of the recent Tuesday Painters Exhibition, on behalf of the committee who organised it…I would like to make it clear that the committee were self-elected and have no authority to speak for anyone…the response exceeded our highest expectations and no less than 75 artists submitted, between them, 280 pictures to place before the judge. The committee has been so encouraged by the enthusiasm which obviously exists among local amateur artists that they believe that there is room in Rye for a new society for amateur painters which would, of course, in no way be in competition with the Rye Society of Artists. In the first instance the object of such a society would be simply to organise an annual exhibition, to give encouragement and an objective to amateur artists. It is impossible at this stage, to indicate what other artistic activities might develop. I am writing now to ask you if you agree with the view that a new society should be formed, and if so if you would wish to become a member’.”
Since its founding, the Tuesday Painters club has naturally grown and developed. It continues to evolve within the pacey environment of fast-changing times and challenges, whilst maintaining a strong sense of pride in its history and identity in the tradition of the community of Rye. It seeks to embrace new technology, new ideas, new materials, new members, and now a brand-new vice-president, Richard Adams, whose name we proudly add to its list of illustrious officers.
Dr Richard Manwaring Baines FROI is the club’s current president, taking over in 2009 from John Ryan (of Captain Pugwash fame) after his death.
Season’s greetings and a happy and healthy new year to all our members, our social media followers, and readers of Rye News.
More about the Tuesday Painters can be viewed in its diamond anniversary photobook, produced in 2021:
https://www.bonusprint.co.uk/view-online-photo-book?widgetId=fcfc4ada-deb0-4ec1-8de3-4b9fdef25478
Examples of members’ artwork are posted on its Facebook page daily: https://www.facebook.com/TuesdayPaintersRye
The full history of the club can be viewed on its website:
http://tuesdaypaintersrye.com/wp/about-us/our-history/
Image Credits: Richard Adams .