What is the collective noun for art exhibitions? An easel? A hanging? A palette? Rye certainly needs one because a new show has opened up at St Marys’ Centre in Lion Street, complementing the Rye Society of Artists (RSA) event in Mermaid Street. Of course we also have as a permanent fixture Rye Art Gallery on the High Street, which until the end of August has a special display of works by Joyce Hargreaves and Brian Hargreaves. And then there’s Winchelsea’s summer art exhibition which opens at the Court Hall on August 23.
The latest opening is the exhibition of the Tuesday Painters Club. This annual event includes more than 250 paintings and etchings by about 70 local artists. The club was formed in 1961 and was designed for amateur artists. RSA members are professionals, although there is some overlap between the two societies, with some Tuesday Painters exhibiting at the RSA show from time to time.
The standard of work of the Tuesday Painters is certainly very high considering their amateur status. Richard Baines’s Ladies, Key with Ada is worth the 50p entrance fee alone. John Izod’s Mapp and Lucia in Rye is another must see. There are lots of landscapes of local scenes. I really liked Colin Bailey’s etchings – his Watchbell Street view is very different from the usual. You can imagine the ghosts of smugglers slipping down the cobbles just before dawn.
There is a huge variety of work on show. I was astonished to discover portraits of Harry Styles and Niall Horan from the pop band One Direction. Apparently the painter has done all five members of this group, though only these two are shown here. I assumed initially that the artist must be a young woman, but was told he is actually a gentleman of riper years.
There are about 160 members of the Tuesday Painters Club and new recruits are always welcome. Newcomers can apply for associate membership; after they have had two works displayed at the annual exhibition they qualify automatically for full membership. Anyone thinking about joining the club should pop up to the exhibition and speak to one of the people behind the registration desk, most of whom are members.
The president is Dr Richard Manwaring Baines, who has a DPhil in the history of art and design and is past president of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, as well as a painter, engraver, lecturer, writer, broadcaster and critic. The vice president is the much loved Priscilla Ryan, who has several exhibits, including luscious still lifes.
Most of the works are for sale at very reasonable prices. The exhibition is open from 10am-6pm every day until August 25.
Photos: Tony McLaughlin
Image Credits: Tony McLaughlin .