Following major building works, the Holburne Museum Bath re-opened on 14 May.   On 28 June, we meet in the Garden Cafe at the Museum for coffee at 11.15 am before having a Curator guided tour of the Museum Highlights from 12 noon.  After the tour members may wish to visit the Peter Blake exhibition at their own choice (an extrance fee of £6.50 will be payable).

Members should make their own way to and from the Museum (NB please note that Pulteney Bridge is currently closed to traffic)

(This item updated 16 June 2011)

Kate at work

We are delighted that this year’s Schubart Lecture on Thursday 29 September in the Rear Hall of the Museum, will be given by ceramicist Kate Malone.

On the News pages you will see that Kate has created a special Lady Gourd, which she has called ‘Fruits of my Life,’ now on display in the Bristol People Gallery of M Shed.  This exquisite example of ceramic art was comissioned by The Friends.  At her lecture, entitled: “Source or Sauce, the Ceramic Inspirations of Kate Malone”, Kate will tell us all about this, her life and times while in Bristol, and her experiences since as an acclaimed, internationally exhibited artist.

As with all our lectures, this lecture is free to members.  However, non-members are asked to contribute £3 each and a booking form for members to apply for any non-member guest they wish to bring with them to this lecture was included with the August Bulletin.

(Updated 12 August 2011).

Interior of Queen's Gallery

The exhibition today covers Dutch Landscapes and Treasures from the Royal Collection and brings together 42 remarkable works from the ‘golden age’ of Dutch painting; also, some of the greatest works of art acquired by Kings and Queens over 500 years

This excursion is  FULL

(Updated 12 July 2011)

Broughton Castle

Lord Saye and Sele, his cousin, lives with his family in this moated medieval Manor House, built about 1300 and greatly enlarged between 1550 and 1600.

The excursion will start from Pembroke Rd at 9.00am and returns around 7.30pm

This excursion is FULL

(Updated 12 July 2011)

Highclere Castle was the seat, 100 years ago, of the 5^th Earl of Carnarvon, who famously discovered the tombs of the Egyptian boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun in 1922 with his archaeological colleague, Howard Carter.     It is also now, of course, more familiarly known to most people as “Downton Abbey” from the TV series of that name.

Two coaches have now been laid on for this excursion and both are now FULL

(This item updated 1 June 2011)

Friends put art at the heart of M Shed.

The Friends of Bristol Art Gallery have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure art is at the heart of M Shed.

Two new special commissions, supported by the Friends group are set to be revealed when M Shed opens on Friday, June 17, 2011. Both pieces are by internationally acclaimed artists: Richard Long and Kate Malone. Both artists have Bristol-based roots and both have works in the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.

Bristol-born, Richard Long has been commissioned to create one of his renowned, large-scale mud works for M Shed. Using mud from the River Avon and applying it to the walls of the West Foyer, Richard will create the work with his bare hands.

Richard Long is known for radical rethinking of the relationship between art and landscape and is expected to start work on his piece in the next week or two, when contractors at M Shed complete the space for his work.

And ceramicist Kate Malone is already at the stage where her commissioned Lady Gourd shaped pot is ready for glazing and firing. Kate Malone attended Henbury School and Bristol Polytechnic and has been producing her own highly-stylised, unique pots for over 30 years.

Her Lady Gourd, called ‘Fruits of my Life’ will be on display in the Bristol Life gallery and will feature natural forms, such as leaping fish, a pineapple, blossom andacorns.   (Below, Kate with the gourd in its early stages, including examples of detail. See the finished article above - photo by Adrian Sassoon)

Joanna Brown, Chairman of the Friends of Bristol Art Gallery, said:

“We are delighted to be able to make a real contribution to M Shed by commissioning these artists to create something special for everyone to enjoy. The artists are very different – but they have their roots in Bristol and it is fitting they are represented in M Shed.

“The Friends of Bristol Art Gallery see these commissions as part of their on-going and continued support for Bristol’s museums. We are always ready to welcome new members.”

‘Inspired Engineering’. This lecture is part of a series of events connecting art and science.  It features the artist Lisa Scantelbury and the engineer Richard Trask who will talk about how natural materials and structures inspire and challenge artists and engineers.

Richard Trask is a composites engineer interested in building the next generation of aeroplanes and rockets.  Lisa Scantlebury is an artist and fabricator who exploits the creative possibilities of composites.  Both draw on natural structures and materials, but both want to see how much further synthetic materials can go.  Come and watch as new ideas take flight.  

This lecture is sponsored jointly by The Friends of Bristol Art Gallery and  the Friends of Bristol’s Museums Galleries & Archives.

Our day excursions are well supported, but we plan in future to undertake additional, but more shorter local activities, so that members can travel independently and make more social contact in their own city or its surroundings.  (Members who responded to the Survey also asked for more local trips).

We are planning a visit to Bristol Old Vic with the promise of a backstage tour, followed perhaps by a matinee performance, when major alterations are completed.   In the meantime, on Thursday 14 April Old Vic historian, Andrew Stocker, has kindly agreed to give a lecture in the Cooper’s Hall on the history of the theatre, followed by an opportunity to visit the studio and other available parts of the theatre.   After which, there will an option to adjourn to the Llandoger Trow for a buffet lunch.

Full details are in the Booking Form included with the February Bulletin.

(This entry updated 28 February 2011)

Today we travel to the V & A for the exhibition The Cult of Beauty: The Aesthetic Movement in Britain 1860-1900.  This follows the Lecture by Dr Esme Whittaker on 15 March. 

This is the first major exhibition to comprehensively explore Aestheticism, an extraordinary artistic movement which sought to escape the ugliness and materialism of the Victorian era by creating a new kind of art and beauty.  The exhibition will feature paintings, furniture, ceramics, metal work, wallpapers, photographs and costumes, as well as architectural and interior designs.  

Because this excursion is on a Sunday, the coach will leave Clifton Down Shopping Centre, Whiteladies Road at 8.30 am

The booking form was included with the February Bulletin. 

(This entry updated on 28 February 2011)

(First added 10 January 2011)

In February we had a lecture by a member of The Friends, Professor Peter Andrews, and tonight we welcome another member, Betty Rowlands, who is going to tell us about My Life of Crime.

After winning the Sunday Express/Veuve Clicquot Crime Short Story of the Year Competition some years ago,  Betty continued her success with the highly acclaimed Melissa Craig mysteries and Sukey Reynolds stories. She is an active member of the Crime Writers’ Association and regularly gives talks and readings. She also serves on panels at crime writing conventions.

Betty will bring a selection of her books with her. 

(This item first added on 9 December 2010)

One of our favourite lecturers, Linda Smith is back,  this time with a watery theme: “Keeping it Clean: Bathers in Art”.

Linda is a well qualified Art Historian with a special interest in British Art and Art of the 20th century.  She is a lecturer for Tate Britain and Tate Modern as well as for NADFAS.

Important!  This lecture will start at 6.00pm – please be early, it will be a very popular event.

(This item added 22 October 2010)