Article posted: 5 August 11
Call for Exhibitors for: SELF AND NUDE. A celebration of 100 years of mixed life classes at the Nottingham Society of Artists. First floor Gallery September7-19th (Sending in days September 3-5th) with a lecture by John Croft Chairman of the Dame Laura Knight Society (and nephew of Laura Knight) Saturday September 10th 1pm. for tickets to the talk ring 01949 84380 (evenings) or e-mail:- bobsparham@hotmail.com
Part of the Nottingham Society of Artists Heritage Open Days Events
“Although ladies had been members of the society for many years- Laura Knight, then Laura Johnson had made a full member in April, 1900 it was not until 1911 that they were able to use the life room.”, For the Very Joy of Art p10.
“Women had been admitted to the government- run art Schools since the 1850s, but never enjoyed equality with men. Study of the nude, male or female was denied them, immediately restricting their familiarity with the human form and the most highly regarded subjects real or imaginary, which depended upon it. Knight’s own interest in painting the nude- and her presentation of a half-length nude to the Royal Academy as her Diploma picture- proclaims her mastery of the figure, but also symbolically, her triumph over every other obstacle which blocked her path” Timothy Wilcox Laura Knight at the Theatre p.10
The show is planned to contain reproductions of historical images such as Laura Knight’s wonderful painting Self and Nude (which together with the above passage from The Very Joy of Art gave me the idea for the show). I hope the exhibition will include life paintings and drawings (on the wall as well as displayed in portfolio sleeves and sketch books) by members of the Society, the Trust life classes, the Big Picture and Tuesday life groups, as well as guest artists who at the moment include Louise Ellerington founder of the Leicester Contemporary Art group, Scott Bridgwood Chairman of the Leicestershire Artists Society and Marek Tobolewski life drawing tutor Castle College and artist in residence at the Djanogly Gallery last year. There will be a hanging fee of £5 going to the NSA
I hope to use this mailing as a way of discovering how many people want to exhibit in the show and thus how much space or what number of pictures to allocate to artists. If you wish to take part, please e-mail me on bobsparham@hotmail.com, call or text me on 07941 102423 telephone on 01949 843580 or write to me at Bob Sparham 58 Bowbridge Gardens, Bottesford, Notts NG13 0AZ.
Please give this exhibition your maximum support!
Bob Sparham Vice President NSA