Those members who usually get their newsletter by mail will be receiving a call from a committee member to let them know what is going on in the society. Meanwhile the April 2020 newsletter can be read by clicking here.
What a strange time we are currently in. You should have received our updates regarding RAS procedures in the wake of the Covid-19 directions from the New Zealand government. The Jubilee Centre is now closed for the duration. Despite being unable to meet on Tuesdays, the Rangiora Art Society continues to function, but now in isolation via our members on the internet. Plein Air is suspended for the foreseeable future. We have a number of ideas re staying connected while in lockdown, please see below. We will continue to follow the NZ government guidelines. We want everyone to stay safe and well.
Staying connected during the shutdown: Jan Campbell has set up a Facebook page just for Rangiora Art Society members. It is a private, closed group so only other Rangiora Art Society members can see the posts. It is a way of helping our members who are used to meeting regularly, to stay connected despite being in isolation.
So far over 45 people have joined and some are sharing their art while in shutdown. If you are not already connected to this group, you can join by inviting Jan to share it with you. Jan will then work her magic.
Continuing art during the shutdown: There have been several suggestions on how to keep up with our art while in our personal ‘bubble’, the following are a few of them:
• Paint according to the RAS topics, these continue regardless of the shutdown.
• Try the Covid-19 Challenge e.g. Pick
• Visit a gallery: Those with internet access could try visiting museums in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Florence, Sao Paolo, Barcelona, Taipei and other exciting galleries from your computer chair, it is amazing and free until the end of May. Put in the following link:
https://www.timeout.com/travel/coronavirusvirtualmuseum-tours and another site, the Google Arts and Culture has lots to see too:
https://artsandculture.com
• Watch YouTube videos on painting topics e.g. The series ‘Portrait Artist of the Year’. Episode 1 is dated 21 January 2020 and there are ten episodes. It is fascinating to watch the portraits in progress and then completed.
Author: Quilliam Collister Page 1 of 7
Jubilee Centre: There was a frisson of excitement on our first day in the Jubilee Centre where the space of the new venue and ease of parking have been well received by members. We celebrated with cake at each of the sessions. Adding to the atmosphere was some concern about the fires nearby in the Ashley River area. The fires were put under control quickly and no danger to RAS members occurred.
There are plenty of areas for lunch and a chat either at the outdoor tables or the downstairs seating or the sofa area. Please keep the area around you tidy, we are responsible for any mess we make. We are seeing more people attending the morning session than the other sessions, the afternoon group is starting to build up and the evening sessions have proved popular with a steady attendance and some new members.
We are proud to announce that we will once again be hosting the North Canterbury Collective Exhibition at the Charles Upham Retirement Village. This year’s event will be on the 22nd, 23rd & 24th November. There will be an opening ‘do’ for artists and invited guests on Friday evening 5:30 – 7:00 pm, hosted by Rymans, all artists who enter are invited to attend with a guest.
People’s Choice Award winner ‘Evening Reflections – Lake Coleridge’ by Karin Werner
What a show that was! Our annual exhibition of members’ works was a celebration of talent, reflecting the joy of spring. Many thanks to all who helped us, it was also a celebration of teamwork and generosity as members gave goods, time and physical effort to help us put the show on. It is the nature of our society that we run thanks to our volunteers, there were many and some braved bitter weather in their effort to help our exhibition run well. We congratulate the winners of the categories. This year we received sponsorship for prizes from both Gordon Harris who selected one work and from The Drawing Room who gave us vouchers to celebrate success in the main categories. A big thank you to both Gordon Harris and the The Drawing Room for their generosity. The RAS decided to provide some prizes as well as the certificates so that all successful artists were rewarded. In addition to their certificates the successful artists receiving a Merit award were also given a voucher and the Highly Commended artists received wine.
Rangiora Art Society winners for 2019:
Russell Andrews’ Memorial Cup ‘Hesitate’ by Paul Smith – Acrylic
Gordon Harris Award ‘Jack the Joker’ by Trish Woods – Acrylic
People’s Choice Award ‘Evening Reflections Lake Coleridge’ by Karin Werner – Oil
Watercolour & Pen & Wash Merit ‘Notre Dame, Paris’ by Quilliam Collister
Watercolour & Pen & Wash Highly Commended ‘The River Wanders’ by Carol Moffat
Acrylic & Ink Merit ‘Bunch of Flowers’ by Sharon Soderberg
Acrylic & Ink Highly Commended ‘Time Passes’ by Joanne McDougall
Oil Merit ‘Evening Reflections – Lake Coleridge’ by Karin Werner
Oil Highly Commended ‘The Albatrosses’ by Jenny Baker
Drawing – Pen, Pencil, Pastel Merit ‘Becoming Transluscent’ by Mandy Palmer
Drawing – Pen, Pencil, Pastel Highly Commended ‘Winter Roses’ by Viv Knowles
Mixed Media Merit ‘Divided Loyalties’ by Russell Campbell
Mixed Media Highly Commended ‘Beautiful Roses’ by Ann Filshie Workshop/Tutorial Merit ‘Architecture -Over there’ by Robyn Cassidy
Workshop/Tutorial Highly Commended ‘Linelle Stacey workshop – Landscape’ by Jan Campbell
30-Day Challenge Merit by Antonia Rankin
30-Day Challenge Highly Commended by Chris Heaphy
RAS Calendar of Events: Please keep these dates in mind:
August 6 – 13,20, 27 Tuesday sessions at the Gospel Hall.
August 6 – Entries close for the RAS Spring into Spring Show.
August 6 – 30-Day Folders to be handed over to Jan Campbell our Treasurer with the entry form.
August 20 – Raffle sales table outside Rangiora New World supermarket 9:00 to 3:00pm.
August 21 – Receiving work entered in the show, at the Rangiora Bowling Club 7-8pm.
August 22 – Receiving works entered in the show, 8:30-10 am at the Rangiora Bowling Club.
August 23 – All raffle ticket butts, sales money and unsold tickets to be returned to RAS committee.
August 23, 24, 25, 2019 – ‘Spring into Spring’, RAS annual exhibition at the Rangiora Bowling Club.
RAS Calendar of Events: Please keep these dates in mind:
June 4, 11, 18, 25 – Tuesday sessions at the Gospel Hall.
June 11, 2019 – Quilliam Collister: Watercolour tutorial (now fully booked)
July 16, 2019 – Gordon Harris workshop: Peter Smith with Evan Woodruffe
August 23-25, 2019 – ‘Spring into Spring’, RAS annual exhibition at the Rangiora Bowling Club.
Our AGM is booked for the evening of 7 May, starting at 7:00pm. We have arranged to have a guest speaker, Yasmin Yussof, who is currently residing in the Waimakariri district but has spent time in a variety of other countries. Yasmin will speak about her life as a much travelled, professional artist. Supper will be provided by your committee.
Recent Show at Russley Retirement Village.
A number of us participated in this recent show organised by “Arts Canterbury”. Several members were represented on a group panel and some (who are members of Arts canterbury in their own right) displayed work on their own panels. A pleasing number of sales were made.
Please keep these dates in mind:
March 5, 2019 – Linelle Stacey Acrylic tutorial.
March 5, 2019 – Plein Air group meets at the Mike Kean walkway 9:00am – 12 noon.
March 5, 12, 19, 26 – Tuesday sessions at the Gospel Hall.
March 31, – Membership subscriptions due (discount if paid by this date).
Please note that to be eligible for exhibition in the 2019 RAS Spring Show members must have paid their subscription by March 31st, 2019.
April 9 – Entries due for Lyn Peckover’s Pastels workshop.
April 16, – Lyn Peckover Pastels tutorial. Please note this is a Tuesday.
May 1-30, – RAS 30-Day Challenge.
May 7, – RAS Annual General Meeting.
August 23-25, – ‘Spring into Spring’, RAS annual exhibition at the Rangiora Bowling Club.