Walsall Society of Artists: 70 Years of Success
Members of the Walsall Society of Artists (WSA) are celebrating 70 years of success as their work goes on display for their annual exhibition at the New Art Gallery.
The society was founded in December 1949 by Alderman T.P. Riley, JP, who gathered together local citizens with an interest in Art. A later President of the Society, Miss E.M. Bachelor-Flint, determined that an Art Gallery was needed as a cultural asset for the town. This came to fruition when the E.M. Flint Art Gallery was opened in 1965 followed by the New Art Gallery in 2000.
This year’s exhibition is to be opened by Andrew Tift, a figurative realist painter who specialises in portraiture. Born in Walsall, Andrew has exhibited several times at the National Portrait Gallery. His portrait of the artist Lucian Freud’s first wife Kitty Godley, for which he won first prize in the 2006 BP Portrait Awards, is now in the collection at the New Art Gallery.
Earlier this year as part of the Anniversary celebrations, the Society held an exhibition at the Granary Gallery, Weston Park. Another resounding success was the exhibition which took place at St. Martins church in Walsall, where the theme was a celebration of Walsall.
“That exhibition was a first for us,” explained Chairperson Pat Hoskisson. “We felt that the local theme was very appropriate for our Anniversary celebrations, and we were delighted that it received such a large footfall.”
WSA continues to flourish with a current membership of around 120, many displaying incredible talent in drawing, painting, sculpting, pottery and craftwork. Activities include monthly demonstrations by visiting artists, outdoor sketching trips, workshops and visits to exhibitions and art venues. Established artists, beginners and anyone interested in art is welcome.
The aim of WSA is to advance education and community art for the people of Walsall and surrounding districts and to this end, they are launching an exciting free art competition for young people which they hope will become an annual event.
“We’re very aware of time constraints within schools as far as Art is concerned,” explained Pat. “We want to encourage youngsters to express themselves creatively and it will also be a means of introducing the society to a younger generation.”
The competition is open to schools and individuals aged between 7-18. A prestigious gallery is willing to exhibit the main winners and art suppliers have been approached for sponsorship. Encouraging young talent certainly seems the way to ensure the success of WSA continues well into the future.