Phil Gillam: Exhibition puts Shrewsbury artists in the frame
You will doubtless have heard the old saying: "I don't know much about art, but I know what I like."
It's a much-quoted line that sums up the position of most of us.
Hey – we might get our Dadaism muddled up with our Surrealism, and we might be a bit hazy on the difference between Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, but we know what we like.
Well, when it comes to an upcoming exhibition at the beautiful St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury, it's really not necessary at all to know your Rubens from your Rembrandt or your Bellini from your Botticelli.
This comes as a great relief to yours truly, as I've often felt appallingly ignorant, going round the major art galleries while other folk whisper penetrating insights into style and technique.
"Please note the use of delicate brush strokes here to achieve subtlety in texture and thus bring out the enchanting nature of the subject."
Anyway. As I cleared away my crayons and felt-tips the other day, long-time members of the Shropshire Art Society, Wilf Langford and Alan Townsend, were keen to tell me about the SAS's annual summer exhibition to be staged from June 20 through to July 16.
Fear not, dear reader. As I've already flagged up: knowledge and expertise of the art world is not needed here. Just pop along if you get chance, and enjoy the astonishing range of artwork displayed.
"This is our main exhibition each year," said Wilf. "And we've really established ourselves at St Mary's over the last few years.
"We really outgrew the Bear Steps gallery – although we still have our autumn exhibition in the Bear Steps."
The show at St Mary's will once again feature local scenes, portraits, still life, abstract work, traditional watercolours, and also innovative work that offers new approaches to art.
The society has 250 members, although not all are practising painters. The exhibition will feature the work of around 70 members – with more than 220 paintings on show.
It will be open to the public from 10am to 4pm each day, excluding Sundays.
"In addition to the summer exhibition, we also have a small permanent exhibition in the church thanks to a gentlemen's agreement with St Mary's," says Wilf.
"Two or three of our members exhibit on a permanent basis near the Battlefield 1403 cafe in St Mary's, and the artists change on a monthly rota. These paintings are for sale."
The society's membership is wide-ranging, from the professional, highly accomplished and well-known artists (like Maggie Humphry, Judith Moy, and Michael Brown) to those whose work will be entirely new to the public.
Alan Townsend said a £100 memorial prize, awarded in memory of his late wife Judy Townsend, who was herself an artist, is presented during this summer exhibition.
"This is awarded to a person who has created a work in a more adventurous style. Someone who is pushing the boundaries and has shown a strong design element or demonstrates a freshness in approach."
The Shropshire Art Society was formed in July 1949 when the original annual subscription was seven shillings and sixpence. Early exhibitions were held at the art gallery of Shrewsbury Library on Castle Gates.
In 1999, the society expanded to include drawing and painting classes, and visits to galleries and painting holidays.
They also organise lectures and artist demonstrations.
You can find out much more about the society by visiting shropshireartsociety.org.uk
Meanwhile, it's back to the old paint-by-numbers for me.
